Who We Are
Team
Credit: Hiroko Yoshii / Unsplash
Our conservation efforts around the world are supported by a dedicated, brilliant team.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
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Heather Starck
Executive Director
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Kristin Sherwood
Director, Strategic Impact
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Dr. Helen Fox
Director, Conservation Science
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Jenny Myton
Global Lead, Protected Areas and Clean Water Solutions
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Mandy Norman
Director, Development and Marketing
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Kristy Ives
Director, Finance and Operations
WESTERN CARIBBEAN
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Tanya Amaya
Regional Director, Conservation Programs (Western Caribbean)
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Pamela Ortega
Manager, Clean Water (Western Caribbean)
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Javier Pizaña-Alonso
Program Manager, Mexico
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Julio San Martin Chicas
Program Manager, North Coast (Honduras)
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Elsy Zamora
Coordinator, Clean Water
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Mayra Nuñez
Research Assistant (Western Caribbean)
HAWAI’I
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Makayla Rickard
Program Manager, Maui Nui
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Mihana Ho
Field Tech, Maui Nui
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Kehau Kimokeo
Community Engagement Coordinator (Maui Nui)
CONSERVATION SCIENCE
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Dr. Antonella Rivera
Senior Manager, Conservation Science
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Dr. Andrea Rivera-Sosa
Manager, Science to Policy and Practice
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Sarah Severino
Manager, Science (Maui Nui)
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Ben Charo
Program Coordinator, Conservation Science
DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING
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Kate Beebe
Associate Director, Brand and Communications
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Logan Gerber
Associate Director, Corporate Giving
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Halae Fuller
Senior Manager, Grants
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Maria McDonough
Manager, Philanthropy
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Kathryn Kelly
Manager, Growth Marketing
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Allison Coleman
Manager, Grants
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Heather Rowan
Coordinator, Development and Marketing Operations
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
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Zach Hoffman
Associate Director, Program Operations
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Sheyla Maldonado
Manager, People and Culture
INSIDE CORAL
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CORAL’s Expansion into the Eastern Caribbean
By Zach Hoffman When I joined the Coral Reef Alliance, I knew our work spanned some of the most important coral reef ecosystems in the world. But knowing that on paper is very different from standing on the shore of one of those places for the first time. My first visit to CORAL’s Eastern Caribbean
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Coral Bleaching Awareness Month is Moving to September
Coral Bleaching Awareness Month is entering a new chapter. For 3 years, this global campaign has helped people understand one of the most visible signs of stress on coral reefs. Now, Coral Bleaching Awareness Month will take place in September, aligning global attention with the time of year when bleaching impacts and reef monitoring are
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How Coral Reef Conservation Delivered Measurable Impact in 2025 [REPORT]
For millions of people around the world and countless species beneath the waves, coral reefs are far more than a tourist destination. They are essential lifelines. Reefs support food systems, protect coastlines, and sustain economies, yet today they face immense pressures that threaten their longevity. In this context, the 2025 Impact Report from the Coral
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2025 Greatest Hits of the CORAL Blog
This year was a big one for coral reefs and the Coral Reef Alliance! As the year comes to a close, we’re looking back at the stories that resonated most. The ones that traveled farthest, sparked curiosity, and helped connect more people to the future of coral reefs. Over 120,000(!!) of you read our stories
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Scaling Coral Reef Conservation With Heather Starck
The Coral Reef Alliance is entering one of the most pivotal chapters in its 30-year history. With a major expansion into the Eastern Caribbean and an ambitious strategic plan already in motion, Executive Director Heather Starck is steering the organization toward deeper regional impact and stronger global collaboration, all while staying true to CORAL’s core
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CORAL Launches New Eastern Caribbean Hub
BREAKING: The Coral Reef Alliance is expanding to the Eastern Caribbean! For more than 30 years, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has teamed up with communities, scientists, and governments across Hawai‘i, the Mesoamerican Reef, and the Indo-Pacific to protect coral reefs and the people who depend on them. From keeping 30+ million gallons of sewage
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Want to Save Coral Reefs? 4 Proven Strategies That Actually Work
The ripple effects of coral reefs reach nearly every coastline and community on the planet. Reefs support the seafood we eat, protect homes from storms, and provide ingredients for lifesaving medicines. But they’re in crisis. Half have already been lost, and nearly all could disappear by 2050 if we don’t intentionally act now. The good
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How Snapshot Assessments Shape CORAL’s Next Chapter
By now, you’ve heard CORAL is in growth mode, and we’re determined to make our expansion meaningful and lasting. Our team is going to great lengths to figure out exactly where we’ll go next. And it goes far beyond spinning a globe and picking a spot at random. I sat down with our Strategic Impact
