BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Officers:

  • Jay Munsey, Chair
  • Jackie Driscoll, Vice-Chair
  • Open, Treasurer
  • Mary Neumann, Secretary

Trustees:

  • Stella Kafka
  • Melissa Kaye
  • Jerry Kazanjian
  • Gary Lunsford
  • Lisa Meeks
  • Vinny Pircio
  • Dana Soderberg
  • Annie Wolf


JACKIE DRISCOLL

Jackie began volunteering with the National Marine Life Center in 2016 and joined the board in 2021. She has contributed in many ways, including as an Animal Care Volunteer, HR Advisor, and Trustee. Jackie volunteers with Massachusetts Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, supporting its world-class sea turtle rescue program by patrolling local beaches in search of cold-stunned sea turtles and transporting them to rehabilitation facilities. She has volunteered with domestic animals, seals, and sea turtles at several organizations, combining her love for animals with her commitment to making a difference. Jackie holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s in Organizational Management, and has built a nearly 20-year career in Human Resources. Deeply passionate about conservation, she can often be found enjoying the ocean, kayaking on the Bass River, and picking up litter to help keep local waterways clean.

STELLA KAFKA

Stella Kafka, PhD, CAE, is a seasoned nonprofit executive and international thought leader with extensive experience guiding mission-driven organizations through strategic growth and transformation. She has led major scientific and professional associations, enhancing governance, building financial stability, and expanding global partnerships. A strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she has initiated efforts to develop more accessible and impactful programs. As a Board Member of the National Marine Life Center, she applies her proven leadership, strategic insight, and passion for conservation to support the Center’s mission of marine animal rehabilitation, science, and education.

MELISSA KAYE

Melissa is an experienced non-profit executive with a passion for organizing community members to create lasting change. Following her own lifelong love for the ocean and the wildlife within, her late son’s interest in saving local marine mammals spurred her to continue his efforts by serving on NMLC’s Board of Trustees. Melissa works full time as the President and Executive Director of Joshua Kaye Foundation. In her free time, she loves to feed people, spend time in the garden with her husband and their dogs, and as many days as possible with her kids- usually at the barn or the beach.

LISA MEEKS

Lisa Meeks retired in March 2014 after a career with the federal government. She has been an animal care volunteer at the National Marine Life Center since 2014. She also volunteers for Massachusetts Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary with their sea turtle rescue program and Diamondback Terrapin monitoring program. As a resident of the south shore, she has done invasive plant removal, habitat restoration and property upkeep at some of Mass Audubon’s Southeast sanctuaries. Her volunteer activities extend to several other local organizations that focus on wildlife conservation and land protection. In her free time, she enjoys tennis, tai chi and wood working.

JERRY KAZANJIAN

Jerry has more than 20 years of practice advising clients, including non-profits, in intellectual property, technology, and corporate law. A graduate of Boston College with degrees in physics and law, Jerry is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Supreme Court. Beyond his professional work, he is deeply committed to community service and, in addition to his membership on the NMLC Board of Trustee, serves as General Counsel for the Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association and supports organizations such as The Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

GARY LUNSFORD

Gary is a lifetime advocate for wildlife conservation and the wellbeing of animals in professional care. With a tenured career centered around zoological operations and public service, he has professional experience with the care and conservation of a broad spectrum of taxa through his work with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited organizations in Canada, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Texas. He has a particular passion for imperiled aquatic species ranging from invertebrates to turtles, pinnipeds and polar bears

JAY MUNSEY

Jay has a bachelor’s degree from The University of New Hampshire in Zoology and a master’s degree from The University of Vermont in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Postgraduate, Jay was the Director of Student Activities & Residential Life at Wentworth Institute of Technology. During his tenure at the school, he also coached the college women’ basketball team. Prior to retiring in 2018, Jay worked for compound development companies in sales, HR and partnering with Dupont on specialty compound promotion. One of his favorite customers was L.L.Bean where a better tan sole on their iconic Bean Boot was developed for better wear & tear and chemical resistance. Upon retiring in 2018, Jay has volunteered at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on dolphin stranding rescue & Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. He’s walked the beaches in November & December searching for & driving cold stunned turtles to the New England Aquarium Rehab Center in Quincy and the National Marine Life Center (NMLC) in Buzzards Bay. In 2024, Jay was asked, by the then Executive Director of NMLC to apply to join the Board of Trustees, where he currently serves as Chair. In addition, Jay also is the volunteer Assistant Coach for Boys Basketball at Upper Cape Technical High School.

MARY NEUMANN

Mary has been a Board member since 2009. She was born in Brockton, MA, graduated from Plymouth Carver High School, then Boston College and Columbia Business School. She spent her entire career at Citigroup in lending and credit risk management roles across various industries and geographies, retiring in 2017 after 42 years. Mary’s hobbies/interests are gardening, travel and biking. NMLC is dear to her for its work to rehabilitate and release turtles and seals and educating the public about marine conservation. Mary has been on the boards of several not for profits; NMLC is far and away the most rewarding one.

VINNY PIRCIO

Vincent Pircio is an outdoorsman with a love for fishing. Vincent approaches his work with the same focus and dedication he brings to the water—patience, strategy, and a drive for results. As a seasoned Branch Manager, he has led teams, built strong customer relationships, and driven growth by balancing operational excellence with personalized service. Outside of work, he is dedicated to the National Marine Life Center, where he enjoys volunteering to support marine animal rehabilitation and ocean conservation.

DANA SODERBERG

Dana graduated from Northeastern University in 1989 with BS in Accounting. Presently Dana is the CFO for a $100 million company while also overseeing 70 on road vehicles, 30 forklifts , $10 million in inventory and $7 million in receivables. Dana grew up in Bourne and has been happily married to Leann for 33 years. Leann and Dana have 2 daughters. Dana has managed the second largest solar farm on Cape Cod since 2012 (5,800 ground mounted panels), managed the construction budget, net metering, and selling of SREC’s. Leann and Dana have had solar panels on their house since 2018 with no electricity payments since 2018. Dana is a proponent of recycling, reduction of plastic usage, electric vehicles, protecting the ozone, reducing sound pollution and all pollution in general. He is a firm believer in science and global warming. He enjoys bird watching, learning about mammals, fish, and how humans interact with them. Dana has also worked (and still does) on several non-profit organizations. Dana is a positive person who is grateful for what life has given him and what he has achieved. He is hard working, fair, empathetic, and believes that all humans are equal. Animals are treated as inferior by many people, and this belief needs to be corrected. Animals have been here on Earth long before humans and need to be treated with respect.

ANNIE WOLF

Annie has been in a lifelong relationship with the ocean. Starting with an obsession with The Little Mermaid as a child, her passion for conservation and marine mammals has been a part of her life and work since then. Currently, Annie is the Vice President of Community Impact at Solar United Neighbors but has a Masters in Marine Mammal Science and has spent her career working at organizations that focus on impactful, solution driven work. She has also worked in various capacities, including with marine mammal and sea turtles, at organizations such as the New England Aquarium in Boston, MA; Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, FL; The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, LA; and the North Carolina Aquarium at both Pine Knoll Shores and Carolina Beach. When not at work, you can find Annie SCUBA diving with her husband, hunkered down with a good book, or at home hanging out with their two cats.