2014 Economic Leadership Forum Speakers
Plenary speakers
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Joe Sprague
Senior Vice President of Communications & External Relations Alaska Airlines Joe Sprague currently serves as Senior Vice President of Communications & External Relations with responsibility for government affairs, community relations, sales and community marketing, and corporate communications. He also serves on Alaska Air Group’s executive committee. Previously, Sprague help the position of VP, Marketing and was responsible for the airline’s overall marketing strategy as he lead marketing communications, customer innovation, alaskaair.com, sales & community marketing, onboard food and beverage, customer care, Mileage Plan and Board Rooms. Sprague joined Alaska Airlines in 2000 as regional sales director for the state of Alaska. He also served as managing director of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C., staff vice president of the airline’s Public Affairs Division, staff VP of Inflight Services and VP of Alaska Air Cargo. Sprague began his aviation career two decades ago as a customer service agent at a commuter airline in Juneau. He later served as vice president of marketing and customer service for a small Seattle-based airline and as manager of government and industry affairs for the Washington, D.C.-based National Air Transport Association, serving the interests of 2,000 aviation businesses. Sprague received a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He resides near Seattle with this wife and two teenage children. |
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Hon. Bob McLeod
Premier Northwest Territories Bob McLeod was elected to the 17th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories on October 3, 2011. This is Mr. McLeod’s second consecutive term representing the constituents of Yellowknife South. Mr. McLeod was born and raised in Fort Providence. Mr. McLeod and his wife, Melody, have one son, Warren (Shannon) and two beautiful grandsons: Carter and Cooper. Mr. McLeod’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta and an Honours Diploma in Administrative Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton. In 1989, Mr. McLeod also completed a program of national and international studies at the National Defense College in Kingston, Ontario. As part of that program, Mr. McLeod traveled to 25 countries and completed a thesis on Aboriginal Self Government and the Possibilities for Constitutional Reform. Mr. McLeod is an active member of the Yellowknife community serving and participating in several community organizations. He has served as president of the Yellowknife recreational hockey league, president of the Yellowknife golf club (led the expansion to 18 holes), member of the Yellowknife Elks club and Senator for the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. Mr. McLeod has served on numerous boards and agencies. He served as the co-chair of the Northern River Basin study, Director for the Canadian Tourism Commission and chaired the Canadian Diamond Strategy Working Group and the Mackenzie River Basin Committee. At the national level he served as vice president for the Fur Institute of Canada, and was the chair of the Canadian Wildlife Coalition. Mr. McLeod has over 28 years of service in the public service with both Governments of the Northwest Territories and Canada in various senior management roles including Deputy Minister, and Secretary to Cabinet during the 15th Legislative Assembly. In the 16th Legislative Assembly, Mr. McLeod served as Minister of Human Resources, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Lead Minister on New Energy Initiatives as well as Lead Minister for the Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline Project. |
Border Issues
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Lynne Platt
U.S. Consul General Vancouver, Canada Lynne Platt, a senior Foreign Service Officer, began her duties as U.S. Consul General Vancouver in September 2014. Within the State Department, she specialized in public affairs, and served as the Embassy Spokesperson at U.S. Embassies in London and Paris, and at the U.S. Mission to NATO. She has also overseen large foreign assistance programs -- as head of the Law Enforcement and Narcotics Affairs section at U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, and as Deputy Director of the Provincial Reconstruction Team program at U.S. Embassy Baghdad. Her other Foreign Service assignments were in Cairo, Casablanca, and Washington, DC. Lynne graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington and subsequently received a Master's Degree from there. She is married to C. Judson Hamblett, a fellow Foreign Service Officer, and is stepmother to his three children. |
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Sara E. Hagigh
