Board Of Directors

Ovrill Dwyer

Chairperson

There are few things more enjoyable than sitting ocean side feeling the breeze as the Moon over Miami sets free the natural light that nurtures the nocturnal activity which cleans and replenishes the earth after a day of exploitation. It is with this state of mind that Ms. Dwyer presents her personal and professional attributes as a board member of The Big Blue and You Foundation.

As a world traveler across the continents of Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, Ms. Dwyer has seen the use of natural resources as a means of survival and as a means to no end other than the self appeasement of mankind. The comprehensive outlook positions her to provide constructive observations about the uses and misuses of natural resources in the context of worldwide humanity.

Ms. Dwyer is an entrepreneur with more than 15 years experience in start-up, business development and project management, and a portfolio that includes exports, real estate, hotels, restaurants, and full-service travel. She is currently president and CEO of Dwyer Associated Services, the parent company of Unity Travel. A Board member of The Haitian American Foundation and community activist, Ms. Dwyer is committed to sharing her global experience, business acumen and community influence in support of The Big Blue and You Foundation.

Ellen Woods

Fundraising Committee Chairperson

As a native New Yorker, I longed to live here in South Florida because of my love and passion for beach life. God granted me that blessing. I have also been blessed to have the job in life of caring, healing and educating sick people, as a Bachelor degree Registered Nurse. I received my degree in New York at Lehman College in 1998. I was employed by the prestigious New York Presbyterian Hospital in various positions starting as a Medical/Surgical Nurse, then moved into Maternal Health and finally became a Critical Care Recovery Room Nurse. I moved to South Florida in 2005, where I continued my career as a Critical Care Nurse in the Recovery Room and presently in the Memorial West Emergency Room.

While here in South Florida, my goal was to be involved in the community. As a member of my professional organization, the Emergency Nurses Association’s Broward Chapter (“ENA”) and Chairperson of their fundraising committee, our first annual fundraiser earned over $25,000. In 2007, I was asked and agreed to become a Mentor with the World Literacy Crusade of Florida, Inc. “Girl Power.” In 2009, I was presented, “ Mentor of the Year “ for outstanding support and dedication to improving our world one girl at a time by this organization. In the same year, I was asked to be a part of the Advisory Committee for, The Big Blue & You Foundation (“BB&Y”). I am the Chairperson for BB&Y’s Fundraising Committee. We have had several successful fundraising events thus far, with the plan of an annual event. This is an honor because I truly believe and have a passion for the goals and objectives of this foundation.

Presently, I am abundantly blessed in my professional and personal life. To help inspire and educate the youth on becoming more aware of the environment and stewards of the sea, through media is an exciting endeavor. Even if I were not on the Board of Directors, I would want to be involved in this organization. I love the ocean and working with this organization to be a part of educating the youth to maintain our water resources.

Ted Davis

Treasurer

"Success is not a destination, it is a journey." Education is a journey that can last your entire life. My professional objective is to motivate pupils to achieve excellence in academic curriculum content but also to inspire them to become life-long learners. It seems like my “journey” began in 1967 when I was 12 years old while backpackingthe trailless peaks in the Dix Range of the Adirondack Mountains with my father. I was surprised when he asked me what our compass course was in order to reach the topof Mt. Dix and I was clueless as to what path should be taken. Later in my life, I was asked that question once again by the captain of the M/V Bull Tide (Tidewater Marine http://www.tdw.com/) in 1974 while on the bridge of that ship, on my very first day. Again, I was taken aback as I did not know what course to follow. Years later, with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and a Florida Teaching Certification, I spent 17 years educating high school science students. In 1996, I created & developed an awesome Marine Magnet program http://southbrowardreefdogs.com/ at South Broward High School with the help of a team of some very talented teachers, administrators and students. When I started the magnet program, my Principal asked me what I was going to do with the curriculum. “What direction will you take us?” This time I knew the answer because of my experience with education while in the outdoors and within the classroom. I knew that we had to provide young people with hands-on training at sea in order to make them the future leaders of our maritime culture and to encourage stewardship for our “Oceans Alive”. Most importantly, we need to instill a reverence for servitude within our maritime community. “The Empires of the future will be the Empires of the Mind” – Sir Winston Churchill

Diana Santos

Secretary

Diana Santos is a skilled court reporter working in the tri-county Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties for over six years. She has handled all types of cases, including but not limited to, workers’ comp, family law, civil and criminal, in which she has earned a reputation of excellence. Mrs. Santos possesses a spirit of excellence that has been recognized by several attorneys who invited her to travel to Peru, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic to work on complex litigation cases.

She is married, has 3 children and currently resides in the Broward area. Mrs. Santos has been involved in volunteering at Charter Schools, Special Olympics and the Camillus House. She has also helped her good friend, Daniell “Danni” Washington, whom she’s known for many years, with a fantastic project called “The Big Blue & You”. The fact that the project teaches children about the significant impact that they can have in saving our Oceans has inspired Mrs. Santos to become involved on many levels.

As a result of her love for the environment and the Ocean, Mrs. Santos has traveled extensively to places like Alaska, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Europe and both Central and South America. She has done this in order to educate herself and others that without the Oceans there would be no life on Earth and that human activity can have serious impacts on the vital forces governing our planet. She is determined to be a part of the solution and not the problem.

Gordon "Eric" Knowles

Board Member

Eric Knowles has held numerous positions within the Dolphin Stadium organization. Presently, Eric holds the position of Senior Director of Community Relations & Government Affairs for Dolphin Stadium. Eric is responsible for communicating the Stadium’s mission to the public and governmental agencies. Additionally, Eric’s responsibilities include overseeing the Dolphin Stadium Foundation which supports non-profit organizations whose emphasis is placed upon youth-related initiatives, education and drug-prevention and –intervention programs.

As the former Senior Director of Stadium Operations, Eric was responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operation and renovation schedules while serving as the facility’s liaison with all tenants, i.e., Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, FedEx Orange Bowl, and Major League Baseball’s World Series, and the National Football League’s Super Bowl.

SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY
Eric Knowles presently serves as the Chairman of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce and the M. Athalie Range Cultural Arts Foundation, a board member of the Visitors Industry Council (VIC), and the American Red Cross Greater Miami & The Keys. In addition, Eric sits on the advisory committee of the Independent Parent Council supporting Concerned African Women. Eric Knowles has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for community service throughout South Florida. He developed the Dolphin Stadium "Reads to the Community" program, addressing literacy with elementary school aged students. The program allowed employees to work one hour each week in their child’s school or an inner-city school of their choice.