STAFF & BOARD
Save The Waves Staff
Nik Strong-Cvetich
Chief Executive Officer
With many years of experience leading innovative conservation projects, Nik’s mission is to help provide coastal communities with the tools they need to be effective in valuing, protecting and managing their own natural resources.
Diego Sancho Gallegos
Director of Conservation Programs
Diego grew up in Costa Rica, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, where he spent his time fishing, diving, and surfing. Since then, he’s gone back and forth between Costa Rica and California, where he completed his education at Stanford University with a B.S. focusing on the ocean and climate nexus and an M.S. in coastal ocean dynamics and management.
John Suhar
Director of Operations
John brings extensive experience leading operations, partnerships, and strategy across mission-driven organizations. With a background spanning global sports, conservation, and social impact, he specializes in building scalable systems and aligning strategy with resources. Prior to joining Save The Waves, John served as VP of Sustainability and Social Impact at the World Surf League and Executive Director of WSL PURE. A longtime ocean advocate and surfer, he’s motivated by collaboration that helps coastal communities protect the places they love.
Lauren Parrino
Director of Communications
As a longtime coastal dweller, Rincon devotee and Ventura native, Lauren uses her skills in nonprofit marketing, storytelling and design to protect coastal resources for future generations. Lauren began her journey with STW in 2015 and continues to support the Coalition as Director of Communications today.
Trent Hodges
Senior Manager, Conservation Programs
Trent started as a Save The Waves WSR Fellow in 2014 completing the Surfonomics studies for Bahia de Todos Santos, Punta de Lobos, and Huanchaco. Trent‘s experience in the Peace Corps in Guatemala and subsequent years in the conservation and advocacy worlds have shaped his love for, and desire to protect the coast
Susan Coffey
Finance Manager
Susan has a Masters of International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina and 25 years of experience in financial management and business administration in both the surf industry and conservation nonprofits. Susan and her surf oriented family have built a life that revolves around the ocean, tides and swells, and she is excited to be part of an organization that supports coastal conservation.
Rachael Roehl
Philanthropy Manager
Rachael was born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA where she developed a life-long connection to the ocean. With a B.A. in Sustainability Studies from the University of Hawai’i Rachael spent 10 years living on O’ahu developing her skills in nonprofit management and coastal conservation working with local communities. Her experience working on sustainability programs in partnership with the surf industry in Hawai’i continues to be a source of inspiration as she brings her fundraising skills to support Save The Waves’ mission.
Emmett Balassone
Communications and Campaign Coordinator
Raised in Santa Cruz California, Emmett grew up surfing and fishing in the Monterey Bay. With a B.A. from the University of California Santa Cruz and over 10 years of experience working in the surf industry. Emmett uses his marketing and communication skills to help surf communities around the world defend and protect their surf ecosystems.
Shaun Burns
Reserves Network Coordinator
Santa Cruz–born surfer with a degree in Environmental Management from Cal Poly SLO and years of experience competing in WSL and global surf events; passionate about helping build stronger connections between surf and conservation communities.
André Vasconcelos Avelar
Surf Protected Area Coordinator - Azores
Azorean; MBA – Master in Business Management; degree in Cardiopneumology; medical emergency trainer; manager in nautical sports clubs for over 20 years; President of the Surf Association of Terceira Island – Azores; and imperfect environmentalist.
Laura Zumbado
Surf Protected Area Coordinator - Costa Rica
Laura was born and raised in Costa Rica and moved with her family to Playa Hermosa to surf and work on coastal protection. After 10 years of working on climate change mitigation and adaptation she’s driven by collective creativity and its multilevel application to sustainable urban design. She’s motivated by the challenge of re-generating and shaping coastal places with their communities for the wellbeing of multiple forms of life. She is an environmental engineer and holds and masters degree from University College London in sustainable urbanism.
Angelo Picardo
El Salvador Local Coordinator
Angelo Picardo was born and raised in El Salvador, where his passion for the ocean shaped his journey. At 18, he moved to Spain to pursue a BSc in Marine Science and later completed an MSc in Oceanography and Marine Environmental Management. El Salvador’s focus on surf tourism and coastal development opportunities called him back to apply his knowledge in service to his country. Now, as an oceanographer, surf magazine editor, and photographer, Angelo is motivated to contribute to Save The Waves’ mission to protect surf ecosystems.
