Our Team
Staff
Liv Woods, Executive Director
Liv joined the Massachusetts Oyster Project (MOP) as Executive Director in May, 2023. Liv brought 20 years of experience across a breadth of industries: healthcare, health insurance, hospital management, and academic organizations. In addition, she has been active with a range of consulting engagements with for-profit and non-profit organizations. Liv was employed previously by one of Boston’s largest health insurance companies Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, where for almost a decade she was part of the strategic planning division, as well as a member of the internal consulting group. In her most recent role, Liv was Director of Fundraising and Operations with the American Amputee Soccer Association.
She is currently board chair for Tomorrow’s Women Today, a board member for the American Amputee Soccer Association, and volunteers for Open Table Food Pantry. Liv has a B.A. from University of Connecticut and M.B.A from Simmons School of Management.
Erika Smith, Program Coordinator
Erika Smith joined the MOP Shell Recycling team in 2022. Erika spent 15 years in Austin, TX leading operations for multiple startups. Her love of the ocean and passion to be part of conservation and restoration brought her back to her home state where she now resides in Orleans, MA. After the 2022 summer season, her love of oysters, improving water quality and restoring native shellfish populations back in MA waters, led her to joining Mass Oyster as program coordinator. She will be focusing on our upweller and shell recycling programs as well as volunteer coordination.
Our Board
Andrew Rosenberg, Chair
Dr. Andrew Rosenberg is a marine scientist, environmental and science policy expert. He recently retired after serving as the inaugural director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. He has previously served as the dean of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire, the chief scientist for Conservation International, and northeast regional administrator as well as deputy director of the National Marine Fisheries Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Dr. Rosenberg is also the convening lead author of the oceans chapter of the Third US National Climate Assessment and served on the secretariat for the full assessment. He was a convening lead author of the first UN World Ocean Assessment. He served on the National Academy of Sciences’ Ocean Studies Board and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.
Sam Peper, Treasurer
Sam is a retired finance and operations executive that recently joined the Mass Oyster Project board. He is also actively involved with other not-for-profit organizations utilizing his professional skills and experience to give back and grow their missions. Sam is an avid sailor and boater that spends as much time on the water as possible during the summer months. Sam and his wife Cathy live on Cape Cod and have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Joshua Gee
Joshua Gee is the Director of Digital Customer experience at the MTA. While Josh lives in New York, he’s a Massachusetts native and been active with MOP for five years. He helps maintain MOP’s website, back-end digital infrastructure, and creates a lot of our public-facing content.
Before working at the MTA, Josh worked for Boston City Hall, the Boston Globe, and political campaigns across Massachusetts and the country.
John A. Cigliano
John A. Cigliano, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of Biology and was Director of Environmental Conservation at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, adjunct research faculty at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Winter Harbor, Maine, USA, and an Earthwatch Institute Principal Investigator. He is also on the board of the Massachusetts Oyster Project, a Marine Science Advisor for Seaside Sustainability, and is the President of the Participatory and Citizen Science Working Group and a Global Board Member of the Society for Conservation Biology. John’s research interests include the effects of ocean acidification and warming on temperate marine organisms and communities, the effects of microplastics on marine organisms and communities, and the application of citizen science to advance marine conservation.
Kerri Bisner
Kerri spent her career as a financial professional, specializing in investing in healthcare and life sciences technologies. As an officer of the Manchester Harbor Boat Club, Kerri had Mass Oyster come speak to the membership. Recognizing how amazing and unique oysters are for habitat restoration, the Boat Club sponsored an upweller for growing oysters to be planted on the North Shore. Kerri has run the upweller in Manchester-by-the-Sea for three years and recently joined the Mass Oyster Board to continue helping them achieve their goals in a broader way. She has a B.A. in Economics from Wellesley College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Alexandra Coughlin
Alexandra Coughlin is a project manager and strategist who specializes in projects that advance sustainability. She recently obtained her Master's degree at Malmö University in Sweden in Organizational Sustainability. Prior to that, she served as the Strategic Support manager at GreenLight Fund, a national venture philanthropy organization that helps open opportunities for children, youth, and families experiencing poverty. Her work has always been driven by her interest in understanding and caring for the human and natural world. She is passionate about ecosystem restoration, conservation, biodiversity, with a special focus on ocean health. Alexandra is a Cape Cod native, where she developed her love for the ocean. In her free time, she enjoys exploring nature by foraging for food and flowers, hunting for shells, and sailing.
