Coastal Leadership Institute Class of 2026
The inaugural Coastal Leadership Institute cohort brings together leaders from government, science, business, and nonprofit organizations across North Carolina who share a commitment to understanding and protecting the coast, exploring the issues shaping its future, and strengthening leadership across sectors.
Daniel Adams
Local Government Services Director | Cape Fear Council of Governments | Wilmington
Daniel Adams serves as Local Government Services Director for the Cape Fear Council of Governments, where he works with local governments across southeastern North Carolina to support regional planning, economic development, resilience, and hazard mitigation efforts. In this role, he collaborates with communities in Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, and Columbus Counties, helping navigate growth pressures, regulatory frameworks, and coastal development challenges.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Daniel was inspired early on by the dynamic nature of North Carolina’s coastal environment and the complex opportunities and risks it presents. He brings both local and regional perspectives shaped by firsthand experience with rapid growth, tourism-driven economies, and natural hazard exposure.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, Daniel looks forward to deepening his understanding of the forces shaping coastal communities and contributing a regional lens to conversations about responsible and sustainable coastal prosperity.
Merrie Jo Alcoke
Vice President, Board of Directors | NC Coastal Land Trust | New Bern
Merrie Jo Alcoke is a board member and current Vice President of the NC Coastal Land Trust, where she has served multiple terms over more than 14 years. A native North Carolinian, her professional background includes work as a state attorney, private attorney, and government relations professional, with a career rooted in coastal protection and the navigation of complex issues among diverse stakeholders.
Throughout her career, Merrie Jo has worked on a wide range of coastal challenges, including offshore wind, highway resiliency, beach nourishment, fisheries management, emergency response, endangered species protection, and water quality concerns. Her leadership experience spans conservation organizations, transportation policy, and coastal infrastructure governance.
She joins the Coastal Leadership Institute eager to deepen cross-sector understanding, strengthen relationships among coastal leaders, and bring a long-term, solutions-oriented perspective to conversations shaping North Carolina’s coast.
Neal Andrew
President/Professional Engineer | Andrew Consulting Engineers, P.C. | Wilmington
Neal Andrew is President of Andrew Consulting Engineers, a Wilmington-based firm providing engineering services throughout North Carolina’s coastal region. A Wilmington native who lives at Wrightsville Beach, Neal has spent his career working at the intersection of coastal development, environmental regulation, and infrastructure planning.
In addition to leading his firm, Neal has served in numerous coastal leadership roles, including Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission and Vice-Chair of the New Hanover County Ports, Waterways, and Beach Commission. His professional and volunteer experience has given him extensive insight into the regulatory, economic, and environmental forces shaping the coast.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, Neal looks forward to engaging with leaders across sectors to strengthen collaborative decision-making and support balanced, informed stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal communities.
Niel Brooks
Deputy County Manager | Brunswick County | Bolivia
Niel Brooks serves as Deputy County Manager for Brunswick County, where he supports executive leadership and oversees key operational and policy initiatives within one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing coastal counties. In this role, he works closely with elected officials, department leaders, and community stakeholders on issues that shape economic development, infrastructure, and quality of life.
Niel has lived and worked on the North Carolina coast since 2003. He began his career as a newspaper reporter in Carteret County before transitioning into local government leadership roles in Leland and, ultimately, Brunswick County. Over nearly two decades, he has remained closely connected to the evolving challenges and opportunities facing coastal communities.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, Niel looks forward to strengthening regional relationships and continuing to expand his understanding of the complex forces influencing North Carolina’s coast.
Brian Buzby
Executive Director | NC Conservation Network | Raleigh
Brian Buzby serves as Executive Director of the North Carolina Conservation Network, a statewide environmental advocacy organization that works to advance sound public policy and strengthen collaboration among conservation partners. In this role, he engages regularly with state policymakers and nonprofit leaders on issues that shape North Carolina’s environmental future, including policies with significant coastal impact.
Although based in Raleigh, Brian’s work is closely connected to coastal communities through statewide advocacy efforts and partnerships with numerous coastal organizations across the network. He brings a deep understanding of state government processes, environmental policy development, and the long-term benefits of strategic conservation action.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, Brian looks forward to deepening his understanding of coastal challenges and building relationships with leaders across sectors to support informed, collaborative solutions for North Carolina’s coast.
Ben Cahoon
Mayor | Nags Head, NC | Nags Head
Mayor Ben Cahoon has served as Mayor of Nags Head for more than eight years, bringing decades of coastal leadership to the role. Born and raised in Engelhard in Hyde County, he practiced architecture in eastern North Carolina for more than 36 years, shaping coastal communities through thoughtful land use and design. He was closely involved in the founding of the Coastal Studies Institute and has served on numerous regional planning and advisory committees.