Adrian Reifsnyder
CLIMATE RESILIENCE FELLOW
Adrian is a lawyer based out of Oahu, HI. He graduated from the University of Hawai’i Manoa holding a JD & MBA with a focus on environmental policy & economics. His professional efforts are focused on creating legal frameworks that protect surf ecosystems as well as developing financial models that build environmental and economic resilience among coastal communities. Adrian is passionate about surfing as a sport and culture and enjoys spending most of his free time either in, on, or under the water.
Board of Directors
Rahim Walker
treasurer
Rahim Walker is a Bay Area technology professional with over a decade of operational and leadership experience in sales, marketing, and customer service. As an enthusiastic global explorer, Rahim spent close to 4 years surfing and traveling in more than 20 countries at a time when surf travel was in its infancy and not yet mainstream allowing him to experience some amazing cultures in Africa, Central and South America, and Oceania. Rahim holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill along with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Santa Clara University. He can typically be found in the surf lineups of the coastside spanning Pacifica, San Francisco, and Half Moon Bay or on a surf trip to his favorite surf destination of Hawaii.
Hugo Tagholm
Co-Chair
Hugo is a surfer, campaigner, and environmentalist. He currently heads up the global marine conservation NGO Oceana in the UK. He previously led the NGO Surfers Against Sewage, campaigning from the beach front to the front benches of Parliament. Hugo founded the Plastic Free Communities movement, the Million Mile Beach Clean & Safer Seas Service and has been instrumental in exposing water company sewage pollution. Hugo was awarded a Doctorate of Science by Exeter University for his services to the marine environment; Environmentalist of the Year 2021 by Save the Waves; featured in the ENDS Report 2022 Campaigning Power List, and has been shortlisted as Leader of the Year in the 2023 Purpose Awards.
Annie Vranizan
vice chair
Annie Vranizan channeled a lifelong passion for sport into a career dedicated to having a meaningful impact – as a coach, connector and storyteller. Now as Director of Global Marketing at Strava, she is committed to building an inclusive brand and community. Prior to Strava, Annie helped small businesses define their brand strategy and co-founded Vivanista with the sole purpose of helping nonprofits share best practices in fundraising.
Will Coleman
Board member
Will Coleman is Founder of OnRamp Capital, an investment platform bridging venture and impact solutions across the built environment, energy, mobility, and wellness. He’s also an Advisor at ReGen Ventures, a climate-focused fund he co-founded in 2020. Will previously served as CEO of Lucid, whose BuildingOS platform became the leading data platform for commercial building insights across 250 major organizations and 1.5 billion square feet of real estate. He also helped build Mohr Davidow Ventures’ cleantech practice and led NVCA’s climate policy efforts, and served as Legislative Director of the New Fuels Alliance. Will has served on councils for The Wilderness Society, the CEC, and NREL. An avid surfer and skier, he brings to Save The Waves a commitment to business-driven planetary restoration.
Patrick Gonzales-Rogers
BOARD MEMBER
Pat Gonzales-Rogers is a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Yale Center for Environmental Justice and Lecturer at the Yale School of the Environment as well as a Fellow of Practice and a Visiting Resident Fellow and the Distinguished Simpson-Hewett Lecturer for the Yale School of Divinity. Pat supervises the staff and the direction of the tribal land management plans for the Bears Ears Monument, which the Biden White House has called as its most important conservation accomplishment to date. Pat was most recently the Senior Tribal Policy Advisor at EPA. He has also served as the Director of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Washington, DC Office, where he was in charge of OHA’s Federal Advocacy, legislation and congressional affairs. Pat holds a Bachelor’s degree from UH Mänoa, where he also played football, and is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Will Henry
BOARD MEMBER
Will Henry founded Save The Waves Coalition in 2001. He mounted a grass-roots, surfer-based effort to protect many threatened surf spots on the island of Madeira, procuring initial funding support from Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia, Inc. His efforts in Madeira led to the formation of a global movement for surf-spot protection, which thrives into the modern day. Will served as Executive Director until 2007, after which he moved his family to the Central Coast of California and founded Lumen Winery and Pico Restaurant in Los Alamos, CA. He can still occasionally be seen streaking across the walls at point breaks, both in his local area and in Central Baja.
Gregory Jones
BOARD MEMBER
With over 25 years’ experience in business growth and development, design innovation, and leadership (Google, Viator, Synopsy, McKinsey), Greg Jones provides valuable insight to private and public organizations to achieve their goals. Greg was introduced to Save The Waves over ten years ago and his passion for the protection of surf ecosystems continues to thrive. When he’s not providing strategic input and support for businesses in all stages of growth, he can be found looking for lefts along the California coast and beyond, maintaining his stoke and supporting conservation efforts in all sizes.
