New England Science & Sailing Names Mark Adams New Chairman of the Board of Directors

New England Science & Sailing (NESS), a nationally recognized and award-winning nonprofit ocean adventure education organization, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Adams as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. Adams succeeds Spike Lobdell, NESS Founder and CEO, who will now serve as President and CEO of the organization.

Mark Adams joined the NESS Board in 2018, bringing decades of experience in business leadership, operations, and strategic growth. Adams began his career at Johnson & Johnson, where he spent 12 years advancing through roles in accounting, operations, product management, and international marketing. In 1993, he partnered with Warburg Pincus, a leading venture capital firm, to acquire a small medical device company, serving as its President and CEO. Over the next two decades, Adams collaborated with renowned firms such as Bain Capital and First Chicago, leading and growing multiple companies as CEO.

“Mark has been an integral part of the NESS Board, and his extensive leadership experience makes him an outstanding choice as our new Chairman,” said Spike Lobdell, NESS Founder and CEO. “As NESS continues to empower students through innovative ocean-based education, Mark’s vision and expertise will guide us toward even greater impact in the community.”

NESS is dedicated to providing inclusive, experiential learning programs that inspire a love of the ocean and foster critical life skills. Under the leadership of Adams and Lobdell, NESS remains committed to its mission of transforming lives through ocean adventure education.

“I am truly honored to take on the role of Board Chairman at NESS,” said Mark Adams. “We have an exceptional team of board members with diverse talents and expertise. Leading this group to help NESS expand its impact and reach new milestones is both a privilege and an exciting opportunity.”

For more information about NESS, please visit NESSF.org.

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING 
New England Science & Sailing is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that uses sailing, marine science, powerboating, and ocean adventure sports as experiential learning platforms to increase K-12 academic outcomes. NESS educators teach in classrooms and on the water, using over 100 proprietary lesson plans tied to school standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards, Ocean Literacy Principles, and Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning standards. NESS is the only school partner program accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. To learn more about NESS, visit NESSF.org.