Leadership

IMANI

BLACK

Founder & CEO

Imani is an African American oyster farmer building a career in the rapidly growing aquaculture industry. She was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and her love for conservation and restoration on the Chesapeake Bay started at a young age. Imani comes from a long family history of watermen from Rock Hall, Crisfield and Cambridge, MD that dates back over 200 years.

Imani attended Old Dominion University and graduated with a Marine Biology degree and was a Division 1 student athlete in lacrosse.

During college, Imani interned for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s VA Oyster Restoration Team which started her journey into oyster restoration and shellfish aquaculture. Following graduation, Imani was selected to participate in the VIMS’ Aquaculture Genetics & Breeding Technology Center’s (ABC), Oyster Aquaculture Training (OAT) program which targets those pursuing careers in all aspects of oyster aquaculture, from hatchery operations to grow-out and processing.

Through her love for her career, Imani founded Minorities In Aquaculture, a nonprofit organization that strives to empower and support the underrepresented demographics (i.e women of color, women in general, men of color, etc) in the aquaculture industry by providing opportunities such as paid internship, technical skills training and career development resources. Over the last 2 years, MIA has focused its efforts and resources toward supporting women of color in their aquaculture careers, starting with Imani’s demographic which is also least engaged in this space. Overall, Minorities In Aquaculture is recognized as an impactful network focused on sustainable seafood education, aquaculture workforce development, and active engagement approaches not only for the minorities in aquaculture, but the industry as a whole in its effort towards a more diverse aquaculture field.

In addition to developing the nonprofit, Imani is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science researching the historical coastal communities of color in commercial fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay, while highlighting the approaches and methods toward active minority engagement and participation in coastal regions.

IMANI’S CHESAPEAKE FAMILY HERITAGE

1880’S CENSUS

  • Peter McCready (great, great uncle) started oystering at 16 years old in Dorchester County, MD.

  • Paternal grandfather’s cousins were watermen (crabs and oysters) Kent County (Rock Hall), MD.

1900’S CENSUS

  • Elbridge McCready (Great, great grandfather) of Asquith Island Road/Lake District tonged and dredged oysters with his brothers and sons in Dorchester County, MD.

  • Arlie and James “William” McCready (both great cousins) were self-employed tongers at the age 18.

  • William McCready (Great uncle) was watermen in Lake District/Honga & Wingate in Dorchester Co, MD.

  • Grandmother worked in the packing house picking crabs.

  • Great grandfather, grandfather and great cousins shucked oysters and clams in the Seafood Packing Houses in Rock Hall, MD.

Board of Directors

Membership Chair

Associate Extension Educator, at Connecticut Sea Grant & Faculty Member, at UConn’s Department of Cooperative Extension

  • Anoushka Concepcion earned her B.S. in Marine Biology from UNC at Wilmington and M.S. in Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Sciences from URI. Currently, she focuses on supporting marine aquaculture stakeholders in Connecticut, including the nascent seaweed aquaculture industry and associated stakeholders.

    Anoushka also collaborates with industry regulators to address emerging challenges associated with seaweed aquaculture, consultants prospective aquaculture producers, addresses emerging stakeholder needs, organizes workshops for industry & general audiences.

    As Membership Chair, Anoushka brings her vast aquaculture skills, knowledge, connections/networks & her own minority perspective to development MIA member engagement strategies.

Programming Chair

Director of Student Retention & Success at Chesapeake Community College

  • Dana Bower received her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University. In her career, Dana has served as Interim Assistant Dean of Students, Director of First-Year Experience, Director of Multicultural Affairs & taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in Latino and Hispanic communities.

    Currently, she oversees departments that are instrumental in helping students progress and complete their college studies. As Programming chair, Dana brings her knowledge of BIPOC student engagement, education and intentional minority resource support experience.

Grants & Finance Chair

Executive Director, TRiO Programs at Chesapeake Community College

  • Christle Foster received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Wilmington University. In her career, Christle has managed over $1 million in grant funds from the US Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion. Currently she’s studying for a Doctorate of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.

    As the Grants & Finance chair, Christle brings her business knowledge, grant writing, and grant finance experience.

Fundraising & Engagement

Aquaculture Industry Consultant,
Senior Officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts

  • Sharon McBreen is an ocean conservation advocate and fisheries and aquaculture policy expert, with decades of experience collaborating with industry, government agencies, and managers to advance the sustainability of our marine resources.

    Over the last 12 years, Sharon was a senior officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts, specializing in strategy development, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, advocacy, and public outreach. She also participated on a team identifying opportunities to expand shellfish and seaweed aquaculture.

    As the Fundraising & Engagement chair, Sharon brings her multi sector knowledge, community & industry engagement strategies and network experience.

Donor Relations & Grants

Freelance Nonprofit Consultant,
Consultant at Strive Together

  • Lauren Thiesse is a dedicated leader working with nonprofits to achieve equitable results from cradle to career. She is a skilled facilitator who is passionate about leading groups of diverse stakeholders through the process of continuous learning & improvement.

    Lauren holds a degree in English with a focus in writing and nonprofit management. She holds an MPA from the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. In 2020, Lauren started her own business as a freelance consultant providing high-quality program management and facilitation for collective impact organizations across the country.

    As Donor Relations & Grants Chair, Lauren brings her years of program management, network facilitation and grant writing experience.

Communications Team

Lead Marketing
& Communications Designer

Founder of Salmon Rose Creative Co., Aquaculture Technician at Middle Sound Mariculture

  • Carlee Fultz earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing Strategy from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. With seven years of experience in the music industry, she navigated diverse roles across major labels and global publishing companies in locations ranging from New York, NY, to Nashville, TN before returning to Wilmington, NC.

    Carlee ventured into oyster farming and founded Salmon Rose Creative Co., a marketing and design company dedicated to supporting small businesses, non-profits, and emerging ventures. Beyond her professional pursuits, Carlee is deeply committed to giving back, serving on the board of Pursuit of Balance, volunteering with low-cost health clinics, and advocating for animal rescue.

Communications Team Member

Ph.D. Student - Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science at The University of Maryland Eastern Shore

  • Michella Salvitti is a Ph.D. Student with background in environmental science, conservation biology, and virus transition research. Her goal is to purse research opportunities and help mainstream major scientific issues. Her current research focuses on a group of environmental contaminants called PFAS and how they impact aquatic environments.

    As a member of the MIA communications team, Michella has kicked off the blogpost page on our website with an informative piece of her writing titled: Searching for Seafood in a Desert

Rotating Communications Intern

2023 Internship Cohort Member,
B.S. Chemical Biology at U.C. Berkeley

  • Joyce is a 2023 Internship Cohort Member and has a background in water chemistry. Her internship with Orchard Point Oysters was a transformative experience that solidified her love for aquaculture and MIA.

    The summer also inspired her to pester Imani about helping with social media, so catch her on the Insta! She also does vanlife with her partner and hopes to be a traveling water farmer.