Zhennya Slootskin is a cartographer and web designer who has created hundreds of maps detailing every mile of New York City coastline for the guidebook "Going Coastal NYC" and educational maps for boaters and paddlers. She is co¿founder of Going Coastal, Inc. Ms. Slootskin has a Masters Degree in Geography and Graduate Certification in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) from City University of New York Hunter. Her undergraduate study was in economics at Franklin College, Switzerland, after which she spent 10 years as a financial analyst and equities trader on Wall Street. Like many New Yorkers, she was drawn to the waterfront after the events of 9/11 and she has been working to improve our coastal environment and quality of life for the future ever since. Zhennya received the Society of Women Geographers Fellowship "for women who know no boundaries" for her thesis on Portolan Charts, the world's oldest navigation maps. In addition to her business ventures and philanthropic pursuits, Zhennya is an avid adventurer and lifelong learner.

She embraces challenges, constantly seeking new experiences that push her outside of her comfort zone and broaden her horizons. Whether it's exploring different cultures, learning Latin, engaging in outdoor activities, or immersing herself in creative pursuits, Zhennya approaches life with enthusiasm and an insatiable thirst for knowledge.