Richard Margoluis
BOARD MEMBER
Richard is the Chief Adaptive Management and Evaluation Officer at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in Palo Alto, California. He focuses on helping teams maximize their impact through effective planning, implementation, evaluation, and learning. An epidemiologist by training, he co-founded Foundations of Success, a small non-profit organization dedicated to improving the practice of conservation. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Richard developed a deep, lifelong love of all-things ocean. Although he cannot claim to be a real surfer, that does not stop him from trying. He is most at peace when scuba diving, freediving, and spearfishing with his family.
Laura F. Rodriguez
BOARD MEMBER
Laura is eternally thankful to her family who took her to the Pacific Ocean since she was a child, where she discovered her happy place dipping her head under a crashing wave and then found her calling by peering into the deep blue through a snorkeling mask. Currently she is Senior Program Officer of the Oceans Program at Builders Initiative, and previous experience includes working to catalyze sustainable fisheries management in Latin America and researching marine invasive species. Laura is passionate about building scalable and inclusive solutions to secure thriving communities and a healthy natural environment. She has been learning to surf for the past 20 years.
Jon Roseman
Board Member
Jon Roseman is Managing Director of Tavarua and Namotu Island Resorts in Fiji, two iconic surf destinations, where he has led operations for over 33 years. Based in Fiji, he has witnessed firsthand climate change’s toll on Pacific coastal ecosystems – erosion, mangrove loss, reef degradation, and unprecedented village flooding – shaping his deep commitment to ocean conservation. Jon holds an MBA in Sustainability from Yale School of Management, is pursuing an MPA at Cornell’s Brooks School, and holds a Harvard Public Leadership Credential. A lifelong surfer, he brings the Save The Waves board a perspective rooted in surfing culture, sustainable tourism, and Pacific island.
Ian Stewart
board member
Ian Stewart grew up on the Northern Beaches in Sydney and now lives on the water in Santa Barbara with his family. A brand marketer with over 30 years experience, Ian is currently with Yulex supporting the switch to natural rubber in the surf industry and beyond. Most recently Ian led marketing at Xcel Wetsuits, and has also held senior marketing positions at Deckers Outdoor (UGG), Nike (Converse), TOMS Shoes, and MTV. Ian spent two years on staff with Surfrider before serving on their Board. He has also served on the Board of the Food Bank in Santa Barbara, and has been a long time advisor (and supporter) of Save the Waves.
Emeritus Board
Scott Atkinson
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Scott is a Senior Client Partner in Korn Ferry’s CEO & Board and Financial Officers Practices, where he specializes in finding and developing transformational leaders, and managing succession planning for high-impact clients. In addition to serving on the Save The Waves BOD, Scott also serves on the Board of Directors of The Jane Goodall Institute US, and Earth League International. Scott has a Master of Science in Environmental Science & Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.A. in History from Middlebury College.
Dr. Easkey Britton
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Dr Easkey Britton is marine social scientist, surfer, and writer from Ireland. She contributes her expertise on national and international research and leadership development projects, fostering a more inclusive and diverse ocean and surfing environment. Her work is deeply influenced by the ocean and the lessons learned pioneering women’s big-wave surfing in Ireland. Easkey is the author of ‘Saltwater in the Blood’ and ‘50 Things to Do By the Sea’, has published numerous peer reviewed journal articles, and is a regular columnist with Oceanographic magazine.
Christy Chin
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Christy has devoted her career to advancing social entrepreneurship and championing high-impact philanthropy at the Skoll. Willam and Flora Hewlett and DRK Foundations. Before focusing on social impact, Christy focused on entrepreneurship and venture capital. Today, she serves on nonprofit boards and advises on venture philanthropy and impact investing. Thanks to her surfing family, Christy is learning to surf and eager to advance conservation efforts.
Dean LaTourrette
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Dean works as a strategic marketing consultant and early-stage advisor, helping grow organizations and brands. An accomplished writer, publisher, and marketing professional, he was a founding board member for Save The Waves and served as the organization’s Executive Director from 2007 – 2013, before rejoining the board. He’s served as Board President, Vice President, and Treasurer, as well as founding chair of the World Surfing Reserves Executive Committee, and is currently a member of the WSR Vision Council. Dean has a passion for the ocean and environment that began at an early age surfing the waters around Santa Cruz. He now lives with his family at Ocean Beach, San Francisco, where he battles walls of whitewater, secretly wishing that the paddle out was somehow easier.
