Who We Are
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is a non-profit organization that creates film, photography and media, inspiring people to save the oceans. Founded in 2005 by renowned photographer and avid diver Louie Psihoyos, OPS is headquartered in Boulder, CO, conveniently between two oceans.
OPS's first film, The Cove, has won dozens of awards around the world, including the Oscar® for Best Documentary in 2009, and inspired over a million people to action.
Oceanic Preservation Society is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) private foundation.
The Executive Director of OPS, Louie Psihoyos, is widely regarded as one of the world's most prominent still photographers. He has circled the globe dozens of times for National Geographic and has shot hundreds of covers for other magazines including Fortune Magazine, Smithsonian, Discover, GEO, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Rock and Ice. His work has also been seen on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Television and the History Channel. His imagination, wit, and iconic imagery have helped illustrate a wide array of complex subjects and is carried over to his filmmaking.
Psihoyos' first documentary film, The Cove, has won over 70 awards globally from festivals and critics, including the Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature in 2009. The Cove touches many with its unflinching examination of a dark subject and its ability to reveal the humanity and compassion in each of us. Its underlying themes transcend the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji to address the larger picture of the threat our entire world faces due to human impacts.
Olivia Ahnemann has been producing and directing documentary films since 1998. At the Oceanic Preservation Society she is the producer of a feature length documentary that aims to educate its audience about the 6th mass extinction and inspire us all to change our energy use. She was also co-producer of The Cove.
Olivia has produced and directed documentaries on a variety of subjects. She has profiled Winston Blackmore’s polygamist clan in British Columbia for National Geographic and Europe’s royal families for A&E; followed BASE jumpers in Chamonix, France and big wave surfers in South Africa, Hawaii, Mexico and Tahiti for Warren Miller Entertainment; and filmed men and women building the new Bay Bridge in Oakland for Discovery.
Other television credits include programs for National Geographic, PBS, Discovery, The Outdoor Life Network, Fox Family and Travel Channel. Olivia has contributed to several independent films including “Enlighten Up!”, which had a nationwide theatrical release in 2008.
Michelle has joined the OPS team to head up business operations as the team prepares for its next major campaign to inspire people to save our oceans. Her professional background includes a variety of interim assignments for environmental causes as they ramp up for growth as well as executive roles with 2 different national nonprofits. Her expertise is maximizing the impact an organization can have in pursuit of their mission. She brings with her an MBA from UCLA as well as a dozen years in hi-tech marketing. Her passions include working to assure that the next generation is full of environmental stewards to lead the charge into the future.
Candace Crespi - Operations and Logistics Coordinator
Mark joined Oceanic Preservation Society as director of external affairs in 2012
and is based in Southern California.
Mark has been working in philanthropy for more than two decades. He began his fundraising career in the national office of the Planned Parenthood Federation, helped build a development and communications program for the International Rescue Committee, and served as executive director of the Visual Arts Foundation, all in New York City.
An opportunity to join the RAND Corporation took Mark to Los Angeles. After seven years with RAND, he accepted a position with KickStart International based in San Francisco, and later worked for Peninsula Open Space Trust in Palo Alto.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College, a Master of Arts from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary now formally affiliated with Columbia University.
Simon Hutchins grew up working in his mother’s photography studio in Toronto, before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he spent seven years as an avionics technician. Posted on Vancouver Island, he developed an interest in sailing and diving, which he continues to pursue.
An avid athlete, he has played ice hockey and golf, as well as road bike racing in premier cycling events in British Columbia. In addition to being qualified as a British Marine Coastguard Agency Master of Yachts, he is qualified on an array of technical scuba equipment, including being a Rebreather Instructor, and was a member of the 2008 Canadian National Freediving Team.
He lives with his wife, dividing his between Southern California and South Florida.
Ali Kennedy - Projects Director
A fifteen-year veteran of the outdoor recreation and conservation industries, Ali Kennedy comes to OPS with a rich background in event execution and public outreach. Before joining the OPS team, Ali served as the Special Projects Director for Active Interest Media (AIM)—one of the world’s largest niche media companies. At AIM, Ali directed a nationwide, mobile media and education tour designed to foster a love of the outdoors and environmental stewardship. Ali also oversaw Adventures NYC, an annual outdoor festival and celebration in Central Park in partnership with the City of New York. The programs and events directed by Ali to-date have brought a powerful conservation and recreation message to hundreds of thousands of participants. Ali is thrilled to bring her passion for the outdoors and extensive outreach expertise to OPS: The Wave.
Greg Mooney - Special Missions
"Moondog" has been an essential part of the OPS team since it's inception with its first expedition to the Red Sea in 2005. He grew up in a yachting family and has been a professional diver for over 25 years. His skill and knowledge in preparing dive gear and keeping divers safe is one of the most critical, yet least appreciated aspects of missions. Greg's "Fired Up, Ready to Go" attitude is always appreciated, even when skies or spirits are less than sunny. Also, his unfailing ability to lift enormously heavy gear casts him as the gentle giant on OPS missions.
Viki Psihoyos - Communications
Viki earned her Journalism degree at the University of Colorado as new media was emerging. This has served her role of social media strategist for OPS and The Cove sites, as well as other social media messaging. She also danced ballet professionally for George Balanchine for 13 years. Yet her role as matriarch to the Psihoyos clan has been the most gratifying. She now serves as wordsmith and general communicator for the non profit as the group tackles the next film project.
