Our Story
So the chemist, the environmentalist and the explorer came together to create an eco-conscious skin care line that is healthy for our bodies AND for the waters of our planet.
Mission Statement
At the heart of each member of the Stream2Sea team is an obsessive drive for discovery. Scuba diving, kayaking, swimming, hiking, camping, skiing…these are all a necessary part of our regular day-to-day living. We have carefully considered the ingredients commonly used to make skincare products, while taking into account the effects they can have on our bodies and on our planet. We knew we could do better, so we did.
What the Cosmetic Chemist said…
Biodegradability, aquatic toxicity and healthy attributes: these three concerns are hard to balance in any skin care product, especially when you consider the wide range of preservatives, additives and chemicals that are approved for use by the FDA despite having been deemed harmful to either the body or the planet. We have developed our formulas by consciously choosing each ingredient for its efficacy, integrity and non-harming influences.
What the Environmentalist said…
Fact: Over 6,000 TONS of skin care products enter coral reefs from tourist activities alone. This number doesn’t take into account the products entering our rivers, lakes and streams through run off, sewage, and more. While some brands in the market today claim to be “reef safe” and “ocean friendly,” many contain ingredients that are known to harm the fragile ecosystems and marine life of our waters. We have allotted over 60% of our start-up costs to eco-lab testing so that we can state, with complete confidence, that we are the safest product on the shelves.
What the Explorer said…
We, as explorers of this awesome planet, have the ability to make educated decisions on the products we use to protect and care for our bodies. You shouldn’t have to be a chemist or environmentalist to know what ingredients are used or how those ingredients may impact our body or waters. You shouldn’t be misguided by false advertising either. So Stream2Sea has chosen to be totally transparent in our journey to bring our products to you, so that you not only understand what you’re using, but can help other Explorers understand as well.
Our mission is to supply outdoor lovers with products that work great, keep them feeling good and healthy, and give them confidence they are supporting a safe, sustainable, and science-based company.
Our Team
Autumn Blum
Aqua Warrior; CEO & Formulator
Autumn is an entrepreneur, cosmetic chemist, scuba diver, animal advocate and ocean warrior. She grew up in Sarasota, FL and graduated from Eckerd College with a B.Sc. in Chemistry and environmental geology. After spending 15 years as a cosmetic chemist formulating products for the natural products industry, she noticed a sunscreen slick coming off a group of snorkelers while diving in Palau. She observed with increasing frustration the divers and crew bathing on deck after every dive – the soap, sunscreen and conditioner residues washing right overboard into these pristine waters with some of the most beautiful reefs in the world. As a cosmetic chemist, she knew that we could do better for our oceans, reefs, and ourselves. She came home from the trip determined to create a performance-based product line that would be safe for us and for our waters. In 2015, she launched Stream2Sea. Now, she continues to work harder than ever to create new Aqua Warriors to help spread our message. When Autumn’s not in the water or talking about protecting it, she enjoys spending time with her life partner John, their 6 dogs, 11 ducks, and 65 chickens. If you ever come by the warehouse, you will most likely leave with not only sunscreen, but a dozen eggs as well.
Mike Malterre
Vice President & Outdoor Channel Manager
Mike was raised in Hawaii, mostly in the water. Now living in Idaho with his family, Mike enjoys any and all outdoor activities. He came out of retirement to join the Stream2Sea team. After spending … years recovering from environmental toxicities, Mike is passionate about protecting the babies and oceans from unsafe personal care ingredients.
John Nussbaum
President of Operations
Caitlin McCall
Marketing Director & Account Manager
Caitlin is a Scuba Instructor, Scientific Diver, and Science Communications/Digital Marketing specialist. She has been diving since she was 12, and has followed her love for the ocean to live in 9 cities and 3 countries, before falling in love with Florida’s barrier reef while living in Key West. Her passion for the ocean and reef fish ignites her love for Stream2Sea’s commitment to safe sunscreen and working to save our ocean planet. While outside of work, Caitlin enjoys diving and continuing to educate her peers through her podcast, Eco-Conscious Diver.
Belinda Klein
Bean Counter
Belinda is Stream2Sea’s Bookkeeper and Inventory Control Guru. She has a fiery personality, passion for our mission and is a mermaid whenever she has free time. Mother to two strapping young men, her maternal side comes out daily whether making sure the busy team has stopped for lunch, or holding us accountable for our goals. Belinda also makes sure all of the non-profit ocean related foundations we partner with are supported.
Vicki Parsons
Public Relations
Vicki is, without doubt, the least adventurous of the Stream2Sea family but she’s just as passionate about protecting our planet. She’s a seventh-generation Conch from Key West who grew up playing in pristine waters off the Florida Keys. A journalist by profession, she specializes in “translating” complex scientific documents into readable — and actionable — reports. For fun, she rescues senior Shar-Pei and grows food for people, pollinators and caterpillars.
John R.
Webmaster & Graphics Designer
John (prefers to be known as J.R.) is in charge of making things beautiful at Stream2Sea. He has a hand in everything design, from packaging to website. When he isn’t busy working, he likes to escape to nature where he recharges with his wife and daughter. Fun fact: He has visited over 25 National Parks and it is his life’s mission to visit all 61 National Parks in the USA.
Leslie Taylor
Stream2Sea Educator & Account Executive for Dive Channel and Key Accounts
Leslie is the ultimate mother – of her children and our planet. She never passes up an opportunity to play on the waves as a paddleboarder or beneath them as an avid scuba diver. Leslie is an animal rescuer, ocean warrior, and real life mermaid. Stream2Sea’s mission is close to her heart since she grew up in Texas, playing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and fortunately still gets to call them home in Florida.
Cat Miller
Natural Channel Account Executive / Stream2Sea Trainer
Cat’s immense love for the calmness created when the ocean kisses the shore, piqued a desire to find ways to protect our waters and beautiful aquatic life. To be a part of a team of equally ocean obsessed warriors would only make perfect sense. Cat is Wauchula FL. born and Miami FL. grown. In her spare time, you will find her traveling, snorkeling, volunteering at local Nursing Homes and petting any animal that can’t run faster than she can. (I bet you just pictured her chasing a raccoon with treats). Ocean, Tacos, Animal lover, and office prankster Cat. 😉
Sarah Schindehette
Account Executive for the Outdoor Channel
Sarah started SCUBA diving for P.E. credit in college and has been fascinated by marine conservation ever since. She has worked at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, interned with Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), and is a current PADI Assistant Instructor. While working on a dive boat in the Keys, Sarah got connected with the Stream2Sea mission and products. She’s since returned to Baltimore, and enjoys working for Stream2Sea remotely. For six months out of the year Sarah moonlights as a park naturalist: guiding hikes, planting natives and making owl calls in the dark. If she’s not working, she’s probably playing rugby or growing vegetables on her city deck.