Board of Directors and Staff
The Coastal Quest Board wishes to acknowledge George Donaldson’s long-standing service, since 2010. He was an astute advisor and key supporter of the organization and its values. His wonderful spirit and love of the coast will continue to inspire us to protect and restore the coast for people and nature.
A memorial donation can be made here
Board of Directors
Board President: R. Peter "Chip" Mallari
R. Peter “Chip” Mallari is an avid ocean lover with family roots in Hawaii. Chip is a devoted surfer and musician who understands the value of healthy coastal and ocean communities. He joined Coastal Quest in 2010 and brings extensive legal and advising experience.
Chip is a consultant and technology attorney based in Silicon Valley. He has managed and/or participated in the sales, finance, business and corporate development, licensing, intellectual property, marketing, human resources, and facilities and operations of technology companies, either in house or as a consultant. Currently, Chip works as a consultant for start-up companies in a variety of sectors including business technology, social media, music/musical instruments, and athletic apparel. Previously, Chip was the senior director of worldwide legal affairs for Fonality, Inc., a VoIP and unified computing company. Prior to that, he served as managing attorney for IronPort Systems, a company focused on email and web security.
During his time at IronPort, the company’s revenues grew from $30 million a year to over $500 million a year; IronPort was purchased by Cisco Systems, Inc. Prior to IronPort, he was senior corporate counsel at Verisity Design, Inc., a company focused on semiconductor chip design; Verisity was purchased by Cadence Design Systems. Chip performed a wide variety of tasks with IronPort and Verisity (similar to his role at Fonality), with the added role of managing and/or participating in the merger and subsequent integration activities of IronPort into Cisco and Verisity into Cadence, respectively.
Chip started his legal career as a corporate associate at Fenwick & West LLP, a law firm based in Silicon Valley. His practice focused on technology companies, representing both companies and investors in venture capital financings in excess of $250 million, mergers and acquisitions in excess of $7 billion, and public offerings in excess of $550 million. He earned his Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University and a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Davis.
Board Vice President: Cat Kuhlman
Cat Kuhlman was appointed by California Gov Jerry Brown in 2012 to serve as Deputy Secretary for Ocean Policy and Ocean Protection Council Executive. Until she retired in 2016, she provided the vision to lead agencies toward the shared goal of healthy ocean ecosystems and a sustainable future for oceans and those who rely on them to make their living. Her work spans the west coast where she built productive collaborations with neighboring states by identifying common priorities and approaches that serve across political borders. Key to her success, both within California and beyond, was positioning science to inform sound policy goals and decisions, and providing open, transparent processes that led to durable outcomes. Critically, Cat reached out to tribal peoples, fishermen, industry and others to ensure the broadest input and created a stronger understanding of the impacts of climate change on ocean systems and policy options to combat them.
Prior to this role, Cat led the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board where her work at preserving critical headwaters earned her national recognition and multiple awards. Here too, her success derived from fair, open and informed processes where science served as a common denominator. Cat has also served in various capacities within the US Environmental Protection Agency, addressing complex water resource management issues across jurisdictions and national borders. Known as a staunch advocate for resource stewardship and a problem solver who seeks equitable solutions, Cat continues to be sought after for her expertise at working on the intersection of the Clean Water Act and marine resource management. When she’s not working Cat and her husband are avid travelers, exploring waterways and coasts throughout the world.
Treasurer of the Board: Kathryn “Kathy” Randlett
Kathy Randlett earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from California State University, Hayward in 1976. She became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of California in 1978 and is currently a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the California Society of CPAs.
Kathy spent five years in public accounting before leaving to become Controller for a real estate development company where she stayed for 7 years before the company was acquired by Quadrant, a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser. She continued to provide consulting services to Quadrant and coordinated the transition. At the same time, she formed her own business and accounting consulting practice to a variety of mid-size businesses, becoming an integral part of the management team for her clients. In many cases, Kathy bridged the gap between the internal and external accounting functions. She has over 40 years of experience in the accounting field and is currently a retired CPA residing in San Francisco.
A native of the Bay Area, Kathy has always been a supporter of environmental solutions and conservation of our biodiversity and natural resources. She was raised to appreciate the outdoors and continues to enjoy California’s mountains and coastlines.
