Ward is responsible for activities within ORP’s core programs in Oyster Restoration, Shell Reclamation, Oyster Aquaculture and Fisheries. Ward has a broad background in marine and estuarine science and has been supporting Bay restoration for the past 20 years through research and cooperative programs with Bay watermen. Prior to joining ORP he was the manager of Versar’s Coastal and Marine Assessment Program. He earned a Master’s degree in Fisheries Science from the University of Maryland MEES Program and a bachelor degree in Environmental Science from the UMD Eastern Shore campus. Ward was born on the Eastern Shore and lives in Stevensville. In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors gardening, boating, fishing, and making furniture in the woodshop.

As Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Allison works collaboratively with ORP’s staff to raise awareness and funds for oyster restoration programs in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. She develops annual fundraising and marketing plans, oversees ORP’s branding and messaging, manages relationships with donors and partners, and more.

Allison joined ORP’s staff in 2019. She spent the decade prior at the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations working in membership, marketing, and operations. She also worked in marketing and communications with the Severn Riverkeeper Program. Allison has a Master of Science in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, where she concentrated in Environmental Policy, and a B.A. in Geography from the University of South Carolina.

A Tennessee native, Allison has adopted Maryland as her second home. She loves bluegrass music and all outdoor activities, especially camping and hiking with her husband and two dogs (she also has two very spoiled cats).

Andrew started at ORP in August of 2011. He is a Dorchester native and attended North Dorchester High School. Andrew occasionally does tree work as a side job. In his free time, he loves to fish and spend time on the water.

Olivia oversees ORP’s scientific programs and coordinates with staff and partners to implement ORP’s oyster and coastal habitat restoration goals. Olivia works with partners and staff to develop new integrative and collaborative approaches, initiatives, and tools to expand ORP’s scientific capabilities and contribute to creative solutions to address our coastal challenges.

Olivia received her Ph.D. in Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences from North Carolina State University and earned her B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Her background is in the ecology of changing coastal ecosystems. She has contributed to research on oyster restoration and monitoring, underwater soundscapes, mapping habitat and coastal change, invasive marine species, seagrass restoration, coral reef management, and fish habitat use across the Gulf Coast, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic. Olivia aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and applied conservation needs to effectively restore, conserve, and sustainably manage our coastal resources. She joined ORP in 2021.

As ORP’s Events & Marketing Coordinator, Kaylee creates exciting events, assists with fundraising, spreads awareness about ORP by managing its social media, and helps with communications and graphic design that showcase ORP’s mission and programs. She joined ORP in June 2021 and it has been a career high to work with the leading nonprofit in oyster restoration.

Kaylee has lived in Maryland her entire life but would love one day to move to Portugal and help facilitate a Shell Recycling Program in Southern Europe. She graduated from UMBC and has since contributed to meaningful nonprofit missions like animal welfare and parks and recreation. When she isn’t working, she loves to be outside (hiking, biking, kayaking – especially anything near the water!), traveling and exploring new towns or cities with a passion for culinary arts, live music (Phish is her church), and sports (Go O’s! Go Ravens!).  Kaylee currently lives in Towson with her husband, son, Australian Shepherd, and all-white cat.

Beth joined ORP’s staff as a Senior Manager in 2021. She leads project and grant management activities for the organization and supports other office functions including coordinating quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors.

Beth brings more than a decade of experience in project management for environmental organizations.  In previous roles, she has worked as an environmental consultant and held positions in state government and academia. She previously served as a data analyst for a trauma analytics company. She has been an officer of her neighborhood’s homeowner’s association and her son’s school’s PTA.

Beth grew up in Maryland, spending summers on her family’s boat in a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.  She received a Master of Science in Fisheries Science from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Maryland, where she was a member of the Women’s Gymnastics team.  She is a Certified Associate Project Manager with the Project Management Institute.  She enjoys a good book, a few moments of quiet yoga, the sound of the ocean, and cheering for her son’s athletic pursuits.  Beth resides in western Howard County with her husband and son.

As a Coastal Resource Scientist, Sarah coordinates and implements the large- and small-scale restoration efforts within Chesapeake Bay oyster sanctuaries. Sarah also supports the development and maintenance of commercial harvest e-reporting and aquaculture management tools. 

Sarah previously managed a local oyster aquaculture nursery where she fell head-over-heals for the oyster industry. Sarah received a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration in Aquatic Ecology from George Mason University and contributed to various research projects on coastal ecology, invasive marine species, parasitology and disease ecology, and water quality.  