Throughout his public service, Mayor Cahoon has worked on issues ranging from offshore energy policy to coastal resilience and land use planning, including organizing mayoral collaboration to oppose offshore oil exploration. Grounded in his upbringing in a coastal farming family, he brings a long-term perspective on how environmental stewardship underpins the viability of farming, fishing, and tourism.
He joins the Coastal Leadership Institute committed to collaborative problem-solving and balanced, forward-looking coastal leadership.
Celeste Cairns
Representative, District 13 | NC General Assembly | Emerald Isle
Representative Celeste Cairns serves in the North Carolina General Assembly representing District 13, which includes Carteret and Craven counties, and currently serves as a Deputy Majority Whip. She lives on Bogue Banks in Emerald Isle and represents many coastal communities in eastern North Carolina.
In her role as a legislator, Representative Cairns regularly hears from coastal residents and stakeholders with a wide range of perspectives and priorities. This experience has given her insight into the challenges of balancing competing interests while working toward outcomes that support both coastal communities and the long-term health of the region.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, she looks forward to strengthening relationships with leaders from across the coast and continuing to learn about the issues shaping North Carolina’s coastal future. She brings a legislative perspective grounded in listening to constituents and seeking the overall best path forward for the communities she represents.
Alissa Cale
Land Asset Manager | Weyerhaeuser Company | Plymouth
Alissa Cale serves as Land Asset Manager for Weyerhaeuser Company, where she oversees land sales and portfolio strategy across eastern North Carolina. With 34 years at Weyerhaeuser and nearly two decades focused on land acquisition and disposition, she works closely with properties throughout the coastal plain, many of which border protected lands and sensitive waterways.
Weyerhaeuser is the largest private industrial timberland owner in the United States, and Alissa’s role requires balancing long-term timber management, economic development pressures, and conservation opportunities. Living on the Albemarle Sound in Washington County, she experiences firsthand the dynamics shaping coastal communities, including sea level rise, development trends, and the fiscal realities counties face when large tracts transition to protected status.
She joins the Coastal Leadership Institute eager to deepen partnerships with conservation leaders and local decision-makers and to explore collaborative approaches that support both economic vitality and responsible land stewardship.
April Clark
President, Board of Directors | North Carolina Coastal Federation | Swansboro
April Clark serves as President of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Coastal Federation. Based in Swansboro, she brings 13 years of dedicated volunteer leadership to the organization and a lifelong connection to Eastern North Carolina’s coastal communities.
An avid paddler and waterfront resident, April has witnessed firsthand the dramatic changes along our coast — from rapid development to shifting cultural and economic patterns in fishing, shrimping, and oyster farming communities. Her perspective is shaped by both deep appreciation for the natural landscape and an understanding of the complex tradeoffs facing growing coastal regions.
In addition to her work with the Federation, April is a longtime Rotary member of 26 years and a Past District Governor, and currently serves on the Onslow Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. She is passionate about strengthening communities and looks forward to continuing to deepen her understanding of coastal issues while connecting with others who care deeply about North Carolina’s future.
PJ Connelly
Eastern Office Director | Office of Governor Josh Stein | New Bern
PJ Connelly serves as Eastern Office Director for the North Carolina Office of the Governor, where he works closely with local governments and regional leaders across eastern North Carolina. Based in New Bern, his role focuses on helping communities navigate state and federal resources and coordinating with state leadership on issues affecting the region.
PJ has a lifelong connection to North Carolina’s coast. He grew up in New Bern, fishing, hunting, and sailing along the coast, and spent time at Camps Sea Gull/Seafarer, Don Lee, and Boddie. These experiences helped shape his appreciation for the coast’s unique geography, history, and culture.
During more than nine years serving two governors, PJ has worked on a range of coastal issues, including fisheries, ports, ferries, disaster recovery, and coastal resilience. Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, he looks forward to continuing to learn from leaders across sectors while sharing insights from his work supporting coastal communities throughout eastern North Carolina.
Ken Halanych
Executive Director, Center for Marine Science | UNCW | Wilmington
Ken Halanych serves as Executive Director of the Center for Marine Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In this role, he oversees one of the largest concentrations of marine and coastal researchers in the southeast, including more than 40 research laboratories and over 100 affiliated faculty spanning natural sciences, business, arts, and humanities. The Center advances research, education, and service initiatives addressing flood resilience, PFAS detection and mitigation, coastal sustainability, aquaculture, and emerging ocean technologies.
Since relocating to the North Carolina coast in 2021, Ken has worked closely with municipalities, agencies, and nonprofit partners to align scientific research with community needs. He also leads multi-institutional initiatives designed to strengthen coastal resilience and economic innovation across eastern North Carolina. He is a highly accomplished research scientist who has focused on the evolution and ecology of marine invertebrate animals from several different environments around the globe.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, he looks forward to deepening his understanding of the state’s coastal history, governance, and economic landscape while contributing an integrated, cross-disciplinary academic perspective to advance science-informed decision-making.
