Officers
President: Sean Simmons
Sean Simmons’s love of freshwater started at an early age, spending most of his summer swimming or fishing. At university he continued to follow his freshwater passion, completing a Masters of Environmental Science at the University of Northern British Columbia studying Tabor Lake. After graduating Sean began publishing fishing maps of lakes and to this day continues to promote the freshwater world. Sean Simmons started The Angler’s Atlas in 1999 from his base in Prince George, British Columbia. Sean is President of the AFS Washington-British Columbia Chapter.
Vice President: Linus Stolz
Linus Stolz is the Data Manager for the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) and has held this position since April 2023. His work is focused on providing information technology support to CFRF, managing the CFRF Research Fleet database, and aiding or leading in the analysis of data. Linus received his MS in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University, where he helped develop a fishery-based observing network called Fishermen Investigating Seasonal Hypoxia (FISH). After graduation, Linus expanded the FISH project more regionally throughout the Pacific Northwest. His goal is to see valuable fishery-based observations integrated into analysis and utilized to understand better the challenges facing our marine resources.
Secretary: Mark Chandler
Mark Chandler is National Coordinator of NOAA Fisheries’ National Cooperative Research Program. Mark also coordinates the Center for Independent Experts at NOAA Fisheries.
Treasurer: George Maynard
Since completing his PhD at the University of Maine, George Maynard has worked with commercial fishermen in New England to study topics ranging from halibut reproduction to reducing seal interactions with fishing gear. Throughout his career, George’s focus has been on applied research, working closely with stakeholder groups including fishing tournament organizers, municipal, state, and federal governments, First Nations, hydropower companies, and the fishing industry. His primary focus is the Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps and Large Trawlers (eMOLT) project, but he also supports the Bottom Longline Survey and other Cooperative Research Branch projects.
Past-President: Jocelyn Runnebaum
Jocelyn Runnebaum has a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine in Orono, where she worked collaboratively with commercial harvesters to evaluate conservation measures for bycatch of a species of concern in the lobster fishery. Jocelyn also recently served on the NOAA Fisheries Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee.