WHO WE ARE

OG is the brainchild of two Silicon Valley veterans who were passionate about the Ocean and wanted to do more to help.  Mike Davis, marketing specialist, and Jennifer Persson, licensing lawyer, co-founded OG in 2018 believing that if they could identify those organizations doing the most impactful work and fundraise to support them, they could make a meaningful difference.  They realized early on that some charities fundraise through in-kind donations like artwork, cars and yachts and, because Jennifer had started spending more time in South Florida, the yachting capital of the U.S., they pursued yacht donations as an important funding raising source.

WHAT WE DO

We believe every philanthropist wants to make a meaningful difference. The challenge is to figure out which organizations are best able to make that difference, That takes time and research so we do the following two things to maximize the impact of every donation:

  • Research to identify the most impactful organizations and

  • Fundraise to support them

We hope to address ten Challenges the Ocean is facing (OCEAN CHALLENGES) over time.

OUR TEAM

Jennifer Persson, Founder & President - Jennifer has been an Ocean lover her entire life and is thrilled to be leading the charge for Ocean Grants.  Formerly a Silicon Valley licensing lawyer and entrepreneur, she brings 25 years of research, writing and fund raising experience to Ocean Grants.  Her charitable involvements include National Charity League, StandUp for Kids, OneSource Empowering Caregivers and Reef.org.  Jennifer's undergraduate degree is from Stanford University and her law degree is from Santa Clara University.  Some of her favorite Ocean  adventures include diving with Hammerhead Sharks on the Great Barrier Reef, petting Gray Whales in San Ignacio Lagoon, and snorkeling with Sea Lions in the Galapagos.  In her free time, Jennifer enjoys scuba diving, beach combing, paddle boarding, yoga and prehistoric shark toothing.  She is passionate about supporting and accelerating the progress of the hard working people attempting to solve various Ocean challenges.  

Johanna Mead, Development Director - From the picturesque shores of Wales in the United Kingdom, Johanna has made Florida her sanctuary for over 25 years. Following a career in landscape architecture, she shifted her focus to coastal zone management and environmental concerns. Her graduate studies at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School ignited a deep passion for combating climate change and understanding its human-driven impacts on our oceans. Her master’s project centered on a nature-based infrastructure solution, blending both green and gray elements, aimed at mitigating sea level rise and storm surges in South Florida. Johanna contributes to the community by fostering kittens for the humane society and is a Florida Master Naturalist, knowledgeable about Florida's indigenous plants and wildlife. During her leisure moments, Johanna enjoys cooking and walks with her husband and dog.

Jim Daisey, Yacht Manager - Having been raised in South Florida Jim has spent a lifetime on the water fishing and boating.  He has maintained his 1600/3000 GT USCG license for the past 27 years. His maritime career has afforded Jim the opportunity to visit many remote locations which has made clear the importance of protecting our waters and oceans for present and future generations. Following a successful career in yachting, Jim owns a yacht management company in Ft. Lauderdale FL, leading to his pairing with Ocean Grants Foundation since 2020. OGF attributes a large percentage of its yacht donation program success to Jim.  In his free time Jim enjoys fishing, boating, outdoor adventures, and cooking.

Kathi-Lee Dewinn, Volunteer -

(Bio coming soon)

Cassie Benson, Volunteer - Falling in love with the ocean came early for Cassie and has never waned. She has spent the past 24 years carrying around her dive card exploring the deep blue and the shallow greens. Her travels have allowed her to swim with sharks, hover over teeny nudibranch and explore the hollow bellies of sunken ships. She has seen the rapid decline in fish populations and reef health. Currently, she volunteers her time to the Better Business Bureau Northwest + Pacific and Project Aware. Cassie joined the Ocean Grants team to help them share the message of ocean conservation, visually. She holds a B.S. in Graphic Design from Full Sail University.

Diane Bosler, Volunteer - Diane has loved being a part of Ocean Grants. She has always been an avid diver and has dove extensively the Bahamian waters...She is a boat captain and has a Hundred Ton license. Maintaining the beauty of our waters is a passion. She graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and was raised in Dallas, Texas but always had a love to get to the ocean. She has done a great deal of charity work including being President of Hospice Care in Broward County.

Marta Weinstock, Strategic Projects Manager - Marta Weinstock brings over two decades of experience in program leadership and environmental stewardship, with a deep passion for protecting our global oceans. Her notable projects include installing solar lights in a Himalayan village, leading a beach cleanup in Kytheria, Greece, and a lifelong commitment to volunteering for environmental initiatives. Engaging with diverse stakeholders, Marta has fostered meaningful connections across various private and public sectors. Her dedication to sustainability aligns perfectly with Ocean Grants’ mission of advancing marine conservation.

Chad Scott, Graphics - Although a native of the Rocky Mountains, he fell in love with the coral reef while doing an undergraduate thesis at the university. From there, he started the New Heaven Reef Conservation Program in 2007. In 2020, that program was evaluated as one of the world's most successful long-term coral restoration programs. From there, Chad went on to found the non-profit Conservation Diver in 2014. Conservation Diver is a global training and educational organization seeking to facilitate others in starting their own marine resource management program, providing educational materials, accreditation, funding, and mentorships. As such, he prioritizes spending much of his time sharing knowledge and empowering younger generations to find or create for themselves a career involving marine science, protection, and restoration.

Simone Nix, Social Media - Simone has always had a deep love and passion for the ocean. Scuba diving and snorkeling around the world from a young age, she has seen the degradation of these vital ecosystems firsthand and pledged to aid its conservation and restoration. Holding over 12 different PADI scuba certifications, including divemaster and instructor licenses, Simone leads dives, educating citizen scientists on coral restoration techniques and marine conservation.  She also holds degrees in marine biology and communications from  the University of Miami.  Co-founding two different coral organizations, she channels her passion for ocean preservation, effective communication, creative design, and storytelling.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mike Davis, Director - Mike's experience includes marketing, product management, business development, partner relations and engineering with Moblyng Games, Rocket Mobile, AOL and Netscape.  Most recently, he's led the development of mobile apps including games, streaming video social media, mapping, news and commerce.  Mike's long been a fan of the Ocean beginning with weekly trips to Santa Cruz as a child and followed by decades of recreational surfing.  Mike and his wife are active volunteers with 4-H, Girl Scouts and other local youth organizations.  Mike holds a MBA from Santa Clara University and a BS Engineering degree from San Jose State.   

Ted Levinson - 

(Bio coming soon)

Claire LaBrunerie, Director - As a management consultant with BrightPath Strategies, Claire LaBrunerie serves a mix of domestic and international clients, including both corporations and not-for-profit organizations seeking to design and implement sustainability and fundraising initiatives. Claire has deep professional experience in several practice areas, including private sector capital markets, private fund launches and distribution, global impact investing (with gender, climate change, and agri specializations), commercial real estate development and global NPL workouts, and M&A integration projects. Claire has a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University, an M.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. In her spare time, Claire is an environmental advocate, serving on the Boards of Ocean Grants and Ocean Grants Foundation and working as a UNESCO World Heritage consultant for the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Maryanne Rooke -

(Bio coming soon)