Sarah hails from Leonardtown, MD and grew up spending time on the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers which sparked her passion in conservation of the Chesapeake Bay and supporting its fisheries. Now, she enjoys spending her time reading a good book, playing with her two cats, trying new recipes, playing board games, and spending time in the fresh air (ideally on the water). 

In her current, part-time role as Accounts Receivable Specialist for the Finance Department, Charlene primarily manages incoming funds for the organization pertaining to fundraising, events, grants, seed sales, merchandise and assists with special projects. She joined ORP in 2012 and previously handled other responsibilities, including accounts payable, expense reports, credit card expenses, and payroll.

Originally from Colorado, Charlene has come to enjoy the beauty and mystery of the Chesapeake Bay over the years. She received a B.A. in Business Administration from Rockmont College in Colorado, and a Certificate of Financial Accounting from Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. She managed a bank’s Investor Accounting department for 11 years until it was sold to a competitor. Since then, she has supported many different small businesses with her accounting, administrative, and QuickBooks expertise.

Now in the “empty nest” season of life, she and her husband enjoy hiking, bike riding, traveling, experiencing new cuisine, watching air shows, attending hot air balloon festivals, and visiting their two sons, who live in Georgia and North Carolina.

Elana is a Coastal Resource Scientist I at ORP. Her duties include documenting pre and post oyster restoration activities, managing ORP’s restoration and monitoring databases, and completing analysis of ecological datasets.

Elana went to the University of Tampa and received a bachelor’s degree in marine science-biology. She has always had a passion for marine life and conservation. She currently has her rescue diver certification and has traveled to Fiji to take part in a shark studies course. After graduation, she moved to the Florida Panhandle, where she did oyster restoration work in Apalachicola Bay. She conducted lab and field work to help determine the health of the bay and the surrounding oyster populations.

Elana spends as much of her free time as possible outside, especially at the beach or any other waterbody. She enjoys hiking and likes to find trails with incredible views. She loves to travel, especially to locations where she can scuba dive.

Jeremiah is a Shell Recycling Alliance Technician responsible for collecting recycled shell from restaurants in the Maryland/Virginia area. His primary routes include Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, Montgomery/Columbia, and Westminster. He is also responsible for much of the supply preparation for the Marylanders Grow Oysters program.

Hired in the summer of 2022, this is Jeremiah’s first full-time position within ORP; however, he has been involved with ORP in some capacity – primarily as a volunteer – for over a decade.

Jeremiah received a B.S. of Exercise Science in 2019 and served as physiology lab supervisor in his senior year. When possible, he enjoys hiking, and was fortunate enough to be able to visit Acadia National Park in Maine a few years ago and took a trip to Mt. Rogers in 2022. He also enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, video editing, and writing.

As the Director of Field Operations since 2017, Dave oversees staff and operations at ORP’s shell processing, setting, and loading facility in Cambridge, MD.

A Kent Island native, Dave grew up on the Chesapeake Bay. His love of the water led him to the Navy, where he became an awarded sailor. After the Navy he served aboard the State of Maryland’s buoy tender/icebreaker. During that time, he discovered diving, eventually graduating from the Diver’s Academy of the Eastern Seaboard. He then went on to work in the Gulf of Mexico before serving in the Army Active Reserve as a watercraft operator. Prior to ORP, Dave managed a successful diving business based out of Annapolis.

Dave feels very fortunate to be involved in ORP’s mission to improve the health of his beloved Chesapeake Bay. His free time is spent boating, camping, and traveling with his wife Brooke, and daughters Taylor, Piper, and Sophie.

As Program & Finance Support Manager, L.J. supports ORP’s financial operations, human resources, and administrative functions in the interest of the organization’s long-term sustainability. She proudly joined ORP’s team in 2022.

An Annapolis & Crownsville resident for the better part of her life, L.J. has extensive experience in customer service, financial, administrative, and human resources management. She has previously worked in the food service industry as owner and operator of Annapolis-based restaurants, Machoian Poultry, for Annapolis Athletic Club, Edgewater Fitness and Coastal Fitness, as Director of Administration & Human Resources and for Anne Arundel Police Department as a 911 operator. L.J. attended Anne Arundel Community College where she earned A.A.S. Degrees in Psychology, Paralegal Studies & a Certificate of Paralegal Studies and University of Baltimore where she earned a B.S. in Criminal Law.

