David Muth

David Muth, who lives in New Orleans, is retired from the National Park Service and National Wildlife Federation. At the park service, he oversaw the Barataria Preserve at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, leading projects such as the backfilling of canals and the park’s natural and cultural resources program. In 2010, he joined the NWF’s Mississippi River Delta program. In that role, he served on the advisory team of every Coastal Master Plan to date, guided Deepwater Horizon oil spill funding to projects across the Gulf and conducted countless high-profile media interviews. He received the Paul Percy Viosca Jr. Outstanding Naturalist Award from the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans in 2017. Muth is a member of CRCL’s Coastal Advisory Council.

Mark Shirley

Mark Shirley, who is from Abbeville, is retired from Louisiana Sea Grant and the LSU AgCenter. Shirley, who is known in some circles as the state’s alligator ambassador, helped shape state policies on wild alligator harvesting and alligator farming. Shirley also helped to facilitate the growth of the state’s crawfish industry, led hundreds of planting projects and created the Marsh Maneuvers camp that has been completed by more than 1,900 Louisiana high-schoolers. Shirley received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in 2025.

Todd Baker

Todd Baker is project manager at the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority who is leading the Chandeleur Islands restoration. According to his nomination materials: “Todd’s years of work with LDWF and CPRA shine through and through. From work on project development and planning to species conservation, he deserves to be recognized. In the field, he works tireless long hours to collect data for species that will allow us to seek funding for restoration projects across the state.”

Ioannis Georgiou

Dr. Ioannis Georgiou is director of coastal and deltaic systems modeling at The Water Institute whose work includes the creation of the Barrier Island Comprehensive Monitoring Program. According to his nomination materials: “Though his primary research area has been the Mississippi River Delta, Dr. Georgiou collaborates on research projects nationally and internationally with an infectious enthusiasm for the work. As director of coastal and deltaic systems modeling at The Water Institute of the Gulf, Dr. Georgiou has continued his collaborative work with the sense of humor and style that makes him a great team member.

Kristina Peterson

Kristina Peterson is a facilitator at the Lowlander Center who has worked for years to mitigate the impacts of land loss on coastal communities and who helped bring solar power to Louisiana tribal communities. According to her nomination materials: “Kristina has been so useful because of a kindness, wit, sane judgment, tenacity, eloquence and forthrightness that moves discussion and projects forward in constructive ways; she has become the “hub of many spokes.”

Franziska Trautmann

Franziska Trautmann is founder of Glass Half Full, which has diverted millions of pounds of glass from landfills and used it for coastal restoration projects including some in partnership with CRCL. Fran is also a skilled communicator who has amassed tens of thousands of followers on social media, connecting with new audiences across the globe.

Jim Wilkins

Jim Wilkins is director of the Louisiana SeaGrant law and policy program and a former member of the CRCL board of directors. According to his nomination materials, “With Louisiana Sea Grant, he has provided untold numbers of coastal residents, business owners and others with unbiased legal information on a wide range of coastal issues. More importantly, his work mentoring hundreds of law and coastal studies students has had a far-reaching impact on coastal work in Louisiana and beyond. Many of his students have gone on to important roles at the local, state, and federal levels of government.”

Austin Rapbaum

Austin Rapbaum is a New-Orleans based musician, DJ and producer who hosts an annual summer fundraiser, Save the Shoreline, benefiting CRCL; the third iteration was on August 15 at Anna’s.

Alexius Reign

Alexius Reign has volunteered with CRCL multiple times, recruited fellow motorcyclists and others to participate in restoration projects and used silverware discarded with oyster shells to create jewelry. 

Friends of Palmetto Island State Park

Friends of Palmetto Island State Park was involved in programming the CRCL Coastal Leadership Institute and recruited community members to attend CRCL Coastal Restoration Roadshow events.

Ports America

Ports America has provided in-kind transportation support for three CRCL oyster reef builds and is planning on a fourth. The company also facilitates donations through their partnership for bags used to transport shell and has had employees volunteer with CRCL at multiple events

Five-S Group