Alexandra uses her development and operational acumen to support Mass Oyster in the hopes of working toward increased coastal resilience through oyster restoration. She also holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Syracuse University.
Matt Zola
Matt Zola is a seasoned marketing and operations professional, currently serving as VP of Operations at Ten Bridge Communications, a Boston-based PR and branding agency specializing in biotech. He is a recent alumnus of the Climatebase Fellowship, a career accelerator for professionals focused on sustainability and has a special interest in nature-based solutions.
A life-long New Englander, Matt has a deep appreciation for Massachusetts’ coastal ecosystems. His favorite oysters? Those from Wellfleet and Maine’s Damariscotta River.
Allison Levy
Allison Levy relocated from Pennsylvania to the beautiful island of Nantucket in 2001 and has since embraced the unique charm of her coastal community. A proud graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Allison’s career spans both the hospitality and nonprofit sectors, where she has demonstrated a strong commitment to community building and meaningful impact.
Her deep love for conservation, animals, and the environment drives her passion for supporting organizations that align with her values. Among her favorites is the Mass Oyster Project, whose mission to restore marine ecosystems resonates with her dedication to preserving natural habitats. Allison’s diverse background and unwavering enthusiasm make her a valuable advocate for sustainable and compassionate initiatives.
Advisory Board Members
Adam Heilemann
Adam Heilemann is a Managing Director and Head of Liquidity Management at State Street Bank & Trust and has 20 years of experience in fixed income investing, treasury, and financial services. Adam holds a bachelor’s degree in freshwater biology from St. Lawrence University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke University, and a Master’s in Public Administration in economics from Harvard University. Adam serves as a volunteer/board member at the following organizations: Equinox Preservation Trust, Boston Partner’s in Education, The Real Medicine Foundation, The Nature Conservancy of Vermont, and The Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
Sarah Valencik
Sarah first started working with MOP in 2017 as a volunteer at the Gloucester Upweller. She soon joined the board and in 2020, she became the MOP President. She has a passion for the environment and works to do all that she can to make sure the world is a healthy and safe place for future generations.
Theresa Baybutt
Theresa Baybutt is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Graduate Gemologist who specializes in pearls which fuels her passion about oysters and the health and cleanliness of our oceans. Among her many accomplishments, degrees, and corporate career, she is the founder and owner of Treasure Bay Jewelry®️ and The Power of Pearls®️ Foundation, with over 20 years of experience in the jewelry industry as maker, designer and consultant. She is also a published author. Theresa serves as a Board Member/volunteer with organizations such as, The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The School of The Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, The Society of North American Goldsmiths, and Newton Wellesley Hospital.
Joe Caiazzo
Joe Caiazzo has over 15 years of experience in politics. He held senior positions on the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns of Senator Bernie Sanders and served as the Rhode Island State Director in the 2016 general election for the Clinton campaign. Joe successfully managed Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s re-election in 2018 and has worked for dozens of candidates and issue campaigns including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congressman Joe Kennedy III, and Congressman Bill Keating. Joe currently serves as a trainer with the National Democratic Training Committee, with a focus on communications and messaging.
Joe is a published author offering analysis on local and federal elections and has offered commentary in various media publications such The New York Times, Politico, Fox News, The Times of London, The Washington Post and CNN. In addition to his work with 1788media, Joe is a Partner with the JCN Group, a public affairs firm.
Joe is an Eagle Scout and holds a BA in history and theology from Barry University in Miami, Florida and an MPA from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He lives in a suburb of Boston with his two daughters, wife Nicole and pug Ethel.