Big Blue Speakers
2025 Big Blue emcee Chris Gloninger, Senior Climate Scientist at Woods Hole Group, will guide attendees through two days of inspiring and insightful talks related to the blue economy and climate adaptation across the southeast region of Massachusetts.
Emcee
Chris Gloninger
Big Blue Emcee
Chris Gloninger
Big Blue Emcee
Chris Gloninger is a Senior Climate Scientist at Woods Whole Group.
Day 1 Speakers
Paul Niedzwiecki
Speaker
Paul Niedzwiecki
Speaker
Paul Niedzwiecki is the CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation, Inc.
Lisa Oliver
Speaker, Sponsor
Lisa Oliver
Speaker, Sponsor
Ed Lambert
Speaker
Ed Lambert
Speaker
Ed Lambert is the Executive Director of MBAE. Previously he was vice chancellor for government relations and public affairs at UMass, Boston.
Ed was Commissioner of the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation where he managed 2,700-employees responsible for the stewardship of over 450,000 acres of forests, sites, and recreational programs.
Ed was founding director of the Urban Initiative of UMass Dartmouth, a research center focused on urban policy issues and providing technical assistance to communities and organizations throughout MA. He helped to form the Gateway Cities Coalition, which includes a number of cities whose mayors are working to revitalize their communities with the support of the state legislature.
Ed’s public service includes twelve years as the mayor of Fall River, MA, seven years as a state representative, and twenty years on the Fall River School Committee. As mayor, he worked on numerous initiatives including improving and building numerous schools, and the state's first bioreserve, which has protected 14,000 acres of forests and wetlands.
Ed was the director of social services at Saint Vincent's Home in Fall River. He earned his BA in psychology at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth) and his MEd in counseling at Bridgewater State College.
Kara O'Donnell-Galvin
Panel Moderator
Kara O'Donnell-Galvin
Panel Moderator
Kara O’Donnell-Galvin is the Executive Director of the MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board (CIWB), a nonprofit organization committed to advancing economic and workforce development across the Cape and Islands region.
A seasoned sector strategist, Kara brings a wealth of experience in the design and implementation of state and federally funded workforce programs. She has a strong track record of supporting regional businesses in cultivating a skilled workforce and specializes in initiatives that align with the state’s emphasis on college and career readiness, particularly for young adults.
With a comprehensive background in the Massachusetts One-Stop Career Center system, Kara has developed a deep passion for programmatic design and grant writing that drives regional economic growth. She is particularly committed to creating opportunities and internships for job seekers and young adults to explore career pathways in high-demand sectors throughout the Commonwealth.
Kara’s dedication to workforce development extends beyond the CIWB. She actively contributes her expertise by serving on several boards, including the Housing Assistance Corporation Board, Barnstable County Economic Development Council, MassHire Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Friends of Children’s Advisory Board, Mass Workforce Association Board and the MassHire Recognition Committee.
Kara is a graduate of Northeastern University and is in the process of completing her MBA.
Robert Sanborn
Big Blue Host, Panelist
Robert Sanborn
Big Blue Host, Panelist
Dr. Robert P. Sanborn III is the Superintendent/Director of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School serving in his fourteenth year in this role. Before moving to Cape Cod, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and qualified for his teaching license from Westfield State University. He joined the faculty of Cape Cod Tech in 1994 as a Business Management Instructor and enjoyed teaching for ten years. Subsequently, in 2004, he assumed the position of Business Manager and served in that capacity for six years prior to becoming the school’s fourth Superintendent/Director. While Business Manager, Dr. Sanborn earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in 2007. In May 2023, Dr. Sanborn earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Dr. Sanborn currently serves on the Cape and Island’s Workforce Investment Board and the board of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA). Bob has three adult children and enjoys life in Yarmouthport with his wife Mary.
Roger Forget
Panelist
Roger Forget
Panelist
ROGER D. FORGET
Superintendent, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
Roger Forget is Upper Cape Tech’s sixth superintendent in its 50-year history. He joined Upper Cape Tech in 2004 as a Carpentry teacher. He then served as Dean of Students and Director of Guidance, Curriculum and Instruction before being appointed as Assistant Superintendent/Principal in 2012. In July of 2020, Mr. Forget began his first year as Superintendent.
Roger understands the importance of community involvement and is therefore significantly involved as a member of several Boards of Directors locally and throughout Cape Cod. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators and the Cape Cod Canal Regional Chamber of Commerce. His continuous dedication to technical education was recognized by the Massachusetts Vocational Association in the form of the Presidential Achievement Award.
