The Future Is Bright!
We’re excited to announce that Stephen MacIntosh has joined our staff as Director of Development. Stephen is a skilled executive with diverse experience in the public and private sectors. His areas of expertise include budgeting, strategic planning, finance, human resources, public relations and sustainability.
Explore Ecology’s
New Director of Development
Stephen has been a longtime supporter of Explore Ecology and Art From Scrap and previously served on our board. “Over the past 16 years, I have been connected to the wonderful people and programs at Explore Ecology including Art From Scrap and the Watershed Resource Center at Arroyo Burro Beach. I’ve watched the organization grow and develop into what has become an indispensable non-profit organization that has impacted thousands of children in a meaningful and positive way!”
We couldn’t have asked for a more knowledgeable and skilled addition to our staff. Stephen holds a Masters degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University and a Multicultural / Bilingual Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. His previous work experience includes serving as General Manager at Republic Services of Oxnard and at Allied Waste Services and Environmental Services Supervisor at the City of Santa Barbara.
“There has never been a more important time to provide our children with a clear understanding of recycling, composting and the need to protect our watersheds and beaches in Santa Barbara County,” adds MacIntosh. “I look forward with great enthusiasm to helping Explore Ecology reach even more of our community’s youth with the critically important messages of protecting and conserving the earth’s natural resources. The future is bright!”
Josh was born and raised in Santa Barbara, where his passion and curiosity for the environment began and has continued to grow. During his undergraduate studies, Josh pursued this interest at the University of California at Santa Cruz, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies.
Melissa Dodos developed her passion for creative reuse as a mother of four and elementary educator over the past 25 years. She loves to inspire creativity by connecting people with resources and ideas.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Stephanie began her journey as an educator over twenty years ago working as a preschool teacher in Washington state for a cooperative preschool program affiliated with Whatcom Community College. She loved observing the wonder and curiosity of the children and bringing them out into nature to explore the natural world. She continued her love for learning and got her teaching license and then her Montessori certification and worked as an elementary teacher in Tribal, Public, and Montessori schools. She collaborated to create a school garden and her students loved it so much that it became a special place where they could garden, read, explore, play, and it provided a safe sanctuary for students to calm down and reset when they were having difficult moments.
Morgan’s mermaid soul is always seeking adventure—swimming a relay across the Santa Barbara Channel and taking the first photo of a newborn orca off Anacapa Island being standout experiences close to home.
Lindsay Johnson