Deputy Director Office of North America International Trade Administration,U.S. Department of Commerce Sara Hagigh is Deputy Director, Office of North America, at the U.S. Department of Commerce assisting U.S. companies exporting to Canada and Mexico. Sara works to eliminate barriers faced by U.S. companies in overseas markets, including regulations, intellectual property rights, and customs procedures. Sara has contributed to such policy initiatives as the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue and the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border initiative. She has helped negotiate the NAFTA, CAFTA and other trade agreements. Sara previously served as Deputy Director in ITA’s China office. Her expertise centered on innovation, entrepreneurship, and services trade issues. Sara also held positions in Commerce’s Office of Service Industries and the Office of Europe. Before joining the Commerce Department, Sara practiced law with Baker & McKenzie and Hogan & Hartson. Her practice areas included export controls, mergers, acquisitions, and project finance. Sara also worked at McKinsey & Company. Sara received a B.A. and M.A. from Tufts University and The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. |
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Donald K. Alper
Ph.D. Professor and Director Border Policy Research Institute and Center for Canadian-American Studies Donald K. Alper is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Canadian-American Studies and the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from The University of British Columbia. His research interests focus on Canadian politics and British Columbia-U.S. transboundary issues. His research has appeared in Canadian Journal of Political Science, Canadian Public Policy-Analyse de Politiques, Journal of Borderlands Studies, The American Review of Canadian Studies, Social Science Journal, B.C. Studies and other journals and books. He was a founding member of the Pacific Northwest Canadian Studies Consortium and was elected president of the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS) for a two-year term, 1999-2001. Alper was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the International Council of Canadian Studies in 2007 and the Donner Medal by the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States, also in 2007. |
Disaster resilience for legislators
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Glen Woodbury
Director Center for Homeland Defense and Security at Naval Postgraduate School Glen Woodbury is the Director of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security responsible for leading the Center’s strategic commitment to servicing the homeland security educational priorities of the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Defense, as well as local, state, tribal and federal agencies. His previous responsibilities as an Associate Director from 2004-2007 included the development of executive education workshops, seminars and training for senior state and local officials as well as military leaders. He served as the Director of the Emergency Management Division for the State of Washington from 1998 through 2004. In this capacity, he directed the state’s response to numerous emergencies, disasters and heightened security threat levels since his appointment by the Adjutant General and the Governor. Mr. Woodbury was the Director during the World Trade Organization disturbance in Seattle in 1999, the Nisqually Earthquake in February 2001, the TOPOFF II Exercise in 2003, the national response to the attacks of September 11th, and many other natural and manmade emergencies and disasters. During his tenure, the division received numerous awards and recognition for national and international excellence in the areas of public education, tsunami and earthquake preparedness, hazard mitigation and homeland security. Mr. Woodbury is a Past President (2002-2003) of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA,), which represents all state and territorial emergency management directors in the development and advocacy of national policy, strategic and operational issues. He served as the emergency management representative to the Advanced National Seismic System Advisory Board, the Co-Chair of the Mitigation Committee, the interim Intergovernmental Relations Sub-Committee Chair to the developing National Homeland Security Consortium, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Center for State Homeland Security, (a non-profit partnership of NEMA, the Adjutants General Association of the US, and Mitretek Systems.) He also served in a variety of capacities on many Washington State and national councils, committees, and professional organizations. Glen Woodbury served in the US Army as a communications officer from 1985 until he began his emergency management career in the State of Washington as an operations officer in 1992. Prior to his selection as the agency’s director, he managed the state’s Emergency Operations Center for two years. He has served as an officer in the US Army Reserves and as a volunteer firefighter in East Olympia, WA. Mr. Woodbury holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Engineering Sciences from Lafayette College in Easton, PA (1985) and a Masters of Arts Degree in Security Studies (Homeland Defense and Security) from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA (2004.) He is a winner of the George C. Marshall Award, a Distinguished Military Graduate from Lafayette College and a winner of the Governor’s Distinguished Manager Award in 2003. |
Energy & Environment
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Paul Manson
