Welcome! We are a Social, Educational and Environmental Non-Profit
SEA YOU ARE FREE
Based in the heart of Venice, California, a small group of friends growing up in the surf, skate and fashion industry joined forces and creatively fused music, art, fashion, and film which grew into a network of like-minded creatives that formed an artist collective called
Sea You Are Free.
Sea You Are Free was a multi-media showroom that supported designers, musicians, artists and philanthropists using their work as a platform to raise awareness and imagine a more sustainable and ethical future through their art.
After 3 + years, we have transitioned Sea You Are Free to a registered 501(c)(3) Nonprofit in order to educate, inspire and mobilize our community to raise their voices and create real change about social and environmental issues through fashion, film, music, art and philanthropy.
Philanthropic Partnerships & Collaborations
We partner with global brands and organizations to educate and change the cultural mindset of all generations regarding global environmental and social issues challenging humanity's future on our planet.
Events, Collaborations & Partnerships
Our Board
Natalie Paziotopoulos
Natalie Paziotopoulos
Natalie Paziotopoulos
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Natalie attended the University of Kansas where she earned a BA in Communication Studies, and later studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. She began her design career with Guess Inc. in 2001, and rose through the ranks. For the past 7 years, she has held the p
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Natalie attended the University of Kansas where she earned a BA in Communication Studies, and later studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. She began her design career with Guess Inc. in 2001, and rose through the ranks. For the past 7 years, she has held the position as the Associate Design Director for the Men’s Design Division.
Over the years, Natalie and her design team have partnered on capsule collections for Guess with music artists such as Tiesto,
A$AP Rocky and J Balvin.
Her design career has allowed her to travel throughout Europe and Asia researching global fashion trends and attending many worldwide fashion trade shows.
Natalie also serves as a mentor, is involved in the Guess internship program, and through the company, she has participated in countless philanthropic events such as Peace Over Violence for Denim Day, Aids Walk Los Angeles, and International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
In 2014, Natalie was selected to be a part of Greek America’s Forty Under 40, celebrating the community’s top young talent in business, the arts, the sciences and other fields. The awards are the leading recognition for North Americans of Greek descent, recognizing those who have excelled in their professional endeavors while simultaneously showing care and concern for the world around them through philanthropic initiatives.
Throughout her 21 year career, she has been involved in numerous charitable organizations. Natalie is an animal advocate and donator to The Humane Society, Born Free and ASPCA . She is not only a donator and supporter of Oceana but also an advocate for ocean conservation due to her involvement with S.U.R.F. to help educate all generations on ocean and environmental pollution.
Jason Roach
Natalie Paziotopoulos
Natalie Paziotopoulos
BOARD PRESIDENT
Jason Roach is currently employed with Luther Burbank Savings Bank as a Vice President, Account Executive for Business Banking / Union Vertical. Jason has over 20 years’ experience in Business Banking, with 17 years at United Business Bank. Jason is a graduate of Stanislaus State University, California with a Bachelor of Sc
BOARD PRESIDENT
Jason Roach is currently employed with Luther Burbank Savings Bank as a Vice President, Account Executive for Business Banking / Union Vertical. Jason has over 20 years’ experience in Business Banking, with 17 years at United Business Bank. Jason is a graduate of Stanislaus State University, California with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Jason has also spent many years volunteering, and in direct leadership roles for various nonprofits.
Over the course of his career, Jason first began volunteering with an organization called CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, where he was an advocate for youth and young adults in the Foster Care System in San Francisco, and then in Los Angeles. As a CASA Volunteer, and with requirements as a Banker, Jason coordinated with Junior Achievement of Los Angeles, and CASA, with the financial support of United Business Bank, a Financial Literacy Day for Foster Youth. He also had begun the solicitation to DCFS, to hold financial literacy seminars for Foster Youth, who were aging out of the system. Over the 8 years of volunteering, Jason sat on six cases, held Education Rights for the young men he worked with, and helped all five transitions out of the Foster Care System. He volunteered with that organization for 8 years.