Board Secretary: Barbara Endemaño Walker
Barbara Endemaño Walker has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Geography from UC Berkeley and a B.A. in Anthropology and African Studies from UCLA. She concurrently serves as the Director of Research Development and the Special Assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor for Diversity Initiatives at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB). Prior to these positions, she was an NSF Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Anthropology and the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) at UCSB. Her research and publications focus on the political ecology of marine resources, gender and the environment, and broadening participation in higher education and STEM, and she has conducted field work in Ghana, French Polynesia, Mexico, and California. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, NOAA Sea Grant, the Social Science Research Council, and the Department of Education, among others. She was a founding board member of the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP), and she currently leads the Center for Research, Excellence, and Diversity in Team Science (https://oru.research.ucsb.edu/teamscience/). She is also co-author of the book Funding Your Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences: A Practical Guide to Grant and Fellowship Proposals (Routledge 2017).
Board Member and Executive Director: Tegan Hoffmann
Tegan Hoffmann has over 25 years of experience in coastal and ocean conservation and resource management and is one of Coastal Quest’s founding members and the Executive Director of Coastal Quest. After 15 amazing years founding and leading Blue Earth Consultants, both independently and under the ERG umbrella, she left to focus on fulfilling the Coastal Quest vision and mission. Tegan has deep experience working on domestic and international projects, focusing on building climate resilience, and achieving sustainable resource management and conservation goals.
Tegan has extensive know-how designing, developing, and launching projects, programs, and institutions for private foundations, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations. She has authored several publications and received numerous awards and research grants for her work on conservation, resource management, and building local conservation capacity in the Wider Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, from such organizations as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s STAR Fellowship, the University of California’s Pacific Rim Research Program, and the U.S. Indonesia Society. She has developed and conducted several trainings in the Wider Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions for hundreds of community stakeholders on conservation and resource management issues, and has taught several courses at the University of California. Tegan graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds Ph.D. and master’s degrees in geography and a B.S. degree in conservation resource studies.
Board Member: Jen Sokolove
Jen Sokolove leads the program team at the Water Foundation, which drives grantmaking strategy to secure safe water for people, restore and sustain freshwater ecosystems, and build climate resilience. As a member of the senior management team, she helps implement the foundation’s overall mission and works closely with the CEO to engage new partners, develop campaign strategies, and grow field capacity. Jen has been working on sustainability for more than two decades, with a focus on community-based conservation.
Prior to joining the Water Foundation, Jen led grantmaking at the Compton Foundation around movement-building and narrative in climate change, reproductive justice, and peace and security. She first joined Compton to advance its environmental programs on fresh water, climate, and rural conservation in the western United States, as well as sustainable food systems and art for social change. Before Compton, Jen worked on a variety of community-led conservation projects in California, Montana, and the Pacific Northwest. She serves on the boards of the Story of Stuff, EcoAdapt, and the Biodiversity Funders Group, and the advisory board for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at UC Santa Cruz. Jen received a PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from UC Berkeley.
Staff
Executive Director: Tegan Hoffmann
Tegan Hoffmann has over 25 years of experience in coastal and ocean conservation and resource management and is one of Coastal Quest’s founding members and the Executive Director of Coastal Quest. After 15 amazing years founding and leading Blue Earth Consultants, both independently and under the ERG umbrella, she left to focus on fulfilling the Coastal Quest vision and mission. Tegan has deep experience working on domestic and international projects, focusing on building climate resilience, and achieving sustainable resource management and conservation goals.
Tegan has extensive know-how designing, developing, and launching projects, programs, and institutions for private foundations, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations. She has authored several publications and received numerous awards and research grants for her work on conservation, resource management, and building local conservation capacity in the Wider Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, from such organizations as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s STAR Fellowship, the University of California’s Pacific Rim Research Program, and the U.S. Indonesia Society. She has developed and conducted several trainings in the Wider Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions for hundreds of community stakeholders on conservation and resource management issues, and has taught several courses at the University of California. Tegan graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds Ph.D. and master’s degrees in geography and a B.S. degree in conservation resource studies.
Senior Director: Lily Verdone
Lily Verdone is collaborative leader with two decades of experience demonstrating and scaling conservation solutions to major environmental challenges. She has expertise in effectively engaging across sectors to deliver maximum conservation impact, with a concentration on equity and climate.
