Robbie Greene, Associate Director/Geographer
Robbie has lived, worked, fished, and surfed in the Mariana Islands for over a decade. He previously served as the NOAA Coral and Coastal Management Liaison for the Northern Mariana Islands, and enjoyed roles as the Climate & Hazards Specialist and GIS Specialist at the CNMI Coastal Management Program.
After spending a few winters snowshoeing across a frozen lake to work at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, he gladly moved to Saipan in 2012 as the CNMI’s first NOAA Coastal Fellow. His professional interests include using geospatial technology to try and solve all the problems, expanding the network of wave buoys and data streams in the Marianas, and acting as a climate “translator” to help ensure the latest science is relevant to and understood in local communities.
Fun Fact: Robbie has broken both of his ankles playing in Saipan’s overly-competitive soccer league. Robbie does not play soccer anymore.
Zachary “The Man-Grove” Williams, Forestry Program Coordinator
Zak moved to the CNMI in 2019 and worked as CNMI Watershed Coordinator before joining PCRP in 2024 to help implement the Forestry Program. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, his passion for nature conservation has spanned the Pacific, including caring for endangered tree snails in Hawaii, teaching about old growth forests in Oregon, and two stints as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. He holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Hawaii and a Master of Forest Resources from the University of Washington. When not planting trees, Zak is teaching about them at Northern Marianas College.
Fun Fact: Zak has never lived more than 100 miles away from an active volcano.
Deanna “The Tree Apprentice” Kapileo, Forestry Program Assistant
Before joining PCRP, Deanna’s environmental journey began as a DCRM summer intern with MINA in 2022. She then became a Tasi Watch Ranger at MINA, collaborating with various environmental agencies on diverse projects. These projects included mapping and removing marine debris from the entire Saipan Lagoon, assisting with the maintenance of the local coral nurseries, planting trees at community events, and much more. Now at PCRP, Deanna plays a key role in the Forestry project. In her free time she assists with marine surveys around the islands Saipan and Tinian.
Fun Fact: Deanna has kept a wide range of pets, from cats and dogs to fish, turtles, birds, and even most livestock.
Grace “The Networker” Choi, Outreach Coordinator
Grace, born and raised in the CNMI, discovered her passion for conservation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnessing marine debris on Dandan pocket beaches, she helped organized community cleanups across the island. This experience led her to two summer internships with the Division of Coastal Resources Management, where she worked with the Marine Monitoring Team and the Wildlife section of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Now, she is the Outreach Coordinator at PCRP! During her free time, she loves to hike and go to the beach.
Fun Fact: Grace has two rescue dogs, Matu and Cookie.
Grant “The Survey” Tyler, Environmental Planner
Grant moved to the CNMI in 2023 to work with PCRP on a variety of projects including watershed restoration, coastal resilience, and marine debris removal. Originally from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, his interests are in coastal policy and marine renewable energy. He is also an avid surfer which has led him to many great places around the world in the pursuit of waves
Fun Fact: Grant has surfed in 8 different countries so far.
Steven “The Saw” Beyer, Lead Arborist
Steven spent 5 years in Bend, Oregon working as an ISA certified arborist before going back to school earning his Masters in Education. This path brought him out to Saipan in 2011, where he spent the last 12 years as an educator. In August 2023, Steven decided to change direction and concentrate on his love for Forestry and also woodworking.
"I am excited to put my skills to work and continue learning about the vast variety of trees we have on Saipan and sharing that knowledge with the CNMI through PCRP's Forestry project."
Fun Fact: Steven was the Square Dance calling Santa in his 4th grade musical.
Mark Terlaje Pangelinan Jr., Forestry Technician
Deven Sablan, Forestry Technician