Pacific Marine Mammal Center

This past week, University of Notre Dame students earning their master's degree in Nonprofit Administration (MNA) visited PMMC here in Laguna Beach! ?????? This group of 4 passionate students, Liam Bradigan, Gianna Macino, Abrielle Plantz, and Karina Gaskins, are studying at University of Notre Dame - Mendoza College of Business along with many others, who traveled to Orange County for a week-long consulting project as part of the #growirish program at Notre Dame. Each group was partnered with a project sponsor: a local nonprofit organization looking to increase their impact. The students were tasked with understanding and identifying the mission, demographic, and potential areas for growth for each organization. ? The week-long consulting project allowed the students to get hands-on experience while rapidly learning about our mission, providing us with research-based business suggestions at the end of their visit. They shared a final presentation of marketing/fundraising deliverables and recommendations for PMMC to help boost our awareness and engagement moving toward our grand reopening. Pacific Marine Mammal Center is so honored to have been chosen to work with these students and the Notre Dame Club of Orange County in this inspiring collaboration. A huge thank you to the program leaders, Tiffany Roberts and Lara Brian who helped foster this incredible opportunity! ??

PMMC is?#hiring! We have two open positions in our Education department. ?Full-time Education Instructor ?School Programs Coordinator We are looking for two dynamic and dedicated individuals to join our education team ?? PMMC offers a variety of educational programming to a wide range of audiences, and we are looking for enthusiastic team members who can help support the rapid expansion of our newest programs ?? Apply at the link: pacificmmc.org/careers

Thank you to all who donated ?? We’re stronger together!

A few months ago, we announced the welcome addition of our newest education program called Whales on Wheels - and it is finally hitting the road all over Orange County. Whales on Wheels, or WoW for short, is a traveling experiential program that features PMMC’s very own Winston ?? Who is Winston? ? A true to life sized, 56-foot, anatomically correct, inflatable gray whale! Our 45-minute interactive presentation is perfect for assemblies, engaging students in an unparalleled way. Students have the opportunity to physically walk in and explore the inside of Winston, while learning about the gray whales’ journey, from near extinction to being an example of conservation success. Geared towards students from 3rd to 8th grade, our inflatable whale can be easily set up in gymnasiums, multipurpose rooms or grassy areas with stakes. Participants will act as scientific detectives to determine the cause of the whale’s ‘stranding’ by investigating the interior and exterior of the real size whale. Ocean stewardship is emphasized as students discover the importance of the whale’s role within our ecosystem. ?? Why do we teach about the importance of whales? Whales are the largest living carbon sequestration machine to ever exist. Their incredibly large bodies can capture and store carbon in the atmosphere, working as an agent against climate change. Through their swimming patterns, they allow for nutrients on the ocean floor to be circulated, increasing the ocean’s ability to capture carbon. ?? The experience of exploring the true scale of a baleen whale sparks critical thinking and enriches the connection between the students and marine life conservation happening along our coastline. Whales on Wheels continues our purpose to empower and inform youth to take action toward a better future for the ocean and the planet we all call home. To sign up or learn more details about this program go to the link ?? https://tr.ee/SQLzMZAen4

Meet John Kinney, Governance Chair to Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s Board of Directors. He is our longest-serving board member of thirteen nonconsecutive years. As an Eagle Scout, John has a strong passion for environmental protection and wildlife preservation, leading him to get involved with PMMC over 2 decades ago. John’s background as an Eagle Scout has given him unique ways to assist our center and mission. John built and installed our interactive soundboard in the Bob Barker Visitor Yard and has donated financial support since 2001. With his extensive time at the center, John has worked with 3 different CEOs at Pacific Marine Mammal Center. He says, “ever since Glenn Gray joined as CEO in 2022, I’ve watched the major growth and evolution within departments such as education, animal care, and research. I really share the passion our staff and volunteers have towards our mission statement. If we let the oceans die, humans will be next. Research and advocacy are what will keep the oceans healthy, diminishing threats to the marine environment for generations to come”.

Do you like good food for a good cause? Do you know a foodie and a friend of marine mammals? We have exciting news to announce… PMMC is participating in a tasty new fundraising event in 2025! We have decided to forego our usual plans to host Splash in the fall and will be celebrating the Center on April 6th at TOP Chef at the Irvine Marriott, 5pm to 9:30pm. This is a chance to experience a 5-course culinary event where the best chefs, wineries, and restaurants of Orange County join together to benefit Pacific Marine Mammal Center and our mission! Honorary Chefs include: Tony Nguyen, Executive Chef of Crustacean in Beverly Hills & AnQI Bistro in Costa Mesa, and Helene An, Celebrity Chef & Founder of House of An & AnQi Bistro. Each table will be hosted by a unique and talented chef, serving up the very best of their cuisine, providing a memorable chef to table experience for all. Please help us spread the word about this upcoming event that will be filled with delicious surprises. Save the Date! Click the link to sign up or learn more about TOP Chef 2025: https://tr.ee/gT0BrwtahV

Meet Diane Halvorsen, Secretary of Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s Board of Directors ? Diane Halvorsen has served on the Pacific Marine Mammal Center Board of Directors for 5 years, and as Secretary for 4 years. Prior to being on the Board, Diane was on PMMC’s Capital Campaign Committee, provided financial support, and was a parent of campers. Diane connected with our mission to help marine mammals and advocate for the ocean. After taking a trip to the Galapagos in 2019, Diane wanted to directly help marine mammals in a much more impactful way, therefore got more involved at PMMC. Diane says, “I love seeing the animals be rehabilitated and returned to the ocean. I’ve always been a firm believer that we need to take care of the ocean and its inhabitants and learn from it. I’m so happy to see PMMC’s focus expand from rescuing and rehabilitation to increasing their research efforts and advocating for ocean health. Long term, that’s what will make the ocean and planet healthy for future generations.” We are so proud of our board members and their dedication to ocean conservation. As we get closer to the reopening of our center, we are excited to share more about the incredible people who make PMMC's mission a reality and why they stay involved.

We are excited to welcome a new addition to our PMMC Development Team. Welcome to Kayleigh O'Neal, Development Coordinator! Kayleigh comes to us with valuable donor relations experience from the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Originally from Portland, she has a love for anything outdoors, hiking, and marine mammals (hmmm, where would she find those around here?). Kayleigh graduated from Grand Canyon University, where she stayed many years after graduation to work in the University Admissions Office, developing a strong client base, establishing strategic partnerships, and engaging with community organizations. Needing a break from extreme climates, she decided to make Orange County her home and continue her work in the non-profit sector. Welcome to the team ????

Meet Jeff Meberg, the Chairman of Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s Board of Directors. To hear why Jeff stays involved, click here: https://lnkd.in/gMbrWZPW ? We will be shining a spotlight on each of our dedicated and passionate Board Members in the weeks to come ? Jeff Meberg has served on PMMC's Board of Directors for 9 years, and as Chairman for 7 years. Jeff is inspired to take action from his love of the ocean and living near the coast his entire life. He resonates with PMMC’s mission to protect our shores, ocean, and wonderful sea life. Jeff became familiar with PMMC as an avid swimmer 15 years ago, when he met our Founder, John Cunningham for the first time. With Jeff’s 30+ years in the environmental sector, he has always been a proponent of conservation and recycling, specifically water. He says, “I saw the opportunity at PMMC to build our own water recycling facility to be better ocean stewards. I am blessed to be with so many big-hearted people that care to donate their time and efforts to make PMMC successful in our mission. I have cherished this aspect of PMMC.” As we get closer to the reopening of our center, we are excited to share more about the incredible people who make our mission a reality and why they stay involved!

Recently, Pacific Marine Mammal Center's very own VP of Conservation Medicine + Science, Dr. Alissa Deming, was named one of Orange County’s most influential people by the OC Register for 2024! This is the second year she has been recognized along with 124 other OC names; some you may know and others who might be new to you. We are so proud of the work Dr. Deming does for our center and the surrounding community, leading our talented Animal Care team. See the article at the link: https://lnkd.in/g7negzFm