Sanctuary Advisory Council Members

Download List of Previous Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Members here.

Officers

Chair:

Jeffrey Dorman, Research

Vice-Chair:

Steve Tubbs, Community-at-Large - Sonoma County

Council Non-governmental Seats - Members

Community-at-Large - Marin County:

Hannah Ake (hake@cawaterdata.org) uses her background in hydrology, biology, and data science to solve interdisciplinary problems statewide as a Senior Program Manager at the California Water Data Consortium. As an Advisory Council Member, she hopes to foster community engagement in the National Marine Sanctuary system and support sustainable long-term planning in Cordell Bank. In previous roles, Hannah has worked as an Oceanographer and Senior Environmental Scientist for the State of California, where she led the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Oceanography Research Program. There she managed multi-benefit natural resource programs that utilized open data to foster science based decision-making statewide. Hannah has also served as an Associate Resource Specialist at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where she worked to manage local water resource programs that advance water use-efficiency and diversify water supplies, and as an Information Systems Associate at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where she managed and analyzed large-scale marine research datasets. Hannah holds an MSc in Aquatic Resource Management from King’s College London, and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Community-at-Large - Marin County:

Grace Milstein (grace@eacmarin.org) is a seasoned communication and digital media specialist with an environmental and coastal conservation background. Through her role at the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC) and the Cleaner California Coast Initiative her expansive experience is in educational communication, content creation, and strategic messaging. Grace has led numerous initiatives that enhance public awareness and engage community stakeholders in environmental issues. Her efforts include developing comprehensive communication tools for campaigns like the “Marin Monarch Movement” and the bilingual "Discover, Connect, Respect Marin County Coast Stewardship Guide." This work, in conjunction with her role as Marin County Liaison for the Cleaner California Coast Initiative, underscores her commitment to sustainable conservation practices and her ability to bridge science and community education. Grace is committed to fostering effective conservation efforts that consider the needs of all stakeholders, specifically indigenous and Spanish-speaking communities, and people with disabilities. With a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Southern California, Grace brings a holistic perspective and fresh, innovative strategies to projects. She enjoys hiking, scuba diving, and photographing our planet's diverse ecosystems in her spare time.

Community-at-Large - Sonoma County:

Frank Capurro (frankcapurro@yahoo.com) is a native of San Francisco, born into a fishing family. His grandfather and uncles all were either fishermen, or worked at the family fish market. Frank started in the sport fishing industry, fishing for salmon, striped bass, and rock fish at the Farallon Islands. It was during these times that he began his love of the oceans. Today, he continues to be an advocate of clean safe responsible boating, working at the San Francisco Small Craft Harbor, and serving as an active member of Sonoma County local US Coast Guard Auxiliary. There, Auxiliary members teach safe, clean, responsible fishing and boating. He is pleased to be representing Sonoma County on the CBNMS Advisory Council.

Community-at-Large - Sonoma County:

Steve Tubbs (steve@inspiri2.com) is a 35-year graphic arts professional and resides in Petaluma, California. In 2018, he started Inspiri2 Creative Services - providing graphic design services, 3M premium decals for fleet, vehicle and equipment markings, and the highest quality indoor and outdoor signs and window graphics for business identification. Steve is a 25-year plus board member of the Russian River Fly Fishers and has served multiple times as president of that organization. He teaches fly casting and fly fishing, and encourages others to find the delight and wonder inherent in the beautiful freshwater and saltwater ecosystems that support fish. He is a founding board member of the Russian River Wild Steelhead Society, working with other organizations to preserve, protect and enhance the populations of wild steelhead in the Russian River watershed. An avid fly fisherman, he has fished on both coasts of the United States (and at various points between), and has managed to visit a few tropical destinations as well.

Conservation:

Scott Artis (scottwartis@gmail.com) brings experiences spanning for-profit and nonprofit sectors in micro and molecular biology, wildlife and ocean conservation, program management and research. In addition to a strong track record in organizational growth and leadership, he is currently the Managing Director of Turtle Island Restoration Network and the founding Director of Urban Bird Foundation. His path to conservation began with a love for wildlife – working for multi-national biotech companies while simultaneously leading community-based coastal projects. With inspiration from burrowing owls, he transitioned to conservation full-time in 2011. Scott holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development and Policy, Bachelor’s degrees in Micro & Molecular Biology and Fisheries & Wildlife Science, and has complemented his studies with a Master’s certificate in Environmental Resource Management. He has a US Fish and Wildlife Service Burrowing Owl Conservation and Management award, and is a member of the Raptor Research Foundation and Society for Conservation Biology. In his spare time, he enjoys wildlife photography and spending time with his wife and 3 German Shorthaired Pointers.