President & CEO Sea Breeze Power Corp. Co-Chair, Energy & Environment Working Group Mr. Manson was appointed President of Sea Breeze Power Corp. in 2003, following the company's acquisition of Sea Breeze Energy Inc., a wind development firm that he co-founded in 2001. Sea Breeze Energy Inc. became the first company in British Columbia to pursue wind energy as a commercial opportunity, and the first company in British Columbia to achieve a full environmental permit for a wind farm. Under Mr. Manson's leadership, Sea Breeze Power Corp. pursues opportunities to develop renewable energy projects which seek to unlock British Columbia's stranded resources, providing clean reliable energy with low environmental impact and no greenhouse gas emissions. Originally from New York City, Mr. Manson attended Carleton College in Minnesota and immigrated to Canada in 1970 where he was actively involved in British Columbia's fishing industry for 16 years. Since 1988, Mr. Manson has held executive management positions with several development companies in the natural resource industries. In addition to his duties with Sea Breeze Power Corp., Mr. Manson serves as a director of the Clean Technology Community Gateway, a federally incorporated non-profit corporation dedicated to assisting off-grid communities develop strategies for transitioning to locally available renewable energy resources. He also serves as co-chairman of the Renewable Energy and Transmission Committee of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. |
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Rep. George Eskridge
Idaho State Legislature Co-Chair, Energy & Environment Working Group Rep. George Eskridge grew up in Dover, in North Idaho. After graduating from high school, he served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Representative Eskridge completed his time in the Navy and then returned to school. He graduated from the University of Montana. After graduation, he went to work for the rural electrification administration (REA), which was created in 1935 and charged with administering loan programs for electrification and telephone service in rural areas. After working for the REA, George transferred over to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) where he worked on transmission issues and retired in 1999. George then returned to Dover to work in real estate and was elected to the House in the 2001 session. He is the chairman of PNWER’s Energy Working Group and U.S. Vice President of PNWER. |
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Andrew Pape-Salmon
Professional Engineer & Senior Energy Specialist RDH Building Engineering Ltd. Andrew Pape-Salmon is a professional engineer and senior energy specialist with RDH Building Engineering Ltd. He is an experienced leader in the implementation of energy efficient technologies, designs, and management practices for buildings, equipment and communities. He has 16 years of experience in the field of energy efficiency and sustainable energy. At RDH, he is responsible for energy sector services that are provided to a broad range of client groups and building industry partners, including energy policy consulting (strategies, legislation, codes & standards, institutional frameworks) and demand-side management program design & evaluation, among other areas. He has worked extensively with governments across Canada and the Pacific Northwest, including a recent assignment with the City of Vancouver to develop their June 2014 “Energy Retrofit Strategy for Existing Buildings”. He worked for the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines from 2003-2013 where he worked on the Energy Efficiency Act, the DSM Regulation, the 2007 Energy Plan, two iterations of the Energy Efficient Building Strategy, greening the BC Building Code and the Pacific Coast Collaborative. Andrew is a graduate of Waterloo (Systems Design Engineering) and Simon Fraser (Masters of Resource Management). |
Ocean energy & Environment roundtable
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Sen. Arnie Roblan
Oregon State Legislature Co-Chair, Ocean Policy Working Group Senator Arnie Roblan represents 5th Senate District in Oregon. Previously Senator Roblan served 4 terms as Representative for House District 9, two terms as Co-Speaker. Senator Roblan is a founding boardmember of Friends of New and Sustainable Industry (FONSI) and has served on the boards of several local organizations, including the Coos Bay/ North Bend Water Board, the Coos Educators Federal Credit Union, Belloni Ranch, YMCA Youth in Government and the Oregon Coastal Environments Network (OCEAN). Senator Arnie Roblan also served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Southwestern Oregon Transportation and Economic Development Workgroup, the Oregon Education Accountability Roundtable, the Governance Group of the Capitol Restoration Project, the Coastal Caucus and the Chalkboard Project. Senator Roblan's received the Milken Education Award in 1997 and, in 2002, was recognized by his alma mater as a University of Oregon Distinguished Alumnus. In 2011, the Oregon Business Association named him Statesman of the Year Award in recognition of his extraordinary achievements for public service, consensus building, and forging collaborative solutions to critical issues facing Oregon. In 2012, he was honored with the “Public Officials of the Year” awards from Governing Magazine. |