Lily joined Coastal Quest in January 2021 and prior to her role, held positions in regional government, non-profit, and private consulting. Most recently, she spent ten years with The Nature Conservancy, including serving as the Director of Freshwater and Marine for the Texas Chapter and as the Coastal Program Director for the California Chapter. Much of Lily’s conservation expertise has focused on helping build capacity around climate resilience through partnerships, cutting-edge science, and on-the-ground conservation. She is most passionate about expanding and strengthening unique relationships with non-traditional partners and underserved communities in decisions around nature-based solutions, climate smart policy, and market-based results. She has led a broad range of initiatives, including: developing partnerships to protect and restore the Santa Clara River Watershed, Oxnard Plain and coastal habitat throughout California; reimagining the recovery of the Texas oyster fishery through restoration for both commercial harvesting and habitat protection; initiating a Gulf of Mexico Sustainable Fisheries Program in collaboration with fishers, industry, and regulators in all five Gulf states, Mexico and Cuba; developing a global planning tool for sea level rise and coastal hazard adaption; and, collaborating with community groups, local agencies and FEMA to reimagine flood resilience post-Hurricane Harvey in the greater Houston Region and across the Gulf Coast.
Lily attended Sonoma State University where she obtained a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Planning and an M.S. in Biology. She is a Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation Fellow and speaks Spanish.
Operations Manager: Andrew White
Andrew joined Coastal Quest in January 2022. As a proven finance and accounting specialist, Andrew brings deep experience and knowledge from both the non-profit and private sectors. Prior to joining Coastal Quest, Andrew worked as a Project Accountant at an International Development firm, Tetra Tech, where he managed the finance departments of several field offices overseas. Before joining Tetra Tech, Andrew worked as a Finance and Administrative Coordinator at an Oakland non-profit, helping manage the organization’s finance, administrative and operations departments. In his role, Andrew helped spearhead new systems that helped improve the organization’s budget and grant processes, a CRM database, as well as managed the operations of the organization. Andrew is also a military veteran, who served for seven years in both the US Navy and the US Army Reserves.
Andrew received his B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of California, Berkeley with a concentration in Conflict Resolution. Andrew is a current graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy where he is pursuing an M.A. in Global Business Administration.
Communications and Outreach Manager: Leah Kucera
Leah joined the Coastal Quest team in March 2022, after five years with NASA’s Capacity Building Program. An all-arounder with marketing, GIS, and design expertise, she’s especially passionate about strategic communications for a better planet. Prior to coming aboard, she was the GIT Communications Lead for SERVIR: an interagency cooperative program building global capacity to use Earth observations and geospatial technologies. Well-versed in the applied research space for international development and conservation projects, Leah has led UX/UI workshops in Cambodia, SciComms courses in Senegal and Portugal, and guest lectured on cartographic design at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Kucera was also instrumental in the development of the SAR Handbook, an open-access resource on using synthetic aperture radar for forestry and related applications. Before starting her NASA career as a research assistant at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she worked as an information designer for a Seattle-based life sciences company. Leah has also conducted field research across Italy, Scotland, and the dunes of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.
Leah is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied geology and graphic design. Outside of work, she enjoys longboarding, stopping to read roadside plaques, and skiing (when weather permits).
Project Manager: Gabi Polo
Gabi joined Coastal Quest in April 2022 with over 7 years of experience managing complex conservation and development initiatives across the globe. She is passionate about empowering coastal communities to be stewards of their resources and has worked closely with community members—fishers, oyster farmers, women, and indigenous groups—to ensure their needs are heard and that they have a role in making decisions that affect their future. Gabi brings a wealth of expertise in community-led solutions, stakeholder engagement, behavior change, and capacity building. Throughout her career, Gabi has facilitated several participatory mapping, profiling, and visioning exercises with community groups, and implemented trainings, scenario planning sessions, discussions, and other tools to help local actors articulate their goals, priorities, challenges, and potential solutions. She has also planned and supported community consultations to create multi-benefit coastal solutions.
Most recently, she spent five years managing Rare’s flagship program (Fish Forever) to revitalize coastal habitats, protect biodiversity, and secure coastal livelihoods in Central America. In that role, Gabi oversaw program implementation, contributed to program strategy and fundraising, and collaborated with diverse partners to advance sustainable ocean policies and build local capacity for marine resource management. Gabi’s contributions and leadership were essential to achieving critical milestones, including the program’s expansion into new geographies; the declaration of Honduras’s first community-led managed access area; the successful launch and execution of a behavior change campaign to promote responsible fishing; the growth of Honduras’s fully protected reserve network; and the strengthening of the resilience of vulnerable coastal governments and Indigenous communities. Prior to this work, Gabi supported several conservation and livelihoods projects in Belize, Cuba, and Costa Rica with Rare, Ocean Doctor, and University of Florida’s Conservation Law Clinic.
Gabi holds a B.A. in Economics and International Studies from DePaul University and a Master’s in Sustainable Development Practice with a Specialization in Tropical Conservation and Development from the University of Florida. As a native of Ecuador’s largest coastal city, Gabi is fluent in Spanish and has a deep passion for coastal and marine conservation.