MEET US

Alex is a native of Hawaii, where his family still resides. He lived on the Monterey Peninsula for many years before moving to Santa Barbara. While attending the University of California at Santa Barbara, Alex had an internship with Island Packers. After earning his Environmental Studies Degree, he worked aboard a research ship for the University of Hawaii. Alex has traveled extensively, worked in a wide variety of ocean-related businesses, and operated many different types of vessels. He started working full-time at Island Packers in 1990. When not working, Alex loves to spend time with family, surf, travel, ski, and backpack. He is passionate about the ocean and loves sharing its wonders with others.

Paige grew up just outside Charlotte, North Carolina. She went to Brevard College in NC where she received a degree in Wilderness Leadership & Experiential Education with a minor in Geology. Before joining the Island Packer family in 2009, Paige worked an array of jobs from rock climbing guide to sea kayak & glacier guide in Valdez, AK to blacksmith. With Island Packers, Paige has worked as crew, educator, naturalist, and skiff operator before her current position of Captain & Assistant Fleet Manager.  She enjoys playing the guitar and doing anything outdoors, such as, birding, rock hounding, skydiving, and being on the ocean.

Andrea is from Malibu Lake, California and has been with Island Packers since 1998. Prior to her current position, Andrea ran the education programs for the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She loves everything ocean related but also enjoys time in the mountains. Andrea takes pleasure in sharing her love of the Channel Islands and is passionate about getting future generations hooked on this special place. She wants young visitors to see what the world around them has to offer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Andrea studied at both the University of California at Santa Barbara and California State University at Channel Islands.

Joel joined Island Packers in 2004. Besides being a USCG licensed captain he is also an active birder, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. Joel helps to arrange Island Packers bird watching trips throughout the year. He leads hikes on all the Channel Islands and enjoys surfing, hiking, traveling, and other outdoor pursuits.

Pancho joined Island Packers in 2011. He has an extensive background in ocean related activities as well as extensive marine knowledge. He has years of experience as a kayak instructor in both Baja, California as well as Alaska. Pancho is part of a team that annually tags turtles in Baja, as part of a long-term study. He has been a whale-watching guide in Baja and outdoor education instructor. He is always improving his knowledge of whales and uses this vast knowledge as a captain and crew for Island Packers. When not working, Pancho enjoys kayaking, fishing and spending time with his family.

Dave is a Ventura native. He joined the Island Packers team in 2015. Dave’s love of travel has taken him around the globe. A long time visitor to the Channel Islands, Dave likes sharing his knowledge with visitors. In addition to traveling, he enjoys photography and taking pictures of the local environment during his travels. He also enjoys surfing, mountain biking and rock climbing

Joe grew up on the mean streets of Des Moines, Iowa.  As an escape from the distractions and hardships of urban life, Joe spent his childhood exploring the Iowa back country where he developed a love of the outdoors.  After graduating from the University of Iowa with BA in studio art, Joe left the Hawk Eye state to start a T-shirt company in Costa Rica; an endeavor that quickly failed.  After nearly a year in Central America, Joe returned to the Midwest to guide kayak trips on the north shore of Lake Superior before moving to Alaska and then Los Angeles, where he worked briefly in the film and television industry.  Urban life again became a drain and Joe moved to more relaxed Ventura county where he started working for Island Packers.  In his free time, Joe enjoys mountain biking and kayaking.  He is passionate about the ocean, and preserving marine ecosystems.

Joe comes to Island Packers by way of the travel typical of military families, arriving in Ventura in 1997. Before bringing his talents to the Island Packer crew, Joe had a “high wire act,” as a rope technician who performed repairs hundreds of feet in the air on wind turbine blades around the nation. Since joining Island Packers, Joe has come to appreciate the contribution he makes in in creating lifelong memories for his fellow nature enthusiasts visiting Channel Islands National Park. With a passion to “do whatever I have to do to stay inspired,” Joe spends his free time in many ways, including indulging in water sports, playing in the mountains, riding bikes, rock hounding and landscaping.

Dani joined Island Packers in the spring of 2019. She is originally from the Bay Area but moved to Ventura after living on the East Coast (Philadelphia) for a few years. She has a degree in Photography and experience in rowing. She was on the rowing team in college and coached rowing on both coasts of the United States. Dani loves to travel, read, camp, hike and hang out with her two beloved German Shepherds. Island Packers is delighted to have her in our Education Department as her passion for teaching children about why healthy oceans matter really shines through. She loves her job and the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world. Dani is passionate about leading hikes and educating the public about our islands. She loves that she exchanges knowledge with our guests from kids to our senior passengers. IPCO is a challenging and rewarding job and she loves her coworkers and spending her workdays on the ocean!

Holly is a marine educator and naturalist in the Santa Barbara area and is thrilled to be back with Island Packers after spending the last 18 years working and diving alongside with Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society expedition team. Holly started with Island Packers just out of college where she graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a degree in Aquatic Biology. Working with Island Packers from 1992 to 1999 and now back as of 2019, Holly loves working on the boats and exploring the islands with visitors, sharing all the great conservation recovery stories of these fragile island ecosystems and productive and rich marine environments.

