Solving ocean crises by unifying and empowering global communities!sm
With the help of donors like you, OpenOceans Global is developing solutions to save our ocean.
With the help of donors like you, OpenOceans Global is developing solutions to save our ocean.
PRESIDENT
Carl Nettleton, Nettleton Strategies, San Diego, CA. Carl Nettleton is an award-winning writer, acclaimed speaker, and a subject-matter expert regarding water, climate, sustainability, the ocean, and binational U.S. Mexico affairs. He is the founder of OpenOceans Global, the past president of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation – Pacific Region and the former founding executive director of the San Diego Oceans Foundation. In those positions, he energetically worked with government agencies, educational organizations, and ocean interests to develop collaborations and consensus to resolve ocean issues. He operates Nettleton Strategies LLC, a consulting firm specializing in resolving complex public policy and business issues.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mohsen Mortada, Chief of Staff, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Prior to his work at MWD, Mohsen served as a consultant and advisor with a focus on climate resilience and organizational development matters. He is experienced in the planning and development of infrastructure, strategic planning, and water and food security. He works closely with governing boards, executive teams, and stakeholders to align strategic objectives, develop consensus, and create optimal organizational designs. Mohsen has worked with many public sector agencies to develop organizational resilience to cope with climate change and unforeseen challenges. His 30-year career began with municipal government, followed by 10 years of management consulting, and includes 15 years as CEO of two large engineering firms in the Middle East and Canada.
CORPORATE SECRETARY
Shauna Buffington, Experiential Event Leader, San Diego, CA. Shauna brings a career of experience in event management and marketing to OpenOceans Global. One of the founding staff of the Rock and Roll Marathon, Shauna became the Vice President for Events and Marketing, based in London and charged with expanding the marathon globally. Shauna will develop OpenOceans’ special event fundraisers.
DIRECTOR - Linda Adams, Chair, Climate Action Reserve, Anguilla. Linda Adams brings OpenOceans Global her experience as a seasoned policy advisor, political strategist, and respected public servant. Linda is the chair of the Climate Action Reserve, a nationally recognized carbon offset program, and represents Oxfam as a global ambassador for America’s Sisters on the Planet climate change initiative. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Linda as the first woman to serve as Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). She served as the Governor’s lead negotiator for Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, a first-of-its-kind greenhouse gas reduction law. Linda served as Chair of the Governor’s Climate Action Team. She is a former member of the Ocean Protection Council and California’s Strategic Growth Council. Linda is the founding President of R20-Regions of Climate Action, the first international consortium of subnational governments seeking to combat climate change.
DIRECTOR - Susan Avery, president emeritus of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Boulder, CO. Dr. Avery is an atmospheric physicist and the first atmospheric scientist and the first female scientist to take the position of director in WHOI's history. She is also a professor emeritus at the University of Colorado Boulder ((UCB). Currently, she is serving as a faculty affiliate in the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at UCB, is a member char of the board of trustees of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). Susan holds a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University. The author or co-author of more than110 peer-reviewed articles and reports. She has been active in presenting to U.S. and international consortia dedicated to ocean research, observation, and applications.
DIRECTOR - Rick Myllenbeck, Chief, Industry Engagement & Discovery, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Springfield, VA. Rick Myllenbeck is a skilled corporate executive, successful entrepreneur, and senior military leader adept at harnessing emerging technologies, capabilities and innovation to accelerate change, adoption and growth. He has extensive experience in the high-tech industry, targeting the business, consumer and public sectors; focused on strategic engagement, marketing, integrated communications and effective implementation. Rick has spent his career working with some of the world’s top high-tech companies – as well as tech start-ups – to drive growth, innovation and the adoption of ground-breaking solutions that fundamentally changed the world. Rick spent 42-years serving in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve as a naval aircrewman and information warfare/intelligence officer and is a veteran of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He is an avid wine enthusiast, a collector of vintage racing cars and the founder and chairman of The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, an Alexandria, VA-based non-profit organization that supports the community and raises funds for local charities.