Conservation:

Sandy Aylesworth (saylesworth@nrdc.org) advocates to combat illegal fishing, for responsible offshore wind development, and for enhanced marine protections in California's coastal waters. Prior to joining the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), she worked in the U.S. Department of State and was a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at NOAA's Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Sandy’s first career was as a captain and mate, where she became familiar with the oceans on voyages in French Polynesia, Baja, the United States, and the Caribbean. She worked as a marine technician for the U.S. Antarctic Program on seven oceanographic cruises. Sandy has a master's in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a 500 Ton Ocean Master's license. She is based in NRDC's San Francisco office.

Education:

Adrienne Correa (amsc@berkeley.edu) studies how microorganisms influence the health and resilience of marine ecosystems and strives to make these systems more accessible to all through hands-on teaching and outreach. Correa earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Michigan and completed her M.A. in Conservation Biology and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution at Columbia University in New York. After a postdoc at Florida International University, Correa spent five years as a Lecturer in the biosciences department at Rice University in Houston, Texas. In 2017, Correa transitioned to an assistant professor role at Rice, then moved her lab to the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley in 2023. Correa served as a Research seat on the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) Advisory Council for seven years (2015 - 2022) and was named FGBNMS Volunteer of the Year in 2023. Correa is a Kavli Frontiers of Science fellow and a National Academy of Sciences Gulf Coast Research Program Early-Career fellow.

Education:

Bibit Traut (btraut@ccsf.edu) is a broadly trained community ecologist and educator. She has explored seascapes and landscapes trying to understand patterns and processes of biodiversity. Bibit received a Ph.D. in Ecology from U.C. Davis and Masters degrees in Botany from Oregon State University and Marine Sciences from U.C. Santa Cruz. She completed a research fellowship at U.C. Berkeley before coming to City College of San Francisco in 2005. One aspect of her work has been translating the natural world to diverse audiences. As a professor at CCSF, she has had this opportunity to engage students in the scientific process, both in the classroom and in the field. One of her goals has been to find ways to increase student participation in data analysis. To this end she served as an Education Scholar for the Ecological Society of America developing data-rich curricula, a member of LiMPETS Scientific Advisory Panel helping to update databases to improve accessibility and reliability of the data collected, a participant in the Broadening Student Access to Field Experiences (NSF Research Coordination Network Incubator) using The Virtual Field Platform, and as a faculty member of the Applied Programming Experiences exposing students to computer programming using Python. Beyond the classroom, Bibit believes in bringing more interactive and real-time natural history into public-facing resources (e.g. websites) with the goal of incorporating the value of our marine systems into various educational platforms. In her spare time, she can be found exploring coastal ecosystems hiking, paddle boarding, surfing and diving.

Fishing:

Richard Ogg (dickandlaurieogg@sbcglobal.net) is an electrician by trade, and retired from Sonoma State University after 30+ years. He has been a commercial fisherman for the last 20 years and currently owner and Captain of the F/V Karen Jeanne. He's actively involved politically to support and maintain a healthy environment and thriving fisheries. An avid sportsman all his life, Richard has fished and dove along the Sonoma County coast for over 50 years. He currently serves on the Dungeness Crab Gear Working Group, Dungeness Crab Taskforce, California Salmon Council, the Spud Point Advisory Board, and is the Vice President of the Bodega Bay Fisherman's Marketing Association. Richard has been a resident of Sonoma County for 59 years and resides in Bodega Bay, California, with his wife Laurie and his two dogs Nessa and Buster.

Fishing:

Chris Ohanian (Christopher.Ohanian@sonoma-county.org) is the Senior Marina Attendant Spud Point Marina – Sonoma County Regional Parks. He grew up in Sebastopol, California and currently lives in Santa Rosa and works in Bodega Bay. Chris graduated from Sonoma State with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a Minor in Geography and he has an A.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Santa Rosa Junior College. He advanced through the ranks at Spud Point Marina to the lead position of Senior Marina Attendant. Chris’s professional goal is to become the Marina Supervisor in the future. Currently, he is the Co-chair on the Sonoma County Regional Parks Climate Conscious Parks Team. In his downtime, he enjoys bowling, golfing, hiking, diving, traveling, skiing, billiards, pottery, dirt bike and ATV riding.

