Company: Ocean Rescue Alliance International
Company Description: The Ocean Rescue Alliance is a marine conservation and restoration nonprofit organization that implements innovative techniques to restore marine environments. We use artificial structure to enhance marine environments, build marine habitat, conduct restoration, protect coast lines, and connect communities through art.
Nomination Category: Thought Leadership Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Thought Leader of the Year - Government or Non-Profit
 Nomination Title: Shelby Thomas
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2021 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
Acheivements made by Shelby Thomas include winning Blue Ambassador of the Year for Loggerhead Marine Center. She has let the Ocean Rescue Alliance to deploy another 2 artificial reefs in the ocean, restored over 15,000 additonal corals, led over 35 community events, presented at 3 international conferences and continues to develop new techniques to restore marine environments. Shelby also is an assistant professor at the University of Florida teaching leadership and marine related courses. She has won the Big Idea competiton for a marine conservaiton start up company. She sereves on 4 other nonprofit boards and continues to always share her knowledge with others to help in anyway she can. She continues research in marine restoration in addtion to new novel ocean technologies such as wave energy and coral genetics to name a few.
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 113 words used.
Shelby Thomas is a current Marine Biology Ph.D. student who founded Ocean Rescue Alliance International (ORAI), a marine conservation and restoration non-profit organization that creates innovative and artistic artificial reefs to restore marine environments. Shelby serves as ORAI’s CEO and Director of Research and her leadership has driven the organization to develop novel artificial reef technologies and research contributing to advances in marine restoration. She is passionate about protecting our ecosystems and aims to inspire a generation of environmentalist through her outreach and education efforts. Shelby is making big strides in marine conservation and restoration, and she does this all while leading a non-profit, being a student, and engaging with her community.
- Outline the nominee's thought leadership achievements since July 1 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
Shelby Thomas’s leadership has been pivotal in the success of ORAI. She was the driving force behind ORAI’s first artificial reef deployment in August 2019 off the coast of Palm Beach County, Florida known as the 1000 Mermaids Project, which has since grown to 150 reef modules. Given the success of the project and major impact on the marine habitat and local economy, other neighboring cities have plans for similar deployments such as Hollywood Florida. Currently, Shelby is responsible for the over 300 reef installations deployed by ORAI throughout Florida with more planned throughout the Caribbean and Australia. She has recruited leading arts to create innovative methods for delivering conservation awareness, started and manages a highly successful ORAI internship program, and has been interviewed by local and national media outlets numerous times. Shelby’s leadership has also been the cornerstone of developing industry-leading coral out-planting technologies that increase productivity (such as the Coral Lok System) and has keep ORAI involved in critical restoration research. Shelby is a stanch advocate to educating the public directly and through community engagement. For example, ORAI developed an innovative citizen science program called Coral Rangers where community members participate in workshops, cleanups, reef monitoring programs, monthly seminars, and more. Most recently, Shelby started a youth STEM workshop that offeres underpriviledged youth the opporutnity to engage with marine science. Her determination has greatly enhanced at-risk marine habitats while providing creative, economic, and educational opportunities to the benefit and enjoyment of residents, students, and visitors alike.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 244 words used.
Unlike other organizations, Shelby was determined to keep ORAI’s artificial reefs unique and blend science, art, and innovation to not only restore marine habitats, but also engage the public in a very tangible way. Whether it be through exploring an ORAI dive site or commemorating a loved one through a memorial reef, people can not only support marine restoration efforts, but also interact with and play a part in these efforts. Furthermore, it has been under Shelby’s leadership that ORAI has put more reef-like structures in the water than almost any other organization, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Shelby is working towards the next deployment of artificial reefs and continues to explore new avenues for growth. Through Shelby’s leadership, ORAI re-writes the model on reef restoration by creating a completely unique organization that uses a purely scientific approach and blends best practices with innovative research, artistic inspiration, collaborative techniques, and education and outreach initiatives. The diverse alliance Shelby has created is easily observed thought the impressive list of ORAI partnering organizations in academia, state and federal agencies, other non-profits, and industry leaders (see https://www.oceanrescuealliance.org/partners). In less than 4 years, ORAI has gone from a relatively unknown organization to a major player in the reef restoration industry currently in major negotiations with federal, state, and private stakeholders interested in starting new, innovative projects designed to protect coastal community infrastructure and economies while restoration habitats and educating the next generation.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 81 words used.
Reference A will lead you to ORA’s website. Here you can learn more about ORA’s mission, history, projects, and learn more about Shelby.
Reference B will lead you to a segment Shelby did for the local news and you can also explore other segments like Good Morning America on the ORAI media page, highlighting the great exposure her organization is getting.
Reference C ORAI overview
Reference D will lead you to a YouTube video giving an overview of Ocean Rescue Alliance.
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