Directors
Jacob Marlin
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
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. Over thirteen years later, her role has evolved and she continues to help lead the organization while splitting her time between western NC and Belize. She serves on the Board of Directors for Turtle Survival Alliance.
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.
Robert Klinger
contact@bfreebz.org
Dr. Robert Klinger received his BS in Wildlife Biology. His MS in biology came from San Jose State University, where I worked on the interplay between fire, deer, and mountain lions. He then spent a few years as an endangered species biologist and statistician for an environmental consulting firm; a couple of years as the field coordinator for a project looking at the effects of off-highway vehicles on plant and animal communities in the Mojave Desert; nine years as The Nature Conservancy’s ecologist on Santa Cruz Island off the California coast; a Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolution from UC Davis, where he found the Bladen Nature Reserve and got involved with BFREE.
For the last 17 years he worked as an ecologist and statistician with the US Geological Survey. In and amongst all that were things like being a fire ecologist for a few years with the US Forest Service, being a member of a couple of bio-inventories in New Guinea, working with the Charles Darwin Station on the Galapagos Islands for six months, and being on the board of BFREE for well over a decade, including a stretch as the president.
Administrative Staff
Bridget Nelson
bnelson@bfreebz.org
Bridget Nelson was born near Cincinnati, OH and raised in Greensboro, NC. Always an advocate for wild places, she moved to Asheville, NC in 1997 and became focused on public lands in the Southern Appalachians. She earned a Masters Degree in Biology from Western Carolina University, specializing in molecular ecology. Bridget gained non-profit management experience serving on boards and working in offices of environmental non-profits. She is currently Board Treasurer of the Asheville Tool Library.
After a decade spent painting and restoring 100 year-old homes, she wanted to get back to making a difference for the planet. Joining US for BFREE at the end of 2023, Bridget is very impressed with the organization, its work and programs. She is excited to be the new stateside office administrator and looking forward to good work in 2024.
Rocento Pau
contact@bfreebz.org
Rocento Pau was born and raised in Sundaywood Village, Toledo District. He is a Ketchi maya and grew up working with his father in the forest for a living. Because of this, he loves nature. At the age of 17, he graduated from Toledo Community College High School with a diploma majoring in the Business Department. He was employed by Aqua Mar Belize Limited for 9 years where he worked in a variety of roles including Data Clerk, Office Supervisor and Field Supervisor. Aqua Mar closed in December 2022, so Rocento began searching for other opportunities.
Rocento joined BFREE in July 2023 because he was inspired by the biodiversity and beautiful nature of the reserve. He is pleased to be a part of BFREE’s family as Administrative Assistant and is excited to contribute to the work BFREE is doing to preserve the biodiversity of Belize.
BFREE Belize Staff
Thomas Pop
tpop@bfreebz.org
Jaren Serano
jserano@bfreebz.org
Sipriano Canti
scanti@bfreebz.org