Stop by The Cove for immersive stories and talks dedicated to the core pillars of Ohana Fest: Oceans, Activism, Environmental Justice, Art, Community and Indigenous Voices.
2025 sPeakers
Adelia Sandoval
Adelia Sandoval is a lineal descendant of her Acjachemen Ancestors, the original inhabitants of Orange County California. Adelia is the Spiritual Overseer (Púul) and Cultural Director for the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians/Acjachemen Nation, the indigenous people of Orange County California. She shares her Acjachemen Culture through art, writing, storytelling, and singing. Adelia is a ceremonial leader, song keeper, wisdom holder, tribal teacher, and healer. She is an ordained minister and created a ministry called Song of the Earth, a Native American healing service held in outdoor sanctuaries. Sandoval served as a trustee on the Global Council of the United Religions Initiative, A Global Interfaith organization that “promotes peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.” Adelia is the Village Elder/Mentor and representative of the Acjachemen People for the Ecology Center (a 28-acre regenerative, organic farm) in San Juan Capistrano where she brings traditional knowledge and ancestral blessings.
Alison Criscitiello, PhD
Dr. Alison Criscitiello is an ice core scientist and high-altitude mountaineer. She is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Canadian Ice Core Lab at University of Alberta, and co-founder of Girls on Ice Canada. Criscitiello explores the history of climate and sea ice in polar and high-alpine regions using ice core chemistry. This involves long months of living in a tent and drilling ice cores in places like Antarctica, Greenland, the Yukon, and the Canadian high Arctic. Criscitiello's work also focuses on environmental contaminant histories in ice cores from the Canadian high Arctic and the water towers of the Canadian Rockies. She has earned the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, three American Alpine Club (AAC) climbing awards, the John Lauchlan and Mugs Stump alpine climbing awards, and the first PhD in glaciology ever conferred by MIT. Criscitiello and her team installed the highest weather station in North America near Mount Logan's summit in 2021, and in 2022 drilled a record- breaking 327m ice core on its summit plateau that will shed light on how climate change impacts even the world’s highest peaks. Most recently, in spring 2025, she drilled a new ice core on Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian high Arctic. At 613m, this is the deepest ice core ever drilled in Canadian history, and will contain critical information about Arctic Ocean and climate variability over the Holocene.
Amber Carter, PhD
Dr Amber Carter is a marine scientist, storyteller, and award-winning explorer whose work sits at the intersection of ocean conservation and human societies. She often collaborates with remote coastal communities, and her research recognises the deep connection between environmental and social challenges—advocating for solutions that address both. Guided by the principles of inclusivity and social justice, Amber is committed to breaking down traditional barriers in science that limit its relevance and accessibility to the communities most affected. This commitment has led her to integrate storytelling and filmmaking into her research—not just as tools for documentation and advocacy, but as powerful methods for co-creation, trust-building, and amplifying local voices. Amber is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, where her work focuses on centring community-led approaches in support of global efforts to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her running on trails, hiking up mountains, or in, on, or under the ocean.
Andy Mann
Andy Mann is a renowned National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, Emmy-nominated director and 12-time Telly Award-winner who is driven by a deep passion to document and protect the world’s marine environments. As a founding member of SeaLegacy, his work plays a pivotal role in telling the story of our rapidly changing planet and inspiring critical change. Andy’s work has helped to protect over 1 million square kilometers of ocean. Having worked on all 7 continents, Andy’s imagery is remarkably memorable, reminding us how the emotion of an image can touch our spirit.
Ben Moon
Ben Moon is an award winning filmmaker, photographer and author with a passion for bringing thought-provoking, impactful and cinematically beautiful stories to life. Surviving colorectal cancer in his twenties inspired Ben to develop a deeper connection to others and the natural world and shifted his focus to telling nuanced human stories that have inspired and impacted millions worldwide. Ben currently resides on the Oregon coast and is an ocean advocate, avid surfer and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. His memoir Denali: A Man, a Dog, and the Friendship of a Lifetime on Penguin Books chronicles his battle with cancer and adventures shared with his late dog Denali and has been translated into four languages.
