BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Fisheries Conservation Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors that oversees strategic planning, project selection, foundation finances, and partnership development. The current members of the Board are:
DAVID P. PHILIPP, Chair
Principal Scientist, Illinois Natural History Survey,
Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois
Dr. David Philipp is the Principal Scientist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, a research department within the Institute of Natural Resources Sustainability at the University of Illinois. His research interests focus on three major areas: conservation genetics, reproductive ecology, and the effects of fishing on natural populations. His findings have helped to document the negative impacts of outbreeding depression that can result from hatchery stocking programs, as well as to illustrate the evolutionary effects that fishing can have on natural populations. Much of his research has targeted centrarchid species, particularly focusing on the factors that impact their parental care activities, reproductive success, and annual recruitment. In recent years, Dr. Philipp has broadened his interest in these research topics to include the marine flats ecosystem, studying bonefish reproductive behaviors and the effects of recreational angling on post-release behavior and survival of flats fishes. Dave was one of the original group of founders spearheading the formation of the Fisheries Conservation Foundation, and he currently serves as the Chair of its Board of Directors.
JEFF KOPPELMAN, Vice-Chair
Fisheries Scientist,
Missouri Department of Conservation
Jeff Koppelman is a Resource Scientist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, where he heads the Conservation Genetics Program. He has used genetics principles and analysis techniques for over 25 years to help preserve native fish, crayfish, amphibian, mammal, and plant diversity, as well as to protect and improve fisheries resources. He has been involved with several educational programs that enhance the experiences children and adults can have when they are immersed in our natural heritage.
RICHARD WILLIAMS, Secretary
Conservation Geneticist,
University of Idaho
Dr. Rick Williams is a geneticist and ecologist at the University of Idaho’s Center for Salmonid and Aquatic Species at Risk. His research focuses on the conservation of native steelhead, redband, and cutthroat trout subspecies in western North America. Rick has been active in Columbia River salmon recovery issues since 1987 and chaired the NW Power and Conservation Council's Independent Scientific Review Panel from 1996 until 2005. Rick and colleagues published a book on Pacific salmon recovery (Return to the River, 2006) that describes the century-long decline of Columbia River salmon and steelhead and proposes a new approach to their restoration based on habitat and life history diversity linkages.
Rick is the Conservation Vice President for the Federation of Fly Fisher’s Western Rocky Mountain Council and Conservation Chair for the FFF Board of Directors. He also serves on FFF's Casting Board of Governors and is a certified Master Casting Instructor and a Two-Handed (Spey) Casting Instructor. Rick is one of the owners of Idaho Angler (www.idahoangler.com), a specialty fly-fishing shop in Boise, Idaho, where he teaches single- and double-hand fly-casting, and hosts international fly-fishing expeditions.
CORY SUSKI, Treasurer
Assistant Professor,
University of Illinois
Dr. Cory Suski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests can be defined as “ecological physiology” as he combines laboratory and field studies to determine the ecological and physiological mechanisms that control abundance and distribution in freshwater aquatic organisms.
MIKE ALLEN
Professor,
University of Florida
Mike Allen is a professor at the University of Florida whose work has focused on population dynamics and ecology of fishes. Dr. Allen has evaluated fisheries management strategies for recreational fisheries in lakes, reservoirs, and marine environments. He uses a combination of field studies and computer models to explore population dynamics of fishes that support important recreational fisheries. He served as the President of the Florida Chapter American Fisheries Society in 2005, and as Associate Editor for the North American Journal of Fisheries Management from 2002–2009. He joined the University of Florida in 1997, and he is currently investigating fisheries ecology and management problems in the USA and Australia.
WAYNE H. COLESON
President,
Avalon Capital, Inc.
Wayne is currently the President of Avalon Capital, Inc. Avalon Capital is involved with advising companies on efficient capital formation and arranging financing. Prior to Avalon Capital, Wayne was a founder and Chief Investment Officer for Viking Asset Management, LLC and Redwood Grove Capital Management, LLC. Prior to Redwood Grove and Viking, Wayne was an institutional sales trader for Lehman Brothers.
ANDREW DANYLCHUK
Assistant Professor,
University of Massachusetts
Dr. Andy Danylchuk is an Assistant Professor of Fish Conservation in the Department of Natural Resouces Conservation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The overarching theme of Dr. Danylchuk’s research is to understand the factors that naturally influence the life history and ecology of fishes and other aquatic organisms, as well as how natural and anthropogenic disturbances can influence the dynamics of their populations. His work spans both marine and freshwater systems, and includes stress physiology, behavioral ecology, spatial ecology, predator-prey interactions, and adaptations in life history traits as a response to disturbance. Much of Andy’s research focuses on evaluating the potential impacts of recreational angling on fish populations and working with stakeholder groups to develop best practices for the recreational angling community. Some of this work involves the use of telemetry and associated emerging technologies to understand the ways fish function under “normal” and disturbed conditions, and combines the results of these studies with laboratory and field manipulations to identity specific mechanistic causes of stress in fish. Andy is also interested in sustainable aquaculture and the development of integrated food production models as a mechanism to reduce impacts on fish stocks and local, regional, and global ecosystems. He is also a strong proponent of experiential, hands-on opportunities that can enhance learning for students of all ages.
