Meet Our Board

Save-A-Turtle Officers

All of our Board Members and Officers are Volunteers

Harry Appel, President

My name is Harry, and I am the current President of Save-A-Turtle of the Florida Keys. I have been involved with Save-A-Turtle well over 15 years, starting out as a beach walker, then becoming involved as a Board Member, elected Vice President, and eventually President. I have dedicated countless hours serving at events, fundraising and doing site visits for local government, officials, businesses and residents in order to educate people about proper lighting and other issues important to sea turtles and their habitat. I have spent years building relationships with officials locally and throughout the State, offering guidance on issues of illegal lighting, shoreline hardening and piers, along with best practices for beach and sand replenishment, development and many other related topics.
I am very passionate about sea turtles as well as all marine and animal life. I have been described as tenacious in my efforts to help assist the Florida Keys move forward in helping sea turtles as much as possible.
I will continue leading this organization through the recovery from the devastating impacts that Hurricane Irma ( Sept, 2017) still has on our beaches, sea turtles and marine life habitat. I feel a great responsibility towards sea turtles globally, not just in the Florida Keys , as well as towards all whom have placed their trust in me for another year.

Teresa Dantzler Tupper, Vice President

My name is Teresa Tupper. I was born and raised in a small town in South Carolina. I am the youngest of four children. I am feisty, quick-witted and love to have a good time. I am retired now, but in SC I was a business owner for over 20 years. Last year was my first year of being a beach walker. I LOVED it! I saw so many wonderful things, I even got to hold a baby hatchling in my hands. It just doesn’t get any better than that. Being a beach walker opened my eyes to what Save-A-Turtle does for the Turtles. This is why I decided to get more involved with them. I was honored when I was nominated for the VP position.

Our journey to the Florida Keys started with a simple vacation but ended up changing our lives forever. Our original plan when we purchased our home in April was to rent it out but when we came down to start renovations in May of 2020, we were diagnosed with Keys Disease and ended up selling our South Carolina home and haven’t left since.

Kelley Porter, Secretary

I was born in Toledo, Ohio and was raised in Michigan. I married my husband in 2011, and Irma made land fall on our 6th wedding anniversary! We moved to the Keys in 2015 after multiple vacations down here together. My grand parents moved to the keys in the 90's and I would come to visit often as I was growing up.
My grandmother was a beach walker with Save A Turtle and her stories about the ocean has always been my inspiration. I am so excited that I am able to be here, in paradise. My husband and I are foster parents in Monroe County and in 2016 we were blessed to have the opportunity to adopt our two wonderful children. They are 15 & 16 years old and full of energy!
I joined Save A Turtle in 2018 and am honored that I am able to be part of the board. I completed the training for Beach Surveying as well as Stranded and Salvage.

Vivian Beck, Treasurer

I am a RN, BSN, HCS-D, COS-C; I am blessed to be able to work remotely from home here in the Fabulous Florida Keys! I have been a Registered Nurse for 23 years. I have been an animal lover all of my life; I can't imagine my life without an animal.
Turtles have always been my kindred spirit animal; perhaps that is why I am a nurse; the turtle represents the protector; that is in my DNA. The ocean is where I draw my strength and peace; I am her protector and those that inhabit it. In North Carolina I volunteered with the sea turtle rescue on Sunset Beach, NC.
In 2012 when the pod of pilot whales beached on Cudjoe Key, I was called to action. I was living in NC at the time so took time off from job. I packed up with my husband Randy Beck and headed south to assist. My knowledge was there but when I stood at night under the midnight sky, holding that pilot whale up so she could breathe there came an awakening in my soul of what man has done to our mother ocean and her creatures. I decided then there to do more.
I see Save-A-Turtle as one making a difference. I am so happy to be a small part of it. I gladly serve as the treasurer and a seasoned turtle beach patroller.
I am also President of The Key Deer Protection Alliance.

Save-A-Turtle Board Members

RANDY BECK

I am a retired Building Inspector and a Dive Master who has a deep desire to help and rescue all animals. All of our critters deserve our help and love, this includes our coral reefs.
As well as a board member for Save A Turtle, I volunteer with different organizations to clean our oceans, beaches and trying to help save our coral reefs; this insures the Sea Turtles a safer, cleaner environment.
Once you see a turtle swimming under water in our seas, it touches your life, and your life is changed forever. My hope is that all people will help save and renew our troubled planet.

SARA CASEY

I was born in western Minnesota where I grew up saving Box Turtles and Sliders from the roads as they moved between wetlands.  In 2004 I joined the US Army as a Combat Medic and in 2010 I left active duty, got married to a soldier, and we began our journey of traveling the world.
In 2011 I became dive certified and instantly became captivated by the underwater world.  My most noteworthy dives were in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Malta when I saw my first octopus, and near Destin Florida coming face to face with a rather grumpy Goliath Grouper.  The one thing I’m most looking forward to seeing on a dive…and has alluded me all these years…is a sea turtle.  Someday turtle, someday!
In 2015 I began working in conservation, particularly, with endangered species, and this is what brought my husband and I, and our 4 cats, to the Florida Keys in 2020.  Last year I was introduced to Save-a-Turtle through a Facebook post looking for beach walkers and decided to sign up.  I found my first nest and was able help with the excavation…in my FIRST YEAR. I am so excited to be more involved in this amazing organization as I continue exploring all of the amazing things you can find in nature, and teaching others what we can do to preserve it.