DIRECTOR -Daniel Reifsnyder, adjunct professor at the University of Virginia's Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Alexandria, VA. Prof. Reifsnyder spent over 40 years in federal service, most recently at the Department of State, where he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment. In 2015, he co-chaired the U.N. negotiations that led to the Paris Agreement on climate change. He began working on the climate issue in 1989 and helped negotiate both the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. In 1997, he led the U.S. effort that accelerated the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons under the Montreal Protocol in 2007 and was instrumental lin negotiations that led to the Minimata Convention on Mercury in 2013. He also taught at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. Prof. Reifsnyder earned a Ph.D. at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a law degree from George Washington University, and a masters' degree from Georgetown University.
DIRECTOR - Brock Rosenthal, President, Ocean Innovations, La Jolla, CA. For forty years, Brock Rosenthal has been providing underwater and oceanographic equipment solutions to research, military, and commercial customers. He has served in a number of positions at the local and national level of the Marine Technology Society. Brock has degrees in management from UCSD and UCLA and is a life-long surfer, diver, and ocean swimmer.
DIRECTOR - Alok Singh, Principal Data Scientist, Genentech, San Diego, CA. Alok Singh is a Machine Learning professional with 14 years of industry experience. Alok brings technical expertise and a passion aligned with OpenOceans Global’s vision of a world where humanity is in harmony with the ocean. His innovative journey in Machine Learning and Deep Learning includes pioneering AI-driven solutions at Genentech, crafting intelligent AI Recommender Systems at Amazon, and advising multiple startups on leveraging AI for global impact. Alok’s empathetic approach, passion for utilizing AI to solve real-world problems, and commitment to making a difference resonate deeply with OpenOceans Global’s work to end plastic flow to the ocean.
DIRECTOR - Chris Stern, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Trimble Ventures and Partnerships, and Board Member, Trimble Foundation Fund & Trimble Inc., Irvine, CA. Chris Stern is an accomplished technology executive, entrepreneur and investor, with experience leading and developing software and technology businesses focused on addressing global industry and environmental challenges. He currently serves as vice president and managing director for Trimble Ventures, a $200 million venture capital fund, corporate partnerships and is a member of the board of directors for the Trimble Foundation Fund at Trimble Inc., (NASD:TRMB), a Fortune 500 worldwide leader in AEC and industrial technology solutions with over $3.6 billion in annual revenue. Chris joined Trimble through the sale of his company, where he served as founder, Chairman and CEO. He is a licensed professional engineer, holds master's and bachelor's degrees in engineering, and serves on boards at UCLA and Loyola Marymount universities.
DIRECTOR - Phil White, President of the Pacific View Foundation, La Jolla, CA. Pacific View is a family foundation providing support to San Diego area non-profits. Phil is active in the community, having served on the board and committees of a multitude of charities both in San Diego and in London. He has also been active with the Council on Foundations, a Washington D.C.-based organization that supports the efforts of charitable foundations around the world. Phil currently serves on the board of the UC UK trust, a London-based charity that facilitates fundraising and alumni engagement in Europe for the entire UC system. He has also served on the U.C. Santa Barbara Foundation. Phil worked in executive management for several high technology start-ups, including 14 years for Qualcomm, a Fortune 500 telecommunications firm, where his last role was group president and corporate officer. Phil graduated from the University of California, San Barbara with BA degrees in both business economics and history.
GENERAL COUNSEL
Gino Mazzanti, Attorney at Law, San Diego, CA. Gino Mazzanti is an attorney who earned his law degree from California Western School of Law in 1976. He has been in private practice with the Law Offices of Gino V. Mazzanti in San Diego since 1977. His practice concentrates in the field of business law where he is engaged in forming and advising partnerships, corporations (both for profit and not for profit) and limited liability companies. He also handles business litigation.
FOUNDING DIRECTORS
OOG is grateful for the service of the following founding directors.
PAST DIRECTORS