Our Team

Monica DeAngelis, Board President ~ Email Monica ~ Monica is performing the critical role of President to manage and provide leadership for the Board of Directors, leading the creation of a board plan, and keeping the organization focused on achieving the vision. She has a BS in Biology from University of New Hampshire and a MS in Biology from San Diego State University. She is a Marine Mammal Biologist at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Ian Owen, Board Treasurer ~ Email Ian ~ Ian as the 2nd term Treasurer is leading the finance efforts to achieve long term fiscal solvency and to develop an endowment. He has an EEE degree from the Royal Navy (UK) and received a commendation from the UK’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) when he helped set up and run an oiled bird rescue and rehabilitation center in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Ian is a program manager at Sonos Inc.

Annie Becker, Board Secretary ~ Email Annie ~ Annie is performing the role of Secretary fostering communication and ensuring proper management and utilization of organizational records, bylaws, policies and procedures, and assisting with fundraising and community events. She has a Bachelor of Science in statistics and finance from Syracuse University. Annie is a realtor on Aquidneck Island and is the President Elect of the Newport County Board of REALTOR©

Dave McLaughlin, Executive Director ~ Email Dave ~ Dave is the Co-Founder of Clean Ocean Access in 2006 and as Executive Director since the inception of the non-profit organization in 2014 he is working on innovative methods and strategic initiatives for transforming the organization into a sustainable non-profit such that the mission lasts forever. He earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in applied mathematics from the Florida Institute of Technology with a concentration in atmospheric science and physical oceanography in 1993 and 1996, respectively. Before this journey, Dave had a career in information technology as an enterprise architect at Hasbro Toy Company from 1996 to 2014.

Karen Sheehan, Director of Development~ Email Karen ~ Karen joined the team in August of 2020 as our Director of Development and is responsible to advance the organization’s fundraising efforts and increase philanthropic support. Karen is an experienced relationship-building, community-minded individual who cares deeply about the local environment and has lived her own life always being mindful of the health of our beaches and oceans. Prior to joining the team, she was the Director of Development and Community Engagement at Bethany Community Services in Haverhill, MA.

Eva Touhey, Program Manager ~ Email Eva ~ Eva joined the team as an intern in October of 2015 working on watershed reporting, and advancing education activities in 2016. As the program manager, she is responsible for core programs, big projects, volunteer management, advocacy, education & outreach, reports, and program revenue. Eva received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2015, and a Master of Arts degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island in 2019, with a thesis on the influence of plastic bag bans on pro-environmental behaviors in Rhode Island coastal communities.

Max Kraimer, Project Coordinator ~ Email Max ~ Max joined the team as an intern in May of 2017 focusing on Marina Trash Skimmer data collection and research.  Max is responsible to advance the big projects; Southeast New England Marina Trash Skimmers and Shrink Wrap Recycling, and program sponsorship. Max received his Bachelor of Science in marine biology with a minor in sustainability studies from Roger Williams University in 2018.

Kaitlyn Reed, Zero Waste Coordinator ~ Email Kaitlyn ~ Kaitlyn joined COA in January 2020 as the Zero Waste Coordinator. Kaitlyn has primary responsibilities for the Healthy Soils Healthy Seas Rhode Island Project. Kaitlyn graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Sustainable Development and minors in Political Science and Women’s Studies in May 2018. During her time at school she worked at a restaurant and implemented composting as well as numerous sustainability measures to eliminate single use material. Before joining the team, Kaitlyn worked as an Animal Rehabilitation and Education Intern for the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay and as the lead summer camp educator at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.

Zoe Pagliaro ~ Sustainability Coordinator ~ Email Zoe ~ Zoe joined the team as an intern running our environmental education efforts during the summer of 2017. Now, as the Sustainability Coordinator, she is responsible for providing support for and infusing environmental sustainability into the core programs and projects. Zoe received a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science from Skidmore College in 2020.

Sydney McCarthy ~ Outreach Coordinator ~ Sydney joined Clean Ocean Access in July 2020 as a member of the Healthy Soils Healthy Seas Rhode Island Project and Marina Trash Skimmer Project. She is responsible for outreach for commercial composting efforts, daily skimmer operations, and communications and marketing for programs and projects. Sydney graduated from Roger Williams University in May of 2020, with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations, Political Science & Management, and we are glad to have her on the team.

Madison Young ~ Communications Marketing Intern ~ Madison is a rising Senior at Roger Williams University where she is majoring in marketing with a double minor in computer science and business analytics. Originally from New Jersey, at Clean Ocean Access she is helping with social media, email marketing, website updates, Salesforce data management, opportunity processing, and mail merges for thank you letters. We look forward to applying her awesome skills for data analytics and marketing insight into the weeks and months to come. Thank you, Madison!