Mr. Forget attained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Education from Westfield State University and his Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University. He resides in Sagamore Beach with his wife, Sharon.
Cheri Armstrong
Panelist
Cheri Armstrong
Panelist
This is Ms. Armstrong's 27th year as an educator. She is the Career Education and Community Service Learning Coordinator at Monomoy Regional High School. Ms. Armstrong completed her undergraduate degree at Bridgewater State College. She received a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in Literacy from Lesley University and a CAGS in Educational Leadership from Salem State College. She has been a fellow with the National Writing Project, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy. Ms. Armstrong serves on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Teacher Association, and is newly elected as a Massachusetts Director to the National Education Association. Prior to becoming a teacher, Ms. Armstrong worked in Marketing, Sales, and Public Relations and served as the President of the Southeastern MA Chapter of Women in Construction. After nine years of excelling in corporate greed, she decided to become a community minister. At the age of 40, Ms. Armstrong became a teacher. When she is not working, Ms. Armstrong loves to read and to go on long walks, and she likes both of these things better if she can do them at the beach.
Amanda Hough
Panelist
Amanda Hough
Panelist
Amanda Hough graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Masters in Education K-12 Administration from American International College. She is currently a Teacher at Mashpee Middle High School in her nineteenth year. She teaches Technology, Engineering, Robotics, Drafting, and Intro to Computer Science at the secondary level. Amanda has been recognized for her innovative efforts in STEM Education including in 2020 as a Teacher of Excellence for Technology and Engineering by ITEEA, in 2019 as the Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year, and the 2019 MassTEC Technology and Engineering Teacher of the Year. Her Technology and Engineering Program was recognized as a Program of Excellence Award Winner in 2019 by ITEEA. She is the VEX Robotics Competition Team Coach which is 30 strong and boasts multiple girl powered groups. She is the past President of MassTEC and a member of the following professional organizations ITEEA, NSTA, and ISTE. She has presented at the previous professional organization’s conferences on the following topics EPortfolios for Authentic Assessment of Project Based Learning, SeaPerch ROVS for All 5th Graders, Cross Aged Student Teaching through Robotics, Computer Programming, and Electronics Maker Projects, Creating a Scalable Robotics Program, and Connecting Globally through Engineering Projects. Amanda truly believes in cross age student teaching and collaborates frequently with teachers within her school district to create authentic learning experiences for all students. Amanda makes her home on Cape Cod with her husband Patrick, and four children Ryan, Sean, Ashlynn, and Brendan.
Mark Faherty
Speaker
Mark Faherty
Speaker
Mark has been the Science Coordinator at Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary since August 2007. With Mass Audubon his projects have involved everything from oysters and horseshoe crabs to bats and butterflies, but before that he studied bird ecology for the 20 years, working on research projects in Kenya, Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest. He was a counter for the famous River of Raptors hawk watch in Veracruz, Mexico, and has birded and/or led birding tours in Africa, Peru, Panama, Belize, and both Eastern and Western Europe. Mark and leads workshops on birding by ear, eBird, birding apps, and general bird identification. He is past president of the Cape Cod Bird Club and member of the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee. His radio essay “The Weekly Bird Report” can be heard every Wednesday on WCAI, the local NPR station for Cape Cod, the islands, and the South Coast, and on the second Tuesday of every month he co-hosts Bird News, a live call in show on WCAI’s The Point with Mondy Todd.
Catherine Etter
Speaker
Catherine Etter
Speaker
Dr. Catherine Etter is a Professor of Environmental and Earth Sciences at Cape Cod Community College, where she has taught since 1995. She earned her bachelor's degree in Biology from Providence College, her master's from Harvard University, and holds both a Ph.D. and CAGS from Salve Regina University, with research focused on sustainable drinking water. She also earned an M.S. in Emergency Management from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Dr. Etter’s career spans work in Superfund sites, wetlands, OSHA training, aquaculture, and analytical laboratories, contributing to organizations such as Clean Harbors, Jacobs Engineering, and Barnstable County Extension Services. Her fieldwork has taken her from Martha’s Vineyard to the Southwest deserts, supporting public health, hazardous waste management, and tribal collaborations with the Wampanoag and Navajo Nations.
Committed to universal design and accessibility in education, Dr. Etter has served as principal investigator and evaluator for National Science Foundation grants and is a recipient of a Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant. Beyond academia, she is active as an organic farmer, conservation volunteer, yoga instructor, and therapeutic mentor.
