USA Office:

Laleh Mohajerani - President and Executive Director
Laleh was one of the original co-founders of IEMANYA OCEANICA. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from  UCLA and a Masters degree in nonprofit business administration from Regis University. She has worked  extensively as an educator in k-12, special education, adult and environmental education. She has  worked and volunteered for various nonprofits, including, the Santa Monica Bay-keeper, Environment  Now, and WWF-Philippines. Laleh speaks 5 languages fluently, including English, Spanish, German,  French (rusty!)), and Farsi. She lives in Southern California, and in her spare time enjoys  swimming, reading, dancing, traveling and spending time with her family. To email Laleh, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Patty Civalleri - Executive Vice President, Board of Directors
Patty began her career in the computer industry moving through the roles of Technical Support, Sales, and Director of Marketing, with companies such as Star Technologies, Inc and IBM Corp. She started a stationary company in 1990. As CEO, she grew the company into a national manufacturing and distribution company and sold it to Cananda's largest public company. Re-inventing herself she gathered her technical skills, her digital aptitute, her graphic design talent and her business accumen and started 1-Take MultiMedia. For 10 years, Patty has provided all means of digital graphic design services: from professional digital photography to website design and management for more than 100 companies nationwide. As a member of the Director's Council of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, she travels the world shooting ancient sites for the Institute. A full-time wife and mom, Patty enjoys sailing, cooking, traveling, and definitely socializing!

Alexandra (Ali) Riggle- Program Director
Ali has years of experience leading and managing teams. Prior to joining Iemanya she supervised a team of data analysts in the corporate finance unit of a large insurance agency.  Ali is passionate about environmental issues and is an avid conservationist.  As a former education volunteer for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, she developed a deep respect and appreciation for marine life and an understanding of the threats facing the ocean and its inhabitants.  Ali has an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts from Los Angeles Valley College, and will soon begin working on her Bachelor's degree in Physical Geography at Cal State University Northridge. In her spare time, Ali enjoys traveling, volunteering, exploring nature, live theater, visiting museums, and keeping up to date on the latest science and technology news.  To email Alexandra, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Laura Rice- Intern

Laura holds Associate’s degrees in Exotic Animal Training and Management, Animal Behavior, and Wildlife Education, and is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree in Geography at Cal State University Northridge. Laura has years of experience working with exotic animals, and has as pets a jungle carpet python and a Columbian boa constrictor. Laura runs her own dog training/behavioral modification business serving the West San Fernando Valley. She is an advanced certified SCUBA diver and has been diving off the coasts of Hawaii, California, and Mexico. In her spare time Laura enjoys traveling, camping, rock climbing, motorcycling, paragliding, SCUBA diving, hiking, live music, theater and arts.

México office:

Jorge Ramirez Gonzalez – Pescadores Y Tiburones Director
Jorge (a.k.a Gigio) has a BS in marine biology from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur  (UABCS) and a Masters in Marine and Coastal Science at the same university. He has participated in  various projects and scientific events related to shark fisheries and community management. He is currently pursuing a PhD at UABCS, focusing on management proposal for shark fishery in the Mexican  Pacific. Jorge organizes meetings, community visits and workshops. He also leads our data collection  and analyses and trains fishers in the collection of accurate and reliable data on elasmobranch  catch. To email Jorge, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ofelia Escobar Sanchez – Pescadores Y Tiburones Support
Ofelia began working with sharks and rays in 1998 in the elasmobranch laboratory of the Universidad  Autonoma de Baja   California Sur. There she received her bachelors degree in marine   biology while  working with species targeted by the sport fishing   industry. She received her masters degree from  CICIMAR, specializing inmarine resource management. She also has conducted extensive studies on the  feeding habits and tissue isotopes of angel sharks (Squatina californica). Currently Ofelia is also  researching the feeding habits of pelagic fishes and sharks at CICIMAR. Ofelia is in charge of the  fishermen scholarship program and coordinates businness development projects in our fishing  communities. To email Ofelia, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rodrigo Rangel Acevedo - Community Liaison
Rodrigo, born in La Paz B. C. S., grew up in Bahía Magdalena and is a former fisherman. In 1997  Rodrigo began working as a volunteer to form the Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias, a grassroots  sea turtle conservation group. He was acting field coordinator for 3 years in collaboration with  Wildcoast and Pro Peninsula. During this time Rodrigo was in charge of monitoring teams and  participated in numerous international conservation symposia. He has appeared in various local and  national television programs (such as PBS), newspapers and magazines. He has dedicated the last 9  years of his life to sea turtle conservation, research and monitoring efforts. Rodrigo has been  instrumental in the successes of the Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias and now brings his  experience, dedication and skills to strengthen Iemanya’s Shark Fishers Network Program. To email  Rodrigo, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Surizaray  Espinoza Garcia – Education and Outreach Coordinator
Suri holds a Bachelors Degree in Biology from the Universidad Autonoma de Puebla and has participated in numerous biology and conservation related conferences and events. She has worked as a environmental educator in “Rally por el medio ambiente” and actively participated in various projects in Limnology and water quality control.  She has been a volunteer in the field for Iemanya since January 2006, working with fishermen and the general public. In her free time, Suri likes to read, go to the movies, go camping and go out with friends.