Meet the People Who Make it All Possible
We are a group of whale enthusiasts: whale watching tour operators; naturalists; biologists; fishers; educators; museum directors; resource managers; ocean-friendly restaurants; artists; NGO’s all working together to heighten the awareness of the abundance and diversity of whales in the Santa Barbara Channel.
OUR TEAM
Co-Director of Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area
Holly S. Lohuis is a marine biologist, marine educator and naturalist in the Santa Barbara area, working for a variety of organizations including: Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and Island Packers-boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park.
Co-Director of Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area
Luisa is an owner of Rincon Brewery, with locations in Carpinteria and Ventura, both certified as Ocean Friendly Restaurants by the Surfrider Foundation. A lifelong educator with elementary teaching credentials and a Master’s degree in Education, she has also owned several local businesses rooted in the ocean, nature, and the Santa Barbara community. Her deep connection to the natural world has shaped both her personal and professional life. Luisa is passionate about protecting our oceans and planet, being mindful of the impact we have on the environment, and fostering a greater sense of connection and responsibility toward the natural world. She believes people, wildlife, and nature can thrive when we live more thoughtfully and harmoniously with one another.
Media Director of Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area
Adam Ernster is a wildlife filmmaker and captain focused on the storytelling of our vast oceans. Whether he is working on projects surrounding whale and vessel collisions in his own backyard in Santa Barbara or is busy filming whales in Monterey Bay's expansive underwater canyons, Adam's passion for filmmaking has taken him on countless adventures. With years of experience as a mariner, naturalist, and cameraman, Adam has the skills and fortuity to capture incredible wildlife spectacles.
OUR BOARD
Professional Photographer
Ralph holds degrees in zoology and photography and was a senior faculty member at the prestigious Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California for 33 years.
Ralph is now retired from his 40-year commercial photography business but still travels extensively sharing images via his website, www.ralphclevenger.com, and Instagram account. Today, much of his photography is dedicated to supporting environmental and social issues he’s passionate about.
Development Director, Explore Ecology
Morgan is an environmental educator specializing in the Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Islands. With more than 25 years of experience as a conservation and development professional, her affiliations include the Land Trust for Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Surf Happens Foundation, and the Sanctuary Advisory Council.
Founder Juju du Jour, LLC
Andrea Perry, a UCSB graduate working in the healing arts, embodies the belief that caring for people and nature is inseparable. Her intimate connection to whales, dolphins, and the ocean has only deepened over time. She's excited to serve on the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area Board, protecting whales and species sharing these waters, honoring the stewardship Indigenous peoples have long practiced here, and furthering its education and conservation mission.
Executive Director, Santa Cruz Island Foundation
Taylor Viens is a lifelong advocate for the Channel Islands and the rich marine life of the Santa Barbara Channel. He has worked with the National Park Service, NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and numerous conservation organizations, including Channel Islands Restoration, to protect these remarkable ecosystems. With degrees from New York University and the Royal College of Art, Taylor combines science, education, and storytelling to inspire stewardship of whales and marine wildlife.
ADVISORS TO THE BOARD
Development Director at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Benjamin Bhutani Goedert is a passionate environmentalist, development professional, producer, and filmmaker based in Santa Barbara, CA. For more than 15 years, he has built strategic partnerships with sponsors, foundations, artists, and international philanthropists in support of organizations and causes that aim to make a meaningful difference in the world. His work is guided by a deep belief in the power of community, compassion, and direct action to build a healthier, more sustainable, planet and better world for all living creatures.
Dennis Houghton is an executive with over 40 years of leadership and management experience spanning the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, software and med-tech industries. He earned a bachelor's degree in Geography from
California State University, Northridge.
His career began at G.D. Searle & Co. in Chicago, where he spent over 15 years in positions of increasing responsibility,
culminating as the National Director of Managed Care Programs. Following his time at G.D. Searle, he held senior
leadership roles across several prominent biotechnology companies:
Synergen: Director of Managed Care and National Sales Director
MedImmune: Director of Managed Care – Western US Regional Director
Cubist Pharmaceuticals: Western US Regional Director
Durata Therapeutics: Senior Director Xiretsa, Inc.: Chief Business Officer
HONORARY MEMBERS
Executive Director, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Greg Gorga is the Executive Director of Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, one of the top-10 maritime museums in the nation. Greg is an authority on the Santa Barbara Channel Islands and Santa Barbara maritime history and lore going back 13,000 years.
President, Condor Express
Hiroko is the president of the Condor Express in Santa Barbara, California. Known to some as "the Commodore." Hiroko brings a wealth of knowledge in many fields, including foreign relations, administration, and management.
Founder & President, Ocean Futures Society
Jean-Michele is the world-renowned founder of the Ocean Futures Society, a marine conservation and education organization located in Santa Barbara, CA. Jean-Michele's mission is to help save the world's oceans.