Carissa Moore
Carissa Moore is a five-time World Surfing Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, founder of world-renowned nonprofit organization Moore Aloha, and a new mom. Known for her grace, power, and humility both in and out of the water, Carissa is a role model for aspiring surfers and young women around the world. Her legacy extends far beyond competitive surfing—through Moore Aloha, she channels her passion into uplifting the next generation. Carissa empowers young girls and women to navigate the waves of mental health and personal growth by fostering confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging through sport, mentorship, community, and cultural connection.
Chad Nelsen, PhD
Dr. Chad Nelsen is the CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest grassroots coastal and ocean conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches. Chad has over 25 years of experience in ocean and coastal conservation and works at the intersection of advocacy, ocean recreation, and grassroots organizing to confront some of our most pressing challenges including climate change, plastic pollution and poor water quality. With a geology degree from Brown University, a Masters in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University, and a Environmental Science and Engineering doctorate from UCLA, Chad has a strong foundation in science, policy and management. Through his research at UCLA Chad became a founder in the field of “surfonomics,” the study of the economic values of surfing and ocean recreation. Chad lives in Laguna Beach and enjoys surfing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and snowboarding with his family.
Cliff Kapono, PhD
Dr. Cliff Kapono is a professional free surfer and PhD chemist—discovering innovative ways to protect our ocean while riding the best waves on the planet. His award winning work has been featured by the New York Times, TED, National Geographic, Nature, The Explorers Club, Outside Magazine, The Surfers Journal and more.
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is the executive director of LAND AND SEA FOR ALL, and executive producer and co-owner of the production company Liars & Thieves, best known for films such as the multi award winning documentary ARTIFISHAL (2019) and PURPLE MOUNTAINS (2020) and, more recently, THE SCALE OF HOPE. Dedicated to the power of story to inspire change and empower action, Emily is also the best-selling author of GROW WHAT YOU LOVE (Firefly Books, 2018) and GROW NOW (Timber Press, 2022), and a social media influencer focused on climate action and restoring biodiversity through rewilding at scale. She has appeared on NBC’s TODAY show, The Marilyn Denis Show, and The Morning Show – Global News Toronto, and her work has been the focus of campaigns with brands such as Volkswagen, General Electric, and Pinterest. She’s written for or been featured in publications such as The Seattle Times, The Week, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Thought leaders such as Carl Safina, Yvon Chouinard, Dave Goulson,and Paul Hawken have endorsed her work.
Evan Marks
From studying Agroecology to working in Indigenous and traditional agricultural systems around the world to founding The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano in 2008, Evan has dedicated his life to finding creative solutions for the most urgent problems facing our food system.
.jpg)
Frank Solomon
Frank Solomon is a professional big wave surfer from Hout Bay, Cape Town. Frank grew up on the beach and was exposed to surfing and the ocean from a young age. He has since travelled the world in search of the biggest waves. A few years ago, he saw a video of a young boy being shot in the face during a riot in Hout Bay. This boy was on his way to the beach. The same beach where Frank developed his love for surfing and for the ocean. After watching this video, Frank realised that he had to use his position of privilege to help create access to similar opportunities as those he had as a boy. This led him to set up Sentinel Ocean Alliance, a non-profit organisation situated on the beach in Hout Bay. Sentinel Ocean Alliance (SOA) now runs a comprehensive and immersive programme that provides a one of a kind ocean education and ocean immersion experience to the underprivileged youth of South Africa’s coastal communities. Through the Parley Ocean School programme, SOA is educating the local youth in ocean and marine-related topics, and exposing them to a wide variety of inspiring content and guest speaker presentations. One of their main objectives at the moment, is also to teach children from low-income coastal communities basic ocean safety awareness and practical swimming skills with their Turn the Tide Programme. There is a serious need for such a programme, due to the beach being in such close proximity to these communities and these children not having any other means of learning how to swim. An important component of each session is mindfulness activities which are used to help connect the children to the ocean, to their breath and teaches them calming strategies and resilience skills which they can practice at home. Ocean education and awareness, combined with practical and fun swimming skill training, helps with providing the right knowledge and skills to children so that they can participate safely in ocean-related activities, and begin to forge a strong spiritual connection with the ocean and all the opportunities that it presents.
