Paulita Bennett-Martin Email & Phone Number

United States

Global

Now leading the Federal Policy strategy and advising the Co-founder/Executive Director. Some of my tasks include government relations, policy development, and creating effective connectivity between policy, science, and communication directors. I am using my expertise to provide policy leadership and ideas for organizational structure. And sometimes I support other staff too, because we can all use a little support.

I currently provide leadership level guidance on the development and implementation of program and policy activities. In some cases I roll up my sleeves and provide support when needed too. My professional objective is to motivate teams to advance priority conservation issues.

I am the Acting Director of Programs for Sea of Life. I design and oversee programs and fundraising for a start up organization. We empower local communities to protect the sea in the Caribbean.

United States

Managing the federal policy portfolio for plastic pollution at Oceana.

United States

Recruited by Oceana to manage a federal policy campaign in March of 2018. Advanced in December of 2019 to Field Representative for Georgia campaigns expanding responsibilities in the field. Manages a portfolio of four major US federal policy campaigns within the state of Georgia, a national plastic pollution educational workshop series, and recently appointed to an international team developing the global framework for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Provides support to the US Campaigns and Development team on priority communications pieces for the Executive Committee, funders and partners and contributed to two technical reports for major US campaigns launches. In addition, also oversees two statewide coalitions which have led to measurable advances in ocean policy in the state of Georgia.

Georgia, United States

Recruited by request of US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to develop a climate campaign with coastal communities illustrative of equity and diversity. Manages messaging and communications, schedules and organizes meetings and public roundtables, and advises Senator Whitehouse on context within a diverse stakeholder network. Works directly with a US Senator in an advisory role, connecting to a broad array of stakeholders including media, community groups, influencers, elected officials and NGOs. Reports directly to the Senator and Chief of Staff and coordinates with senior staff as needed.

Savannah, Georgia Area

Served as the lead partner program between Ogeechee Riverkeeper and Georgia Southern University. Managed the grant budget, project timeline management and preparation of data for a university archive system, in depth interviews, coordination between field assistants, potential interviewees, and final reports to funders and board. Built trusted relationships within the working waterfront stakeholders e.g. fishermen, guides, and coastal naturalists. Final products in this contract included: preparation of 16 oral histories, research and planning for further potential research topics, and a final report and comprehensive database for Georgia Southern University’s Archives.

Atlanta And United States Virgin Islands

Managed a multidisciplinary team of three staffers as well as visiting team members looking at market viability in local fisheries. Regularly convened discussions and worked with local government agencies, NGOs, and business leaders to address local needs. The work was conducted on the islands of St. Croix, and St. Thomas, where over 1560 hours in participatory observation, 300 surveys and 30 in depth interviews were conducted. Provided regular program status reviews to the Primary Investigator as well as support on technical reports and communications for funders and partners. This work is currently under review for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

Greater Atlanta Area

Working for Emory University included two distinct roles, Graduate Studies Instructor and Communications. As the teaching assistant to the Chair of the Department of Global Health, my responsibilities included management of 20 students a semester, engaged in applied graduate projects, which address global development challenges. The course, a hands on ‘in practice’ seminar, required preparing discussions, presentations, grading written documents and exams, and attending team meetings to coordinate strengths and personalities in a dynamic graduate level course. In the role of Communications, responsibilities include development of stories for department website, outreach, interviews, social media management, and representation of the department at key events.

Managed seven advocacy programs, including tasks such as review of emergent policy and science research, delivering impactful testimony in public hearings, and organizing coalitions for common goals. Built up a social network and social capitol for an emerging organization, effectively communicated with local and state government and convened multi-stakeholder meetings. Collaborated closely with local scientists, government, businesses, grass-tops, and grassroots stakeholders. Secured real estate to expand the organization, built an office out, on-boarded two new staffers, recruited 11 new local program specific volunteers, co-wrote three local fisheries government resolutions, and won a campaign against industrial chemical polluters to protect a historic and ecologically significant black-water fishing grounds.