Pricey Harrison
Representative, District 61 | NC General Assembly | Raleigh
Representative Pricey Harrison serves in the North Carolina General Assembly representing District 61, where much of her legislative work has included coastal, fisheries, and environmental policy. She previously lived in a coastal county and continues to maintain a residence on the coast, sustaining both personal and professional ties to North Carolina’s coastal communities.
Throughout her career, Representative Harrison has served on numerous environmental and coastal boards and commissions, including the Coastal Resources Commission and a Marine Fisheries Commission advisory committee, giving her firsthand experience with regulatory decision-making. She has also held leadership roles with a range of conservation organizations at both the state and national levels.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, she looks forward to engaging with cross-sector leaders who share a commitment to the coast and to contributing a legislative and regulatory perspective grounded in long-term service and grassroots engagement.
Chase Horton
Policy & Communications Advisor | NC General Assembly – Office of Senator Michael Lee Raleigh
Chase Horton serves as Policy and Communications Advisor in the North Carolina General Assembly for the Office of Senator Michael Lee. Based in Raleigh, he works on legislative policy and communications related to issues affecting communities across the state.
Born and raised in Wilmington, Chase has a strong personal connection to North Carolina’s coast and says the water is his favorite place to be. In his work at the General Assembly, he hopes to be a strong advocate for protecting the coast while continuing to expand his knowledge and experience on coastal issues.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, Chase looks forward to sharing insights from both his experience growing up on the coast and his work within the legislative process, while learning from leaders working across sectors to support coastal communities.
Jonathan Howell
Deputy Director | NC Division of Coastal Management | New Bern
Jonathan Howell serves as Deputy Director of the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, where he helps oversee the state’s coastal management program and the implementation of policies that guide development and resource protection along North Carolina’s coast. Based in Morehead City, his work focuses on balancing responsible coastal development with the long-term stewardship of the state’s coastal resources.
Jonathan was born and raised in eastern North Carolina and has lived in the region his entire life. He studied Coastal Management at East Carolina University and has long felt a strong personal connection to the coast, returning to it throughout his life and career.
Over the past two decades, Jonathan has worked in hazard mitigation planning and coastal regulation, including developing post-Hurricane Floyd mitigation plans and serving in the regulatory section of the Division of Coastal Management. Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, he looks forward to building relationships with leaders across sectors and contributing insight into the regulatory framework that guides development and conservation along North Carolina’s coast.
Jennifer Hurtgen
Program Manager | Duke University | Durham
Jennifer Hurtgen serves as Program Manager for the Duke Wetland and Coasts Center and Duke RESTORE, a university initiative that empowers Master of Environmental Management students to lead applied restoration projects across ecosystems including coral reefs, living shorelines, seagrass, forests, and coastal watersheds. Through this work, she connects research, community engagement, and workforce development to real-world environmental challenges.
Though based in Durham, Jennifer’s work is closely tied to North Carolina’s coastal communities. She previously served on the leadership team of a federal grant focused on strengthening cross-sector relationships to advance coastal workforce and economic development, an experience that deepened her commitment to collaborative leadership.
Currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Organizational Learning and Leadership at UNC, Jennifer studies boundary-spanning leadership and the conditions that foster effective cross-sector partnerships. She looks forward to building relationships across the cohort and advancing informed, connected leadership for North Carolina’s coast.
Cori Lopazanski
Postdoctoral Researcher | Duke University Marine Lab | Beaufort
Cori Lopazanski is a postdoctoral researcher at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort and a Carteret County native. She grew up volunteering at the Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research Reserve and working at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, experiences that shaped her early connection to coastal science and stewardship.
Her research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of marine conservation strategies and understanding how scientific evidence informs management decisions. During her doctoral studies, she led analyses supporting the decadal evaluation of California’s Marine Protected Area Network, working closely with state partners to weigh ecological data alongside social and economic considerations.
After several years working in coastal communities across the United States and internationally, Cori recently returned home to North Carolina. She joins the Coastal Leadership Institute eager to strengthen her ability to bridge science, policy, and community context in support of collaborative, evidence-informed coastal solutions.
Mike Muglia
Associate Director of Research & Strategic Partnership | ECU Coastal Studies Institute Wanchese
Mike Muglia serves as Associate Director for Research and Strategic Partnerships at the UNC Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese, where he has been involved since helping found the institute in 2003. An oceanographer and ocean observing researcher, he leads a research lab that includes students, scientists, and technicians and manages collaborative projects spanning coastal resilience, renewable ocean energy, and applied marine science.