L.J. grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and in Key Largo, Florida. She has an avid interest in the preservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and many other waterbodies and ecosystems. In her off time, you can find L.J. working in her garden, spending time with her eight nieces and nephews or hanging out with her rescue pets; a very sweet dog, Kreiger, and a very chubby, opinionated cat, Curby.

Kevin is the Payroll and Finance Specialist within ORP’s finance department. His duties include managing the timekeeping system, running payroll, reconciling company credit cards, and processing monthly expense reimbursements. He supports important financial controls by opening all office mail.

Kevin began as a part-time employee in January of 2018 and was promoted to full-time later that year. ORP is his first full-time job, and he has learned much in the past five years. He has also worked in the Records & Registration Office at AACC and had a brief gig as a contractor repairing telephones in the Baltimore County Jail.

Kevin is the only ORP staff member who doesn’t spend all his free time outside; instead, he enjoys playing video games and listening to music, including metal, hip-hop, punk, and jazz. He also likes reading. He does leave the house to play Dungeons & Dragons with his friends and to go for bike rides on the BWI and B&A trails.

An Eastern Shore native, Matt first worked with ORP as a volunteer, later joining the Shell Recycling Alliance full-time in the Summer of 2019. Matt has lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for most of his life and has always appreciated being close to the water. He feels a sense of satisfaction in knowing that what he does every day gives back to the area that he has appreciated as his home. Outside of work, Matt enjoys the outdoors, sunlight, going places and seeing things, snowboarding, motorcycles, the beach, and a nice juicy steak.

As Monitoring Coordinator, Jennica oversees ORP’s monitoring and evaluation efforts to ensure that restoration projects successfully meet the goals of the 10 Tributaries Agreement. Her role involves planning and implementing monitoring programs and coordinating with staff, watermen, and state and federal partners to collect data on oyster population dynamics. She conducts data analysis to further explore trends and better understand how oyster populations are responding to external pressures.

Jennica moved here from California, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from UC Davis and a Master’s degree in Biology from CSU Northridge. She has a diverse background in aquatic ecology, working in both marine and estuarine systems. She previously helped run a long-term monitoring program in the San Francisco Estuary and was a California Sea Grant Fellow with the Delta Stewardship Council. She has enjoyed taking her extensive experience in the San Francisco Bay to her new home bay in the Chesapeake.

Outside of work, you can find Jennica exploring the great outdoors with her small, senior dog tagging along in her backpack. She loves hiking, backpacking, canoeing, and SCUBA diving. When the weather isn’t nice enough to be outside, she likes to try out new baking recipes.

As Controller, Rebecca provides oversight on ORP’s budget and financial operations and helps to guide the organization to achieve success in all endeavors.

Rebecca joined ORP in 2019 as a Finance and Program Support Manager. She has 20+ years of experience working in multiple for-profit organizations.  Rebecca’s areas of focus and expertise include financial reporting and analysis, cash flow management, budget preparation, payroll processes, accounts payable and receivable, and project management.

As the daughter of a U.S. naval officer, Rebecca spent her childhood moving all over the country but truly fell in love with Annapolis and made it her home. Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family, especially supporting her daughters at their numerous sporting events, and pursuing her own fitness goals, which tend to culminate in family challenges with the winner earning bragging rights for the year.  You can also find her enjoying a tailgate in the fall with her fellow alumni from Penn State University (from where she graduated with a bachelor of science).

Tommy joined ORP in Spring of 2011 as an intern with the newly established Shell Recycling Alliance program. Since then, he has helped the program collect more than 300,000 bushels from approximately 300 collections sites across Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC.

He received his B.A. in History from Washington College in 2010, writing his thesis on the political and cultural influences of Maryland’s oyster industry over the last two centuries. Tommy was a member of the men’s rowing team and previously worked in the boat maintenance and marine equipment sales industry. Outside of work, Tommy enjoys fishing of all types, being with his dog, and generally messing about with boats.

As a Coastal Resource Scientist, Savannah’s work spans ORP’s Operations Team, including the Restoration, Sustainable Fisheries, and Public Fisheries programs. She conducts and validates large and small-scale restoration efforts, supports the development and maintenance of commercial harvest e-reporting and aquaculture management tools, manages ORP’s spatial databases, and performs and analyzes pre- and post-restoration activities. She also spearheads “Freaky Friday,” a weekly poll with a fun question sent to all ORP, ending the week on a collective high note.  