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Chris Campbell, PhD
Executive Director Marine Renewables Canada Chris is a marine scientist and leader in development of Canada’s ocean economy. With a Bsc from Wales, a PhD from Newfoundland, he has worked in France, Newfoundland and British Columbia. Trained in biology, he been a leader in research, education and consulting in marine aquaculture, seafood and ocean technology development. As a founder for this national association, he has built an alliance of industry, governments and utilities to ensure that Canada is a leading player in the emerging renewable ocean energy opportunity. The 100-member Marine Renewables Canada has succeeded in attracting industry, government and utility attention toward this important clean electricity resource and low-carbon economic opportunity. |
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Captain John Staynor
Vice President, Compliance/DPA ITB Marine Group Ltd. Co-Chair, Ocean Policy Working Group Captain John Staynor has almost 35 years experience working in the marine sector; primarily tug and barge. In 1989 after responding to the Exxon Valdez spill he joined the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation where his focus changed to oil spill response. For the past 18 years John has been the president of Staynor Response Services ltd., an IMO accredited company specializing in spill response and crisis management. His unique Crisis Management Systems are used extensively by the oil majors, offshore oil, and chemical industries on 5 continents. In 2013 John became the Vice President of Compliance for the ITB Marine Group of Vancouver BC where he continues to be involved in the marine transportation of fuels on the West Coast and Arctic, the East Coast Offshore and Sub-sea construction. |
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Andrea Copping
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Andrea E. Copping is the research lead for ocean energy development for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Copping’s projects focus on environmental effects from the development of offshore wind, wave and tidal energy installations, and the role that these effects play in technology development and project initiation across the nation. Using risk-based approaches, the offshore wind team lead by Dr. Copping integrates laboratory, field and modeling measurements into a coherent body of evidence to support siting and permitting decisions. Andrea leads international projects on environmental effects of ocean energy development that attempt to share information and benefit from progress made around the world. Although trained as a blue water biological oceanographer, Andrea has spent most of her professional career examining the interactions of humans and the marine environment. |
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Jason Busch
Executive Director Oregon Wave Energy Trust Jason Busch is Executive Director of Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET), a nonprofit public-private partnership funded by the Oregon Innovation Council to support the responsible development of ocean energy in Oregon and the jobs this new industry will create. Oregon Wave Energy Trust serves as a connector for all stakeholders involved in ocean energy project development – from research and development to early stage community engagement and final deployment and energy generation – positioning Oregon as the North American leader in this nascent industry, and delivering its full economic and environmental potential for the state. The Oregon Wave Energy Trust was named a finalist in Sustainable Business Oregon’s 2012 Innovation in Sustainability awards. |
Workforce Development
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Sen. Maralyn Chase
Washington State Legislature Co-Chair, Workforce Development Working Group Prior to serving in the Legislature, Maralyn and her daughter, Carin, operated a general and specialty contracting firm. Before entering the contracting field, Maralyn ran a job training and development program for disabled and disadvantaged citizens for five years. In the State Legislature, Maralyn presently serves the ranking member of the Trade & Economic Development Committee and serves on the Rules Committee and the Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee. At the National Conference of State Legislatures Maralyn continues to serve on the Labor and Economic Development Committee and the Environment Committee. She was recently appointed to the Committee on Communications, Financial Services, and Interstate Commerce. Maralyn is active in the civic life of the 32nd district. She is a board member of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, the Shoreline Solar Project and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County. Maralyn is also a Washington State delegate to the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) and serves on the Advisory Council of the Labor Education and Research Center. She works with and supports the Friends of St Edward Park, the Friends of Fircrest and the 32nd District Democrats. |
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Shawna Argue
