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BOARD & STAFF
Since our founding in 2011, The EcoMedia Compass has inspired countless people to learn about and support environmental restoration initiatives at the Salton Sea and beyond. Inspiration starts with the hearts and wisdom of our team.
Kerry F. Morrison
Founder, Executive Director
(404) 88-WORLD
Kerry F. Morrison grew up in Southern California, with a deep appreciation for the natural environment. He shares a background in non-profit management, community leadership, creative activism, outreach, event planning, marketing, social media & award winning multimedia production, coupled with extensive environmental studies. Honorary Mayor of 4 towns in the West Shores of the Salton Sea for two consecutive terms. He has a degree in multimedia communications/public relations from California State Universities Fullerton and San Marcos.
In 2011 Mr. Morrison a group of volunteers and scientists founded The EcoMedia Compass and the Save Our Sea! Campaign at the Salton Sea, to bring awareness and education for environmental solutions through music, art, science and community. He has been a consultant for or partnered with: Greenpeace, Surfrider (Canada), CURE, California Natural Resources Agency, Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial County, West Shores Chamber of Commerce (President), Salton Sea State Recreation Area, West Shores Lion’s Association, West Shores Artists Association, and the San Diego Yacht Club. He has been interviewed or published in The LA Times, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Vice News, Wired, Desert Sun, Imperial Valley Press, Press Enterprise, Borrego Sun, plus other local news outlets. He has also appeared in environmental documentaries and publications overseas in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Australia and South Korea. Mr. Morrison is passionate about creative science education through the arts and sustainable community development.
Tom Sephton
Board President
Tom Sephton is President of Sephton Water Technology, and Board President of The EcoMedia Compass. He has been active in educational outreach, media, expeditions and events with the SOS! Campaign since 2011. He is currently conducting the VTE Geothermal Desalination Pilot/Demonstration Project. Tom Sephton assisted his father and company founder, Hugo Sephton, with earlier demonstrations, including the most recent at Modesto Energy. Tom took charge of Sephton Water Technology and the current geothermal VTE initiative in 2002. Tom Sephton received a B.A. degree in Biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley (1981) and an M.A. degree in Multimedia from California State University, Hayward (1999). Mr. Sephton′s work experience includes two years in biomedical research with HyTech Scientific, four years in biochemical research at U.C. Berkeley, four years as a software engineer for Extempo Systems, and 15 years operating his former business specializing in audio/video/animation production before making a full-time commitment to Sephton Water Technology.
Eric Hanscom
Boardmember, Legal Counsil
University of California Hastings College of the Law
Juris Doctor, May 1985
Chief Managing Editor, Hastings International and Comparative Law Review (1984 – 1985).
University of California, Santa Barbara B.S., Aquatic Biology, 1981
B.S., Environmental Studies, 1981
Graduation with High Honors.
Entrepreneur: Eric founded the Law Offices of Eric Hanscom in 1995 as a sole practitioner. Since beginning his practice he has formed long-lasting associations with numerous local and foreign attorneys and law firms and has grew his business into an international practice that has allowed for small business individual attention to our clients while offering many large business amenities.
Inventor: Eric has not only filed applications advocating his clients marks and inventions, he has also tapped into his own imagination and ingenuity to solve common problems that he has faced in his everyday life. As a holder of several different patents (ranging from electronic warning systems to sporting goods), Eric, a lifetime Mensa member, brings a unique perspective to all the intellectual property that he handles. In other words, Eric understands what it is like to be an inventor. While many law firms are without a single patent attorney with an invention to his or her name, Eric is listed as an inventor on 8 separate patents and patent applications, and is the holder of over 10 trademarks.
Adventurer: Eric was born in Hawaii and grew up in beautiful San Diego, California. Eric has always believed in balancing his professional life with outdoor activities and environmental protection. He has spent most of his life within a mile or two of the Pacific Ocean and has always enjoyed and appreciated the ocean. As a teenager, Eric competed in surfing and took 2nd place in the 1980 ASA California State Surfing Championships. Before dedicating himself to Patent law, Eric excelled at surf kayaking and was the 1988, 1989, and 1990 Kayak World Champion.