Brittney is a Southern California native, although Hawaii became a second home after spending some years there studying Marine Biology. She joined Island Packers in 2018 and loves diving the kelp forests in the waters of the Channel Islands. Outside of work, Brittney loves to create art, play music, and go on adventures in the outdoors. Her favorite adventures with friends are rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, or surfing as she loves spending time in nature with good people.

Before joining Island Packers 20 years ago, Lisa ran the Scuba Diving Boat, Liberty, for many years with her husband. When she’s not working, you can find Lisa training for a marathon or an Ironman event, kayaking, backpacking, or riding horses. Lisa’s biggest passion is honoring fallen military heroes and their families. She co-founded The Gold Star Initiative which connects the local community, veterans and fallen military through the sport of Ironman. Lisa is also the mom to Nick, Jackson, and Lena.

Laura started working for Island Packers in the summer of 2020 after traveling and living internationally for 8 years. She grew up in Ventura County before moving to Seattle to earn her Bachelor’s from the University of Washington with a major in Earth and Space Science and a minor in Anthropology. Her love of the ocean combined with her passion for interacting with and leading people has led her to hold positions swim/surf coaching, surf guiding, hospitality and managing a surf program for a five-star resort. When Laura isn’t in the water surfing, you can find her hiking, playing beach volleyball, or planning her next adventure. Joining the Island Packers team has allowed Laura to spend more time discovering the Channel Islands and its surrounding waters which lets her share this knowledge with passengers all while working with amazing crew mates.

Parker grew up just south of Ventura in Newbury Park, CA. He was a NCAA volleyball player and received a History degree from Concordia Irvine. Before Island Packers, Parker worked for Ventura Boat Rentals, our neighbors here in the Ventura Harbor. When Parker isn’t on a boat, you can catch him going to concerts, riding bikes in Channel Islands Harbor, playing volleyball, or fishing. He’s also a big fan of baseball, especially the Dodgers! Parker’s passionate about sharing the knowledge and importance of the Channel Islands National Park with visitors from all over the world.

Adam grew up in the San Fernando Valley and has lived all over Southern California before moving to Ventura 6 years ago. Adam completed his BA from CSUN in literature and his MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University. Before Island Packers, he taught high school students English and Finance in Los Angeles. He moved on to being a writer and Production Supervisor for a micro-budget film house. Feeling fortunate to have had several careers over the years, Adam is excited to have joined the Island Packers team. Passionate about the ocean and its conservation, he loves being around or in the water as much as possible. You can find Adam being active with rock climbing, completing triathlons, SCUBA diving, paddle boarding, and kayaking. Otherwise, you can find him traveling with his family, reading and writing fiction, as well as being involved with real estate.

Nick grew up locally, in Camarillo and went to CSU Channel Islands, earning himself a B.S. in Biology. Before IPCO, he worked in the inter tidal research lab at the CSUCI Santa Rosa Island Research Station as well as in reestablishing endangered butterfly populations at the butterfly project. Nick enjoys literature, playing guitar, and is also slowly learning the banjo. He’s passionate about the outdoors and paleolithic lifestyles and his favorite stone is obsidian.

Brandi grew up here in Ventura County at Silver Strand Beach and is currently attending Oxnard College. She’s an ocean lifeguard for the City of Port Hueneme and has assisted in their wildlife interactions with CIMWI. Brandi loves to free dive around the kelp forests, spear fish, lobster dive, and surf. When she’s not around the ocean, she enjoys crocheting! With a strong passion for conservation and helping others, Brandi loves to teach people how to safely enjoy the ocean.

Pepper is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and joined the Island Packers team in 2023. Prior to working for Island Packers, he spent time as a mountain guide, teacher, and in the nonprofit field. Pepper enjoys all things aquatic, notably swimming and surfing. Once upon a time, Pepper received a BA in Philosophy from Amherst College as well as an MA in Education from the University of Colorado-Denver.

Brooke is from a small town in NorCal called Newcastle with just over 1000 residents. Before working for IPCO she was a sailing instructor, and kayak/paddle board guide. Brooke graduated from CSUCI with a degree in Psychology and has an Associate degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Outside of work her hobbies are racing sail boats, hiking, and surfing! Her passion is getting people stoked on nature and everything it has to offer and educating people on conservation of not only our earth, but the animals in it. She’s become extremely passionate about the conservation of whales specifically, and loves educating people on the many things they can do to help save our whales, and other animals. Brooke loves getting people excited about all the cool information there is to share about our islands!

A Ventura native, John spent his early years enjoying the beach and developing a love and respect for the ocean. John joined the team in 2022 and looks forward to many more years sharing his passion to educate guests about the Islands and safety. Once on the Island, John will be sure to share some interesting facts about the plants and animals who live there. Prior to joining IPCO, he was a Garden Assistant at Ventura Botanical Gardens. An avid backpacker and environmentalist, John and his father, a Major in the Marine CORP spent a summer doing the John Muir trail. He is also an eagle scout and part of the Order of the Arrow. John is a member of the company’s Green Team dedicated to not only preserving the ocean but being proactive in healing the environment through daily awareness of climate change and the effects on our local ecosystem. During his free time, he frequents some of his favorite spots in downtown Ventura; shopping at Buffalo Exchange or breakfast at Cajun Kitchen. His travels have taken him to many national parks plus spending time in the Pacific Northwest. John’s hobbies include video games and strategy-based card and board games.