Past President, APEGS Co-Chair, Workforce Development Working Group Shawna is a registered Professional Engineer in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. She is a graduate of Industrial Systems Engineering , University of Regina (1987) and holds a Masters of Business Administration from Athabasca University (1999). She is a Certified Environmental Auditor and Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor. She was among the first individuals in Canada to earn these qualifications. Shawna's experience covers a wide variety of industries both domestically and internationally. Shawna is a Past-President of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) and holds the designation of Fellow of Engineers Canada and Fellow of the Canadian Society of Senior Engineers. |
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Shana Peschek
Director Construction Center of Excellence Renton Technical Community College As director, Shana links industry to the community college system in Washington State for the purpose of coordinating education and training efforts to build a competitive workforce in a global economy. With four priorities: Economic Development, Industry Sector Strategy, Workforce Supply and Demand, and Education, Innovation and Efficiency, the Center is positioned to sustain Washington’s competitive advantage through statewide leadership. The Center supports curriculum development, career pathway development and professional development for faculty. The Center also plays and integral role in supporting the development of stackable credentials and Applied Baccalaureate degree programs in the Community/Technical College programs. Shana is also a National Chair for the United States Green Building Council Community Green Program, as well as member of numerous advisory boards and workforce focused committees. When not working she enjoys hiking, backpacking and mountain biking with her husband and three teenage sons. |
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David Holbert
Executive Director Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center David Holbert is a career management consultant with deep experience in manufacturing, international trade, independent media distribution, and social entrepreneurship. David combines competence in management, marketing, information technology, and finance to find opportunity and success in challenging enterprise situations. This multi-disciplinary, multi-sector, and multi-industry experience forms the basis of his practice. As of September 2013, David joined the staff of the Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center and as of July 2014 became its Executive Director. NWTAAC follows a mission of helping Northwest producing firms compete more effectively in a globalized economy. This is familiar territory for David as he led a Research Center at the University of Southern that was part of the same network. (See ntwaac.org). David co-founded a national organization to advocate for manufacturing SME’s, performed advocacy at the federal level, and fostered knowledge transfer to operating companies in a variety of industries. Preceding that appointment, David directly faced crises with clients by repeatedly applying the diverse expertise of marketing strategy, financial reorganization, operational efficiency, and technological innovation drawn from a broad network of private consultants and institutional experts. Early in his career he was recognized as an innovator and promoted to roles in management of projects serving the underprivileged and MIS operations while still attending University. Mid-career he joined a dynamic service organization managing operations providing technical assistance in some of the most dangerous and remote areas of the world. Mr. Holbert received an MBA and Bachelor of English Literature from Arizona State University. His education was augmented by years of study and living abroad. Mr. Holbert is near fluent in Spanish and communicative in French and German. |
Pacific Northwest Gateway: Working waterfront session
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Charlie Ball
President Holland America / Princess Alaska & Yukon Land Operations As President of Holland America/Princess Alaska, Charlie Ball oversees the functions of Princess and Holland America’s land tour operations as well as the five Princess Alaskan wilderness lodges, seven Westmark hotel properties and port operations for the Northwest. A 28-year cruise industry veteran, Ball served in various capacities at Holland America Line before joining Princess. An active member of a number of travel industry associations, Ball serves on the boards of Cruise Lines International Association North West and Canada (CLIA-NWC) and Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA). He is a past chairman of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). He also serves on the Board of Directors of the King County Boys and Girls Clubs. Mr. Ball grew up in the Seattle area where he still resides. He is a graduate of Whitman College in Washington with a degree in economics. He and his wife, Maura, have three children. |
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Rear Admiral Richard T. Gromlich