JENNIFER DE MARIA

I have been a member of Save-A-Turtle of the Florida Keys for about 17 years, and served as a Board Member for about 13 years. I was introduced to the plight of sea turtles by past beach walkers who would patrol on the beach where I live. Their passion for sea turtles was evident; in fact it changed my life. Upon learning of the dire situation sea turtles face, I decided to volunteer with Save-A-Turtle to do my part to help sea turtles. I started out as a beach walker, then Board Member, have also been a past main Marine Turtle Permit Holder, and currently remain part of the Stranding and Salvage Team Network for sea turtles.
Living here, I see the exploitation of our natural environment and wildlife, including sea turtles, through many causes including reckless development, pollution, entitlements, speciesism, lack of oversight from agencies and so on. It’s hard to witness and I cannot sit idly by when wrongs are committed. Despite all the pressures upon sea turtles, they are still here, so far. I feel a moral obligation in this world to help make things better for animals both in the sea and on land, of course including sea turtles.
I am an activist and advocate for all animals, choosing to educate on the moral baseline that animals are here with us, not for us, including the importance to live a compassionate lifestyle as free of animal exploitation in every way as much as possible. I feel a great responsibility to this organization, the animals and of course to those whom have entrusted me enough to serve in this capacity.

JILL REILLEY
I was born and raised in a small town in New Jersey. My love for the ocean and all things beach related began at the Jersey Shore. My first trip to the Keys was in 2004 and it was love at first sight. I’d come back as often as I could, and it was always a dream of mine to move here.
In 2019 that dream became a reality when my family moved to Big Pine Key. I joined Save-A-Turtle as a beach walker shortly after settling here- it was, and continues to be, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I’ve met amazing people and am honored to contribute to this amazing organization helping sea turtles!
I have a two year old daughter and among many other things, I’d love for her to grow up seeing sea turtles in the ocean with a first-hand understanding of the importance in respecting the planet and it’s wildlife.

HEATHER SKELLEY

I was born in Hawaii and traveled up through High School as part of a military family. I lived most of my adult life in Maryland and Delaware and have been visiting the Keys for vacation since 1992. I have always loved the beach and have been passionate about keeping beaches clean and safe for humans and wildlife. As part of my passion for the beach and ocean, I became fascinated with sea turtles, their habits, and our impact on their environment. I am excited to be part of this fantastic organization and group of people! I am thrilled to be a permanent resident of Big Pine Key, FL now and I currently teach second grade at Sigsbee Charter School in Key West.

DAWN BOWLES - ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBER

I was born in California and used to visit the ocean every day. My love for the water and wildlife began then and has followed me to everywhere I’ve lived since. I’ve spent time living in Texas and Arizona but always wanted to get back to living by the ocean. My husband and I moved full time to the Florida Keys in 2020 and I love working with local Keys groups to improve the environment around us, both for us humans and the wildlife. I retired from the corporate technology sector last year but continue to use that knowledge to help nonprofits with their technology needs and help get their message to more of our population via their websites and social media. I’m a huge believer in thinking globally but acting locally! I’m really excited to be working with Save-A-Turtle on their mission to preserve our sea turtles!

In my free time I love spending time with my “zoo” of dogs and cats, or being out on the water paddle boarding, diving or just enjoying the ocean breeze.

SUE SCHAF, FWCC
Technical Advisor

A Letter from our President

“I have many goals to continue to grow Save-A-Turtle in the Florida Keys, Inc. which include continuing to recruit new members; continue our educational efforts regarding threats to sea turtles concerning lighting issues, pollution, sea level rise, and loss of habitat, and continue to grow the stranding and salvage network for sea turtles within the Florida Keys. In order to do this, I will also focus efforts on fundraising for our non-profit organization.
Save-A-Turtle of the Florida Keys, Inc. plans to partner with other like-minded organizations for joint fundraising efforts, as well as continue our presence at all local and grassroots festivals, events, and celebrations to show our presence in the Keys, and excite people young and old about imperiled sea turtles.
I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as President, and plan to maximize my efforts during my tenure.
Along with Save-A-Turtle’s dedicated array of Board members I’m confident all these goals will be met and exceeded. I call upon all members to help us spread the vital message about endangered and threatened sea turtles and encourage your friends, families, colleagues and acquaintances to join our organization. Here in the Florida Keys there is much work to be done, and I truly look forward to this opportunity to do my part.

Harry Appel, President,
Save-A-Turtle of the Florida Keys.”