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STAFF MEMBERS

DR JEAN FRUH : EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Originally from Upstate New York, Jean now shares her time between Hilton Head and West Virginia. Jean obtained her BS and MS in Athletic Training/Physical Education from Springfield College and her EdD in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia.

Jean worked for West Virginia Wesleyan College for over 20 years as an Assistant Professor and Director of Athletic Training. Since relocating to Hilton Head for much of the year, Jean has worked for Outside Hilton Head.  There she has served in a multitude of capacities, including: kayak and paddleboard instructor, retail manager, internship supervisor, teambuilding facilitator and guide. In addition, Jean actively created and fostered Outside Hilton Head’s internal, staff-led sustainability initiative “The Green Team.” Dr. Fruh is a South Carolina Master Naturalist and a volunteer at Volunteers in Medicine as well as The Heritage Golf Tournament.

Jean and her husband, Dr. Frank Hartman, have 2 children and 2 grand children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, golf, tennis, travel and Orioles baseball.

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SUSAN DEE : KIDS IN KAYAKS PROGRAMS MANAGER

Susan, a recently retired Beaufort County School District Environmental Science, Biology, and Marine Science educator, is uniquely qualified as she is one of educators who created Kids in Kayaks in early 2000’s!

As Susan states, “Along with Friends of the Rivers and fellow teacher Lois Lewis , the Kids in Kayaks program was created as a way to provide our students with direct connections to the local marine ecosystems they studied in the classroom.” Learning about the salt marsh in the salt marsh! What a great idea!

Susan also is a member of @hhiseaturtle , a Lowcountry Master Naturalist, kayak guide, and licensed boat Captain. She states, “After 23 years of teaching I’m super excited to share my passion for and knowledge of the local environment with the next generation. I’m looking forward getting kids OUTSIDE!”

In her free time Susan enjoys travel and exploring all things OUTSIDE through hiking, biking, and diving expeditions.

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CAITLIN LEE : OPERATIONS & EVENTS MANAGER

Caitlin has been a resident of Hilton Head since 2009 when she graduated from Virginia Tech, Go Hokies!  She's originally from the Hudson River Valley in New York, but has fully embraced the lowcountry lifestyle. After ten years in both hospitality management for Marriott Vacation Club and regime property management on the Island, Caitlin has started her own company, Caitlin Joan Consulting, helping businesses and non-profits achieve their goals through strategic planning, smart marketing and storytelling. She has a passion for volunteering, is a charter member of the Hilton Head Civitan Club and spends her free time at the beach, listening to live music, exploring local waterways, enjoying fresh oysters with cold wine, riding her bright orange bike and doing crafty things like painting, needlepoint, and refinishing furniture. Caitlin is looking forward to working as part of The Outside Foundation team! 

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JOCELYN KERN : OYSTER RECYCLING PROGRAM MANAGER

Jocelyn was the Post-Closing Manager at a mortgage company in New Jersey for almost 20 years. During that time, she obtained her Master’s in Sustainability from Ramapo College of New Jersey. The focus of her capstone project for the program addressed oyster shell recycling for oyster reef restoration. She graduated in 2017 with the goal of eventually moving to South Carolina and becoming involved in local oyster shell recycling based initiatives. In 2021, Jocelyn and her husband Nick, their cat Ashes, and their dog Juno relocated to Bluffton, South Carolina. Jocelyn began actively volunteering with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and The Outside Foundation, collecting oyster shells from local restaurants, recruiting restaurants to join the program and recycle their shells, participating in oyster reef builds, shell bagging events as well as educating others about the benefits of oyster shell recycling and reef restoration. She loves being surrounded by the beauty of the Lowcountry and being outdoors exploring, kayaking, bird watching, and participating in nature-themed programs and events. She is thrilled to be part of The Outside Foundation team and looking forward to nurturing and growing the oyster shell recycling program!

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