Drones/Quadcopters: Ever since he bought his first Phantom 2 Vision, Eric has been actively involved in quadcopters and aerial photography. He currently owns around 15 different drones and has over 10 patent and trademark applications filed on his own drone-related inventions and businesses. His drone photography has been featured on CNN and a variety of other newspapers and magazines, and his drone video “The Ladder Side of Drones”, detailing how he uses drones in Thailand to perform rooftop inspections for Buddhist Temples was a recent winner in DJI’s “Personal Stories” contest. Eric is highly sought after as a speaker on drones and drone law for forums ranging from the California State Bar Intellectual Property Section to drone trade shows and media outlets. We was recently honored with a 95 rating, the highest given, by Dronestagram for his aerial photography and videography, and was one of 20 drone pilots across the world selected as a Parrot Drone Ambassador.
Check out the interview about flying and work at the Salton Sea!
Environmental Advocate: Accompanying his love for the ocean, environmental activism has always been a part of Eric’s life, from his work at the Salton Sea, to an internship with the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara, to the Sea Turtle Project in Bahia De Los Angeles in Baja, to his current work as a volunteer helping with English translation of signs for Thailand’s National Park System and his Thailand Lands Project.
Family: Eric and his family currently split time between their primary residence in Carlsbad and their resort in Thailand (Thai-West Resort). His son, Martin, 8, was a recent winner in a county-wide art competition for “movies”, in which he flew his own drone and edited a 5-minute movie about the Salton Sea and Borrego Springs.
Law: The intellectual property branch of Hanscom, Alexeev & McDaniel has obtained thousands of patents, trademarks and copyrights for its clients in more than 50 countries. We have a proven track record of successful work and our attorneys are community-conscious people who bring passion and dedication to all they become involved in.
Art Gertz
Boardmember, Community Liason,
West Shores Vice Mayor
Art Gertz is currently the Vice Mayor of the West Shores Salton Sea, having been appointed after extensive community activisim and organizing work. He is an idea man, Salton Sea resident, investor, engineer, machinist, inventor, and activist that focuses on building creative scientific systems to help in restoration projects. Desert Shores Restoration Local Project coordinator and Vice President of the Bahia Del Mar POA.
(760) 596-5023
Jasmyn Phillips
Boardmember/ Multimedia Agent
Jasmyn is an international nature photographer that specializes in wildlife portraits.
She is a member of the Salton Sea Artist Association and the Oceanside Photography Club in British Columbia, Canada. Jasmyn came to the Salton Sea when she was a child and immediately fell in love with its unique beauty. She began actively caring for the Sea when she was ten years old. Jasmyn remembers picking up trash along the shore and receiving a ‘Litter Getter’ badge from the Salton Sea State Rec Park rangers.
Jasmyn is a naturalist at heart and a lifelong environmental advocate.
She devotes significant time and energy to the study of the world around her, with a keen focus on biology, ecology, and geology. Jasmyn has a deep appreciation for the earth and believes in preserving places of ecological importance like the Salton Sea.
That sense of stewardship has impelled her to use her photography as a way to communicate important issues.
Jasmyn has been active in public and educational outreach programs for many years.
Most recently she became involved in the Save Our Sea! Campaign with The EcoMedia Compass. Wanting to help the local community use their voices, she was inspired to design postcards with a message about Salton Sea restoration, and addressed them to numerous politicians and key celebrities.
Like the birds that need the Sea as a refuge, Jasmyn finds herself continually drawn back to this peaceful sanctuary. It is her goal to keep raising awareness of this very special place that so many call home.
Linda Rodriguez
Boardmember, Spanish Outreach Council
Linda Rodriguez joined The EcoMedia Compass in the summer of 2011. She has supported The EcoMedia Compass with Grassroots Organizing and international expecitions. She has worked with Greenpeace for the last 10 years, and is currently a City Coordinator for Greenpeace Orange County office and Spanish Outreach West Coast Lead. She has experience in community organizing, activism actions, fundraising and environmental education.
ADVISORY BOARD
Alexander Ramia
Alexander's experience spans high-tech, software and infrastructure with particular background in IPv6, the CE and wireless communications industries. Mr. Ramia has held management positions with Panasonic, AT&T and has worked on surveillance and network programs across Asia. Mr. Ramia graduated from Accra Academy in West Africa and holds an AA from Edison Technical College. In addition, he spent 2 years on an advisory panel sponsored by the Philippine government to address economic and natural disasters impacting the nation. Mr. Ramia’s serial entrepreneurship and global consulting experience have proven invaluable for developing solutions and outreach on environmental issues.