Gary Bencheghib
The United Nations has described marine plastic pollution as “a slow-moving catastrophe” that threatens the health, economy, and well-being of communities across the globe. For Gary Bencheghib, this crisis is not just a statistic but a personal calling. Originally from France and raised in Indonesia, Gary was only 14 years old when he began organizing weekly beach cleanups with his older sister Kelly, then 16, and younger brother Sam, then 12. What began as a small family initiative quickly grew into a lifelong mission to protect waterways and oceans from plastic waste. In 2017, Gary and his team undertook a daring expedition down the Citarum River in West Java — known at the time as the most polluted river in the world. Paddling in kayaks made from repurposed plastic bottles, they filmed the journey and released a documentary that sparked national attention and prompted a response from President Joko Widodo himself. Motivated to move beyond awareness into real-world impact, Gary co-founded Sungai Watch with his siblings in 2020. Since then, the organization has removed close to three million kilograms of non-organic waste from rivers across Indonesia, while building a team of 155 full-time river warriors and creating green jobs throughout Bali, East Java, and soon West Java. Gary’s work sits at the intersection of environmental action, social advocacy, and creative storytelling. By combining nature, adventure, video, and technology, he has activated a movement that is as local as it is global. His bold and hands-on approach to tackling plastic pollution has inspired youth around the world, earning him recognition as a powerful voice for change.
Greg Long
Greg Long is by any standards one of the sport’s most celebrated big wave surfer. In a career that now spans two decades Long has been awarded virtually every title in the big wave riding arena, including multiple XXL Global Big Wave Awards including Biggest Wave, Ride of the Year and Performer of the Year, as well as two WSL Big Wave World Championship titles in 2012 and 2015. His list of accolades also include the SIMA “Waterman of the Year Award”, a National Geographic “Adventurer of the Year” nomination and has been voted one of Men’s Journal magazine’s “50 Most Adventurous Men”. In 2012 Long was featured in the Fox Pictures Hollywood release “Chasing Mavericks” both performing surf stunts and as a story character. Deeply thoughtful and well informed, he has become one of the sport’s most articulate spokesman, lending his perspective and credibility to a number of ocean-oriented environmental groups, including The Surfrider Foundation, Save The Waves, and Parley for the Oceans. He is also a lead instructor for the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group, traveling to international ocean communities teaching advanced courses in high surf risk management, heavy water rescue, CPR, and basic first responder life support.
%20Nick%20Pumphrey.jpg)
Hugo Tagholm
Hugo is a surfer, campaigner, and environmentalist. He currently heads up the leading marine conservation NGO Oceana, UK. He previously led the NGO Surfers Against Sewage, campaigning from the beach front to the front benches of Parliament. Hugo co-founded the Global Wave Conference, Plastic Free Communities movement, the Million Mile Beach Clean & Safer Seas Service, and has been instrumental in exposing water company sewage pollution and the plastic pollution crisis. Hugo was recently awarded a Doctorate of Science by Exeter University for his services to the marine environment. He was made Environmentalist of the Year 2021 by Save the Waves, featured in the ENDS Report 2023 Campaigning Power List, and was shortlisted as Leader of the Year in the 2023 Purpose Awards. Hugo is a regular commentator and media contributor on ocean and environmental issues and has spoken at events and conferences across the world. Hugo is a fellow of the Edinburgh University Ocean Leaders programme and a columnist for Oceanographic Magazine.
Jon Rose
As a professional surfer, Jon Rose often traveled to developing countries in his search for perfect waves. Communities he visited often had no access to clean water. To change this, he founded Waves For Water, a global nonprofit organization focusing on providing clean drinking water in developing and disaster-stricken communities around the world. Built over 13 years, Jon's philosophy is to “do what you love and help along the way”. This has led him to accomplish international success helping over 4 million people gain access to clean water. Through his achievements and tireless commitment to work, Jon has been featured in high-level brands, magazines, documentaries, films, inspirational speaking events and won four acclaimed awards to date. Jon and Waves for Water have responded to more than 40 disasters, maintain 24 active programs globally and have brought clean water to people in 47 countries.
