Who We Are - Fins Foundation
Our Vision
Our Approach
Our Approach
FINS is a mission-driven organization committed to restoring biodiversity and protecting our oceans.
Our Approach
Our Approach
Our Approach
Through initiatives like Lionfish Mitigation (Nose to Tail – Fin to Scale), Sea Turtle Conservation (Turtle Tracks: Protecting Our Nesting Turtles & Hatchlings), Education & Outreach (Marine Mindset: Educating on Conservation & Belize), and Camp OAR, we create meaningful conservation impacts while inspiring positive change.
Our Team
Abby Porter
Abby Porter is a dedicated advocate for marine conservation and the Program Director at the Field Institute for Natural Science (FINS). With a B.S. in Marketing and a co-major in Entrepreneurship from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Abby combines her business acumen with her passion for ocean conservation to drive meaningful change. With her vision, creativity, and leadership, Abby Porter continues to inspire change, ensuring a brighter future for the world’s coral reefs.
Willie Caal
Willie brings a lifelong dedication to ocean conservation. Holding a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize, Willie has amassed extensive experience in marine conservation. As the Conservation Director at FINS (Field Institute for Natural Science), he plays a pivotal role in leading the organization's conservation initiatives and scientific programs. Since joining in 2015, Willie has made invaluable contributions to FINS as a Marine Biologist, Science Coordinator, and PADI Dive Instructor.
Our Advisors
Julia Knoke
Beverly Hacker
Julia Knoke
Julia is a seasoned international marketing executive with +25 years experience in building cross-cultural B2B brands. Julia actively contributes to her community as a start-up and export business mentor with San Diego Sports Innovators (SDSI) and the San Diego World Trade Center Export Council (SBDC).
Julia holds a Masters in International Business Marketing from Thunderbird and dual Bachelor's degrees from Occidental College in Biology and German Literature. She is fluent in German, English, and Spanish.
Ryan Labrum
Beverly Hacker
Julia Knoke
Ryan is an accomplished architect and building industry professional with a mastery for design, management, finance and implementation of large-scale, domestic and international projects.
Ryan is the President of the Board for the San Diego Chill, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching neuro-diverse children how to play ice hockey. Ryan is fluent in English and German.
Beverly Hacker
Beverly Hacker
Beverly Hacker
Beverly is a business consultant with a background in public accounting, nonprofit management and business operations. She spent more than 20 years managing a nonprofit organization and has served on the board of several others. Currently, she consults on accounting, inventory and fundraising systems with small to mid-sized businesses all over the world.
Beverly holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri at St. Louis and a Masters in Media Literacy from Webster University.