Pacific Beach Coalition (PBC) is led by our President and a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of corporate and community leaders who donate their time and talent to running PBC’s current education and field programs in the most impactful and rewarding way.

Board of Directors

Lynn Adams (President), since becoming President of PBC in 2007, has fulfilled multiple volunteer efforts that have engaged a diverse community of coastal stewards in learning and taking action through our field and education programs. From coordinating our Adopt a Beach Program, expanding Earth Day & EcoFest‘s presence and impact in the Bay Area, establishing our School Assembly, Give Back and Local Business Programs, to her hands-on involvement in restoring native habitat, guiding beach and community cleanups, and fostering media relations, Lynn has championed our mission of protecting the ocean, coastal habitat and wildlife. 

Jim Fithian (Chair) has been an active volunteer member since 1997. He established our first beach cleanup and has led monthly cleanups since September 1998 for our first Adopt-A-Beach site at Linda Mar as its site co-captain along with wife Ana. His focus on direct ‘eco-action’ began while dogwalking (and picking up litter) along Pacifica’s shoreline which evolved into leading by example to inspire Pacifica to be an environmentally responsible city. He participates in education, advocacy and other hands-on activities to guide current and future generations, including school and civic groups, to be engaged as lifelong stewards.

Pete DeJarnatte (Board Member) Pete grew up in Pacifica and has been a resident for more than 50 years. He was a self-employed small business owner who retired a few years ago. With a long held love for the ocean, he has been a supporter of the PBC since he met Lynn around 2005.  As a city Council member for 16 years Pete did his best to help make decisions that had a positive effect on our open space, hills, beaches, and ocean. Pete is excited to be a part of such a worthwhile organization. 

Shari Bookstaff (Board Member) Shari has joined PBC as our science geek/advisor interested in helping the fantastic naturalist program grow.  She would also like to help all of our members understand what makes upwelling so special and how it connects to our magnificent whale sightings we’ve been seeing. Shari has been a marine biology professor at Skyline College for the past 30 years, and was the founding President of the local chapter of the American Cetacean Society. She founded the nonprofit Lifetime of Impact to offer workshops to healthcare students focusing on forging immediate connections to their patients. 

Chris Wedeles (Secretary) Chris completed his PhD at the University of Toronto in Molecular Genetics, and Postdoctoral training at Genentech (Immunology). He is currently a Senior Scientist/Team Leader at Gate Bioscience. Previously he was a member of the Program and Services committee at the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto and a co-organizer of an international science symposium. Chris is passionate about habitat restoration in the wild and in his own garden and has volunteered for Pacific Beach Coalition in the past.

Santiago Salazar (Treasurer) Santiago is a recent addition to the Board, joining in 2024. A Southern California native, Santiago moved to Santa Cruz in 2010 to be a banana slug. He brings +10 years of experience in the healthcare industry as a scientist and more recently as an investor. His work as an investor supports companies developing drugs for patients in need. He has a passion for preserving our open spaces and loves running through the trails at Montara Mountain and the greater Bay Area.

Naturalists Team:

Julie Walters. Since 2007 Julie has been a Naturalist at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in San Mateo County. There, she conducts tours with organized school groups and visitors. She also rove along the reef and engage with visitors answering questions, identifying animals and making sure that visitors follow proper tidepool etiquette.

Marie Kazan-Komarek has been volunteering with harbor seals for 30 years and has been a part of the Beach Watch program for 23 years. Her love of the ocean has led to a lifetime of helping the animals that live within it’s depths and striving to help others understand why it’s important to protect the unique environment that is a integral part of the Bay Area. When her oldest daughter was 2, she began volunteering at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. Today, 30 years later, she is still part of the Tuesday night crew taking care of harbor seals. 

Danila Mehta
Jeremy Watts
Greg Finkelstein
Nancy Enge

More Amazing Team Members:

Chloe van Loon (Social Media) is our awesome Social Media marketing manager leveraging her creativity to bring out the best in our online presence. Chloe found PBC at the end of 2020 when she needed to collaborate with an organization for the California Naturalist Certification program. Having discovered such a wonderful group of dedicated environmentalists Chloe gladly stayed on to help with social media strategy and content.

Margo Meiman (Email Marketing) Margo has been volunteering with the PBC in a variety of roles since 2006. She serves as a substitute site captain and is the point person for the PBC’s annual participation in Pacifica’s Fogfest. Margo is proud to be a part of PBC’s efforts to educate and inspire people of all ages to take care of our coast and our environment.

Celine Gerakin (Marketing) joined volunteer cleanups in Pacifica and Daly City then signed on to become our site captain leading cleanups at our newest Adopt-A-Beach site at Pillar Point Harbor in 2014. She was recognized by the San Mateo County Harbor Commission as recipient of their 2014 Environmental Leader Award in Half Moon Bay. By profession, Celine is an online marketing director, she earned a masters in business and marketing in her hometown of Paris currently lives in Fort Bragg California.