How we got our name.
In the spring of 2022, We decided to spend my birthday camping on Cape Lookout. Surfing, teaching our dogs to hunt for conch shells, & admiring all the stars.
On our way home, my fiancé Erica wanted to explore the different communities tucked throughout Down East.
We started fantasizing about what it would be like to start a family & move to one of these small towns.
The next spring our daughter was born. When she was two months old, we decided to take a leap of faith, We packed up our apartment in Wilmington, and moved our family up the coast. We’re now getting ready to welcome our son into the world, in a home down the street from the Cape Lookout lighthouse, Our Diamond Lady…
Our Team
Ryan Nolan
I’m the son of a U.S diplomat and a Psychiatric Nurse. I spent my early years living between the Washington D.C area, Cuba, Finland, and Mexico. Later getting to spend time in Southern Africa, while my father served as the U.S Ambassador to the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.
These experiences heavily shaped who I am. With a brain chemistry hard wired for exploration, and a deep love for experiencing new culture. I set about taking in as many sights and meeting as many new faces as possible. Fascinated by the ways we all live and how our landscapes affect us.
During these pursuits, I’ve always found myself most drawn and always coming back to the coast of North Carolina. It’s the only place thats ever felt like home, and has been now for the past 14 years.
When I fist started learning about Living Shorelines (while working in traditional Marine Construction) it struck me as a opportunity give back to this stretch of Coastline thats given me some of the best days of my life.
I attended the Living Shorelines Academy, hosted by the N.C Coastal Reserve, North Carolina Coastal Federation, and North Carolina Sea Grant. It was an honor to be part of the first training program of its kind for Marine Construction Professionals.
I’m hoping all this will translate through our children, and give them the opportunity to not only spend their childhood romping through the marsh, and experiencing the wonders of our coast, but also teach them how to create abundance, and foster in them a sense of proactive positivity. To shape and create the world they want to see, in a culture unfortunately so often driven by fear.
Erica Andersen
Erica is the most beautiful baby mamayanće in all of the lands. She makes it all happen and keeps our family running.
I’m writing this for her as she is currently 8 months pregnant, and taking care of our 1 1/2 year old daughter as she romps around the house.
As far as I know, she’s the one you want on your team. She put herself through college at UNCW cooking in kitchens a working at bars. Graduated with a degree in International affairs, and managed a sales force at a solar energy company, and is responsible for keeping our crew running.
Originally she told me her childhood aspirations were to be either a Mermaid, or pirate, So I’d say we’re on the right track.
She’s the one you may see on your dock, delivering tools, snacks, or invoices.