National Aquarium, Inc.

Chair

Marc Bunting is CEO of the Blue Jar Family Council, a multigenerational family council that inspires and encourages future generations to understand and strengthen the Bunting/Kranzlin/Duffy family values and foster wealth.

In addition, Marc is the chief financial officer and co-founder of Alpine Food Service Solutions. Alpine was incorporated in 1996, and within two years had established itself as a unique food service provider for host locations on college campuses and hospitals within the United States. Alpine currently operates healthy food service concepts that have won numerous quality product and service awards since its inception. Marc received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stevenson University, and earned a Wealth Management Certificate from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. A native Baltimorean, Marc serves on the board of directors for a number of organizations, such as Civic Works, Stevenson University, Outward Bound and Catholic Charities. His philanthropic ventures include his role as director of the Bunting Family Foundation. Marc resides in Monkton, Maryland, and has two daughters, Calli and Jessie.

Timothy J. Adams is president and CEO of Systems Application & Technologies, Inc. (SA-TECH), a company he founded in 1989. SA-TECH is a progressive and steadily-growing professional services firm with origins in program management, operations and maintenance, logistics, high technology and technical support services to the Department of Defense.

Timothy holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and a bachelor’s degree in science from Xavier University. He has also attended Dartmouth College’s Minority Business Executive Program and the Business Innovation Management Program at University of Maryland, College Park. Timothy is the recipient of Maryland’s Democratic Party Distinguished Leadership Award and has been recognized as one of the top 100 African-American leaders in America by the National Black Chamber of Commerce. He has generously given his time, talents and financial support to a variety of businesses and community organizations, and serves on several boards within the community. Timothy resides in Bowie, Maryland, with his wife, Sheila R. Tillerson Adams, and twins Timothy Jr. and Kayla. His daughter, Tiara Adams, is a senior at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland.

John Bremer, a U.S. Air Force veteran and electrical engineer, has more than 20 years of experience in health care business development, product design, manufacturing and sales for government and commercial markets. He currently serves as the president of CIMED International, a manufacturer of high-quality medical equipment and facilities. John is also the founder and CEO of DIANAssociates, a telehealth service provider. Previously, he served as a senior military officer in the Air Force Medical Service Corps, primarily as a biomedical engineer. He is a long-term member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineers and current county executive appointee to the Anne Arundel County Veterans Affairs Commission. John holds a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and Milwaukee School of Engineering, respectively.

Chair, Finance Committee

David manages Brown Advisory’s national and international growth as its chief financial officer. With a focus on building world-class teams and a strong organizational culture, David’s leadership extends into the community, where he serves on the board of several nonprofits. David has served in various financial and operations leadership roles throughout his career, and thrives in growing entrepreneurial enterprises. The intersection of finance, management and operations comes together at Brown Advisory, where David oversees all non-investment areas. He joined Brown Advisory in 1997 and co-led the management buyout transaction of Brown Advisory from Bankers Trust.

As an extension of her grandfather's pioneering efforts to bring the public and our planet together, Céline Cousteau connects audiences around the globe with the marine world by sharing stories of the world's ecosystems, species and people through film and documentaries, research, art and design, and public speaking. Cousteau founded and serves as director of CauseCentric Productions, which creates cause focused multimedia content. She is currently in development of an impact campaign for her latest film, "Tribes on the Edge," featuring the indigenous tribes of the Vale do Javari in the Brazilian Amazon. As an extension of Cousteau's family legacy, she also co-founded The Céline Cousteau Film Fellowship, a nonprofit program whose mission is to empower young aspiring filmmakers, creatives and activists to inspire change through filmmaking.

In addition to serving as ambassador for the TreadRight Foundation and previously as a Member of the World Economic Forum Council on Oceans, Cousteau brings awareness to the environment through beauty and fashion collaborations, including her roles as a Guest Designer for Swarovski and creating coral-inspired jewelry for a sustainable luxury fashion collection by London based designer Deborah Milner. Cousteau also sits in on the advisory boards of The Himalayan Consensus and Marine Construction Technologies.

