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ERIC BLUMHAGEN
Jensen Maritime Consultants, Inc.
Eric started working as a junior naval architect at Jensen Maritime Consultants immediately after graduating from the University of Washington. His first projects were fishing vessel stability updates. He now leads the naval architecture department at Jensen and is proud to continue Jensen’s 50-year commitment to providing the best designs to the commercial fishing industry. Eric is an expert on fishing vessel safety and regulation and has led design teams for several new fishing vessels.
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CAPT. RON BURCHETT
Burchett Marine
Ron has worked in the maritime industry for more than 35 years and has seen many changes in the business. He believes the last five years have seen the beginnings of a 30-year fleet renewal. Ron has been working on the technology side of the industry to bring forward improvements in vessel design, scale model testing and training to provide a test bed for new ideas and methods of operation, working with well-known members of the industry world-wide including Foss and Crowley of Seattle, Adsteam of Australia, and The Port Revel training center of France.
Ron also works with naval architects to create new designs and refine existing ones resulting in technical advancement for the vessels of tomorrow.
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BOB DESAUTEL
Global Seas and Nina Fisheries, Inc.
Bob Desautel is co-founder, president, and chief executive officer of Global Seas and Nina Fisheries, Inc. In 1994, he co-founded Nina Fisheries, a business that later developed internationally as it extended to Chile and Argentina in 1998. In 2001, Bob co-founded Global Seas, a subsidiary of Nina Fisheries, which quickly became one of the West Coast’s premier vessel management companies. Under Bob’s direction, Global Seas has grown and evolved into an internationally diverse entity with a portfolio of investments spanning the globe. Global Seas is involved in various industries, including the harvesting, processing, and marketing of seafood, maritime equipment sales, and ownership and operation of survey vessels for charter.
In 1978, while studying business at the University of Nevada, Bob began his career as a deckhand fishing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. In 1980, he advanced to the role of captain and served as captain of various fishing vessels in the Alaskan pelagic fishery until 2002, when he retired from the ocean to focus on the expansion of Global Seas.
Bob has served as president and member of the board of the North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association. In 1993, Bob co-founded United Catcher Boats, serving as a member of the board and later as vice president, all the while promoting the organization’s importance to Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska and West Coast fisheries. Bob currently possesses a United States Coast Guard (issue no.5) Masters 3000 ITC License.
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KENNY DOWN
Freezer Longline Coalition
Kenny Down has served as the executive director of the Freezer Longline Coalition for the past three years. Prior to working for the longline group, Mr. Down spent nearly 20 years working in the Alaska longline fishing industry. He has worked as a fisherman at sea, chief engineer, port engineer and eventually as the general manager for one of the premier Alaska longline companies.
Mr. Down is a member of advisory boards to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council including the Council's Observer Advisory Committee and the Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee.
The Freezer Longline Coalition (FLC) represents longline vessels that fish for Pacific cod (p-cod) using hook-and-line gear and then individually process the fish at sea. This fleet has a longstanding historic dependency on p-cod which accounts for over 90% of this sector's revenues. This fleet consists of highly specialized vessels (longline catcher processors) that are based in both Washington and Alaska.
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RICHARD DRAVES
American Seafoods Group
Richard Draves is currently vice president of product development for American Seafoods Group. Richard has first hand knowledge of Alaska Pollock fisheries having his first exposure during joint venture fisheries with the Japanese, working on Japanese surimi and flatfish processors for several years on behalf of American interests. Following the joint ventures and then a few years longlining, he returned to the big boats working for American Seafoods Company on their vessels in North and South America, producing surimi from a variety of fish species.
In the mid-90s, Richard moved into a management position supporting sales and operations through the quality control function managing surimi, roe, fillet and fishmeal quality assurance. In 2008, he seized the opportunity to head American’s new product development function. Since that time, he has worked to create value for the organization through the creation of new products and processes.
Richard has a degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a frequent lecturer and participant in Oregon State University’s Surimi School, having lectured on surimi production in the US, Europe, and Japan.
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MARK GLEASON
Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers
Mark Gleason is the executive director of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers (ABSC). ABSC is a 501(c)-6 non-profit, seafood industry trade association representing about 70% of the harvest quota in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Rationalized Crab fishery. Mr. Gleason has been involved with commercial fisheries in the North Pacific and U.S. West Coast since 1995 as a fisherman, government affairs representative, and in retail seafood sales. He has also worked in the U.S. Senate on fisheries issues as a contractor with NOAA and as a fisheries researcher at the university level.
