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Our Approach
Our Story
Blue-Green Connections grew from a few Floridians' desire to restore healthy waters to our area. Issues ranging from fish kills to oil spills and plastics to habitat destruction called for immediate action.
Our Mission
Blue-Green Connections is a non-profit organization whose goal is to educate, inspire and motivate local individuals, businesses and organizations to protect our land and waters. We will facilitate collaboration between our supporters and enable valuable research information to be shared and dispersed. The time to act is now.
Our Story
Meet the Team
Paige Konger
Board of Directors
Paige Konger was raised surrounded by animals and the ocean in Dunedin, Florida. Her family has owned and operated the Tarpon Springs Aquarium since its opening in 1990. She has been caring for and educating about a wide array of animals since before she can remember. She also started scuba diving, kayaking, and exploring nature at a very young age. Paige graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Oklahoma City University where her primary studies focused on classical theatre. While in school she worked with Oklahoma Children's Theatre as an actor, teacher, and a part of their literacy outreach program. During her senior year she began Paige's Planet, an organization and social media campaign dedicated to promoting preservation and science education through the arts. Through this platform she has taught standard-based workshops at schools, preserves, nonprofits, YMCAs, and many more. She has been featured as a woman changing the world on GenHERation and on local news outlets as an expert/ environmentalist regarding sharks, alligators, and the environment. She continues to manage the Tarpon Springs Aquarium and further her education whenever possible. She is proud to be a part of Blue Green Connections and everything it stands for. Through BGC she hopes to help protect the precious ecosystems she grew up exploring.
Vicki Love
Board of Directors
President
Vicki grew up in Baton Rouge and spent much of her childhood camping and on the beach. As such she has always been drawn to nature. She attended college at Louisiana State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a minor in Psychology. From there, she went to work in the United States defense industry where she has worked for 29 years. Vicki recently converted to part-time so she could spend more time with her newly retired husband and working Blue-Green Connections Inc. as the cause is near and dear to her heart. Vicki enjoys spending her spare time camping, boating, and enjoying the beach.
Tracy Love Tippin
Board of Directors
Community Outreach / Event Coordinator
Tracy grew up with a deep appreciation of nature and has been promoting sustainable living for many years. She attended Louisiana State University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics with a minor in
Computer Science. She worked at EDS as a software engineer until she switched careers to a full-time mom. Tracy lived in Costa Rica for two years where she became actively involved environmental sustainability. In 2014, she founded Mind, Body & Earth which offered classes, retreats and eco-tours to Costa Rica. In 2016 she became the US Marketing Manager for HomeBiogas, an international, environmental pioneer of a company. Tracy spends her free time hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, traveling and socializing with friends, family and dog.
Meet the Team
Ray Bouchard
Hope Spot Pioneer
Ray was born a few hundred feet away from the Bay in Clearwater, Florida. His first breath was the salt air rolling over the mangroves on the eastern shore of the Bay. He has been deeply connected to the sea his entire life. Ray studied Oceanography before moving to New York to pursue an acting career, landing
roles on Ryan’s Hope, All My Children, and Smokey and The Bandit 3, as well as
several theater productions, before his love of the sea carried him to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean to work on 140 to 170 foot yachts. There he started as a deckhand, advanced to First Officer, and ultimately received his US Coast Guard Certified Ocean Operator License. Ray has enjoyed working in the entertainment industry for over 30 years both in front and behind the camera. Ray is also a competitive sailor, Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem, and Youth Sailing Safety Volunteer.
Next Steps...