Cousteau, fluent in three languages, holds a degree in psychology from Skidmore College and a masters in intercultural relations from the School for International Training in Vermont.

Vice Chair

Chair, Animal Policy Committee

After graduating from Kirkland College with a bachelor's in English literature, Jane pursued a career as an audio engineer. She mixed audio and set up sound systems in clubs, theaters and outdoor venues, including a stint at the famed Folk City in Greenwich Village, New York City. Some notable clients include Chris Smither, Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn and the Rhode Island Symphony. Jane joined Maryland Sound Industries in 1985 as part of a talented sound crew, working events such as the 1986 re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. This role landed her on Stevie Wonder's "In Square Circle Tour" in the U.S. and Canada. In 1988, Jane and her husband, Larry, started ATI, a company that specialized in live-sound mixing consoles. Now known as Automated Processes Inc., it manufactures everything from microphone preamps to large-frame studio mixing consoles used to produce much of today's music.

Jane, a devoted National Aquarium supporter, was elected to the Aquarium's Advisory Council in 1992, and in 1997 she started her first board term. She also serves on the board of directors for both Center Stage in Baltimore and Friends of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., where she chairs the events committee.

Nancy served as state superintendent of Maryland Public Schools for 20 years, serving 24 districts, more than 1,000 schools and nearly 870,000 students. She began her career as a teacher at the William S. Baer School for the Deaf in Baltimore before serving as principal and associate superintendent in Baltimore County. Nancy received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Towson University, her master’s degree in deaf education from Gallaudet University and her doctorate in communicative sciences from Johns Hopkins University.

Nancy has fought to establish high standards in every Maryland classroom, and as a result, performance and expectations significantly improved. As one of her final acts as state superintendent, Nancy secured a $250 million Race to the Top grant from the U.S. Department of Education. In 2012, she was appointed as the Presidential Scholar for Innovation in Teacher and Leader Preparation at Towson University. Nancy is also a faculty member at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute, where she co-directs an innovative fellowship program to prepare administrators to be leaders in special education. Recent additions to Nancy’s lengthy list of awards are the Daily Record’s 2014 Innovator of the Year for her “All SySTEMs Go” initiative and the National Association for Gifted Children President’s Award in 2014.

Mo is the head of business line finance for M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust. He is an active member of the bank’s leadership team, serving as a chair or member of several subsidiary boards and corporate steering committees. Mo joined M&T Bank in September, 1995, and spent his first eight years with the bank in the finance division. In August 2003, he moved to Baltimore to lead the bank’s commercial equipment finance business. He later led the Treasury Management, Merchant Services and Commercial Card sales teams, the Commercial Deposit and Treasury Management Businesses and the bank’s commercial banking activities in greater Baltimore. Immediately prior to assuming his current role, he served as business line chief financial officer for the Wealth and Institutional Services Division.

Today, Mo leads a team of business line CFOs who provide comprehensive financial and strategic planning, incentive plan administration and sales reporting for the organization’s core profit and support businesses. The team partners with business leadership to foster operational, financial and cultural integration, shape business direction and support profitable growth and ongoing performance improvement. This is facilitated, in part, through the transparent and well-controlled design and execution of incentive plans that align rewards with performance.

Since moving to Baltimore, Mo has immersed himself in the community. In addition to serving on the finance, audit, compensation and philanthropy committees on the National Aquarium Board of Directors, he chairs the Governance and Board Development Committee on the Board and Executive Committee for the Y in Central Maryland, the St. Agnes Hospital Board and the Baltimore Curriculum Project Board. He is also actively engaged in the Pencil Program, where he partners with a principal from a Baltimore City school to assist in setting and measuring enrichment strategy for the school’s students and parents.