Carmela Mayeski
Speaker
Carmela Mayeski
Speaker
Carmela E. Mayeski, Learning Partnerships Specialist
Carmela Mayeski is a lifelong resident of Falmouth and an alumna of Falmouth High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Sacred Heart University and a Master’s degree in Education from American International College. Since 2005, Carmela has been dedicated to public education, beginning her career as a laboratory assistant at Plymouth South Middle School, where she discovered her passion for teaching science. She later taught sixth-grade science at Berkley Middle School before moving on to teach STEM and seventh-grade science at John T. Nichols Middle School in Middleboro.
In 2019, Carmela returned to Falmouth to teach eighth-grade Integrated Science at Lawrence Junior High School. During the summer, she served as the inaugural Summer Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Currently, Carmela serves as the Learning Partnerships Specialist (LPS) for Falmouth Public Schools. In this role, she has expanded community and scientific partnerships, played a key role in implementing composting programs in all seven district schools, and continues to foster curriculum development and experiential learning opportunities that promote environmental stewardship.
In partnership with Falmouth’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee and the Department of Public Works, Carmela has contributed to the establishment of Falmouth’s second and third composting drop-off sites, with plans for further expansion.
Beyond her Educational and Environmental interests, Carmela enjoys gaming, science fiction, and YouTube, and enjoys spending time with her family—her husband, daughter, and two twin albino Netherland dwarf bunnies.
Henry St. Julien
Speaker
Henry St. Julien
Speaker
Henry St. Julien is the Director of Diversity Equity Inclusion Belonging. He has 31 years of experience in education; 9 years in Falmouth.
Sonia Tellier
Speaker
Sonia Tellier
Speaker
Sonia Tellier is the Assistant Superintendent at Falmouth Public Schools
Janet Rocha
Speaker
Janet Rocha
Speaker
Janet Rocha is the Department Chair of Career Technical Education at Falmouth Public Schools.
Interim Secretary Ashley Stolba
Speaker
Interim Secretary Ashley Stolba
Speaker
Interim Secretary of Economic Development
Executive Office of Economic Development
As Undersecretary of Economic Foundations for the Healey-Driscoll Administration, Ashley serves to advance the Commonwealth’s mission to foster foundational economic opportunities for residents, communities, and businesses across Massachusetts.
Stolba leads the teams that invest hundreds of millions of dollars in grants for public infrastructure and tax credits for businesses through the Community One Stop for Growth and the new Business Front Door. She oversees the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD), which assists businesses relocating and expanding in the Commonwealth, and serves as the secretariat’s climate officer focused on climate infrastructure needs. She works to promote the blue economy through her close collaboration with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, as well as serving as the Vice Chair of the Seaport Economic Council alongside Lieutenant Governor Driscoll.
Prior to joining the Executive Office of Economic Development, Ashley held roles at the Harvard Allston Land Company, the Massachusetts Port Authority, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, and in the Massachusetts state legislature. A native of Mashpee, MA, she is a graduate of the University of Miami and Suffolk University Law School.
Day 2 Speakers
Haley Cote
Speaker
Haley Cote
Speaker
Haley Cote is Cheif of Staff of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Barrett
Speaker
Mike Barrett
Speaker
Mike Barrett brings more than 20 years of maritime experience to his role with WHOI’s Marine Operations team. Working across ocean science, policy, and defense, Mike has led programs for National Geographic, the Moore Foundation, and DARPA. Mike is now back at WHOI where he oversees ResilientWoodsHole among other efforts. Mike holds a master’s degree from Duke in Coastal and Marine Management and is a certified Project Manager. Mike lives in Plymouth and is looking forward to another surfing season with his family. Mike is often found taking photos in the waves and is a sought-out photographer on dry land too.
Richard Waldo
Speaker
Richard Waldo
Speaker
A licensed professional civil engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Richard brings over 15 years of experience to the public sector, blending technical expertise with a strong background in public administration, holding a master’s degree from Suffolk University. Richard lives on the outer cape in Truro with his partner and their two young children. In his free time, Richard can be found managing his small farm of goats, bee’s, and two legged animals (kids) but ultimately being on a sailboat is when he is at his happiest.
Rob Anderson
Speaker
Rob Anderson
Speaker
Rob Anderson has been working in Massachusetts for over 22 years performing statewide, regional, and municipal economic development. He began at MassEcon working with corporate site location consultants considering real estate options for expansion; the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, helping administer the state’s Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP); acted as the Community Development Director for the Town of Billerica assisting companies at the local level by guiding them through permitting; and Rob has been working as a Vice President, Business Development for MassDevelopment, the state’s finance agency since the pandemic.
