Meet the Council Staff
The Council staff is responsible for:
- providing information to the Council for management decisions;
- informing the public of Council activities and actions and facilitating public participation in the process;
- coordinating, facilitating, and maintaining the management process through communication and interaction among the Council, its advisory entities, fishery agencies and the tribes;
- completing the fishery management documents required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable law for submission to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce; and
- providing technical, clerical, or other assistance as required to Council advisory entities.
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Executive Staff |
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Donald McIsaac is the Executive Director. Don is responsible for overseeing all operations of the Council, including managing the Council staff and implementing the actions and policies of the Council. He received his Bachelors degree from Humboldt State University and Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of Washington. Prior to coming to the Council, Don worked for 25 years for the Washington and Oregon State fishery management agencies, concentrating on interjurisdictional fishery management matters in the latter years. Little-known fact: Don coached youth baseball teams extensively, and twice managed teams to the State Tournament where they placed second each time. |
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John Coon is the Deputy Director. He supervises the staff officers and is responsible for managing various scientific, budgetary, and administrative aspects of Council obligations. John earned his Doctorate degree from the University of Idaho, researching the white sturgeon population in the middle Snake River. He has been with the Council for over 22 years, following several years of service as a research biologist, environmental coordinator, and anadromous fishery manager for the State of Idaho. Before becoming the Deputy Director, John was responsible for Council salmon fishery management matters. Little-known fact: John is an avid dancer and is involved with the Portland Country Dance Community. |
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Carolyn Porter is the Executive Assistant. She is responsible for supervising the Council Administrative staff and manages various fiscal and operational aspects of Council obligations. Prior to joining the Council in June 2000, Carolyn worked for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in administrative rulemaking, budget tracking, and various governmental coordination functions. Little-known fact: Carolyn worked for the Council in the early 1980s as a secretary. |
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Staff Officers |
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Heather Brandon serves as a staff officer to the Council and works primarily on the biological aspect of the trawl individual quotas issue. Heather has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon, a Master's of Marine Affairs from University of Washington, and has studied marine biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Heather has worked in private consulting, state and federal government, and at the state legislatures in Oregon, Hawaii and Texas. Immediately prior to joining the Council staff, Heather worked on "regional ocean governance" issues in Alaska. Little-known fact: As a Rotary exchange student, Heather lived in Eskilstuna, Sweden for her junior year of high school, and she can still rattle off a few phrases in Swedish.
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Merrick Burden is responsible for economics and groundfish fishery analysis and focuses primarily on trawl rationalization. His other tasks include staffing the Groundfish Management Team and analyzing inseason adjustments to commercial groundfish fisheries. Prior to joining the Council, Merrick worked with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle as an economist and served on the Groundfish Management Team. Merrick has a Bachelor and Masters degree in economics and took additional graduate coursework in fish and wildlife and zoology. Little-known fact: While backpacking on the Olympic peninsula, Merrick chased down a pack of raccoons trying to steal his food and cooking supplies. |
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Mike Burner is responsible for groundfish management issues, coastal pelagic species issues, marine protected areas, and legislative matters. Mike has a degree in biology from Lawrence University, and has completed graduate level work through the Boston University Marine Program. Mike started with the Council in 2002 after working nearly ten years on salmon management issues for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Little known fact: Mike and his wife Lisa moved to Oregon in 1991 and started their careers as beer and hot dog vendors for the minor league baseball team the Eugene Emeralds. |
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Christopher "Kit" Dahl is the staff officer in charge of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and highly migratory species (HMS). Kit also works on other staff officer assignments and projects. Kit has an extensive background in fisheries management, including work with the Western Pacific Council in Hawaii. Little-known fact: Kit has hiked to the highest point in the Caroline Islands in Micronesia (2200 feet). |
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John DeVore is the staff officer responsible for groundfish management issues. This includes staffing the Groundfish Management Team and the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel, and providing analytical documents for Council consideration. John grew up in a fishing community on the East Coast and graduated from Cornell University. Before working with the Council, John worked with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. There, he focused on Columbia River sturgeon and predator/prey issues, studied channel deepening, and was involved in salmon and smelt research and management. Little-known fact: John has served as a crew member on an East Coast bottom trawler, a Pacific halibut longliner, and a salmon troller. |
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Jennifer Gilden is responsible for outreach and information, and staffs the Habitat Committee. Jennifer currently works part-time. She develops outreach materials, translates scientific information for general readership, edits the newsletter, contributes to social impact analyses and other social science efforts, and works on enhancing the council’s communication with constituents. Jennifer graduated from Vassar and has a MA in environmental anthropology from Oregon State University. Little-known fact: Jennifer rode her bike from Seattle to Washington D.C. in 1998. |
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Jim Seger is the staff officer for economic analysis and various specialized fishery management issues such as limited entry. He staffs the groundfish individual quota process and other ad-hoc groups. He has degrees in zoology and marine policy with additional graduate level work in economics. Little-known fact: during graduate school Jim worked in the livestock export industry and spent numerous weekends flying horses to Japan. |
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Chuck Tracy is the staff officer responsible for salmon and Pacific halibut. His duties currently include staffing the Salmon Technical Team, the Model Evaluation Workgroup, and the Salmon Advisory Subpanel. Chuck has a degree in Biological Oceanography from Humboldt State University with additional graduate level work in estuarine ecology. Before coming to the Council in 2001 he worked for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife focusing on interjurisdictional fisheries issues, including Columbia River sturgeon research and salmon management. Little-known fact: Chuck's hobbies include cooking and wine tasting. |
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Information Technology |
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Sandra Krause is the Information Technology Specialist for the Council and has been with the Council since February 1993. She is responsible for all aspects of the Council’s computer network infrastructure, network administration, computer support services, website construction and maintenance, videoconference equipment, and a variety of other technical support functions. Interesting fact: Just about everything in Sandra's office is purple. |
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Administrative Staff |
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Carrie Montgomery serves as Administrative Specialist for the Council staff. Carrie is responsible for document production and distribution functions, as well as other administrative activities. She graduated from Western Oregon University and got her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing in Health and Social Science. Little known fact: Carrie could roller skate before she could walk and was in several statewide and national competitions before the age of 5! |
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Renee Dorval works part time for the Council as an Administrative Specialist. She handles hotel and travel arrangements as well as other administrative tasks. She returned to Portland in 1987 after spending 14 years in Haines, Alaska. Little known fact: while growing up in Haines, Renee used to help her late father, the Harbormaster, patrol harbor and waterfront areas before and after school.
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Kimberly Merydith serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Council staff. She is responsible for document production and distribution functions, as well as other administrative activities. She graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Liberal Studies and an emphasis in pre-Elementary Education. Little known fact: Kim has phenomenal dart skills. |
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Mary Wilson works part-time for the Council. As Fiscal Specialist, Mary performs a variety of accounting duties and a range of budget preparation and analysis in support of the Council's fiscal responsibilities. Her background includes professional accounting experience in various industries in both Alaska and Washington. Little known fact: Mary used to take archery classes. |
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More Staff Contact Information
PFMC
11/06/07
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