Louie Psihoyos - Executive Director
The Executive Director of OPS, Louie Psihoyos, is widely regarded as one of the world's most prominent still photographers. He has circled the globe dozens of times for National Geographic and has shot hundreds of covers for other magazines including Fortune Magazine, Smithsonian, Discover, GEO, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Rock and Ice. His work has also been seen on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Television and the History Channel. His imagination, wit, and iconic imagery have helped illustrate a wide array of complex subjects and is carried over to his filmmaking.Psihoyos' first documentary film, The Cove, has won over 70 awards globally from festivals and critics, including the Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature in 2009. The Cove touches many with its unflinching examination of a dark subject and its ability to reveal the humanity and compassion in each of us. Its underlying themes transcend the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji to address the larger picture of the threat our entire world faces due to human impacts.
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Board Members
Richard Schaden
Louie Psihoyos
Staff
Olivia Ahnemann - Producer
Olivia has produced and directed documentaries on a variety of subjects. She has profiled Winston Blackmore’s polygamist clan in British Columbia for National Geographic and Europe’s royal families for A&E; followed BASE jumpers in Chamonix, France and big wave surfers in South Africa, Hawaii, Mexico and Tahiti for Warren Miller Entertainment; and filmed men and women building the new Bay Bridge in Oakland for Discovery.
Other television credits include programs for National Geographic, PBS, Discovery, The Outdoor Life Network, Fox Family and Travel Channel. Olivia has contributed to several independent films including “Enlighten Up!”, which had a nationwide theatrical release in 2008.
Michelle Barnes - interim COO
Candace Crespi - Operations and Logistics Coordinator
Candace grew up in south Florida, spending most of her childhood diving, boating, and exploring our oceans. She graduated from Tulane University in 2007 with a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and has been actively working towards environmental justice with various organizations ever since. An activist at heart, Candace has helped out on many international campaigns aimed at halting rainforest destruction, slowing ocean acidification, and protecting endangered species. An avid scuba diver, she has seen first hand the destruction to coral reefs all over the world. Candace is deeply committed to marine conservation, and believes that by sharing the wonders of the ocean and marine life, people will be inspired to protect it. Her positive attitude, core values, and infectious personality make her a perfect fit for the OPS team.
Mark Dawson - External Relations
Mark has been working in philanthropy for more than two decades. He began his fundraising career in the national office of the Planned Parenthood Federation, helped build a development and communications program for the International Rescue Committee, and served as executive director of the Visual Arts Foundation, all in New York City.
An opportunity to join the RAND Corporation took Mark to Los Angeles. After seven years with RAND, he accepted a position with KickStart International based in San Francisco, and later worked for Peninsula Open Space Trust in Palo Alto.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College, a Master of Arts from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary now formally affiliated with Columbia University.
Adrienne Hall - Production Coordinator
Adrienne began working with OPS in 2009 while still pursuing her degree in Film Studies at Florida State University. Before joining the OPS team she worked with Red Hills Releasing where she contributed to the release of over 25 feature films. She has been a delegate at numerous film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and MountainFilm and recently sat on the Wildlife Film Jury at the SunChild Film Festival.Simon Hutchins - Expedition Director
Simon Hutchins grew up working in his mother’s photography studio in Toronto, before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he spent seven years as an avionics technician. Posted on Vancouver Island, he developed an interest in sailing and diving, which he continues to pursue.An avid athlete, he has played ice hockey and golf, as well as road bike racing in premier cycling events in British Columbia. In addition to being qualified as a British Marine Coastguard Agency Master of Yachts, he is qualified on an array of technical scuba equipment, including being a Rebreather Instructor, and was a member of the 2008 Canadian National Freediving Team.
He lives with his wife, dividing his between Southern California and South Florida.
Ali Kennedy - Projects Director
A fifteen-year veteran of the outdoor recreation and conservation industries, Ali Kennedy comes to OPS with a rich background in event execution and public outreach. Before joining the OPS team, Ali served as the Special Projects Director for Active Interest Media (AIM)—one of the world’s largest niche media companies. At AIM, Ali directed a nationwide, mobile media and education tour designed to foster a love of the outdoors and environmental stewardship. Ali also oversaw Adventures NYC, an annual outdoor festival and celebration in Central Park in partnership with the City of New York. The programs and events directed by Ali to-date have brought a powerful conservation and recreation message to hundreds of thousands of participants. Ali is thrilled to bring her passion for the outdoors and extensive outreach expertise to OPS: The Wave. Greg Mooney - Special Missions
"Moondog" has been an essential part of the OPS team since it's inception with its first expedition to the Red Sea in 2005. He grew up in a yachting family and has been a professional diver for over 25 years. His skill and knowledge in preparing dive gear and keeping divers safe is one of the most critical, yet least appreciated aspects of missions. Greg's "Fired Up, Ready to Go" attitude is always appreciated, even when skies or spirits are less than sunny. Also, his unfailing ability to lift enormously heavy gear casts him as the gentle giant on OPS missions.
Gina Papabeis - Projects Manager / Associate Producer
Gina is a graduate of Florida State University's Film School with a BFA in Film Production and a minor in Biology. She loves being part of the OPS team and the opportunity it brings to merge her appreciation of film, visual arts, nature, science and social change. Although it can be challenging, she feels a responsibility to save the planet and to inspire others to join in the good fight.Viki Psihoyos - Communications
Mike Scalisi - Editor
Taylor Fraser - Intern
Taylor is working towards completing her double degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder, which consists of a BFA in Film Studies and a BA in Communications. Her position at OPS has allowed her to explore many aspects of film making from assisting in film production, to organizing international travel for filmmakers, to working on research (stock footage exploration and database creation), to working with new sound technologies. Working with OPS has been an invaluable experience filled with constant new opportunities. She looks forward to all future endeavors with the inspirational and driven OPS team.
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