Lad is a long-time Santa Barbara resident who as a commercial fisherman/diver amassed over 10,000 hours underwater along California shorelines. He is the founder of two pioneering enterprises known for the development of subsea equipment and marine construction techniques, Cal Dive International and Oceaneering International—both now New York Stock Exchange companies. Having made his mark on the subsea industry in countless ways, including taking practical diving depths from 200’ to 3,000’, he is alegend in the commercial diving industry. Since losing the use of his body from the chest down as a result of a 1985 skiing accident, Lad has continued to sponsor and support projects and organizations that improve the quality of the ocean and its resources.

Jim retired from Cal Dive International, Inc., a marine contractor and operator of offshore oil and gas properties and production facilities, where he was, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Chairman and a Director. Mr. Nelson currently serves on the Boards of Directors of four publicly traded companies: W&T Offshore, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company focused in the Gulf of Mexico; Oil States International, Inc., a diversified oilfield services company; Input/Output, a seismic services provider; and Quintana Maritime Ltd., an international provider of dry bulk cargo marine transportation services based in Athens, Greece. He also is amember of the Board for The Ucross Foundation, an artist colony located on a 20,000 acre working cattle ranch in Wyoming; and Volunteers Of America (VOA), a human service organization providing homeless, correctional, youth and substance abuse programs in Wyoming & Montana.

Alice is an Environmental Consultant with over 20 years of experience in assessing the impacts of human activities on marine, coastal, and terrestrial resources. Her contributions have included project management, technical writing, detailed research and data acquisition, biological monitoring, and the application of the requirements of significant environmental statutes and regulations. She served as Project Manager assisting the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) in preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for their Management Plan update. She has also analyzed bowhead whale acoustic monitoring data collected as mitigation data for oil and gas exploration in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Originally from the Philadelphia area, she holds a BA in Biology (marine biology concentration) from University of Pennsylvania and a MS in Management (marine resources management) from Texas A&M University.

During her years as an undergraduate at the University of California, Peggy worked as a commercial abalone diver at the Channel Islands. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marine Biology, she was employed as a research diver for the University, participating in the Exxon population studies to determine the effects of the 1969 oil spill on the abalone beds around the Channel Islands. Additionally, she worked as a salmon biologist for the Fish and Game department in Alaska, and spent several years abroad, primarily in Scotland, working in the offshore oil industry. Peggy is a long-time environmentalist and, while she currently resides in north San Diego County, is an active member of Heal the Ocean in Santa Barbara.

Byron brings to SOS extensive experience as a Geologist and Safety Engineer. He has held significant supervisory positions in petroleum drilling-production-refining, diving technology and related industries, with special emphasis on regulations which address safety and health. These include Principal Engineer for mineral industries, mining and tunneling Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the State of California, with safety responsibility for the entire state; and Committee Chairman for writing the Administrative Codes and Regulations for underwater work and petroleum drilling-well service. Byron has received commendations from 3 governors and chiefs of the divisions of the state Division of Occupational Safety. Byron holds a BS in Geology from UCLA, was chosen to study diving with Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and served in the US Army in Europe as a member of the Counterintelligence Corps.

Don Barthelmess is a Professor of Marine Technology at Santa Barbara City College, where he has been training professional commercial divers for twenty-seven years. Don is passionate about diving safety and marine education. He shares his love of the Santa Barbara Channel and the ocean as a critical but fragile resource. Don’s career has taken him on diving projects all over the world in support of marine research, offshore oil and gas operations and film projects for many organizations, including National Geographic Society. This past year, Don trained divers for each of SeaWorld’s Parks. Professionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of The Association of Commercial Diving Educators and the Technical Diving Advisory Board for the National Association of Underwater Instructors. Locally, he serves on the Board of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and is currently Vice-President of the Board of Directors. He is also a past president of The Historical Diving Society USA.

Myra Mahoney came to Santa Barbara in 1974 from the south bay of Los Angeles. Having lived her life enjoying working and playing on the beaches and in the ocean, she joined the SOS Board of Directors in 2018 to help preserve and restore the beautiful coast that we have been given.
After a successful career in the restaurant/hospitality industry, including managing the financial and accounting end of the business, Myra began a second career in the mid 1980’s, in sales and marketing with Lanier Business Products, Santa Barbara Travel Bureau, and Santa Barbara Christian School; promoting services, products and increasing the revenues. In 1999, she began her third career deciding to focus on accounting, starting Myra Mahoney Accounting Services. Myra returned to Santa Barbara City College and UCSB to strengthen her accounting skills to better serve her clients. Myra enjoys mathematics and spent many hours during her time at SBCC tutoring students in algebra. She is grateful to help clients pursue the development and marketing of their businesses while she keeps the accounting in order as well as improving the community’s awareness of the great services and products these companies offered.Myra is married to husband Tim Mahoney, and they have two sons, Mark and Kevin. She and her husband love to ski, play tennis, bike ride and spend time with friends and family on the beach and at their home.

Judy is an Educator and Marketing Consultant, originally from Tacoma, Washington, with a broad background in both the for profit and not-for-profit business sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Puget Sound, with post-graduate study in Marketing and Communications. After moving to California in 1997, her career has been focused on organizations committed to environmental and social change. She has lived in Santa Barbara for six years, working as a marketing/business development consultant and serving several nonprofit organizations in development and special events.

The SOS CA team lost Bruce at the end of 2013. He was an amazing part of our organiation. He lead a wonderfully interesting life. Bruce has 26 years’ experience as a physicist and project manager in spacecraft research and development. He previously worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Hughes Aircraft, and SAIC. He founded a space research and solar energy company, has written numerous articles on energy policy, and in 2009 published his first book, Reaching the Solar Tipping Point. As Co-founder of SOS California, Bruce has testified before Congress on national energy policy and is frequently interviewed by print, radio and television media. He lived in Santa Barbara and previously served on the Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District Community Advisory Council.