Committees are essential to SECOORA operations. As established by our Bylaws, it is the one of the primary mechanisms by which members interact with and make decisions for the organization. Below are the active committees.

Email Abbey Wakely, abbey@secoora.pactmedia.org, for minutes, documents and more information on each committee.


Executive Committee

The Executive Committee works with the SECOORA staff to prepare draft meeting materials and policy documents for consideration by the Board of Directors; recommend Policy Committee assignments to the Board; and additional duties as designated by the bylaw or the Board. Executive Committee members are elected for one year terms with ability to be reelected for a second term.

Members

Chairman: Gary Mitchum, University of South Florida College of Marine Science
Vice-Chairman: Jim Murley, Miami-Dade County
Secretary: William Savidge, UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Treasurer: Susan Lovelace, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
At Large: Evelien VanderKloet, Ocean Tracking Network

Staff

Debra Hernandez, SECOORA
Megan Lee, SECOORA
Abbey Wakely, SECOORA
Jennifer Dorton, SECOORA


Finance and Audit Committee

The Committee oversees the financial management and health of SECOORA which includes reviewing the budget, financial reports and participating in the annual audit, financial policies, and major financial decisions.

Members

Susan Lovelace, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (Chair)
Conrad C. Lautenbacher, GeoOptics
Jeff Copeland, WeatherFlow
Peter Hamilton

Staff

Debra Hernandez, SECOORA
Megan Lee, SECOORA


Board Development Committee

Board Development Committee oversees all aspects of Board elections, including, but not limited to, establishing election procedures, developing a ballot and soliciting nominations.

Members
Gary Mitchum, USF CMS
Susan Lovelace, SC Sea Grant
Molly Baringer, NOAA AOML
Paul Sandifer, College of Charleston

Staff
Abbey Wakely, SECOORA


Governance Committee

At the request of the Board, the Governance Committee reviews all bylaw questions and makes recommendations to the Board regarding any action.

Members

Lynn Leonard, University of North Carolina at Wilmington 
Tracey Smart, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 
Clifford Merz, Dialytics 
Jim Murley, Miami Dade County 

Staff

Megan Lee, SECOORA


Education and Outreach Committee

At the request of the Board, the Education and Outreach Committee provides valuable support to SECOORA via input and oversight of these student opportunities, as well as advice and guidance on priority educational and outreach needs and opportunities.

Members

Dwayne Porter, University of South Carolina (Chair – elected September 27, 2018)
Melinda Simmons, Jacksonville University
Lynn Leonard, University of North Carolina Wilmington
EV Bell, South Carolina Sea Grant
Aly Busse, Mote Marine Laboratory
Mary Conley, The Nature Conservancy
Katy Smith, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant 

Staff

Abbey Wakely, SECOORA
Jennifer Dorton, SECOORA