Mr. Willauer has extensive background in business development, portfolio management, and leadership training. He is currently assisting with the development of a series of land-based aquaculture projects in North America.  Most recently Ben served as the Chief Development Officer for Whole Oceans, a $180mm land-based aquaculture development in Bucksport, Maine. After working with many Outward Bound schools for over ten years, he held several positions within the financial services industry, recently as the General Partner of Willauer Prosky and Willauer Asset Management, a governance-based, institutional hedge fund.  Mr. Willauer is a founding trustee and was instrumental in the formation of the Hurricane Island Foundation and the Center for Science and Leadership on Hurricane Island – regarded as a groundbreaking educational campus with a focus on developing the scientific leaders of tomorrow. Additionally, Mr. Willauer served for 10 years on a variety of committees as a Trustee of the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Mr. Willauer received a B.A. in Expeditionary Learning from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University and is a graduate of the Sea Education Association.