Tim O’Neill, Skipper
Tim has been a surfer and sailor for most of his life, learning to surf and sail at age five. Tim graduated from Soquel High School, and worked at the O’Neill surf shop both during and after his years at Soquel High. Tim started running the Team O’Neill catamaran when it was launched in 1983 and received his 100 ton skipper’s license in 1992. Tim also serves as President of Team O’Neill, is the Board President of O’Neill Sea Odyssey, and oversees the Team O’Neill fleet of ocean-going vessels. He lives in Santa Cruz with his wife Lisa O’Neill, and his sons Riley and Connor and daughter Bridget.
Mike Egan, Skipper
Born and raised in Fresno, California, Mike’s connection to the ocean began while spending time at his family's summer home in Santa Cruz. He has lived on the Central Coas since 1982. Mike attended Bullard High in Fresno, and Orange Coast College near Newport Beach, California, where he raced sailboats. Mike worked for O’Neill Yacht Center for five years, holds a 100 ton skippers license, and has been skipper of the Team O'Neill Catamaran for 27 years. He is married to wife Jill and has two grown children, Ashley and Zachary. An avid fitness enthusiast, Mike runs marathons and participates in Spartan races in his free time.
Joey Rodrigues, Instructor
Joey was born and raised in central California. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from California State University Monterey Bay with a subdiscipline in outdoor recreation, education and administration. He is an American Canoe Association certified Level 4 Coastal Kayaking Skill Instructor and has over a decade of professional water experience. His connection to the sea was cultivated at a young age, inspiring Joey to pursue a life as involved with the ocean as possible. His infatuation with the sea has led him to introduce and educate the general public about the wonders that have molded his personal connection with our mother ocean. Joey currently resides in Moss Landing on his sailboat with his dog-friend Merle and is excited to be a part of O’Neill Sea Odyssey.
Patrice Riley, Accounting Manager
Patrice joined O’Neill Sea Odyssey in 2018 as an accountant, following working for nearly six years as Executive Assistant to Jack O’Neill. Originally from Massachusetts, she has lived in Santa Cruz County since 2006. Patrice earned a B.A in English Literature from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA and an accounting certificate from University of California Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Extension. She has long felt connected to the ocean and its healing potential, and spends as much time as she can by the water. She loves that working at O’Neill Sea Odyssey gives her the opportunity to help the next generation fall in love with the ocean and realize our shared obligation to care for it.
TK Kim, Instructor
TK grew up in beautiful Santa Cruz and attended University of California Santa Cruz, where he received a B.A. in Environmental Studies. TK has an affinity for teaching and working with kids and has served as a camp counselor and leader in children's outdoor education camps, and as a surf instructor at Club Ed Surf School and Camps. His passions include spending time outdoors, surfing, rock climbing, playing music, and eating burritos, which are conveniently available at the Santa Cruz Harbor. TK's love for teaching and working with kids inspires him to spread awareness about our ocean and environment as an instructor onboard the Team O'Neill.
Our Contact Info
2222 E Cliff Dr , Suite 222
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 465-9390
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Melissa Boyd, Instructor
Melissa was born and raised in southern California where her love for the ocean and conservation started at a young age. She graduated from California State University Monterey Bay in 2014 with a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Applied Ecology. She has worked on a variety of native plant restorations projects throughout Monterey county and has also taught surf lessons and managed a yacht maintenance business. Melissa is currently the Club Manager of the Elkhorn Yacht Club and has a deep connection with the Moss Landing boating community. She believes that connecting youth with the outdoors and science will lay the foundation for a happy and sustainable society. She loves being part of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey team and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and passion with every student.
Lauren Hanneman, Instructor
Lauren has lived in Santa Cruz for over a decade and graduated from UCSC in 2002 with a combined degree in Biology and Environmental Studies. Prior to living in California, Lauren lived in Florida outside the Everglades and it was there that she developed a love of marine conservation and education. She has worked as both a volunteer and staff for a number of organizations focusing in marine research and conservation in the Monterey Bay. She has worked for Team Ocean Kayak Outreach for NOAA since 2002 and has over five years of professional maritime experience working in public education and marine interpretation. Lauren joined the O’Neill crew in 2005 and finds teaching for the Sea Odyssey Program to be “the most fun and rewarding job in marine education.”
Abby Newman - Instructor
Abby Newman has been an O'Neill Sea Odyssey instructor since 2015. She received a master’s degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego in 2017. Abby's graduate research explored the effectiveness of consumer-facing seafood labels, and their potential role in reducing Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico. Abby is currently pursuing a master's degree at San Jose State University where she hopes to blend her background in environmental justice and advocacy, policy development, and climate resiliency into a career fighting for healthy communities.