Our Founders

Viktor Brandtneris

I learned to dive at the age of 12 in a lake in St. Paul, Minnesota. I fell in love with the activity and decided to become a marine ecologist. After a bachelors at the University of Miami that included work in Panama, the Galapagos, and throughout the Caribbean, I moved to St. Thomas, VI to get my masters degree. I’ve been managing research, technical SCUBA diving, and data analysis on various projects for more than fourteen years and 2500 dives.

Sarah Heidmann

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to spend as much time as possible in or near the ocean. Ever since my first dive certification in 2011, I've been chasing opportunities to dive for research, which took me to Bonaire, then Oregon, and now the US Virgin Islands, where I completed my masters degree. Now I am a USCG-certified captain and do 200-300 working dives each year, and manage fieldwork, data, publications, and outreach in tropical coral reef ecology.

Our Board of Directors

Kristin Rasmussen

Kristin Rasmussen is a marine biologist who specializes in marine mammals. She received her MSc at Moss Landing Marine Labs on Monterey Bay in 2005. For over twenty years she has been studying two different humpback whale populations that breed off Central America. Kristin is the President of the USA branch of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Panacetacea, dedicated to the research, management, and conservation of the marine mammals of Panama. She is passionate about marine conservation and believes strongly in the mission of Reefs Unknown.

Andrew J. Hemmert

Andrew Hemmert is currently the President and owner of HMRT, LLC with a focus on commodity trading and logistics. The company is based in St. Thomas, USVI in partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands. He is a member of the St. Thomas Reformed Church Endowment Committee and a member of My Brother’s Workshop Technical Committee. Andrew has a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South FL as well as an MBA from Nova Southeastern University. He has worked for various energy companies over the past 33 years in Florida, New York, Texas, and Colorado. He engages in various philanthropic endeavors. Andrew is an avid sailor and enjoys the outdoors.

Sara Dent

Sara is a current Trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the world’s leading independent non-profit organization dedicated to ocean research, exploration and education. Operation positions in Maintenance and Repair and Traffic and Chartering Departments of the Chevron Shipping Company led to the interest in becoming involved with the Oceanographic. She is also the Board of the Clearwater Investment Trust, an investment company. Sara is currently on the Advisory Council for the World War II Memorial on the National Mall and the AFI/Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Maryland. She has also served on the board of the Rock Island Company as well as several foundations and schools.