A longtime Outer Banks resident, Mike lives and works in close connection with the ocean as both a scientist and engaged community member. Over the past two decades, he has been involved in many of the region’s defining coastal issues, including beach nourishment, NC 12 access, the Oregon Inlet Bridge replacement, and shoreline erosion challenges in Buxton.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, he looks forward to strengthening cross-sector collaboration and deepening partnerships that support science-informed coastal decision-making.
Lauren Salter
Fisheries Advocate/Coastal Resources Commissioner | Coastal Resources Commission Williston
Lauren Salter is a Carteret County native and heritage commercial fishing advocate who has served on the Coastal Resources Commission since 2018 as the industry representative. Born into two commercial fishing families, she brings a lifelong connection to North Carolina’s working waterfronts and a deep understanding of how policy decisions affect fishing communities.
With more than 15 years of experience in fisheries policy and advocacy, Lauren has worked across the spectrum of coastal governance — as a former Division of Marine Fisheries employee, industry advocate, grassroots organizer, and commissioner. She helps lead NC Dock Updates, a statewide effort to improve communication and engagement between fishermen and the management process.
Having experienced firsthand the impacts of Hurricane Florence, she brings both professional and personal perspectives to conversations about resilience, regulation, and coastal stewardship. She joins the Coastal Leadership Institute eager to learn from diverse perspectives and strengthen informed, balanced coastal policy.
Ryan Stancil
Journalist and Communications Consultant | Sandbox Collaborative | New Bern
Ryan Stancil is an independent writer, producer, and communications strategist whose work centers on community, culture, and environmental change along North Carolina’s coast. Splitting his time between New Bern and Buxton, he focuses on place-based storytelling that explores rural life, living history, and the evolving relationship between coastal communities and their natural environment.
Ryan works at the intersection of journalism, communications, and community advocacy, collaborating with cultural institutions, nonprofits, and local leaders across eastern North Carolina. He has been involved in initiatives at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center, including the Down East Resilience Network, which emerged from the Sea Grant CCRG project Rising, that he co-directed.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, Ryan looks forward to deepening his understanding of the economic and policy forces shaping the coast and contributing a humanities-based perspective that elevates narrative, culture, and lived experience in coastal leadership conversations.
Lauren Wargo
Government & Community Relations District Manager | Duke Energy | New Bern
Lauren Wargo serves as Government and Community Relations District Manager for Duke Energy, where she acts as the primary liaison to local governments across eastern North Carolina, including Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Onslow, and surrounding counties. In this role, she works at the intersection of infrastructure, public policy, and community partnership, regularly engaging with elected officials and senior decision-makers on issues that impact coastal communities.
Lauren lives and works in the region she serves, bringing firsthand experience responding to major storm events and coordinating infrastructure preparedness and recovery efforts. Her background in Environmental Science, Botany, and Public Administration informs a multidisciplinary approach to coastal resilience and long-term planning.
She looks forward to deepening her understanding of coastal systems and strengthening cross-sector relationships through the Coastal Leadership Institute. Lauren is actively involved in regional economic development and civic leadership, serving on multiple boards across eastern North Carolina.
Susan White
Executive Director | North Carolina Sea Grant | Raleigh
Susan White serves as Executive Director of North Carolina Sea Grant, the NC Water Resources Research Institute, and NC Space Grant. In this role, she leads statewide research, extension, and education programs that connect federal science agencies, universities, and communities to address water, coastal, and environmental challenges across North Carolina.
A native North Carolinian, Susan developed an early love for the state’s coastal ecosystems through family trips exploring wetlands, estuaries, and beaches. Her academic and professional path, including time at the Duke University Marine Lab and work with NOAA programs, deepened her focus on coastal and estuarine systems and the partnerships required to sustain them.
Through the Coastal Leadership Institute, Susan looks forward to engaging with leaders across sectors to explore the evolving economic, environmental, and workforce dynamics shaping the coast and to strengthening collaborations that benefit North Carolina’s coastal communities and watersheds.
Matt Zapp
Town Manager | Town of Beaufort NC | Beaufort
Matt Zapp serves as Town Manager for the Town of Beaufort, where he leads municipal operations and works at the intersection of coastal resilience, land use, infrastructure investment, tourism, and community character. He holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Coastal Management and brings more than two decades of professional experience in local government leadership.
Prior to joining Beaufort, Matt served for six years as Town Manager of Emerald Isle. Throughout his career, he has balanced economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and quality of life within historic coastal communities facing increasing regulatory, fiscal, and climate-related pressures.
He looks forward to collaborating with regional leaders through the Coastal Leadership Institute and contributing a practitioner’s perspective grounded in executive municipal management and cross-jurisdictional collaboration.