As president of Merritt Companies, Robb Merritt oversees daily operations and management of the company, including Merritt Construction Services, Merritt Properties and Merritt Clubs. Merritt joined the family business in 1989 on the field construction crew, learning the business from the ground up as his father did, and taking over the expansion of the company in 2000.

Merritt sits on the President's Advisory Council for the Greater Baltimore Committee as well as the Baltimore County Economic Development Commission. His appointment to the National Aquarium Board of Directors accompanies his positions as board member to both the Maryland Business Leadership PAC and Living Classrooms Foundation. Merritt also previously served as president of the Baltimore Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and is currently a member of the Legislative Committee and serves as governor of the NAIOP Research Foundation. Merritt is a graduate of the University of Colorado and received an MBA from Loyola University.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was sworn in as Baltimore’s 49th mayor on February 4, 2010. In November 2011, she was elected to her first full term, and focused her administration on growing Baltimore’s population by 10,000 families over the next decade by improving public safety and public education, and by strengthening city neighborhoods. Following the re-election of former President Barack Obama, Stephanie was elected as secretary of the Democratic National Committee. She also served in key leadership positions in the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was elected to the USCM Board of Trustees in 2010. The Daily Record named Stephanie one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” in 2007 and 2011, and the National Congress of Black Women named her a Shirley Chisholm Memorial Award Trailblazer. Stephanie graduated from Oberlin College and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law. A member of the Federal Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association, she lives in Baltimore’s Coldspring neighborhood with her husband, Kent Blake, and their young daughter, Sophia.

Chair, Philanthropy Committee

Currently a partner and director of commercial real estate firm Ward Properties, Jennifer has spent more than 28 years in the asset management business, most recently serving as vice chair and chief investment officer at Legg Mason Trust. Jennifer served as chair of the board of governors of the National Aquarium from 2011 to 2013, is past chair of the National Aquarium Foundation, Inc. and has been a member of the National Aquarium Board of Directors since 1994. Jennifer has been a trustee of Dickinson College since 2000, and currently serves as chair of the board of trustees. She co-chaired the First in America capital campaign at Dickinson College between 2006 and 2011.

In addition, she is a board member of First Mariner Bank and serves on the investment committees of the Walters Art Museum, Sheppard Pratt Investment Corp. and President’s Advisory Council of Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has twice been named one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” by the Daily Record and is a past recipient of the Distinguished Women Award from the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. Jennifer received her undergraduate degree from Dickinson College, a master’s of finance from Loyola College and is a chartered financial analyst.

Enric is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence who is dedicated to restoring the health and productivity of the ocean. His more than 120 scientific publications are widely recognized and used for real-world conservation efforts such as the creation of marine reserves. Enric is currently working to help protect the last pristine marine ecosystems in the world, and to develop new business models for marine conservation. He founded and leads National Geographic’s Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research and media to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. To date, Pristine Seas has helped to create 13 marine reserves—some of which are the largest on the planet—covering an area of more than 4.5 million square kilometers.

Enric has received many awards, including Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2008, the Research Award from the Spanish Geographical Society in 2013, the Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorers Club in 2013 and the Hero Award from the Environmental Media Association in 2013. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Enric’s experience and scientific expertise contribute to his service on advisory boards of international organizations and governments.

Enric holds a doctorate in ecology from the University of Aix-Marseille, France.

Environmental philanthropist and ocean activist Shari Sant Plummer is President and Founder of Code Blue Charitable Foundation, Secretary/Trustee of the Summit Charitable Foundation, founding board member of the Sylvia Earle Alliance, and Vice President of Seacology. Shari is also a member of the Ocean Unite Advisory Board, Nature's Best Photography Advisory Council, and the World Wildlife Fund's National Council. A proponent of impact photography and filmmaking, she served as board chair of the International League of Conservation Photographers for five years, and is currently an affiliate.

Shari is also a producer of documentary films including the Netflix documentaries "Mission Blue" (Executive Producer), and "Chasing Coral" (Associate Producer). She is Executive Producer on "Anote's Ark" which opened at Sundance 2018, and is Executive Producer on "Sharkwater Extinction", and "Ghost Fleet" currently in production for release in the Fall of 2018.

