Board of Directors - Profiles
- Ms. Betsy Peabody (President) has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2006. She is the Executive Director and founder of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, and was previously employed by the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority. She is a graduate of Stanford University, with a bachelor of arts, and a former member of the Bainbridge Island Harbor Commission and the Puget Sound Alliance Board of Directors. She has a longstanding interest in mollusks, as well as biogenic habitats in general and the services they provide in the marine ecosystem. Betsy grows oysters and clams in a shellfish garden on Bainbridge Island, where she lives, and she looks forward to eating, celebrating and restoring locally grown shellfish for many years to come. Ms. Peabody grew up in New Mexico, Colorado and Australia – where she first learned to swim and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef.
- Mr. Duane Fagergren (Vice President) is a life-long resident of Totten Inlet, near the town of Shelton, Washington, and has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2003. Mr. Fagergren works for the Puget Sound Partnership as Liaison for the Hood Canal and South Sound action areas. Previous employers include the Puget Sound Action Team, HDR Fish Pro, ITT Rayonier Research Division and Domsea Farms. He received a bachelor of fishery science from the University of Washington School of Fisheries, and maintains a research interest in ecosystem health, biodiversity and food web dynamics in Puget Sound. Duane is passionate about fly fishing, nature photography, rowing and kayaking. In addition to PSI, Mr. Fagergren serves on the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group Board and the Northwest Straits Commission Board.
- Mr. Paul Harris (Treasurer) is the Operations Manager for Seattle Shellfish and has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2003. Mr. Harris also volunteers for the Mason County Fire District as a fire fighter and emergency medical technician. Paul is an avid hiker, skier, diver and fisherman. He also has strong ties to the Olympic National Park backcountry, near his home in Olympia, Washington. Mr. Harris is originally from Seattle and proudly proclaims he is a graduate of the “esteemed school of hands on and make it happen.” His current shellfish research interests focus on shellfish farming techniques and practical applications.
- Ms. Kelly Toy (Secretary) is the Shellfish Manager for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2004. Ms. Toy holds a master of fisheries science, a bachelor of science in fisheries and a bachelor of arts in anthropology. Her main area of interest is shellfish biology. Kelly is originally from San Francisco, California and now lives in Poulsbo, Washington. Prior to her position with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe she worked for the Tulalip Tribes. She is also currently the vice-chair for the National Shellfish Association’s Pacific Coast Section and serves on the Pacific Northwest Native Freshwater Mussel Workgroup.
- Dr. Kenneth Chew served as associate dean of the University of Washington's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and director of the school’s Western Regional Aquaculture Center, prior to his retirement in 2004. He currently serves on the Washington State Fish & Wildlife Commission. Dr. Chew earned both his Ph.D. and master’s degree at the University of Washington. Ken is a renowned authority on molluscan biology and played a key role in developing a thriving shellfish industry in the Pacific Northwest. He has also worked on aquaculture issues in Australia, Canada, China, Chile, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines. Dr. Chew lives in Seattle and has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 1995.
- Mr. Richard Childers is a resource scientist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He holds a master of science in crustacean diseases from Oregon State University and a bachelor of science in fisheries from Humboldt State University. Prior to his work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Mr. Childers was employed by the Point no Point Treaty council, a natural resource management organization that serves three area Tribes to fulfill the requirements of one of the most import pieces of litigation surrounding Washington’s marine resources – the U.S. v. Washington, or the "Boldt Decision". Richard is originally from Michigan but has transplanted himself to Port Townsend, Washington, where his passion for woodworking flourishes. Mr. Childers has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2005 and brings knowledge of both shellfish and finfish to the PSI Board. Currently, his primary scientific research interest is fish disease.
- Dr. Gerardo Chin-Leo has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2005. His desire to develop research opportunities for students to address current resource management and environmental protection issues directly supports PSI’s mission. Dr. Chin-Leo is a member of the faculty at The Evergreen State College, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate students, primarily in the area of marine science. His research interests include marine microbiology, the ecology of phytoplankton with a focus on Harmful Algal Blooms, and the ecology of bacteria as they relate to marine foodwebs and in anoxic environments. Gerardo obtained his doctorate in biological oceanography at the University of Delaware, where he also completed a master of science in marine studies. He also holds a bachelor of arts in biology from Reed College. Gerardo Chin-Leo lives in Olympia, where he is an avid biker and hiker, but he is originally from Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico.
- Dr. Jonathan Davis has been actively involved in shellfish research and culture activities for the last 30 years on both coasts of the U.S. and internationally. He has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 1995 and is currently the Lead Researcher for Taylor Resources, Inc., focused mainly on broodstock genetics, nutrition and sustainable culture methods. He received his bachelor of arts from Colby College, a master’s in environmental studies from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in fisheries science from the University of Washington – where he is an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. Joth is active in environmental affairs and research, and works closely with PSI on a number of research projects focused on environmental effects of shellfish culture. He also works closely with University of Washington researchers on similar issues and assists restoration ecology projects for native oysters and pinto abalone with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. Dr. Davis is also very involved with the National Shellfisheries Association, and currently serves as President-Elect. He is a member of the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee and is active locally in environmental issues affecting Bainbridge Island, where he lives. Joth also owns and operates Baywater Inc., a small family clam and oyster farm on Hood Canal where he spends weekends and off-time communing with shellfish.