Cherryl is a native of Ventura and graduate of Ventura College, has been with the family business for 47 years. In the beginning, she worked as a crew member on the boats and as a young adult, she worked for TIC Corporation with her father, Island Packers founder, Bill Connally. Cherryl has also worked as the marketing director for Ventura Harbor Village and for the non-profit organization Friends of the Channel Islands National Park. For fun, Cherryl enjoys kayaking, diving, hiking and boating but most of all loves spending time with her family especially her grandson.

Crystal is a Ventura native and has been on the Island Packers team since 1997. A nature lover, Crystal is passionate about the environment and conserving our natural resources. She also holds a vast knowledge of the local hiking trails in Ventura County. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new areas, taking road trips, and going to concerts.

Shanna is a Seattle, Washington native. When she moved to California, she immediately had interest in getting to the Channel Islands as she would view them from the beach, which led to her joining Island Packers in 2013. Shanna is passionate about sharing the Channel Islands with newcomers and meeting guests from all over the world. She is an avid environmental conservationist and endeavors to leave the planet a better place for future generations. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family. She loves reading, writing, computer coding as well as outdoor activities like hiking, spending time at the beach and exploring new places. Shanna volunteers with the Channel Island Marine Wildlife Institute.

Karissa is a from a small town in Oregon called Boring. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Minor in Psychology from CSUCI as well as 4 Associate degrees, including Environmental Studies. Prior to joining Island Packers, Karissa had over 8 years of management experience, lead a compost internship, and has volunteered with the Santa Barbara History Museum, Sea Center. Outside of the office, Karissa assists the crew on our Holiday Cruises and is an archaeologist intern with a local company. Her biggest passion is providing education to the public about the cultural and environmental importance of the Channel Islands and Ventura County area!

Jackee is an Oxnard, California native. She is a bilingual speaker and has worked for Island Packers since the year 2000. Before her current position, she was a high school student and worked at her first job in the fast food industry. She enjoys marine wildlife and has even traveled to Mexico during the winter months to encounter the Gray Whales in the lagoons. Jackee loves to travel, especially to foreign countries and has explored Europe extensively. She truly enjoys immersing herself in the different cultures. Jackee holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Santa Barbara Business College.

Monica was raised in Simi Valley, California. She joined the Island Packers team in 2000. Prior to her current position, Monica worked as a nanny, preschool teacher and camp counselor. She has a Bachelor’s in Psychology from San Diego State University and is currently continuing her education in teaching. She loves to explore nature and spending time at the beach. She also enjoys camping, embroidering and spending time with her family and friends. Her greatest passions are working with people, being a mom and teaching children.

Leah is a Ventura, California native, has been working for Island Packers since 2006. Leah is a graduate of Ventura College, where she competed on the women’s soccer team. She enjoys surfing, snowboarding and traveling the world. Her biggest passion in life is caring for her three children and spending time with her husband.

Karen has lived in Ventura County for 30 years. Prior to joining the Island Packer team in 2014 she worked in accounting and sales. She was introduced to the Channel Islands through her son . Since joining Island Packers she has become an island enthusiast. Karon loves the outdoors and enjoys water skiing, hiking, snow skiing and camping.

Sandi started her life moving from another country, spent years moving packages, and is now helping to move people. Born in England, Sandi came to the US when she was 4. She brings her organizational skills and troubleshooting expertise honed from 22 years of working at UPS where she worked first as a driver before quickly moving into management. Joining the Island Packer team in 2018, Sandi is now able to share her lifelong love for the ocean and its wildlife with the many passengers at Island Packers. She enjoys the friendly environment and teamwork of the Island Packers office, she is passionate about spending time in nature, in the water, on the land and in the sky! Sandi’s favorite hobbies are swimming in the sea, golf, tennis, hiking and spending time with her adopted pup, Jack.

Andrew is from the small town of Twentynine Palms, California. He has worked various odd jobs, including Rincon Brewery, before joining Island Packers in the summer of 2021. Andrew enjoys a wide variety of hobbies including metal-crafting, voice acting, pottery, sewing, fashion, and watching shows. He is currently working on his college degree and is passionate about American Sign Language and welding.

Rex loves anything to do with the water which shows in his past careers of Sailing Instructor and Yacht Captain as well as his after-work activities such as ocean swimmer, stand up paddle boarder, and volunteer underwater dive boat skipper. When Rex isn’t on or in the water, he is actively involved in real estate.

Miles has been going out with Island Packers since he was very young! He’s always had a passion for the Channel Islands National Park, the marine life, endemic island species, and the fresh air on the boat. Miles started working at Island Packers in 2021 and has lived in Ventura his whole life. Outside of work, Miles likes to go rock climbing, spend time with his friends and family, play bass guitar, and go out to the islands! Miles is pursuing a career in Civil Engineering, but loves to talk about cetaceans and other marine wildlife!