Jason also volunteered and was the Chairman of the Board for Glendale Healthy Kids. Glendale Healthy Kids provided Medical and Dental Services to children, youth, and young adults in the Glendale Community who were non-insured or under insured. He volunteered with this organization for 4 years.
Under bank regulations – Community Reinvestment Act, Jason annually participated in financial literacy programs supporting various small nonprofit organizations in Northern and Southern California and continues to do so in his current role at Luther Burbank Savings Bank.
Jason continues to be enthusiastic about volunteering and especially helping educate children, youth, and young adults to not only be environmentally conscious but also to be financially literate. He is extremely excited about the opportunity to volunteer with S.U.R.F., blending these two important initiatives.
Pam Paziotopoulos
Natalie Paziotopoulos
Pam Paziotopoulos
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Pam began her career as a prosecutor for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, quickly focusing on the area of domestic violence. As an Assistant State’s Attorney, she litigated hundreds of trials including several jury trials. In 1996 she joined the American Prosecutor’s Research Institute in Alexandri
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Pam began her career as a prosecutor for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, quickly focusing on the area of domestic violence. As an Assistant State’s Attorney, she litigated hundreds of trials including several jury trials. In 1996 she joined the American Prosecutor’s Research Institute in Alexandria Virginia as a Senior Attorney traveling to 38 of the 50 states, conducting training and speaking on domestic violence. In 1997, she was recruited back to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to create and supervise the first Domestic Violence Division. She monitored the prosecution of over 100,000 domestic violence cases emanating each year from the city of Chicago and surrounding areas while creating new policies, programs and procedures for the division. She also served on the Executive Staff as the Director of Public Affairs, and the Violence Against Women Policy Advisor to State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine.
Pam has developed and presented many training sessions on the topic of domestic violence, stalking and workplace violence to corporations and professionals of all disciplines. She has conducted training for Major League Baseball (Dodgers, Marlins, and Angels), NASA Mission Control, Smithsonian Institution, the Albanian national police, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Sidley and Austin, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Google, and numerous other corporations and organizations. She has also appeared as an expert on CNN, CNBC, WGN, and the Oprah Winfrey Show as well as numerous national radio and news stations. She has been a consultant on workplace violence guidelines and standards for the FBI, the American Society of Industrial Security, the Society of Human Resources Management, and the American Bar Association. She has authored numerous articles and chapters for various books on the issues of domestic violence, stalking and workplace violence. She participated on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s transition teams for her expertise in domestic violence, stalking and workplace violence issues. She was also appointed by Governor Rauner to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Board.
In November 2000, she received the first Distinguished Alumni Award from Hinsdale South High School. In July 2000, she was selected by Today’s Chicago Woman as one of 100 women making a difference in Chicago. In December 2008, she received an award from the Illinois Security Chiefs for making a difference in Security; in 2011 she was awarded the Julia Beverage Award from Kent Law School; in 2012 she was awarded The Community Service Award by The Hellenic Bar Association and in 2017 was awarded “Excellence in Emergency Management Private Sector” by The Illinois Security Professionals Association. For eleven years, she has been an Adjunct Professor of Law teaching “Intimate Partner Violence” at Kent Law School.
She has served as the General Counsel for The Illinois Liquor Control Commission. In this position, she served as the principal legal advisor for Liquor Control related functions, providing advice and consultation on policy matters, rules, and regulations as they pertain to the implementation and administration of the Illinois Liquor Control Act and related state laws. In this capacity she regularly counseled Mayors, Village Presidents, municipal administrators and law enforcement officers on the parameters of their authority as local alcohol beverage regulators. She supervised attorneys in the legal division and assisted in drafting legislation and regulations relating to Liquor Control state policy. She has created a legal handbook for the division and in January of 2019, she received the “Rookie of The Year” award from The Department of Revenue for her work at the Liquor Commission. Currently she is The Director of Compliance for Reyes Beer Division, the largest beer distributor in the country.
As a two-time cancer survivor, Pam also acts as a mentor to others recently diagnosed with cancer and is frequently interviewed by the media on tools and strategies to heal from cancer.
Throughout her 31 year career she has been involved in a myriad of fundraising for domestic violence programs, cancer research, The Adler Planetarium and numerous other charitable organizations.
