CoastX is led by an experienced team of educators, entrepreneurs, and blue economy professionals.
Susan has over 35 years of experience as a Maine educator and designer of powerful and innovative learning environments that put students at the helm of their learning.
She has worked as a classroom teacher and led Promising Futures, a high school transformation grant program, for the Maine Department of Education.
She has spent the last 10 years as the Expanded Learning Opportunities Coordinator at Traip Academy building an internship program, wooden boat building program (4 boats completed and 2 on strongbacks!) and the Changemaker Innovation program supporting students’ innovative and entrepreneurial
investigations into the superpowers of seaweed and the blue economy.
Susan has raised and administered almost $6 million in federal, state, and private funds.
Ian brings over 25 years of start-up and innovation experience. He founded/co-founded 3 companies that were all acquired.
He launched and ran the University of New Hampshire's Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter) for over 7 years helping students bring their ideas to become launched companies. He coached students to many wins at UNH and National business plan competitions. The ECenter won multiple recognition awards for its programs. He raised $8 million in philanthropy for the UNH ECenter.
Ian's passion for the ocean started as a child when he summered with his family at MDIBL in Salisbury Cove, ME
Founded OCEANZUS™ and Case Ocean Services LLC, an innovative marine technology company dedicated to advancing ocean exploration and sustainability, in 2015. Competed in the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition (semifinalist) and remains focused on developing cutting-edge solutions for autonomous underwater data collection, marine renewable energy, and remote environmental monitoring.
Engaged in community outreach programs like MTS/MATE and CoastX to inspire the next generation of marine stewards to protect and preserve the oceans for future generations.
Matt is an entrepreneur and engineer passionate about using technology to benefit the ocean.
He launched Electrona Robotics, a startup that developed a low-cost ROV platform for ocean exploration and education.
Matt has been involved in numerous environmental technology and education projects. He is currently working on subsea research gliders at Hefring Engineering in Gloucester.
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