Patrick Cassidy
Panel Moderator
Patrick Cassidy
Panel Moderator
Patrick Cassidy is the owner of two Cape Cod-based Blue Economy businesses: Cape Cod on the Fly, a fly fishing guide service; and New England Maritime, a school that provides U.S. Coast Guard- and state-approved courses and testing for mariners seeking a merchant mariner credential or boating safety certification, as well as FCC testing and CPR/First Aid certification.
Patrick serves as a board member on the Fly Fishers International Northeast Council and is a member of the American Saltwater Guides Association. He previously served on the advisory board for EforAll Cape Cod, including a stint as chairman. Before founding Cape Cod on the Fly and buying New England Maritime, Patrick spent 15 years as a reporter and then news editor at the Cape Cod Times, covering offshore wind energy, transportation, and regional government among other beats. He is a three-time New England Newspaper and Press Association Journalist of the Year.
Anne-Marie Runfola
Panelist
Anne-Marie Runfola
Panelist
Anne-Marie Runfola is the Executive Director of the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) in Provincetown, MA. A veteran of marine conservation, management, and education, Runfola worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the past 15 years, serving in several roles including Deputy Superintendent of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and most recently as the Senior Advisor to the Directors of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
Before joining NOAA, Runfola was Deputy Director of the Bronx River Alliance, a non-profit, public-private partnership with the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation focused on river restoration and community development.
A resident of Falmouth, MA, Runfola serves on the Board of The 300 Committee Land Trust. She is a graduate of Ithaca College, and received a master’s degree from Columbia University Teachers College.
Andrew Gottlieb
Panelist
Andrew Gottlieb
Panelist
Andrew Gottlieb is currently the Executive Director at the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. Andrew has more than 40 years of environmental protection experience in government, was 5 elected to terms on the Mashpee Select Board, and as Chief of the Office of Commonwealth Development, he coordinated Massachusetts’s energy, housing, environmental and transportation policies.
Greg Berman
Panelist
Greg Berman
Panelist
Greg Berman (PG/CFM) is the Director of Natural Resources for the Town of Chatham. He has a diverse background, having held roles such as Hydrologist, Environmental Scientist, Professional Geologist, and Coastal Processes Specialist. For the past fifteen years, he has focused on fortifying coastal community resilience on Cape Cod by providing direct technical assistance and extension education programs on topics including shoreline change, erosion control alternatives, coastal hazards and hazard mitigation analyses, sea level rise, storm surge, dune restoration techniques, and other coastal management issues.
Jennifer Menard
Speaker
Jennifer Menard
Speaker
Jennifer Menard serves as the new Regional Director of the Southeast region, for the Massachusetts Office of Business Development under the Executive Office of Economic Development. Jennifer has an extensive background in economic and business development. In her previous role as Vice President of Economic & Business Development at Bristol Community College, Jennifer provided leadership and vision for operational and strategic planning, with a focus on external affairs, workforce development, corporate training, adult education, and industry collaborations. Jennifer brought the National Offshore Wind Institute, a state-of-the-art offshore wind and maritime training facility, from concept to reality overseeing industry partners and relationships. Jennifer also managed the SouthCoast Development Partnership, an economic development group, that supported a regional approach for business recruitment and development, with a focus on targeted industry sectors. Jennifer led the regional team of chambers, economic development offices, industrial parks and other business-related entities to identify regional priorities and managed a regional business development program, recruiting business to the SouthCoast from sectors such as life sciences, medical devices, tourism, manufacturing, and clean and renewable energy.
Kendra Bennett
Speaker
Kendra Bennett
Speaker
Kendra Bennett has dedicated 14 years to the field of education, bringing passion and commitment to each role and district served. Starting as an English teacher, Kendra inspired middle and high school students across grades 6 through 12 with a love for literature and language. Demonstrating leadership and a deep understanding of curriculum, Kendra advanced to become the Department Chair, where innovative approaches to teaching and learning flourished under her guidance.
After a successful tenure in teaching, Kendra Bennett transitioned into administration, serving four impactful years in leadership roles. Initially appointed as an Assistant Principal, Kendra focused on enhancing school culture and supporting both staff and students in achieving their best. Today, as the proud Principal of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Kendra leads with a vision for inclusive education and academic excellence. With experience across three different districts, Kendra brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the vibrant DYHS community.
Brian Braginton-Smith
Keynote Speaker
Brian Braginton-Smith
Keynote Speaker
Loral O'Hara
Special Greeting
Loral O'Hara
Special Greeting
Loral O'Hara is a NASA Astronaut and former WHOI Engineer
Katy Acheson
Big Blue Host, Organizer
Katy Acheson
Big Blue Host, Organizer
Katy Acheson is the Executive Director of the Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation, Inc.