Our Team
Graham Patterson, MPP
Executive Director
Graham has spent most of his adult life working for nonprofits, building new programs, and figuring out ways to help them fulfill their missions. Over the course of this time he was also developing his favorite recreational activity, scuba diving, into a passion. As he learned more about the fragile state of the ecosystems he visited and saw life and diversity disappearing in front of his eyes, he became convinced that he must join the work of finding and implementing solutions.
In 2019 he decided to go "all in" and quit his job in healthcare so that he could pursue this passion full-time. He first landed in Mexico, then Thailand, Malaysia, and Honduras, taking part in conservation-focused programs while simultaneously working towards becoming a scuba instructor. In 2020, armed with the knowledge he gained over his 10 years of diving, and with a better understanding of the needs that his skillset was a match for, he founded the 501c3 nonprofit, Restoration, Ecology, and Environment Focused Scuba, or REEF Scuba.
Graham holds an undergraduate degree in International Development from UCLA and a master's degree in Public Policy from the Central European University. He is also, perhaps most proudly, a Dive Instructor who works to bring the magic he experiences underwater to everyone he encounters.
Tamara Silverstone
Executive Chair
For as long as she can remember, Tamara has been known by her friends and family as, the ocean girl. She grew up by the ocean, spent long days exploring it as a child, and as soon as she was old enough, began taking scuba diving courses. Since then her underwater adventures have taken her all over the world.
After participating in several programs focused on ocean conservation, and seeing plastic and distressed coral on more and more of her dives, Tamara decided to turn her passion into a career. She is now pursuing a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability, and plans to eventually become a marine biologist.
Paul Lucky
Chief Financial Officer
Paul has always been a vocal supporter of the causes he believes in, and was happy to bring his expertise to the REEF Scuba team. He looks forward to helping facilitate the growth of the organization and to being part of what he calls "the wild ride" of building a new organization.
Ayat Aji
Social Media and Listenership Growth Specialist
Ayat believes that human health is closely related to ocean health. That encouraged her to joined the REEF Scuba team and to put her degree in health science and expertise in social media marketing to work with us. Ayat continues to attract an ever growing audience, consistantly brings innovative ideas, and propels us to operate at the highest level.
Justine Wollman, MPH
Research and Partnership Coordinator
Justine holds a Master's of Public Health from Tulane University. The primary focus of her work is the connection between people's health outcomes and the health of the environments where they live. Justine has always loved being around the ocean and realized that a unique focus area might be the connection between public health and ocean health. She now manages research and parnership building.
Ronairee Flores
Outreach and Special Projects Coordinator
Ronairee is a statistician who also loves marketing and advertising. For many years she has been an activist, assisting a variety of non-profit organizations in the pursuit of their missions. She recently joined the REEF Scuba team, where she manages outreach, volunteer coordination, and oversees special projects. She looks forward to contributing her diverse skill set to help expand people's knowledge of the ocean, and their passion for saving it.