rebecca schwartz lesberg, President and founder

Rebecca is a marine scientist and coastal policy specialist.

For nearly a decade, Rebecca led on-the-ground conservation, restoration, and policy work with the Audubon Society, first as the Director of Conservation at San Diego Audubon and more recently as the San Francisco Bay Program Director for Audubon California. Prior to this, Rebecca served as Adjunct Faculty at the University of San Diego and was a Field Biologist for AMEC Foster Wheeler, an environmental consulting firm. With this varied background, Rebecca focuses on the intersection of science, policy, restoration, and community engagement to protect California's coastal environments.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology from UC San Diego and a Master of Science in Marine Science from the University of San Diego. Rebecca has been published in the San Diego Union Tribune and featured in the Los Angeles Times, and was awarded a 2014 President's Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama.

jess bode, project manager

Jess brings a “Swiss army knife” skill set to Coastal Policy Solutions, shaped by a diversity of experiences ranging from disaster response and grassroots organizing to coastal policy, climate tech, and public engagement. With a background in environmental psychology, Jess is particularly interested in how people connect to climate challenges and how that insight can drive more effective resilience strategies. She’s led projects across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, always with a focus on clarity, collaboration, and impact. Outside of work, Jess serves on the Santa Barbara Executive Committee of the Surfrider Foundation and is a passionate advocate for ocean health and community-driven climate solutions.