A graduate of NYU, Shari worked as Senior Stylist and Design Director for Ralph Lauren in New York for nine years, then as Visual Director at Esprit. She later founded the environmental lifestyle store, Worldware, in San Francisco in 1994. She sold the business in 2001, and now devotes herself full-time to environmental work, with a focus on producing impact media to inspire change.

An avid diver, photographer and ocean activist, Shari travels extensively throughout the world promoting ocean conservation and environmental awareness and lives in New York and California.

Chuck is currently the vice president of strategic partnerships and government relations for the United Way of Central Maryland. Previously, he was treasurer for Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s campaign and has maintained close ties to the mayor and Baltimore City Hall. Chuck is a longtime friend to the Aquarium, serving in the past as a valuable member of the Governance and Nominating Subcommittee. He also serves on the board for the CollegeBound Foundation and chairs the Multicultural Marketing Committee for the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association Board of Directors.

Elizabeth serves as the senior adviser to the commissioner of the Large Business and International Division of the Internal Revenue Service. She is a principal adviser responsible for providing policy-level legal and technical analysis and advice, proactively identifying emerging trends that impact tax administration and developing key stakeholder relationships outside the IRS. Prior to returning to public service in 2008, Elizabeth was the director of governmental affairs at the National Association of Bond Lawyers. She also served as a director in the Washington national tax offices of KPMG LLP and PwC LLP and was an associate at Latham & Watkins. Elizabeth received a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law, a master’s degree in accountancy/taxation from the University of Houston and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Texas. Her professional memberships include the Texas State and District of Columbia Bar Associations, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Bar Association. Elizabeth serves on the board of directors for the Coral Reef Alliance. She is also a volunteer diver at the National Aquarium.

Baltimore County Executive, ex officio

A lifelong resident of Catonsville, Mohler was appointed Baltimore County Executive by the County Council May 24, 2018 to complete the term of County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, who died suddenly on May 10, 2018.

Upon his appointment, Mohler pledged to continue County Executive Kamenetz's initiatives: giving children an education that prepares them for success; creating jobs and economic opportunities; keeping our communities safe and healthy; maintaining our public infrastructure, and enriching our quality of life.

Mohler served as Chief of Staff to two Baltimore County Executives following more than 30 years in Baltimore County Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent, Supervisor, Principal and Teacher. He earned a Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University, Master of Education from Loyola College, and Master of Liberal Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College).

Mohler is the father of two and grandfather of seven. He is a proud resident of Catonsville, where he lives with his wife Linda.

Representative

Donna Morrison serves as the representative of The Honorable Donald I. Mohler III, Baltimore County Executive to the National Aquarium's Board of Directors. She holds a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Towson University and an associate’s degree from Stevenson University. Donna has been employed by the Baltimore County government since 1976. Prior to her current role as deputy Baltimore County administrative officer, she served as the assistant to the director of the Baltimore County Department of Community Development. Donna currently serves on the board of directors for Stevenson University and the National Aquarium. She was a member of the 1987 Class of Leadership-Baltimore County. Donna was named among “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” in 2007 by the Daily Record and 2010 Coordinator of the Year by United Way of Central Maryland. She served as past president of the Fuel Fund of Maryland Inc. and the Stevenson University Alumni Board.

Representative

Poetri Deal serves as the representative of The Honorable Catherine Elizabeth Pugh, Mayor of Baltimore to the National Aquarium's Board of Directors. She has been in that role since Summer 2017, previously serving as Legislative Manger for the office. Before working in the administration, she served as the Director of Advocacy and Policy at The Arc of Maryland.

Poetri graduated from Coppin State University in 2011 and University of Baltimore in 2015. She worked for both Anthony Brown's gubernatorial campaign and Barry Glassman's Harford County Executive campaign in the 2014 election cycle.