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 CoughlinAlexandra Coughlin is the Senior Executive Associate & Board Liaison at GreenLight Fund and has extensive experience in local food sourcing and agricultural operations. Alexandra holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Syracuse Unive…

Alexandra Coughlin

Alexandra Coughlin has extensive experience in local food sourcing, agricultural operations, and nonprofit management. For the last 4 years she served as the Strategic Support Manager at GreenLight Fund, a national nonprofit that helps open opportunities for children, youth and families experiencing poverty. Alexandra uses her development and operational acumen to support Mass Oyster in the hopes of working toward a healthy climate through oyster restoration.

Alexandra holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Syracuse University and is currently pursuing a Master's degree at Malmö University in Sweden in the Leadership for Sustainability program. 

 
 
 

Advisory Board Members

Adam HeilemannAdam 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 fresh…

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.

Andrew HutlinAndrew is from Weymouth, where he works for the Department of Planning and Community Development. He joined MOP in 2018 as an outlet to contribute his passion for preservation of coastal estuaries. Andrew is pursuing a masters degree in…

Andrew Hultin

Andrew is from Weymouth, where he works for the Department of Planning and Community Development. He joined MOP in 2018 as an outlet to contribute his passion for preservation of coastal estuaries. Andrew is pursuing a masters degree in public policy with an environmental focus. At Mass Oyster he chairs the Science Committee and focus on policy and restoration efforts.

Travis Marcoux - Associate Travis Marcoux was born and raised in Massachusetts and received his BS in Psychobiology from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. After graduating, Travis worked on various shellfish and ecological projects across the Maine coastline working for the State of Maine and a private marine resource company. Further pursuing his Marine Science career, Travis moved to Hawaiʽi and received his Masters in Marine Science, studying metabolism and energetics of coral reef fishes. Travis is also a USCG Submarine Pilot/Boat Captain and, with a small team, founded Hawaiʽi Uncharted Research Collective, a non-profit research collective studying endangered megafauna in the Hawaiian islands. Since moving back to New England, Travis has been working as a biotechnical scientist and joined the Mass Oyster Project Team in 2021 as a means to give back to the community and shoreline that he grew up enjoying.

Travis Marcoux

Travis Marcoux was born and raised in Massachusetts and received his BS in Psychobiology from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. After graduating, Travis worked on various shellfish and ecological projects across the Maine coastline working for the State of Maine and a private marine resource company. Further pursuing his Marine Science career, Travis moved to Hawaiʽi and received his Masters in Marine Science, studying metabolism and energetics of coral reef fishes. Travis is also a USCG Submarine Pilot/Boat Captain and, with a small team, founded Hawaiʽi Uncharted Research Collective, a non-profit research collective studying endangered megafauna in the Hawaiian islands. Since moving back to New England, Travis has been working as a biotechnical scientist and joined the Mass Oyster Project Team in 2021 as a means to give back to the community and shoreline that he grew up enjoying.

 

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.

Steve ParkesSteve Parkes lives in North Andover. While semi-retired, he made his career in the seafood industry. He helped found Cape Ann Fresh Catch, a community-supported fisheries organization. He was also a founding board member and acting Executive Director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition. He has been active in a number of nonprofit organizations that support Massachusetts' beaches and shores. He was a board member of MOP for seven years, where he was an integral part of developing and building out our upweller program. Steve served as President of MOP for two years.

Steve Parkes

Steve Parkes lives in North Andover. While semi-retired, he made his career in the seafood industry. He helped found Cape Ann Fresh Catch, a community-supported fisheries organization. He was also a founding board member and acting Executive Director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition. He has been active in a number of nonprofit organizations that support Massachusetts' beaches and shores. He was a board member of MOP for seven years, where he was an integral part of developing and building out our upweller program. Steve served as President of MOP for two years.

Dr. Mark WagnerDr. Mark Wagner is the founding and current director of the Binienda Center for Civic Engagement at Worcester State University, which has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement. His educational research argues social values such as caring, loyalty and generosity are understood implicitly and explicitly through the perception and interpretation of non-linguistic signs, in and out of the classroom. Dr. Wagner served on Board for the Department of Higher Education that established Preparing Citizens as one of the central goals of education in the state of Massachusetts. Mark is also a poet and musician whose work has been recognized by publishers and his peers. He can be reached at mwagner2@worcester.edu and markgwagner@charter.net.

Dr. Mark Wagner

Dr. Mark Wagner is the founding and current director of the Binienda Center for Civic Engagement at Worcester State University, which has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement. His educational research argues social values such as caring, loyalty and generosity are understood implicitly and explicitly through the perception and interpretation of non-linguistic signs, in and out of the classroom. Dr. Wagner served on Board for the Department of Higher Education that established Preparing Citizens as one of the central goals of education in the state of Massachusetts. Mark is also a poet and musician whose work has been recognized by publishers and his peers. He can be reached at mwagner2@worcester.edu and markgwagner@charter.net.

Theresa BaybuttTheresa 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…

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.

 

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

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.