CHRISTOPHER HAAK
Partner/Creative Director
OFDNY
A graduate of NYU's Tisch School and a founding partner of New York-based design boutique OneFineDay, Chris has produced visual effects, motion graphics, and opening titles for feature films and television for over ten years. His work, for clients including HBO, VH1, Volvo, and Intel, has been featured in various design publications and recognized with several awards, most notably a Primetime Emmy® in 2003.
A lifelong passion for fly fishing, sailing, and the marine environment has gradually led Chris to shift focus in recent years toward marine conservation and to pursue a graduate degree in fisheries ecology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His current research focuses on the variation of life history characteristics of bonefish throughout the northwestern Atlantic ocean. Ultimately, Chris hopes to employ visual media as a tool to convey science and promote conservation in new and compelling ways.
FRED HARRIS
Deputy Director,
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Fred Harris is retired from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. During his 36-year tenure at the Commission, he served as a research biologist, chief of fisheries and chief deputy director of the agency. His main interests are management of freshwater fish populations, integration of nongame and game fish management and collaboration among agencies and nongovernmental organizations. He is a past president of the American Fisheries Society.
JOSH MURPHY
Producer/Director
Unparalleled Productions
Josh Murphy is a producer, director, and cinematographer who began his career in film over ten yeas ago with the award winning Unparalleled series of action-sports documentary films. His work now spans television, commercial, web, and feature film, including the upcoming release of The River Why starring Zach Guilford and Amber Heard with Academy Award Winner William Hurt and Academy Award Nominee Kathleen Quinlan, for which Josh was Co-Producer and Second Unit Director/DP. Josh’s broadcast productions have been featured on CBS, ESPN, CMT, OLN, VH1, G4 TV, VS, Fox Sports Network, Fine Living, Warren Miller Television, The Weather Channel, Resort Sports Network, and Time-Life Video. Among other awards, Josh is the recipient of North American Snow Sports Journalist Association’s Bill Berry Award for Modern Media, theHarold Hirsch Award for Film and Broadcast,and the Gerald Hirschfeld, ASC Best Cinematography Award from the Ashland Independent Film Festival. With an undergraduate degree in Natural Resources and master's degree in Fisheries Biology, Josh focuses specific effort on projects and clients in the sustainability/cleantech sector and emphasizes the connection between mankind and the environment.
Josh was the co-producer of the new film The River Why, released November 2011. Featuring a star-packed cast, this film is based on the acclaimed novel of the same name. It's a quiet coming-of-age tale about a young man who leaves home and ventures forth to find his own path in life while learning his search is about more than what can be captured or caught. As the poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote, "many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Learn more here.
MICHAEL PHILIPP
CEO,
Ambata Capital Management
Michael Philipp is the Managing Partner of Ambata, a global investment and advisory firm specializing in clean energy and sustainability, with a strategic focus on the Middle East and Africa. For the past 25 years, he has held senior management positions across the financial services industry, including Credit Suisse as a member of their Executive Board, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and Deutsche Bank as a Member of the Board of Managing Directors and Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Asset Management. Michael holds a bachelor of arts, an M.B.A. in finance, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts. He is a member of World Wildlife Fund's National Council.
GREG SKOMAL
Aquatic Biologist,
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Dr. Gregory Skomal is a marine biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and also heads the Massachusetts Shark Research Program. His research efforts have included the study of life history, ecology, movement, and physiology of sharks. He has also been involved with many educational programs for television, including the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and ESPN. Greg was recently in the media when he led the effort to put satellite tags on five great white sharks that were sighted in the Cape Cod Area.
JOHN TIEDEMANN
Assistant Dean,
Monmouth University
John Tiedemann is the Assistant Dean in the Monmouth University School of Science and the Director of the BS degree program in Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, John has worked in both the public and private sectors dealing with marine and environmental issues since 1979. Since joining Monmouth University in 1999, his efforts have focused on real-time water quality monitoring and assessment, microbial source tracking in estuarine waters, and development of watershed management and habitat restoration strategies for shallow estuaries and coastal lakes.
Other issues John has worked on over the course of his career include impacts of ocean dumping of sewage sludge, industrial waste and dredged material in New Jersey coastal waters; assessments of overwintering habitat for striped bass in the Hudson River; impacts of coastal development on traditional maritime industries; enhancing marine recreational fishing opportunities; and development of best management practices for controlling nonpoint sources of coastal pollution.
Mr. Tiedemann is also a member of the Cape Eleuthera Institute Advisory Committee and the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium Advisory Council. When not at work he can be found surfing or fishing along New Jersey’s northern coast.