Greater Atlanta Area

In 2016 I co-led the development of a City of Atlanta campaign to reduce single use plastics in local businesses. The responsibilities include campaign outreach, development of promotional communications materials, and network development and relations across local government, national nonprofits, learning institutions, and local businesses. In 2015 I organized an internationally attended summit, "The Plastic Gyre: Artists, Scientists, and Activists Respond". The two day event was focused on current conditions of plastic pollution, and the wide array of work being done in this field. My responsibilities included: developing sponsorship, communications, and general event management.

Belmopan, Belize

Spent four months developing and leading a citizen science study and grassroots campaign calling upon local government to support the reduction of single use plastics. This data was used by local NGOs to support campaign purposes as well as tell a story to local communities about a pressing issue, plastic pollution. Was asked to return and contribute to the development of a national policy to ban single use plastics nationwide within one year. This policy was passed in 2018 with subsequent regulatory implementation awaiting.

Greater Atlanta Area

I was selected as the 2014/2015 academic year fellow. My position is working directly in support to the Director of Community Planning and Engagement for Atlanta's most prolific smart growth project. This role involves frequent execution of the community engagement framework process, and interaction with civic groups and the general public, various levels of zoning process, assistance with projects, and continuous improvement of ABI’s systems. Responsibilities also include researching planning information/concepts, land use planning (e.g. current and long‐range planning matters and policy issues), review of the adopted 10 Sub‐Area Master Plans for a projected plan update, work with the City of Atlanta and ABI on development and the implementation of zoning applications within the Atlanta BeltLine Planning Area, and coordination with other program disciplines including transportation, project management, design, construction, and housing.

I have worked over the past two years as a research assistant and project lead including projects based on mapping social, and ecological trends. Field methods, data base strategy, writing, and map design are some of the day to day responsibilities I undertake. In addition I offer professional documentary skills to project needs.

Greater Atlanta Area

GSU/Atlanta Botanical Garden Research Team: Collaborated in a large team environment to map conservation efforts in 13 cityand state parks throughout the Piedmont region of Georgia. Responsibilitiesincluded organizing teams and leading field work for a freshmen honors collegecourse, data base design, map design. In addition general operations managementtasks included scheduling, community liaison to partnering organization, andwork reports.

Belize

Proposed and completed an honors thesis “Mapping Marine Debris throughCoastal Communities in Belize: Plastics, Pollution, and People”. All field workwas independently conducted throughout Belize in the summer of 2013 to collectover 1000 meters of data and over six hours of recorded discussions with locals.Other responsibilities included: proposal of thesis, data base design, extensivecartographic designs, extensive literature review focused on GIS, marine debris,marine conservation, and geographic methods, and completion of an honorsthesis.

Greater Atlanta Area

Collaborated in a small team setting to develop geography education andoutreach presentations for high school and introductory college level youth. Otherresponsibilities included coordinating community mapping projects, datacollection, community outreach, map design, and literature review focused onparticipatory, open source maps, and community geography, as well as drafting allfinal grant reports. One of projects featured on the Association of American Geographers Website: http://www.aag.org/cs/my_community_our_earth/mycoe_projects_2013/community_trash_identified_and_mapped_by_students

Greater Atlanta Area

Collaborated in a small team setting to complete extensive field work based ondeveloping practical GIS methods for conservation of green space. Other expertiseattained: practical identification of ecological systems and plant species,organization and leadership of community meetings, design and development ofgeographic education and outreach materials, as well as literature review andscholarly writing.

Greater Atlanta Area

M.D.P., Masters In Development Practice

The Masters in Development Practices is a two year program focused on theoretical and applied approaches in development. My focus was.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Geography, Summa Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Gamma Theta Upsilon NSF AAGhttp://giving.gsu.edu/2014/01/13/paulita-bennett-martin-one-incredible-experience-led.