Our Mission: To sustainably manage and protect
Kosrae's biodiversity and natural heritage
through community engagement and partnerships for the benefit of
present and future generations.
Andy is the executive director of KCSO. He began his career with KCSO in 2003 and has been with the organization since then. Over the years, Andy has worked tirelessly with the KCSO board of directors and partners to develop and build KCSO into what it is today. With his leadership, KCSO has been able to develop partnerships with donors and motivate local communities of Kosrae to appreciate and become involved in the conservation and preservation of Kosrae's biodiversity and natural heritages. Andy holds a Master degree in Business Management from Southern Oregon University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Hawaii-Hilo
In August 2008, Mrs. Lelean Kephas became an administrative assistant for Kosrae Conservation & Safety Organization. Prior to her employment at KCSO, she worked for one of Kosrae's wholesale businesses, The Neime Company, as an office assistant and cashier and continued to work part-time until November 2010. She graduated from Kosrae High School on 2004 and will continue her educational journey in the near future.
Marston came on board with Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization as a Project Manager for the "Planning and Establishment of Utwe Biosphere Reserve" project in 2004. In 2005, KCSO's Marine Conservation Program was created and Marston became its Program Manager. Marston earned an Associate of Science Degree in Marine Science from the College of Micronesia-FSM.
Osamu Nedlic is a Marine Program Assistant under the Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization. He came on board with Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization in 2007. Prior to his employment at KCSO, he worked as a Fisheries Specialists under the Department of Resources and Economic Affairs, Division of Fisheries Resources for seven years. His work with the division has been a major factor of success, not only in monitoring the health of Kosrae's marine environment, but also in educating the youth of their current and future responsibilities to the environment. He is also specialized in fish and coral taxonomy.
Dison Kephas has been running KCSO's environmental awareness and outreach since he came on board in March 2010. Mr. Kephas has developed strong relationships with the schools and local communities of Kosrae. He successfully spearheaded environmental awareness and outreach programs/activities in Kosrae, which led to the observation on increased understanding of some of the international, regional and local environmental issues. He attended College of Micronesia-FSM from 2006 to 2008, majoring in Environmental Studies. Dison also spend a year at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Suva Fiji. Mr. Kephas is the manager of KCSO's Education and Outreach Program.
Jacob was born in January 22, 1975 and raised in Tukunsru,Walung. In 1980, he enrolled in Walung Elementary school for four years and moved to Tafunsak Elementary School in 1984 where he Graduated in May ,1990 and enrolled in Kosrae High School later on the same year. He achieved his High School Diploma in June, 1994 and continued his college career in College of Micronesia from 1994 to 1996 majoring Liberal Arts. After ten years of hardship letting go of beloved ones while raising his own , he was hired in April, 2006 as a part time staff for Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization assisting an island wide Floral collection, funded by New York Botanical Garden. After two years of work, he became a full time staff and assigned a new role as the Terrestrial Program Assistant. In 2008, he was appointed on behalf of Terrestrial Division to participate in a one year Professional Internship Program for Terrestrial Island Ecosystem Management for one semester in College of Micronesia and University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College, Manoa where he achieved a certificate of completion in 2009. Recently, he participated in a Pacific Island Watershed Institute held in Ohau in 2011 as a watershed program coordinator. To date he is working as a Terrestrial Program Manager for Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization.
BS in Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. Peace Corps Volunteer in Kosrae between 1984 - 86 at Marine Resources Division. Working at KCSO since December 2009, as the Terrestrial Program Assistant. He is conducting the Plants and People Project, collecting information on the uses of plants (ethnobotany). Participates in community meetings and environmental lectures. Plants and wildlife photographer. Collects data on unusual sightings of marine mammals, birds and reptiles to send to researchers.
Likiak Livae (Zachary Manning) is a Peace Corps volunteer. He is a language teacher working at Malem Elementary School. He volunteers part-time with KCSO, assisting the Education & Outreach unit. Mr. Manning is originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico.
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