Savannah received her B.A from Wesleyan University, double majoring in Earth and Environmental Science and Studio Art and a minoring in East Asian Studies. A New York City native, she became interested in oysters by joining a community shellfish program in 2018 and enjoys growing oysters with her family every summer. For her senior Environmental Science research capstone project, she developed and performed methods to calculate the bioaccumulation rate of potentially toxic elements in oysters, testing their effectiveness as remediators in areas with historically high pollution.

Outside of work, Savannah enjoys hiking, swimming, making woodblock prints, embroidering bivalve related apparel, and playing her guitar.

 

Jordan assists the Coastal Resource Team with various monitoring and restoration activities for ORP’s fisheries and oyster restoration programs. Spending most of her time in the field, Jordan assists with oyster plantings, reef monitoring surveys, and commercial fisheries harvest verification. She also helps with data management, analysis and report writing, and education and community outreach events.

Jordan was a first mate for two years on a Chesapeake Bay fishing charter before beginning with ORP in 2023. Her passion for wildlife and the Bay community led her to attend Coastal Carolina University where she received a B.A. in Communications, concentration in Journalism and minor in Marine Science. Jordan has performed studies along the South Carolina coast to observe coastal processes and environmental effects on marine life. After graduation, she lived in Oahu and spent most of her time diving with sea turtles and sharks. Her love for all marine life continues to grow with new experiences and adventures.

A Kent Island local, Jordan grew up on the Chesapeake Bay. She still spends most of her time out on the water, at the beach with her two dogs, or enjoying traveling.

Kinsey oversees ORP’s Sustainable Fisheries Program. She develops, implements, and manages projects to boost Maryland’s oyster aquaculture industry and improve sustainable fishing practices in the Chesapeake Bay. 

She earned her BS and MS degrees in Biology from the University of Central Oklahoma and obtained her PhD in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia. Motivated to bridge the gap between science and practice, Kinsey pursued applied research questions, aiming to enhance the management, restoration, and sustainability of coastal resources. Her dissertation research focused on the population dynamics of oysters, collaborating with conservation practitioners to optimize reef restoration success. Kinsey also co-developed the first community-based science initiative on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, using photo stations to capture community images and build time-lapses illustrating coastal change, supporting research, outreach, and classroom goals.  

Now, she is excited to apply her skills in project management, data analysis, partnership development, and science communication to contribute to the ORP team. Kinsey’s passion for science and sustainable fisheries grew from experiences on (and under!) the water and her connection with the local communities she serves. Outside of work, she loves sailing, gardening, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her partner and dog, Hank. 

Paul works with businesses, organizations and individuals to build partnerships to increase the environmental, economic and cultural importance of oysters. He especially enjoys working with organizations whose interests align with the ORP mission, including private companies, public institutions, and fellow NGOs.

He has more than 30 years of experience in policy, communications, and partnerships in local and state governments and the private sector. Paul holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in economics from West Virginia University. He served as chief of staff for Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer and director of communications for Gov. Robert Ehrlich.

Paul lives in Annapolis and enjoys kayaking and cooking in his free time.

As the Oyster Industry Program Manager, Jen is in charge of coordinating stakeholders to implement large scale oyster restoration and replenishment activities within Chesapeake Bay sanctuaries and public harvest reefs.

Jen first joined ORP in 2014 after obtaining a bachelor of science in Environmental Science from the University of Delaware. After working for a year at ORP, Jen continued to graduate school where she earned a Master of Professional Science from the University of Miami in Fisheries Management and Conservation. Jen has held various roles including being a Fisheries Observer for NOAA, a GIS Specialist, and conducting extensive fisheries population and habitat mapping surveys. Returning to ORP in 2019, Jen has been involved with projects ranging from electronic harvest reporting to pre and post restoration monitoring surveys but particularly enjoys and thrives in industry engagement and support.

Jen is 6^th generation Kent Islander, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, with a family background within the commercial fishing industry. This sparked her interest in all things on and around the water. Outside of work, Jen enjoys boating, being outdoors and spending time with her crazy, German Shorthaired Pointer fur child, Paisley.

Zach began working at ORP as a part-time field crew member in the summer of 2000. Currently, as field crew manager, he is ORP’s longest serving employee and brings a wealth of experience to the job.

Zach is a Dorchester County native and a graduate of Cambridge-South Dorchester High School. He works in two local fire departments where he has served as both Chief and Vice President. In his free time, Zachary enjoys camping and helping to run his family business.