Josh "Bones" Murphy
Josh Murphy is a director and producer of film, commercials, and branded entertainment who began his career as a professional skier turned filmmaker. He was co-producer and second unit director of the feature film adaptation of the classic novel by David James Dunkin THE RIVER WHY, produced the elevated genre film HERE ALONE that won the Best Narrative film at the Tribeca Film Festival, he co-produced the inspirational feature documentary THE PUSH about the first spinal cord injured athlete to push himself to the South Pole, was a contributor to Academy Award winner Alex Gibney’s film THE INVENTOR about Elizabeth Holmes and the failure of biotech giant Theranos. He directed, produced, and co-wrote the multi-award winning feature documentary ARTIFISHAL that was commissioned by Patagonia founder and owner Yvon Chouinard. He directed PURPLE MOUNTAINS for Protect Our Winters about legendary snowboarder turned climate activist, Jeremy Jones which won a Bronze Clio for branded film and Gold Shorty award for its impact campaign. His most recent film THE SCALE OF HOPE was the first Patagonia film released after the news of the owners giving away the company to focus on environment and climate issues. The film recently won the Association of Independent Commercial Producers award for Best Branded Film and Entertainment and is now in the permanent collection at the MoMA in NYC In addition to ongoing cause-based commercial work, he’s co-directing a film about the global plastics epidemic with Oscar winner Louie Psihoyos which will release in 2025. Prior to film he was trained as a natural resource scientist and fisheries biologist. His childhood idol was Jacques Cousteau and through him he discovered a love for film and the environment.
Koa Smith
A surfer from Kauai, Koa is known for charging massive waves at Pipeline, Jaws, Teahupo’o, and other big-wave locations around the world. Koa gained fame for a nearly 30-second barrel at Skeleton Bay, Namibia, earning Best Barrel in the 2014 Surfer Poll as well as the inaugural GoPro of the World award. Koa received the only perfect 10 score in the 2024 Pipe Masters competition. He won the 2015 VMAN/Ford modeling contest and became the face of an Alexander Wang campaign. Koa was a star performer on ABC’s reality series The Ultimate Surfer. As an entrepreneur he co‑founded the Sunrise Shack café and smoothie bar chain with his brothers Alex and Travis—now operating in multiple locations across Hawaii, California, and Japan. Koa hosts a popular surf‑and‑travel Vlog, documenting his adventures and lifestyle with millions of social media followers A big part of Koa’s story is that he recovered from a traumatic brain injury that happened while getting knocked unconscious surfing in remote Indonesian surf spot Nias in 2018. Enduring months of memory loss, depression, and suicidal thoughts, Koa found healing and resilience through a guided psilocybin (magic mushroom) experience. He is a strong advocate of wellness through mental focus, healthy eating, meditation, and functional fitness routines (including yoga, breathing exercises, and ice baths) As an advocate for A New Earth Project Koa is passionate about environmental issues highlighting Hawaiian cultural values like aloha, kuleana (responsibility), and reverence for the ocean.
Lehua Kamalu
Lehua Kamalu is a captain, navigator and the Partnership Director at the Polynesian Voyaging Society, a non-profit and educational organization supporting the ongoing voyages of the double-hulled canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia, and dedicated to perpetuating the practice of traditional Polynesian voyaging and non-instrument navigation, where wayfinders find their way across hundreds of miles of open ocean with thousands of minute observations of stars, moon, waves, clouds, and sea birds, not with compasses or GPS or any other instruments. As Lehua/Kamalu says, “The navigator is the instrument.” Lehua has emerged as a prominent young leader and teacher in the practice of traditional non-instrument navigation and voyaging. By integrating a culturally-grounded approach to environmental immersion, Lehua sees the practice of deep-sea voyaging as a means to challenge the depth and quality of our individual relationships to the ocean, nature, and one another. Currently as Partnership Director, Lehua heads strategy development and impact for PVS programs generally focused on education and ocean sustainability. In this role, she leads partner engagement in Hawaii and abroad at each port of call. In 2022, Lehua became the first female to lead-captain and lead-navigate Hōkūle’a from Hawai’i to Tahiti on the Kealaikahiki Voyage. In 2018, she was the first female to lead-captain and lead-navigate a long distance voyage on the first leg of the Alahula Kai O Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage, a trip of 2,500 nautical miles from Hawai’i to California, [around the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the size of the