Staff - Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

Jacob Marlin

Executive Director

jmarlin@bfreebz.org

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Jacob had a passion for the natural world at a young age – especially snakes. After receiving an A.S. degree in Biological Park Management in 1989, he worked in the Herpetology departments of several zoos. On an exploration trip to Belize, Jacob fell in love with the country and eventually moved there in 1993 to found BFREE, serving as Executive Director ever since. Jacob is Chairman of Belize’s Monkey River Watershed Association, President of the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund, and CEO of Crioco Cacao, LLC, a for-profit cacao and chocolate company.

His interest in cacao has grown since discovering wild cacao trees at BFREE and Jacob and his team are exploring the environmental, social, and economic benefits of shade-loving cacao as a tool for conserving and restoring tropical ecosystems. When not in Belize, Jacob enjoys spending time with his three grown children in the USA.

Heather Barrett

Deputy Director

hbarrett@bfreebz.org

Heather Barrett was born in Louisville, Kentucky and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. She received her Master’s degree from the University of Florida. Heather began working with BFREE in 2011 while in Gainesville, Florida with the intention of helping the non-profit through a period of strategic changes. Nearly ten years later, her role has evolved and she continues to help lead the organization while splitting her time between Florida and Belize.

Heather is passionate about education and manages all of BFREE’s educational programs. Much of her energy is dedicated to empowering future conservation leaders through work training, outreach and professional development opportunities. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of human potential and strives to connect people to opportunities that will allow them to flourish.

Tyler Sanville

Program Manager

tsanville@bfreebz.org

Tyler Sanville is a passionate social justice advocate and environmental activist. Her passion for environmental advocacy began in college while studying and traveling abroad to over 30 countries. This exposure taught her the importance of acting as a global citizen. Tyler joined BFREE in 2016 and is the Program Manager overseeing BFREE’s study abroad programs and facilitating much of the organization’s administrative needs. She loves having the opportunity to connect and inspire young people with a new culture and landscape.

Before BFREE, Tyler was a Campaign Specialist at Greenpeace USA, where she worked to stop oil drilling in the Arctic and traveled on Greenpeace’s campaign vessels advocating along the coastal US. In her spare time, Tyler can be found working on her fiber art or exploring the outdoors with her husband Sean, a researcher at the University of Maryland.