Coastal States Organization Leadership

Jill Andrews joined the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division in 2001 as a Coastal Resources Specialist and became Manager of the Coastal and Ocean Management Program in 2005. Jill oversees the Coastal Management Program’s work in the areas of coastal resiliency, quality growth, land conservation/public access, living shorelines and wetland restoration; administers the Coastal Incentive Grant program which funds research and community projects; and supervises beach and shellfish water quality monitoring programs. Jill hails from western New York. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Buffalo, she moved far south in 1998 to pursue her Masters in Marine Affairs and Policy at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science. Following graduate school, Jill interned with the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (now Consortium for Ocean Leadership) in Washington, DC and worked as a technical assistance specialist with the Florida Coastal Management Program. Jill is now located on St. Simons Island, Georgia where she enjoys raising her young family by the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Charles Reulet is a Coastal Resources Administrator for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management. He leads a team that strives to conserve, protect, manage, and enhance the coastal resources of the state while encouraging multiple sustainable uses of those resources and ensuring no net loss of wetlands.  He has had multiple roles working for the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program, over the last 14 years. Charles holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management Systems with a focus on Resource Conservation from Louisiana State University. As a life-long resident and outdoor enthusiast he enjoys the resources of the state just as much as protecting them.

Amber Westerbur is the Coastal Program Manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  In her role, Amber oversees the administration of Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program. She leads a staff who provide grant funding and support that keeps the state’s coastal area healthy, prosperous and safe.  Amber holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Geology from St. Norbert College.  She lives in Duluth with her husband and two children.

Steve Couture has worked for New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for 17 years, with a focus on watershed management policy and implementation, including watershed hazards. Steve currently manages the Coastal Program and previously served for eight years as the NHDES Rivers Coordinator. Steve represented NHDES on N.H.’s legislatively enacted Flood Study Commission and currently serves as the NHDES alternate on the N.H. Coastal Risk and Hazards Commission. He holds BS degrees in Environmental Conservation and International Affairs from University of New Hampshire (UNH) and a Masters in Public Administration from UNH.

Ashley Reineman is the Federal Programs Manager at the California Coastal Commission. In this role Ashley manages California’s tri-agency Coastal Management Program, including the Commission’s federally-funded grant programs and projects. She also has the pleasure of supervising and mentoring the Coastal Commission’s state and federal Fellows. Ashley has worked on ocean and coastal science and policy issues for non-profits, academia, and government, including beginning her career as a John A. Knauss NOAA Sea Grant Fellow on Capitol Hill. Originally hailing from eastern North Carolina, she holds a JD from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and a bachelors degree from the University of Virginia. Now based in Ventura, CA, Ashley loves to garden and spend time in or on the water with her family.

Jenny Orsburn has a passion for protecting our Great Lakes natural resources, and her career in public service spans over two decades, working at the Federal, State and local level in Northwest Indiana. Jenny is the Program Manager for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP). She was the Program Specialist for the LMCP when it received Program approval in 2002. Jenny is a wildland firefighter for the National Park Service and is a board member for the Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy. Jenny received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from North Central College, Naperville, IL, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Purdue Northwest. Jenny is a proud mom of two young adults and a teenager.

David Green is the Senior Deputy Director of Texas General Land Office Coastal Protection Division. At the GLO, he manages the state’s oil spill prevention and response, coastal grants, leasing of structures on submerged lands, coastal management act, coastal planning and permitting, beach and dune regulatory, coastal water resources, adopt-a-beach, and the natural resources damage assessment programs. Prior to managing the Coastal Division, David represented the agency as an attorney in Office of General Counsel. Prior to his service at the GLO, David served as an Assistant Attorney General at the Texas Attorney General’s Office in the Environmental Protection Division and was an associate attorney at Sutherland and Baron & Budd. David has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Baylor University.

Justine Nihipali is a Planning Program Manager in the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development where she oversees the administration and implementation of the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a bachelors degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Kimberly Cole is the Environmental Program Administrator of the Coastal Section in the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control managing Delaware’s coastal resources through the integrated efforts of a multi-disciplinary team. She oversees the activities of the Coastal Section in areas such as strategic planning, applied coastal research and monitoring, regulatory programs, technical assistance, land acquisition, stewardship, interpretive education, and outreach as well as facility management and construction. Kim has over 25 years of experience working on coastal science and policy and is always trying to find new and better ways to connect people to science in her quest for science-based management of our ocean, coasts and estuaries.

Lisa Engler is the Director for the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management where she oversees all agency program areas including municipal technical assistance, local and regional coordination, coastal shoreline/floodplain management and climate resilience, as well as CZM’s regulatory responsibilities. Lisa previously served as CZM’s Assistant Director, and before that as the Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator. Prior to working for CZM she spent four years working for the MassBays National Estuary Program. Lisa holds a Masters degree in Environmental Management from Duke University and a bachelors degree from Colby College.