Melissa Vanderbilt, Director, Fundraising Committee Chairman
Ms Vanderbilt actively supports many Florida nonprofit organizations. Alarmed by the growth of the Gulf Of Mexico's "Dead Zone" over the past 20 years, Melissa's love and concern for her children's future has inspired her to volunteer her time to help us meet the growing needs of our organization. Her network of humanitarians and civic-minded, community and business leaders around the country has made her a valuable member of our organization. In addition to serving as our fund raising Chairman, Ms Vanderbilt is a partner in Manatee Investments and Manager of Coldwell Banker Sunstarr Realty.

Jean-Michel Cousteau, Director, Educational Media and Oceanographic Consultant
Explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer - for more than four decades Jean-Michel Cousteau has used his vast experiences to communicate to people of all nations and generations his love and concern for our water planet. Since first being 'thrown overboard' by his father at the age of seven with newly invented SCUBA gear on his back, Jean-Michel has been exploring the ocean realm. The son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel spent much of his life with his family exploring the world's oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone. After his mother's death in 1990 and his father's in 1997, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this pioneering work. Responding to his father's call to 'carry forward the flame of his faith,' Jean-Michel's Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit marine conservation and education organization, serves as a 'Voice for the Ocean' by fostering a conservation ethic, conducting research, and developing marine education programs. Jean-Michel serves as an impassioned spokesman and diplomat for the environment, reaching out to the public through a variety of media. He has produced over 70 films, and been awarded the Emmy, the Peabody Award, the 7 d'Or - the French equivalent of the Emmy, and the Cable Ace Award. Today, as President of Ocean Futures Society, Jean-Michel travels the globe, meeting with world leaders and policymakers, both at the grassroots level and the highest echelons of government and business, educating young people, documenting stories of change and hope, and lending his reputation and support to help energize alliances for positive change. Through Ocean Futures Society, Jean-Michel continues to produce environmentally oriented programs and television specials, public service announcements, multi-media programs for schools, web-based marine content, books, articles for magazines and newspaper columns, and public lectures, reaching millions of people all over the world.

David Baker, Director, Business Development
In addition to serving on the board of the Gulf Coast Preservation Society, Mr. Baker is President of Frantech Licensing, an international technology licensing and import/export company doing commerce with Asia and Europe. He has previously served on the boards of many California non-profit organizations and serves as Director of Business Development and executive producer of the Society's media productions. Mr. Baker is certified with the Center for International Trade Development, Export Small Business Development Corp. and the Department of Commerce. He is also a member of the World Trade Center and has served organizations as governor, president and director. In 1996, Mr. Baker received the "Outstanding Young Californian" award.

Larry Bestor, Director, Strategic Planning
Mr. Bestor has been actively involved in environmental awareness programs for over 30 years. Mr. Bestor is founder of the Gulf Coast Preservation Society, and co-founder of several innovative companies, including ATI Networks, MovieCentral, Manatee Investments, and Island Partners Club. He enjoys pioneering new companies that offer innovative, breakthrough products that provide consumers more choice, more convenience, and more control. He is a former member of the Marian College Advisory Committee, and is listed in WHO'S WHO of Leading American Executives.