Commander, Thirteenth Coast Guard District U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Richard T. Gromlich assumed the duties as the Commander, Coast Guard 13th District in June 2013. He is responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the Pacific Northwest which includes protecting life and property, enforcing federal laws and treaties, preserving the living marine resources, and promoting national security. Headquartered in Seattle, WA, the Thirteenth District includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana and includes more than 4,400 miles of coastline, 600 miles of inland waterways, and a 125 nm international border with Canada. In order to accomplish the Coast Guard's missions in the Pacific Northwest, the Thirteenth District is home to approximately 1,746active duty, 133 civilian, and 456 reserve personnel, three Sectors, two Air Stations, a Marine Safety Unit, a Maritime Force Protection Unit, 15 multi-mission small boatstations, four Aids to Navigation Teams, 12 patrol boats, and three Aids to Navigation Cutters. In addition to maintaining operational control over all Coast Guard activities in the district, Rear Admiral Gromlich is responsible for cultivating efficient and effective relationships with numerous other federal, state, and local agencies, elected officials, the tribal nations located in the Pacific Northwest, and with the Coast Guard's international counterparts. |
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Gael Tarleton
Representative Washington State Legislature Gael Tarleton began her career as a senior defense intelligence analyst for the Pentagon, working on security issues affecting ports across the country and other critical facilities. In 1989, she was the youngest person ever to receive in public the Director of Central Intelligence’s “National Intelligence Medal of Achievement” for recognition of her exceptional contributions to protecting vital national interests. After a decade working at the Pentagon, Gael ran two international subsidiaries of a Fortune 500 company in Russia. She was responsible for creating disaster preparedness and emergency response plans for ports nationwide. Her work helped rebuild the country after the Cold War collapse, employing new technologies in an effort to clean up nuclear waste and prevent environmental disasters. Gael most recently worked as a strategic advisor for the Institute for National Security Education and Research at the University of Washington. First elected to serve the people of King County as a Port of Seattle Commissioner in 2007, Gael was re-elected in 2011 and served as Commission President in 2012. During her five years at the Port, Gael has worked to increase transparency, protect the environment, and bring an end to human trafficking. During this time, she also served as a technical advisor for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Seattle. Gael was first elected to represent the 36th legislative district in 2012. She will focus on creating jobs, safeguarding our environment, ensuring government accountability, adequately funding higher education, and funding health care. Gael was recently appointed to serve on several boards and work groups such as the Women Legislators Lobby (WiLL), Pacific NorthWest Economic Region, and Legislators’ Energy Horizons Institute. She also co-chairs the Washington State Aviation Caucus with Sen. Jim Honeyford of Sunnyside. She holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. The Northwest Asian Weekly honored her with the “Women Leaders 2012” award, and she also received the “Maritime Industry Official of the Year 2012” award. Gael and her husband, Bob, have lived in the 36th District’s Ballard neighborhood for nearly two decades. The Olympic Peninsula has been their favorite spot to fish for salmon and steelhead and go hiking for 25 years. |
Developing a regional defense against zebra & quagga mussels workshop
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Dr. Mark Sytsma
Professor of Environmental Sciences & Associate Vice President for Research Portland State University Co-Chair, Invasive Species Working Group Mark Sytsma, Professor of Environmental Sciences and Associate Vice-president for Research at PSU, is the director of the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs, and co-director of the Aquatic Bioinvasion Research and Policy Institute. His primary research interest is in limnology and the biology and management of aquatic invasive species. Long-term, ongoing projects include the limnology of Waldo Lake, an ultraoligotrophic lake in the Cascade Mountains; aquatic plant surveys in Pacific Northwest lakes; invasive species in the Columbia River; dreissenid mussel monitoring in western states; spartina management in Oregon estuaries; and invasive species policy. He co-authored the Oregon Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan and is responsible for implementation of the Plan in collaboration with other state agencies. He is a founding member of the Oregon Invasive Species Council, the Columbia River Basin Team of the 100th Meridian Initiative, and the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species. |
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Phil Rockefeller