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LARS BØRRE HASLE
Eksportfinans
Lars B. Hasle is a lawyer by training and graduated from the University of Oslo.
He has worked with Eksportfinans as a lawyer since 1979 in all fields of financing and on all six continents.
Since the year 2000, Lars has concentrated on the lending activity of the company, predominantly in the fields of shipping, renewable energy and general business development.
He has a particular interest in and responsibility for developing the financing exports from Norway to two diverse markets, namely the US and India.
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TOR-GUNNAR HOVIG
Rolls-Royce
Tor graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology in 1991 with a MSc degree in mechanical engineering. He spent 5 years working as a project engineer and later as manager project engineering at the engine manufacturer Ulstein Bergen A/S.
From 1996 to 2000, he was managing director for Ulstein India Pvt. Ltd. located in Mumbai, India, before taking a half year sabbatical to go sailing. In 2001, Tor became vice president, Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine Inc., in Seattle, a position he holds today.
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DAVID LITTLE
Clipper Seafoods
David Little is the president of Clipper Seafoods LTD, and the founder and president of the Freezer Longline Coalition, an organization of eleven freezer longline companies based in Washington and Alaska, contributing approximately three hundred million dollars annually to Washington State’s economy and employing 1500 people on a full-time equivalent basis.
Early on, Dave learned the vital role of organizations like the North Pacific Fish Management Council (NPFMC) can play in the sustainability of our nation’s fisheries; he has attended Council meetings since 1988.
From 1992-1996, he served on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council Advisory Panel. During his tenure, the panel implemented the first limited access program in the halibut and sablefish industry, turning the formerly-collapsed fisheries into two of the most viable in the world. More recently, Dave worked with members of the Washington delegation in DC to help pass the BSAI single fisheries cooperative act, which allowed the formation of a fishery coop for the BSAI cod longline fishery.
Dave’s management philosophy is based on over three decades of professional growth and steady leadership. He has a wealth of experience in the business – starting as a Naval architect at Marco Marine, as a deck hand on a crab boat in the Bering Sea – followed by assignments in the salmon and cod fisheries as a processor, engineer, cook, captain, and culminating in his current duties as a vessel owner.
Dave has seen first-hand the enormous benefits of promoting a sustainable fishing practice with other fisheries in addition to his own.
Dave holds a BS degree in engineering from the University of Michigan. He lives in Seattle with his wife, Janet, and has two sons.
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MATT NICHOLS
Nichols Bros.
Matt is the CEO of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Inc. He worked under his father since he was ten years old. After graduating from high school, Matt spent four years in the U.S Air Force before he went on to college.
During 1972 Matt took ownership in Nichols Brothers (founded by his father Frank Nichols in 1964).
He devoted his entire career to the business. He utilized his skills and knowledge in order to turn the little family owned business into a successful medium-size shipyard.
Today, Nichols Brothers is known all over the world for their reputation in boat building technology through the construction of ferries, excursion boats, high speed catamarans, cruise ships, multipurpose fishing boats, tugs, research vessels, barges, pilot and patrol boats. Nichols Brothers has a work force of 215 employees, composed primarily of long term, career oriented people, with a combined average of over twenty years in the shipbuilding industry, most of that with Nichols Brothers.
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BRENT PAINE
United Catcher Boats
Brent Paine has been the executive director of United Catcher Boats since its inception in January 1994. United Catcher Boats (UCB) is a vessel owner trade association whose members participate in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska and West Coast catcher vessel trawl fisheries. The onshore and offshore Eastern Bering Sea pollock fishery is UCB member’s primary fishery.
On behalf of UCB, Brent was actively involved in the development of the American Fisheries Act when Congress created it in the late 1990s. Prior to his work with UCB, Brent was on the staff of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for three years serving as the Bering Sea plan coordinator. Brent received his M.S. of Fisheries Management from Oregon State University and his undergraduate degree at St. Olaf College.
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GUIDO PERLA
Guido Perla & Associates, Inc.
Guido F. Perla is the founder and owner of Guido Perla and Associates, Inc. (GPA) and has more than forty years of experience in the design and construction of a variety of marine vessels. Prior to starting GPA, Mr. Perla worked at Unial SA in Colombia South America building fishing and shrimp boats. He later worked at RYSCO Texas in the design of shrimp trawlers and scallop fishing vessels. Arriving in Seattle 34 years ago, Mr. Perla designed tuna seiners at J.M. Martinac in Tacoma and worked in the design of different fishing boats at MARCO in Seattle.
