Letise T. LaFeir, PhD
Founder and Ocean Champion
(currently recused from duties as co-owner)
Letise integrates her scientific training with her policy, outreach, and philanthropy expertise to address a breadth of ocean and coastal issues. Her work has taken her to Capitol Hill, the Executive Branch, and and the non-profit sector, as well as to the seafloor and Antarctica. Letise effectively applies her strategic thinking and strong communication skills to advance priorities, develop valuable partnerships, lead winning campaigns, and inspire ocean stewardship. During her career, Letise has been honored with several awards, she has had countless public speaking engagements, and she has provided many hours of community service. Letise received a PhD in Marine Biology from the University of Delaware, and a BS in Aquatic Biology and a BA in English (with Honors in Creative Writing) from Brown University. She has served on several professional boards, including National Sea Grant Advisory Board, EarthEcho International Board of Directors, UPSTREAM Board of Directors, and the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Executive Board. In addition to authoring or co-authoring several scientific publications and a book of poetry, Letise is a certified scuba diver (Advanced and Nitrox) and has traveled to all seven continents.
Sarah M. Reiter, JD
Co-Owner and Ocean Champion
Sarah’s work spans research on the ocean’s seafloor to its uppermost polar region, and she has played a role in the negotiation of multiple environmental agreements. A former meteorologist and U.S. Air Force Officer, she managed an operational floor of scientists responsible for providing weather support to military bases west of the Mississippi. Her experience at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Stanford University’s Center for Ocean Solutions, and Monterey Bay Aquarium contributed to her ocean law and policy expertise. A law professor, Sarah teaches environmental law courses and serves as the head of an observer delegation to the international climate negotiations, where her students support small island nations. She also spearheads the innovation of new learning modalities, migrating traditional brick-and-mortar instruction to a digital online platform as Vermont Law School's Faculty Director of Online Learning. Sarah received a JD from Vermont Law School, a MS in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston, and a BS in Oceanography from the U.S. Naval Academy. She holds an Honorary Research Associate position at the University of Oxford and is published in cross-disciplinary journals such as Science and the Stanford Environmental Law Journal. When she's not fighting for the ocean, she enjoys exploring Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence Seaway watersheds with her young family.