ED ALMANZA

Ed Almanza is a professional environmental planner with special interest in the conservation of natural resources. His professional work focuses on implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the science of habitat management. He has authored dozens of environmental documents for local municipalities in Orange County. Mr. Almanza has a strong interest in the role of science in public policy formation, particularly in the area of natural resource conservation. He was instrumental in developing a scientific research program to support long-term management of multi-species preserves for the Natural Communities Conservation Program (NCCP). He is Laguna Ocean Foundation’s project manager for the Aliso Creek Estuary Restoration Project and coordinates the Laguna Coast Shorebird Survey. Mr. Almanza earned a Master’s Degree in Geography at UCSB with a thesis that analyzed methods for monitoring water quality of Mono Lake, California. A native southern Californian, Mr. Almanza first moved to Laguna Beach in 1971.

CYNTHIA LOVE

Cindy Love is a communications creative director by profession, native coastal Californian, environmental advocate and a Laguna Beach resident for more than 30 years. In addition to the ocean and nearshore ecology, her focus is on habitat conservation, restoration and reintegration of native and endemic species into our communities.

Gretchen Enright

KRISTIN ALLISON

Kristin is a lifelong California resident, with 19 of those years in Laguna Beach. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Political Economy and received her MBA from USC, which led to a 22-year career in sales and marketing. After retiring from corporate America, Kristin wanted to help protect Laguna’s natural resources. She went back to school and become a Certified Naturalist to volunteer at Crystal Cove State Park, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, and Laguna Canyon Foundation. Kristin is also an active LOF Tidewater Docent with 200+ hours on the rocks.

CANDICE BURROUGHS

Candice Burroughs is a 30+ year resident of the Laguna Beach area and is currently a real estate professional with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Realty. She is also a Certified Meeting Professional with extensive experience in the hospitality industry. She has had many opportunities to serve the community on both the local and regional level where she shares her passion for ocean, seniors, and the arts. She has been a student of gerontology and has been involved in the development of senior and affordable housing projects as well as many educational events for seniors and their families. Candice is the mother of two adult children and in her free time enjoys being on or in the water.

LAUREN HARPER

Lauren brings to the LOF Board her background in grant writing and project management. Currently, Lauren oversees the daily management of LACI’s Energy Programs and grants and assists in the further development of energy initiatives to advance clean technology innovation in Southern California. Before joining LOF, Lauren worked in administrative affairs and operational management at Columbia University and championed a collaborative grant program – overseeing the project management awarded projects – at Houston Wilderness. Lauren holds an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston focused on Environmental Sciences & Systems. Lauren enjoys birding and hiking in her free time.

MORGAN JUST

Morgan Just has spent the last 17 years traveling the world as a world-winning skimboard champion, flowboarding professional, and wake surfing professional. Today, as a Laguna Beach native and real estate professional partnered with the Stanaland Group, Morgan continues teaching skimboard camps and lessons locally and internationally, to spread his passion for the sport and inspire the youth of the next generation. He continues to give back to his community in many different avenues, including serving on the board of the Laguna Ocean Foundation.

FRANCES NAUDÉ

Frances Naudé is a Laguna Beach native, proud resident, and committed protector of the beaches and oceans of the world. She has been involved in environmental conservation efforts since she was 8 years old. In addition to grassroots preservation and hands-on volunteer work, Frances now defends our coasts primarily through her specialized skills in marketing, outreach, and public relations. Separately from her environmental work, Frances is a small business owner in the health and wellness sphere and feels honored to get to serve the Earth and the people who live here.

Cristina Robinson

Cristina got her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from California State University, Long Beach and protects marine life with research, education, and by advocating for plastic pollution prevention. She is the founder of @PlasticMeNot, a website and social media presence dedicated to spreading awareness on marine debris, plastic alternatives, zero waste options, pollution prevention policies, and current microplastic research findings. Cristina is a NOAA affiliate for the Protected Resources Division focused on sea turtles and marine mammals and has worked for various environmental nonprofits in Orange County. Currently, she is a first year graduate student at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara, specializing in Coastal Marine Resource Management and Pollution Prevention & Remediation.

DR. JAYSON SMITH

Dr. Jayson Smith is a marine and conservation ecologist employed as an assistant professor in the Biological Sciences Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. His research focuses on anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem functioning and community structure of coastal habitats. Given the high population of humans in southern California, urban coastal ecosystems are subjected to numerous human impacts. Work in Smith’s lab attempts to understand how these systems are changing and functioning in the face of these disturbances. Smith applies his conservation interests mostly to rocky intertidal ecosystems, focusing on invasive seaweeds; effects of human visitation; long-term change in community structure and dynamics; effects of climate change; restoration ecology, and environmental policy and management (such as Marine Protected Areas). The research questions addressed have implication in policy making decisions, particularly with current emphasis being placed on Ecosystem Based Management. Recently, research focus has been placed on introduced seaweeds, including determining their impact on community structure, how they fit into native food webs, and examination of transport vectors.