- Mr. Bill Dewey has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 1995 and formerly served as the board president. Mr. Dewey brings over a quarter century of shellfish public policy and farming experience to PSI. He is currently the Manager of Public Affairs for the Taylor Shellfish Company and he is the owner and manager of Chuckanut Shellfish. He is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Fisheries, but he also completed a portion of his undergraduate study at the University of New Hampshire. Bill is originally from Massachusetts but currently splits his time between the communities of Shelton and Bow, Washington. He is extremely active in the community, serving on the Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Recovery Board, the NOAA Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, the Western Regional Aquaculture Center Industry Advisory Council and the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association Government Relations Committee. Mr. Dewey also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Aquaculture Association and the Skagit Conservation Education Alliance, and is Chairman of the Mason County Planning Advisory Commission. He is an avid skier and backpacker and is passionate about clam farming. In addition to his interest in shellfish public policy, Bill is interested in the environmental effects of shellfish culture and human health issues associated with shellfish.
- Dr. Ralph Elston is the owner and Chief Scientist of AquaTechnics, an environmental consulting company specializing in shellfish and fish health management and assessment. Dr. Elston has serv ed on the PSI Board of Directors since 2006. He received his Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from Cornell University, and both a master of ecology and a bachelor of fisheries biology from the University of California at Davis. Currently, Dr. Elson’s research interests revolve around animal health management in both aquaculture and natural aquatic environments. He is an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington, and a member of numerous shellfish related organizations and committees. He is also a valued review editor for The Journal of Shellfish Research, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, and The Journal of Fish Diseases. Prior to establishing AquaTechnics, Dr. Elson worked at Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory. He currently lives in Sequim, Washington.
- Mr. Pete Granger has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2006. He is currently the Program Leader for Washington Sea Grant at the University of Washington. Previous employers include the Washington Fish Growers Association, Seafood Producers Cooperative and the New England Fish Company. In addition to his employment history, Pete’s educational background demonstrates his multi-faceted approach to marine resource issues. Mr. Granger holds both a bachelor’s of oceanography and a master of business affairs from the University of Washington. Pete currently lives in Bellingham Washington, but is originally from Lummi Island, where he returns every summer to commercially fish for salmon via reefnet – a sustainable, centuries old, salmon harvesting method practiced by northwestern Native American Tribes. Although passionate about this wild-capture fishery, Mr. Granger also appreciates that the U.S. marketplace must rely more and more on aquaculture products because of burgeoning seafood demand.
- Ms. Maryanne Guichard is the Director for the Washington Department of Health’s Office of Shellfish and Water Protection. She has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2006, and brings to the table a strong interest and background in shellfish sanitation, wastewater management and other similar health issues. Maryanne has served the state of Washington through the Department of Health since 1990, and prior to that she served an additional 12 years at the local health department level in Seattle/King County, and Ventura, California. Ms. Guichard holds a master of science in environmental health and a bachelor of science in microbiology. Maryanne lives in Olympia, where she is an avid hiker and horseback rider. Both activities closely support her volunteer efforts for Thurston County Search and Rescue.
- Dr. Chris Langdon is a professor for Oregon State University in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Hatfield Marine Science Center. He has served on the PSI Board of Directors since 2003 and brings a vast knowledge and interest in shellfish nutrition, genetics and breeding, polyculture and microencapsulation. Dr. Langdon received his Ph.D. in marine science from University of Wales, where he also completed a master’s degree in marine science. Prior to that, he received a bachelor of ecological science from the University of Edinbrough, also in the United Kingdom. Dr. Langdon is originally from Britain but currently lives in Newport, Oregon.
- Mr. David Nisbet has served on PSI’s Board of Directors since 1995 and brings to the board the rich history of shellfish culturing and business in Willapa Bay. Mr. Nisbit is the President of Nisbet Oyster Company and Goosepoint Oyster Incorporated, and previously worked for Stony Point Oyster Company and Bay Center Mariculture. Mr. Nisbit is originally from Portland, Oregon and attended the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology at Oregon State University. He currently lives in Bay Center, Washington. Dave is passionate about fishing, skiing and photography and his research interests include shellfish culture and phytoplankton succession. He is currently the Director of Northwest Farm Credit Services and serves on the Oregon State University boards for Industry Advisory and the Seafood Consumer Center Community Seafood Initiative.
- Mr. Joe Schumacker, Quinault Indian Nation, Department of Natural Resource
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