Maritime Activities:

Daisy Ruvalcaba (daisyrd86@yahoo.com) works for Matson Navigation Inc, in downtown Oakland. Daisy's main role is to coordinate and lead ISO audits and support compliance with environmental and safety regulations at Matson shoreside sites and terminals. Daisy also coordinates various environmental activities year round, such as Earth Day events and an annual Coastal Cleanup. Previous to working at Matson, Daisy worked as a Labor Relations Associate for the Pacific Maritime Association. Daisy also worked for Transmarine Navigation as a vessel manager in the Bay Area, Stockton, and Sacramento. Daisy graduated from Cal Maritime in 2009 with a BA in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs.

Maritime Activities:

Kai Martin (Kai_Martin@pashanet.com) is the Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Pasha, Kai leads Pasha's ESG Environmental Sustainability, Energy Management, Quality, Safety, Security, and Business Resiliency programs. Kai is a California Maritime Academy alum and has worked in the transportation industry for 25 years primarily in shipping and ports around the world. Kai was appointed by NOAA to the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council in 2018 and to the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council in 2023, North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) Board Member, Former Workstream Lead for the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum Member, American Association Port Authorities Environment Committee Member, North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) 2022 Individual Award winner, City of Pacifica Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Task Force Committee Vice Chair, and serves on various non-profit Boards and Community environmental action organizations.

Research (Chair):

Jeffrey Dorman (jdorman@faralloninstitute.org) is the Executive Director of Farallon Institute, a scientific non-profit dedicated to oceanographic research to inform ocean policy and management for healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems. Jeff received a Master’s Degree from San Francisco State University (SFSU) (2002) and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) (2010) where he conducted research on the impact of climate change on krill in the California Current. His research continues to focus on krill and other common prey of the U.S. West Coast and understanding what drives their productivity and spatial distributions. Jeff is currently in charge of Farallon Institute’s acoustic program, discerning prey biomass and distributions from acoustic shipboard surveys throughout California. Jeff has extensive teaching experience at Sea Education Association, SFSU, and UCB and is passionate about connecting science to resource management decisions and policy-making so that we continue to have healthy ocean ecosystems that are managed in sustainable ways.

Research:

Jaime Jahncke (jjahncke@pointblue.org) is the Director of the California Current Group at Point Blue Conservation Science and Adjunct Professor at San Francisco State University's Estuary & Ocean Science Center. Working to increase the pace, scale and impact of climate-smart conservation in the ocean. Strategic priorities include developing science and tools to improve fisheries sustainability, guide ocean zoning, and build support for ocean conservation. Lead and manage a 16 staff group, 20-25 seasonal volunteers and 8-10 graduate students. Working collaboratively with partners at federal and state agencies, academia, and environmental NGOs to conduct applied science and implement solutions to reduce threats to wildlife and ensure sustainable human uses. Born and raised in Peru, he completed his B.S. in Biology at Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina in Peru (1992) and his PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of California Irvine (2004). He has marine fieldwork experience since 1987 in Peru, Galapagos, Antarctica, Alaska and California and has served as science advisor to several federal and state agencies, and NGOs.

Council Governmental Seats:

(nonvoting, except may cast ballots in officer elections)

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent:

Lisa Wooninck (Lisa.Wooninck@noaa.gov) - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent - Member

Lisa, the Superintendent, has been on the Advisory Council since 2021.

Dawn Hayes (Dawn.Hayes@noaa.gov) - Alternate

Dawn, the Deputy Superintendent, was on the Advisory Council in October 2020; then again since February 2021.

NOAA Fisheries:

LT Kynan Barrios (Kynan.Barrios@noaa.gov) - Member

Lieutenant Kynan Barrios works out of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement in Santa Rosa as a Supervisory Enforcement Officer covering the state of California. Kynan recently joined the West Coast Division following a 19 year law enforcement career with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), most recently as the Special Agent-in-Charge of California. Prior to working for BLM, Kynan served as a Border Patrol Agent, a Federal Air Marshal, and served in the U.S. Navy. Kynan grew up in Humboldt County and attended San Francisco State University where he earned his bachelor's degree in International Relations.

Vacant - Alternate

United States Coast Guard:

Vacant

Vacant - Alternate