state of Alaska]. Shortly after joining the Polynesian Voyaging Society full time in 2013, Lehua was made responsible for researching and planning the sail plan for Hōkūleʻa’s circumnavigation of the Earth (2014-2017), a voyage of 60,000 nautical miles themed Malama Honua – To Care for the Earth. Lehua handled much of the planning and voyaging through the South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, and the East Coast of North America. In 2017, she led a team of student navigators aboard the Tahitian canoe Fa‘afaite from Tahiti to Hawaii. Prior to becoming Partnership Director, Lehua served as the Voyaging Director and was focused on sharing and teaching the values and traditions of voyaging to train the next generation of voyagers to help lead Hawaii [and the rest of the Pacific] into a healthy, thriving future. She was also able to do this as an instructor of voyaging and navigation at Kamehameha Schools and Honolulu Community College. Lehua embodies many of the values resulting from the Hawaiian cultural renaissance sparked by the first voyages of Hokulea in the 1970s. When Hokulea first sailed, fewer than 100 people spoke native Hawaiian fluently. Now the number is closer to 20,000. When Lehua started school, Hawaiian language had become part of the curriculum and she speaks it fluently. And while she practices traditional navigation and wayfinding, she is the daughter of a Navy nuclear submariner and graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 2021, she was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. She was recently a Director’s Fellow at the MIT Media Lab. In November 2019 Lehua was also named a Dial Fellow by Emerson Collective. Prior to that, she was a fellow in the First Nations’ Futures Program.
Lilie Kulber
Lilie Kulber is a senior at UCLA majoring in Bioengineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She is the President of Clean Consulting, UCLA’s leading nonprofit sustainability consulting organization that partners with startups and Fortune 500 companies to drive environmental impact. Lilie has worked across several early-stage ventures, including Scalewith and Equatic, a UCLA Institute of Carbon Management startup, and is currently exploring the intersection of health, bio-wearable tech, and longevity-focused consumer products. A professional surfer and the 2023 USA National College Women’s Champion, she’s currently ranked 3rd in North America. In her spare time, she teaches fitness classes at BURN Los Angeles and co-hosts a podcast called Beyond the Lineup, where she explores stories from the world of surfing and performance.
Mike Coots
Mike Coots is a professional photographer and shark conservationist from Kauai, Hawaii. After surviving a shark attack as a teenager that resulted in the loss of his leg, Mike turned his experience into a powerful platform for change—using photography, storytelling, and advocacy to shift public perception of sharks and promote ocean conservation. His striking underwater imagery has been featured in galleries, books, and global campaigns, while his personal journey continues to inspire audiences around the world. Whether he's diving with great whites or speaking on resilience, Mike is passionate about protecting what he loves most: the ocean.
Mike Levin
Currently serving his fourth term in the House of Representatives, Mike is a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, where he serves on the Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Throughout his time in Congress, more than thirty-two of his bills have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. Mike was raised in South Orange County and attended local elementary and junior high schools. He spent his high school years at Loyola High in Los Angeles, and went on to study at Stanford University, where he served as the Student Body President. Upon graduation from Stanford, Mike served as a Coro Fellow and then attended Duke University School of Law. Prior to being elected to Congress in 2018, Mike fought for climate action while working as an environmental attorney. He also served on the board of the Center for Sustainable Energy and co-founded Sustain OC, helping accelerate the transition toward more sustainable power generation and transportation alternatives. As a Member of Congress, some of Mike’s top priorities are combating climate change, protecting our natural resources, and capitalizing on the economic benefits of a sustainable energy future. He has led legislation to transition the United States to zero emission vehicles, ban new offshore drilling along the coast of Southern California, responsibly develop renewable energy on public lands, and much more. He is a Vice Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), the leading House caucus focused on issues related to environmental protection, climate change, and clean energy. Throughout his career, Levin has been a passionate leader on environmental protection, clean energy, and combating climate change.
