About Us

Co-Founder

Lad is a long-time Santa Barbara resident who as a commercial fisherman/diver amassed over 10,000 hours underwater along California shorelines. He is the founder of twopioneering enterprises known for the development of subsea equipment and marine construction techniques, Cal Dive International and Oceaneering International—both now New York Stock Exchange companies. Having made his mark on the subsea industry in countless ways, including taking practical diving depths from 200′ to 3,000′, he is alegend in the commercial diving industry. Since losing the use of his body from the chest down as a result of a 1985 skiing accident, Lad has continued to sponsor and support projects and organizations that improve the quality of the ocean and its resources.

Vice President / Treasurer

Jim retired from Cal Dive International, Inc., a marine contractor and operator of offshore oil and gas properties and production facilities, where he was, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Chairman and a Director. Mr. Nelson currently serves on the Boards of Directors of four publicly traded companies: W&T Offshore, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company focused in the Gulf of Mexico; Oil States International, Inc., a diversified oilfield services company; Input/Output, a seismic services provider; and Quintana Maritime Ltd., an international provider of dry bulk cargo marine transportation services based in Athens, Greece. He also is amember of the Board for The Ucross Foundation, an artist colony located on a 20,000 acre working cattle ranch in Wyoming; and Volunteers Of America (VOA), a human service organization providing homeless, correctional, youth and substance abuse programs in Wyoming & Montana.

Executive Director

Judy is an Educator and Marketing Consultant, originally from Seattle, Washington, with a broad background in both the for profit and not-for-profit business sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Puget Sound, with post-graduate study in Marketing and Communications. After moving to California in 1997, her career has been focused on organizations committed to environmental and social change. She has lived in Santa Barbara for six years, working as a marketing/business development consultant and serving several nonprofit organizations in development and special events. She is also co-owner of a marketing and public relations company serving north Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Safety Engineer

Byron brings to SOS extensive experience as a Geologist and Safety Engineer. He has held significant supervisory positions in petroleum drilling-production-refining, diving technology and related industries, with special emphasis on regulations which address safety and health. These include Principal Engineer for mineral industries, mining and tunneling Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the State of California, with safety responsibility for the entire state; and Committee Chairman for writing the Administrative Codes and Regulations for underwater work and petroleum drilling-well service. Byron has received commendations from 3 governors and chiefs of the divisions of the state Division of Occupational Safety. Byron holds a BS in Geology from UCLA, was chosen to study diving with Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and served in the US Army in Europe as a member of the Counterintelligence Corps.

Past Board Member & Co-Founder

The SOS CA team lost Bruce at the end of 2013. He was an amazing part of our organiation. He lead a wonderfully interesting life. Read more about Bruce Allen Here. Bruce has 26 years’ experience as a physicist and project manager in spacecraft research and development. He previously worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Hughes Aircraft, and SAIC. He founded a space research and solar energy company, has written numerous articles on energy policy, and in 2009 published his first book, Reaching the Solar Tipping Point. As Co-founder of SOS California, Bruce has testified before Congress on national energy policy and is frequently interviewed by print, radio and television media. He lives in Santa Barbara and previously served on the Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District Community Advisory Council.

John Weller, Environmental Photographic Journalist
Jeff Harris, CEO, Buffalo Brothers Studios
William Rogers, Atty.
Larry Barels, Chairman, Divecon Services, Inc.
Tim Tremblay, President, Tremblay Financial Services
John Whitehurst, Journalist, CASA Magazine
Patt Wardlaw, Chairman, Specialty Tool & Bolt