As we approach March day, we’re excited to introduce our speakers – we’ll announce one at a time. Please note that all speakers are volunteering their time in a personal capacity, and do not appear on behalf of their respective institutions.

Roberta Swann

We apologize, but due to unforeseen circumstances Roberta will be unable to join us on event day. Tom Herder, Watershed Protection Coordinator for MBNEP, will be speaking in her place.

Roberta Swann is Director of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP), where she guides a management conference of over 100 community leaders in undertaking restoration, capacity building, and policy related initiatives to improve and protect Alabama’s coastal resources. Before joining MBNEP she worked with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to establish a foundation to support its activities and Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries to oversee a campaign to protect migratory bird habitat. Before moving to Alabama, Roberta was Assistant Director of the City of Lafayette IN Community Redevelopment Department where she led community development initiatives for housing, public facilities, infrastructure, and economic development in low income areas. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa, Roberta taught business practices to seven village cooperatives.  She is a native of Melrose, Massachusetts and earned a BS in Economics from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Boston University.

Here’s a video from MBNEP highlighting some of their work in our area.