Nadina Gardiner
Nadina Gardiner is a Swampy Cree woman and member of the Cumberland House Cree Nation. She has been a passionate advocate for the Saskatchewan River Delta for many years, working tirelessly to protect its rich ecosystem and cultural significance. Through her efforts in conservation, policy advocacy, and community engagement, she has played a vital role in raising awareness about the delta’s ecological importance and the need for sustainable stewardship. Her dedication to preserving the land and waterways ensures that future generations can continue to benefit from this vital region. She has recently embarked on a powerful new initiative: Sakesiw. Rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and driven by a deep sense of guardianship for the land, Sakesiw is a non-profit dedicated to supporting Indigenous-led stewardship that honors tradition, resilience, and renewal.
Nainoa Thompson
Explorer, Pwo Navigator, cultural revivalist, educator, storyteller: Nainoa Thompson has led the rediscovery and revival of the ancient Polynesian art of navigation. Through his voyaging, teaching and engagement, he has opened a global, multigenerational dialogue on the importance of sustaining ocean resources and maritime heritage. Nainoa has dedicated his life to exploring the ocean, maintaining the health of the planet and ensuring that the ancient marine heritage and culture of Polynesia remain vibrant into the future. Thompson is the first Native Hawaiian in 600 years to practice the ancient Polynesian art of navigation: long- distance open-ocean voyaging on a traditional double-hulled canoe without the aid of modern instruments. His work has led to a renewed understanding and revival of traditional voyaging arts lost for centuries due to the disappearance of such travel methods and the colonization and Westernization of the Polynesian archipelagoes. Currently the CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), a non-profit research and educational organization, Thompson recently completed a four-year voyage around the world on the Hōkūleʻa, a traditional, double-hulled voyaging canoe. Through these travels, Thompson and his crew engaged with thousands of people, including world leaders to highlight the importance of ocean resources, cultural legacies and protection of these critical places in the future. In June 2023, Thompson and PVS launched the Moananuiākea Voyage, a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. A Native Hawaiian, Thompson’s impact reaches beyond voyaging. The non-instrument navigation system Nainoa developed – blending traditional principles and modern scientific knowledge – is taught in schools throughout Hawai'i and the Pacific. This shared knowledge and his broader work with the next generation of ocean stewards is done with a hope that they will protect and continue the connection between the ocean past and future. His natural leadership skills that have galvanized vast and diverse sectors throughout the community to realize the importance of caring for our planet and all of humanity have earned him numerous awards including the 2015 Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Marine Exploration, the 2001 “Unsung Hero of Compassion” award from his Holiness XIV Dalai Lama on behalf of Wisdom in Action, the Native Hawaiian Education Association’s Manomano Kaʻike Educator of the Year, the 2015 Asia Pacific Community Building Award from the East-West Center, the 2013 Visionary Award from the Maui Film Festival, the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, the 2017 Hubbard Medal from National Geographic Society, and the 2017 Explorers Club Medal. Born and raised in Honolulu, Nainoa is a graduate of Punahou School and the University of Hawaiʻi.
Chief Rene Chaboyer
Chief Rene Chaboyer is the respected leader of the Cumberland House Cree Nation, guiding the community with wisdom, strength, and a deep commitment to preserving traditions. With years of dedicated service, he has worked to strengthen cultural heritage, advocate for indigenous rights, and ensure the well-being of his people. Known for the declaration of the Saskatchewan River Delta (Kitaskīnaw) , Chief Chaboyer continues to honor the legacy of his ancestors while forging a path for future generations
Wes Carter
Wes Carter is the third-generation leader of Atlantic Packaging, the largest privately owned industrial packaging company in North America. Atlantic supports major consumer products packaging needs across virtually every manufacturing vertical, specializing in packaging optimization through technology and comprehensive programs to drive sustainable value. Today, as the president of Atlantic Packaging, Wes is the driving force behind A New Earth Project, the company's sustainability initiative, and its commitment to working with brands of all sizes to transition away from problematic plastic packaging and help rid the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers of plastic pollution. Wes is an avid outdoorsman, lifelong surfer, and traveler who resides in Charleston, South Carolina. He serves on the Board of Directors for The Conservation Alliance, The Green Heart Project, Greenhouse Scholars, the California Packaging Producer Responsibility Advisory Board, the Lowcountry Land Trust Board, and the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors in addition to other local and regional organizations fighting the waste crisis.
.png)