Northwest Power & Conservation Council Co-Chair, Invasive Species Working Group Phil Rockefeller was appointed to the Northwest Power & Conservation Council on July 1, 2011 by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire, at the conclusion of the 2011 Legislative Session. Phil received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his law degree from Harvard. His previous work includes service in the U.S. Air Force, federal employment with the U.S. House of Representatives, and various federal agencies in the Pacific Northwest, as well as four years as assistant to former Governor John Spellman. Prior to his appointment to the Council he served 13 years in the Washington State Legislature where he chaired the Senate Environment, Water & Energy Committee. Among his legislative accomplishments are the 2007 bill creating the Puget Sound Partnership, a unique State agency dedicated to the protection and recovery of Puget Sound and its tributary watersheds; and legislation enacted in 2011 which transitions Washington State from coal-based power production at the TransAlta facility in Centralia. He has also been one of the strongest advocates of renewable energy investment, fish and wildlife protection, and development of state and local adaptation strategies to address impacts of climate change. |
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Kate Wilson
Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator Fish & Wildlife Policy, Alberta Environment & Sustainable Resource Development Kate has worked on aquatic invasive species issues and management for the past several years both in Idaho helping to implement a prevention program and in Florida during graduate school. She is excited to be involved in the development of a new prevention program to protect Alberta’s freshwater resources. |
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Matthias Herborg
Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist BC Ministry of Environment Matthias Herborg did his PhD on the ecology of the invasive Chinese mitten Crab in Europe in Great Britain and then moved to continue research on aquatic invasive species at the Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research at the University of Windsor, Ontario. He then worked with Fisheries and Ocean’s Canada’s Centre of Expertise of Aquatic Risk Assessment where he helped to conduct national risk assessments on a number of aquatic invasive species, including perch, northern pike, walleye, large and smallmouth bass for BC. In his current position as the Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for BC’s Ministry of Environment he is focusing on applying his academic background to applied management problems of aquatic invasive species. |
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Stephen Phillips
Senior Program Manager Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission Stephen Phillips is a senior program manager at the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (located in Portland Oregon) where he has worked for over 20 years. For the last 15 years his main responsibility has been management of PSMFC’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Program. In that capacity he has led the PSMFC Watercraft Inspection Training Program, administered and chaired the 100th Meridian Initiative’s Columbia River Basin Team and the Pacific Ballast Water Group. Stephen has served on the Executive Committee of the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species for several years and has been a member of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) to the National Invasive Species Council since 2009. Mr. Phillips holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Baldwin Wallace College and a Master's degree in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University. |
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Gail Wallin
Executive Director Invasive Species Council of BC Gail Wallin serves as the Executive Director for the Invasive Species Council of BC leading a virtual staff team located across BC. Gail has guided the Council from its early roots with the Fraser Basin Council to its current collaborative role for invasive species management in BC. In addition, Gail facilitated the collaborative development of the Invasive Species Strategy for BC and currently serves as Chair for the Canadian Council on Invasive Species. Wallin is a widely recognized facilitator and educator on natural resource management and community issues throughout western Canada. She has organized and faciltated public advisory groups to achieve joint solutions on complex resource management issues including land use planning processes, park management plans, senior policy development and a wide range of local community initiatives. Trained in multi-party facilitation and mediation along with a background in education and communication, she seeks to build bridges across common interests and issues. She has dedicated much of her professional career to supporting the growth and resilience of non-profit organizations and has served as an advisor on many provincial and national level initiatives. |
Transportation & Market Access
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Sen. Curt McKenzie
