Blue + Green Session 4: Sea Through the Weeds – Navigating the Policies and Politics of Offshore Seaweed Farming in California

The Blue + Green 2022 webinar series will include 4 one-hour webinars scheduled Thursdays from June 2, 2022 – June 23, 2022 at 4 pm.  The goal of the project is to shine a spotlight on emerging aquaculture sector in our economy.  Aquaculture and the supporting technologies bring together all the key ingredients – future growth opportunities that support our coastal ecosystems, the economy, jobs, and our communities.  This webinar series reimagines partnerships between business, government, universities, and communities through regenerative ocean research, exploration, and equity-based economic development.

Speakers:

Randy Lovell, Cal Fish & Wildlife 

Randy Lovell was appointed State Aquaculture Coordinator in August 2012, after nearly thirty years in the aquaculture industry as both a designer, builder, and operator of aquaculture facilities and as a business owner, active in the sales and marketing of aquatic life support systems. As Aquaculture Coordinator, Mr. Lovell works with growers, regulators, decision-makers, and the general public to enhance the regulatory understanding of, and development opportunities for sustainable aquaculture in California.

David Telling, Founding Partner at Pacific6

For over 30 years, David has specialized in the creative direction and production of marketing and education materials on all forms of media. He has helped brand, message, and market companies both large and small – producing award-winning advertising, print work, videos, web development and training programs for such companies as Sony, Panasonic, DuPont, Agility Logistics, Nexus, Dacor and Realty One Group.

David’s career began in education. He graduated with a Bachelor of Education, Honors Degree, in England, represented Great Britain at the International Olympic Academy in Athens/Olympia and was invited to California State University, Long Beach to lecture on the Pre-Modern Olympic Games. Over time, David transitioned his abilities as an educator to reach broader audiences – first as the Editor of Southern California Style Magazine, and then with Small Island Multimedia, his own advertising agency.

Diane Windham, Regional Aquaculture Coordinator – California, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region

Diane Windham, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Regional Aquaculture Coordinator for California, has served in this role for over 15 years, as a liaison between the Office of Aquaculture at NOAA Headquarters and NOAA offices in California. Located in NOAA Fisheries’ Long Beach Office, Diane coordinates with NOAA policy and science assets both in Fisheries and the National Ocean Service (NOS). She also works closely with state and local government, and the aquaculture industry. Currently, Diane is working on several proposed offshore aquaculture projects in southern California, collaborating with National Ocean Service colleagues on marine spatial analyses and predictive modeling to inform siting and assess species and habitat interactions with potential aquaculture operations. Her work also includes conducting grant reviews as well as being co-PI on various grant projects. With a career spanning over 35 years with the federal government and most of that with NOAA Fisheries, Diane has worked primarily in regulatory and policy roles in California, translating science and applying it to inform the regulatory process. She has also worked on recovery planning for ESA-listed species, ESA listings and consultations, critical habitat designations, and outreach and education. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, coastal and marine resource management is her passion, along with facilitation and negotiation skills to reach solutions and resolve conflicts between various users of ocean space. Prior to government work, Diane conducted marine mammal research and survey work in southern California, and on the Southern California Channel Islands

Moderator:

Wendy Greuel, Former Controller, City of Los Angeles

A working mom and lifelong Angeleno, Wendy attended LA public schools and graduated from UCLA. Wendy started her career in public service working for her mentor, former Mayor Tom Bradley, where for ten years she worked on a wide range of public policy issues including childcare, senior care homelessness, housing, public health, and education. While in Mayor Bradley’s office, Wendy was a leader in the creation of LA’s BEST, a nationally recognized after school program that provides a safe and supervised environment for children after school and helped found the city’s first childcare center. Wendy’s commitment to affordable housing led her to Washington D.C., where she served in President Clinton’s administration as the Deputy Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness and later as the Southern California Regional Director at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1997, Wendy transitioned into the private sector, working for five years in the film industry as an executive at DreamWorks SKG. She provided strategic guidance in their civic and philanthropic efforts in the Los Angeles Region. In 2002, Wendy was elected to the Los Angeles City Council and quickly developed an impressive record of accomplishment by creating jobs, preserving open space and reducing traffic congestion. In 2009, Wendy was elected City Controller, becoming only the second woman in LA’s history elected to citywide office. As Controller, she brought a laser focus to examining government finances ensuring our taxpayer dollars were spent efficiently and she brought greater transparency to government. In 2013, Wendy was engaged by the Orange County Discovery Science Center to help open their new facility, Discovery Cube LA, in the San Fernando Valley.  She is providing strategic advice on Board development, fundraising and civic engagement for Discovery Cube L.A. In addition, in 2016, Wendy was appointed as an Executive in Residence and Strategic Advisor at the California State University Northridge Nazarian College of Business and Economics.

She currently serves on the LAHSA Commission working on homeless issues, as Co-Chair of the LAUSD Task Force, as a member of the Women and Girls Initiative Governing Council, and on the boards of Emily’s List, Fisker Inc., Emerge CA, East Valley YMCA, Oakwood School, Discovery Cube L.A., Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project, CAUSE, ABODE, Homeland Security Advisory Council, UCLA Luskin Advisory Board and on the L.A. Kings Business Advisory Board. Wendy and her husband Dean are also the proud parents of their son, Thomas.

Cover photo by Oleksandr Sushko on Unsplash