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San Diego Coastkeeper
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
| Press Contacts | |
|---|---|
| Bruce Reznik | (619) 758-7743 (619) 851-9997 (cell) |
San Diego Coastkeeper Welcomes Three New Team Members
SAN DIEGO, CA - San Diego Coastkeeper has welcomed three new staff members in recent weeks – Watershed Monitoring Coordinator Karen Franz, Outreach Coordinator Danielle Miller and Accountant Karen McLaughlin. Karen Franz replaces Hiram Sarabia, who has moved on to a research position at the University of California San Diego, while Danielle is taking over for Elizabeth Studebaker, who is now a Case Manager for the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council. The Accounting position is new at Coastkeeper.
“We are thrilled to add three such quality people to the Coastkeeper team,” noted Executive Director Bruce Reznik. “We are confident that they will help us build upon our successful community outreach programs while also improving Coastkeeper’s internal administration to ensure that we continue being the leading voice on protecting San Diego’s waters.”
Karen Franz joined San Diego Coastkeeper in January 2006 as Watershed Monitoring Program Director. Karen brings to Coastkeeper a broad multidisciplinary background and six years of project management experience, with research and practical experience in international development for water resource management and integrated water planning. Karen, a native Californian, holds a Bachelors degree in Geology from Claremont McKenna College and a LL.M. in International Law from the University of Leiden (The Netherlands). Before coming to Coastkeeper, Karen has worked as a freelance researcher on a variety of projects pertaining to watershed management, governance, development and protection. Most recently, she worked with a grassroots Non Governmental Organization in Brazil to empower rural landowners to monitor their surface waters and establish its water project. At Coastkeeper, she will continue Hiram Sarabia’s work to integrate the technical and scientific approaches of watershed monitoring directly within the organization’s legal and educational framework.
Danielle Miller joined San Diego Coastkeeper in February 2006 to serve as the organization’s Outreach Director. Danielle will manage Coastkeeper’s Beach Cleanup program, coordinate our community outreach and fundraising events such as California Coastal Cleanup Day, Save The Bay kayak race and our annual Ocean Gala benefit, and assist with member communication and office management. Before joining Coastkeeper, Danielle has spent the last year managing the preparation of the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan for the City of San Diego’s Water Department. Danielle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Geography from San Diego State University in 2002. While at SDSU, Danielle served as an intern at Coastkeeper (then ‘Baykeeper’), where she assisted with the organization’s Water Monitoring Program and helped organize beach clean-ups and support community outreach efforts.
Karen McLaughlin joined the Coastkeeper team in December 2005 as head of the accounting department, where she works with Bookkeeper Roni Kleinhen to manage the financial aspects of the organization and help program directors track funding requirements. Karen’s work experience as an independent CPA in Virginia and assistant comptroller, as well as volunteer positions for a variety of nonprofit organizations, add to San Diego Coastkeeper’s already successful operations. Graduating from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Karen advances her education through continuing professional education courses.
“Coastkeeper would like to thank Hiram and Liz for their years of service to the organization,” added Reznik. “As a result of their hard work and dedication, our beach cleanup, water monitoring and community outreach programs reach thousands of San Diegan’s every year and have a measurable impact on the health of local waters. We wish them well in their new positions, where they will continue to be an asset to the San Diego community.”
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