Pam brings a unique perspective and background as well as a wealth of knowledge to the S.U.R.F. team and organization.
Nanaz Pirouz
Elizabeth “Mimi” Riley
Nanaz Pirouz
BOARD SECRETARY - TREASURER
Nanaz attended the University of California Irvine where she earned her BA in Political Science and minor in Business Administration. With the help and advice of a very close friend and mentor, who was a business owner in the fashion industry, she began her domestic and international sales career. She has work
BOARD SECRETARY - TREASURER
Nanaz attended the University of California Irvine where she earned her BA in Political Science and minor in Business Administration. With the help and advice of a very close friend and mentor, who was a business owner in the fashion industry, she began her domestic and international sales career. She has worked with over 300+ well recognized apparel fashion brands presenting Global and European fashion trend services and textile designs. Her sales career has allowed her to travel the world researching fashion trends and attending many worldwide fashion trade shows.
In 2009, she became a co-partner of two fashion companies based in Los Angeles, CA. Mashionfashion, Inc. is a full package garment manufacturer and Selvedge, Inc. is a textile company specializing in original copyrighted prints. Both companies cater to smaller fashion brands producing goods domestically and internationally. Her companies are truly dedicated to giving smaller brands a helping hand at getting started.
Nanaz has also served as a guest speaker at the American Intercontinental University speaking on fashion trends and forecasting as well as on the panel for the International Fashion Association speaking on fashion and textiles.
Nanaz is an animal lover, advocate and donator to charities such as ASCPA, The Humane Society, Save the Panda’s and St. Jude’s Hospital. She is also the proud mommy to her own little Shitzhu, Charly.
As a member of the S.U.R.F. board of directors, Nanaz brings to the organization a wealth of talent and resources in support of the S.U.R.F. programming and mission.
Jason Ferro
Elizabeth “Mimi” Riley
Nanaz Pirouz
BOARD DIRECTOR
Jason attended the Laguna College of Art and Design where he earned a BA in Fine and Studio Arts. For the past 25 years, he has been leading fashion design teams and artist/music initiatives at the GAP, Levi-Strauss, Abercrombie & Fitch, Guess Jeans, Jacob Davis, Bread Denim and Lululemon.
In 2016, Jason launched the Sea Yo
BOARD DIRECTOR
Jason attended the Laguna College of Art and Design where he earned a BA in Fine and Studio Arts. For the past 25 years, he has been leading fashion design teams and artist/music initiatives at the GAP, Levi-Strauss, Abercrombie & Fitch, Guess Jeans, Jacob Davis, Bread Denim and Lululemon.
In 2016, Jason launched the Sea You Are Free showroom, a philanthropic artist collective consisting of sustainable clothing collections, art installations and galleries, music concerts, film screenings and educational/environmental talks and panels with keynote speakers in Venice, CA.
In 2019, he co-founded Artist Technology Group (ATG), the brain child of the best-in-class team of 60 industry veterans, creatives and technologists. ATG soon after launched Panthr Music, a new music and video streaming app built for artists by artists to directly support musicians and creators and to build community.
As a founding member of S.U.R.F., an ocean lover and a surfer, Jason is an advocate for ocean conservation and clean water safeguards. He looks forward to shining light on these two initiatives.
Elizabeth “Mimi” Riley
Elizabeth “Mimi” Riley
Elizabeth “Mimi” Riley
BOARD DIRECTOR
Elizabeth is a film producer and CEO of The Sunset Strip Presents, a production company that has a long track record of creating bold, blue chip branded content and events.
In addition, she serves on the board of directors at Kiss the Ground. She is also an advocate for the ocean and the soil regenerative movement where th
BOARD DIRECTOR
Elizabeth is a film producer and CEO of The Sunset Strip Presents, a production company that has a long track record of creating bold, blue chip branded content and events.
In addition, she serves on the board of directors at Kiss the Ground. She is also an advocate for the ocean and the soil regenerative movement where the goal is to awaken people to the possibilities of regeneration through media, content and events.
As a member of the S.U.R.F. board of directors, Elizabeth brings a great amount of knowledge and insight to our team and organization.