Founded on December 28, 1979, GPA has grown to become one of the nation's premier naval architecture firms. The company is world renowned for its designs of fishing vessels, passenger vessels, research vessels, tugs, ferries and vessels for the support of the oil industry. In addition to the main offices in Seattle, GPA has offices in China, Chile, Brazil and Germany.
In the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s, Mr. Perla designed factory trawlers such as the Northern Eagle, Northern Hawk and the Northern Jaeger for Assen Nickolov, owner of Oceantrawl. These vessels are now operating for American Seafoods. Later he designed the Starbound for Henry Swason.
Mr. Perla designed the Alaska Ocean that is still the largest factory trawler in the USA at 376 feet. These vessels continue to operate productively. A model of the Alaska Ocean is presently in an exhibit at the Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, as an example of outstanding vessels in the marine profession.
Mr. Perla has a degree in mechanical engineering and a degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of Michigan.
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CHRISTINE ROLFES
State of Washington
Christine Rolfes is a Washington State Senator from the 23rd Legislative District. Christine was appointed to her seat in July, 2011. Prior to her appointment, Christine served in the House of Representatives beginning in 2007, where she worked to advance legislation reflecting the common-sense, progressive values of the 23rd District. Her leadership on ferry reform, military-family issues, sustainability and education has yielded tangible results for Washington families. Before her election to the House, Christine served two terms on the Bainbridge Island City Council.
After earning a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington, Christine worked for the Kitsap County Department of Community Development as an open-space program coordinator and watershed planner. She later moved to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she counseled northwest businesses and organizations on humanitarian assistance and commercial opportunities overseas. Christine spent time working out of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, managing environmental and economic development projects.
Christine lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband, Leonard, and their two school-aged daughters.
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CASEY SIXKILLER
Sixkiller Consulting, LLC
Casey is the president of Sixkiller Consulting, LLC, a Washington, DC-based public policy, advocacy and strategic communications consulting firm. Its clients include Fortune 500 companies, businesses operating in highly regulated industries, local and Tribal governments, and complex public agencies.
His areas of policy expertise include: commercial fisheries and maritime issues; the federal budget and appropriations; transportation and infrastructure issues; and issues affecting federally recognized Indian tribes.
Casey has more than a decade of public and private sector experience. Prior to founding Sixkiller Consulting, Casey was an executive vice president at McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC, where he led the firm's Fisheries and Tribal practices, and co-led the firm’s work on behalf of local governments and public agencies. Prior to that, Casey worked for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), where he served as the Senator's principal policy advisor on commercial fisheries, transportation, housing and community development, and Tribal affairs issues. He began his career as a legislative assistant to Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA).
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LORI SWANSON
Groundfish Forum
Lori Swanson has served as the executive director of Groundfish Forum since 2002. Groundfish Forum is a trade association that represents the Amendment 80 fleet, otherwise known as the Head and Gut (H&G) trawl catcher processor (CP) sector of the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska.
Ms. Swanson has been involved in commercial fisheries in the North Pacific for over 30 years. Prior to her work at Groundfish Forum, Ms. Swanson worked for Nor’Eastern Trawl Systems as an international sales manager/vocational school director. Before that, Ms Swanson worked as a National Marine Fisheries Service observer aboard Soviet, Japanese and Korean processing vessels in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and West Coast fisheries and crewed aboard United States trawl catcher vessels.
Ms. Swanson is vice chair on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Advisory Panel and has served on various council and industry committees or work groups over the years to help develop meaningful solutions to complex issues.
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CDR CHRIS WOODLEY
United States Coast Guard
CDR Chris Woodley is the chief
of the prevention department at U.S.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, where he supervises safety and environmental
regulatory compliance inspections, marine casualty investigations, and waterways management
programs for all commercial vessels and waterfront facilities operating on the U.S. waters of the Salish Sea and the northwestern Washington coast. As a 21 year Coast Guard veteran, Chris has had multiple tours in Alaska and Washington State and has developed significant expertise in the North Pacific fishing industry, specifically the inter-relationships between fishery management and vessel safety. He has provided testimony on this subject to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the National
Transportation Safety Board, and to the U.S. Senate.
Chris is a graduate of the University of Oregon and has a master’s degree from the University of Washington’s School of Marine Affairs. Raised in Eagle River, AK, he currently lives on Vashon Island with his wife, Lisa, and his daughters, Kara and Kristen.
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