Idaho State Legislature Co-Chair, Transportation Working Group Sen. Curt McKenzie graduated from Northwest Nazarene University, magna cum laude, with a double major of Physics and History. He attended Georgetown University Law Center on a full-tuition scholarship. After graduating in the top 10 percent of his class, he went to work for a K Street law firm practicing intellectual property law. Since returning to Idaho, he has tried dozens of cases to verdict before Idaho judges and juries. Senator McKenzie has gained experience as a deputy prosecuting attorney and as an associate with a large regional firm before forming his own firm. He has served in the Idaho State Senate since 2002 and currently chairs the Senate State Affairs committee as well as numerous interim committees. |
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Bruce Agnew
Policy Director, Cascadia Center Co-Chair, Transportation Working Group Since 1993, Bruce Agnew has been the Policy Director of Seattle-based Discovery Institute's Cascadia Center. The Cascadia Center is a strategic alliance from Vancouver, BC, to Eugene, Oregon, promoting high speed passenger rail, Interstate-5 freight mobility, seamless border crossings, bi-national and bi-state tourism marketing, and sustainable community development. From 1987-93, Mr. Agnew was Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative John Miller from Washington state's first district. Before his congressional service, Bruce Agnew was elected to two terms on the Snohomish County Council, and served as President of the Puget Sound Regional Council in 1985. He is a former member of the Citizen Oversight Panel for Sound Transit, and is a member of the Regional Freight Mobility Roundtable. Mr. Agnew is a 1974 graduate of Stanford University, and a 1977 graduate of U.C. Berkeley, Law School. |
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Tom Nelson
Director, Trading & Revenue Management Cloud Peak Energy Inc. Tom Nelson is Director, Trading and Revenue Management at Cloud Peak Energy Inc. Cloud Peak Energy is one of the largest U.S. coal producers and the only pure-play Powder River Basin coal company. His responsibilities include managing export sales, physical and financial OTC trading, pricing, market analyzes, and revenue forecasting. Tom has been with Cloud Peak Energy and Rio Tinto since 1995. Tom graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor of science in finance. |
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Leslie Blakey
President & Executive Director Coalition for America's Gateways & Trade Corridors Leslie Blakey has a diverse background in public outreach, communications, policy development and government affairs. Over the past seventeen years with Blakey & Agnew LLC, based in Washington DC, she has overseen projects and clients primarily in transportation and the freight industry. Leslie serves as executive director for the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, a federal advocacy organization, which unites public and private organizations around the need for increased federal investment in multi-modal freight infrastructure. Recently, the Coalition hosted the NAFTANEXT Summit in Chicago in April 2014. With Leslie’s guidance, NAFTANEXT gathered industry and government leaders for discussions on the challenges and opportunities for North American countries as an integrated trading bloc.In 2012, Leslie was appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness and she serves as an alternate member of the National Freight Advisory Committee at the Department of Transportation. She is also a member of the Eno Center for Transportation Board of Advisors. She serves on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council Transportation Resilience Study Group and has conducted surveys and workshops on supply chain resiliency for the Department of Homeland Security.Leslie holds a B.S. in Sociology and a M.S. in Public Administration from Florida State University. |
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Philip J. Romero
Miller Professor of Finance University of Oregon Philip J. Romero is an economist, policy analyst, and applied mathematician. Romero has been Professor of Business Administration at the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business since the summer of 1999, where he holds the Miller chair. From 2008 to 2010 he was dean of the Cal State LA business school. CSULA is one of the largest educators of first-generation college students in the U.S. Most students are immigrants, or children of immigrants. Its goal is to be the gateway to the middle class, preparing undergraduate and master’s students for professional careers. His latest book is Your Macroeconomic Edge: Investing Strategies for the Post-recession World, published by Business Experts Press in 2012. At the University of Oregon, Romero teaches courses combining economics, finance, and corporate strategy—with a heavy dose of the interactions between business and politics. From 1999-2004 he served as dean. The college is one of the two highest ranked business schools in the U.S. Northwest, with component programs (e.g. entrepreneurship, sports business) ranked as high as first in the world. During his tenure as dean the college broke records for student and faculty quality, research and teaching productivity, media visibility, and funds raised ($50+ million in four years). He developed and oversaw construction of the largest privately-funded academic building in state history, ahead of schedule and under budget. |