Dr. Joseph Maltese is a chiropractor and owner of Primal Performance Spine & Sport in St. Petersburg, Florida. He joins the MAR Board of Directors with a passion for community wellness and environmental stewardship.

Dr. Maltese shares,

“I’m honored to join the board of MAR and support its mission of driving regenerative action for our environment. As a chiropractor for the past 13 years and the owner of a clinic in St. Pete for the last 9, l’ve developed a deep connection to this community and a strong passion for its wellbeing – both for the people and the natural spaces we share. I’m excited to bring my local ties, professional experience, and commitment to sustainability to help MAR expand its impact through tree planting, beach restoration, and other regenerative efforts that protect and uplift our environment.”

Dr. Ellena was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. She moved to Los Angeles, California in 2008 and received her bachelor’s degree in Communication, her master’s degree in Social Entrepreneurship, and her doctorate in Organizational Leadership. She has a strong background in nonprofits, social entrepreneurship and leadership.

Michelle founded her first non-profit in 2014 with a mission to help animals in her community. She then founded another non-profit that teaches and trains veterinarians in developing countries different spay and neuter techniques to help end pet overpopulation.

She moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 2021 with her dog Nahla and fell in love with the captivating beauty of Florida. She co-founded MAR in 2022 with a focus on connecting people with nature. She encourages the human-animal bond and interconnectedness of all species on earth. She has been featured in different publications, served as a judge on different social entrepreneurship fast pitch competitions, and has presented her research in conferences nationally. Still fairly new to St. Pete, Michelle is immersed in her community, and working to regenerate the human-nature connection.

Bergitte Jorgenson is the owner of Bixi Com, a boutique marketing firm in California. With a longstanding commitment to animal rescue and a deep connection to the ocean and natural world, she is passionate about supporting healthier, more regenerative ecosystems for all life, including our own.

As the founder of a purpose-driven marketing firm, Bergitte has spent years helping organizations grow through strategic communication and storytelling. Combined with her previous experience serving on nonprofit boards, she brings both a creative and collaborative perspective to support MAR’s mission.

Joining the MAR Board of Directors is a meaningful way for Bergitte to contribute to her vision through thoughtful action and community-rooted impact. When she’s not working, she can usually be found walking with or cuddling Timmi, her rescued dog, or scouting out the best food spots in town. She looks forward to contributing to MAR in meaningful (and joy-filled) ways.

Robert Brennan, Project Management Professional at Crete Professionals Alliance is an experienced Enterprise Project Manager having worked in the government and private sectors on transformational information technology projects. He holds several industry certifications and received the Florida Diversity Council’s LGBT Leadership Award in 2019. His hobbies include gardening, Lego, traveling, volunteering and spending time with his friends and family. He is excited to help the MAR team build on its great success and engaging with the community.

Kristina Meek is a content writer, environmental educator, and Florida Master Naturalist based in St. Petersburg. She has spent 20+ years writing and editing informative content for print and digital media. With a Master’s in creative writing and a passion for nature, she’s always prepared to inspire audiences through a great story.

Kristina freelances and volunteers with a number of local and national nonprofits, primarily focused on wildlife and the natural environment. On the weekends, you will find her birding, hiking, or paddleboarding.

Heather Wheel is an Operations Supervisor with Republic Services in Tampa, Florida, specializing in environmental solutions and sustainability. With over 25 years of experience in environmental services, they are passionate about advancing responsible practices that protect our communities and natural resources.

Outside of work, Heather enjoys spending time with their partner, biking, hiking, and being with their furbabies. They are excited to contribute their experience and passion to volunteer efforts that make a meaningful environmental impact.

Kira was born and raised as a St. Pete local, and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. Frequently going on boat trips with her family as a child, Kira visited Egmont Key whenever possible and fell in love with the water. Since graduating college, Kira has worked in the Environmental Non-Profit sector for the last three years and couldn’t imagine doing anything else! She is inspired by the drive of the volunteers that she works with, and by the lasting impact she knows she is making through each project.

Kira hopes to continue this work through MAR and for many years to come as a way to preserve, uplift and restore the local communities we cherish! In her free time, Kira likes to roller skate and cosplay.

Born and raised in the bluegrass state of Kentucky, Kyla moved to the sunshine state in 2020. Fueled by an unwavering passion for the environment, she embarked on a mission to positively transform lives, with nature as her guiding force. Kyla firmly believes in the extraordinary power of nature to heal, rejuvenate, and teach. Her mission is unequivocal – to nurture a profound appreciation for nature, instilling happiness and mindfulness in every individual she touches.

Erin was born in New York City and moved to St. Petersburg after graduating from Eckerd College, where she cultivated a passion for sustainability and community. She earned a Master’s degree in Global Sustainability from the University of South Florida, fueling her dedication to conservation and environmental stewardship.

Erin’s work in the nonprofit and government sectors reflects her commitment to creating positive change. From organizing sustainability initiatives to fostering community partnerships, she focuses on protecting natural spaces while uplifting those who depend on them. She finds joy in inspiring others to embrace conservation through education, hands-on outreach, and collaborative projects.

In her personal life, Erin channels her love of the outdoors into cooking seasonal meals, exploring nature, and staying active with beach volleyball. Her passion for building connections between people and the environment continues to drive her forward.

Haley grew up in the Chicagoland area and moved to St. Petersburg in 2016 to attend Eckerd College. She chose to attend Eckerd with the hopes of being able to learn about and experience the many unique ecosystems of Southwest Florida, and was not disappointed! She graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, and has spent her time since then working in different positions within the environmental field. She brings a unique combination of remote research and in-person environmental education experience to her position as a field assistant at MAR, and is so excited to start supporting MAR’s mission of connecting people with nature!

Haley is also very passionate about wildlife rehabilitation and enjoys volunteering with the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in her free time. Caring for injured birds that come through the hospital provides tangible motivation to keep working towards environmental regeneration, for the benefit of the many species that call Florida’s ecosystems home!

When not working or volunteering, Haley enjoys spending time outside, making pottery, and playing with her two cats, Mouse and Maple.

Abby Hendershot, a Columbus, Ohio native, discovered her love for the ocean and natural world during family vacations to Sanibel Island. That early connection to Southwest Florida led her to Florida Gulf Coast University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Education. During her time at FGCU, she researched eastern oyster populations and contributed to long-term reef monitoring efforts in Estero Bay. Driven by a belief that lasting conservation starts with community, Abby has since built a career helping environmental nonprofits grow through organizational development, program design, volunteer engagement, and fundraising. She holds a Master of Nonprofit Management and a Fundraising Certificate, and is passionate about helping mission-driven organizations build strong foundations for long-term impact.

Now serving as Fundraising and Events Coordinator at Mindful Action for Regeneration (MAR), Abby works to connect people with nature through environmental programs and fundraising events. She believes that getting people outside and in touch with their environment is one of the most powerful ways to inspire lasting change.

Karah grew up in Kansas and moved to St. Petersburg to pursue her passion for marine science at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science. Her love of the ocean took root early, sparked by her mother’s stories of growing up in a small fishing town on the southern coast of Spain, and it never let go. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from the University of Kansas and is currently wrapping up her Master’s degree in Marine Science, where her research uses underwater video to help estimate fish abundance and population counts.

Alongside her graduate studies, Karah has built a career connecting science, education, and community. As MAR’s Blue Program Coordinator, she is excited to help inspire the next generation of ocean stewards by creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect with Florida’s coastal ecosystems. She is passionate about making marine science approachable and believes that fostering curiosity is one of the most powerful tools for conservation.