Our Leadership

A boat sailing near a rugged, green-covered cliffside with mist over the water.

CDFU is governed by a Board of Directors with rotating 2-year term seats elected annually by its membership. Directors are experienced commercial fishermen from Prince William Sound communities, and dedicated board seats represent different gear groups.

Core to CDFU mission is the goal to see all PWS fishermen and fisheries thrive. Because of this there is one rule at the board table that guides how we build consensus for organizational decisions: CDFU is non-allocative. Board-led committees tackle gear-group and fisheries specific issues with membership, reporting up to the full Board of Directors and requesting action as necessary.

The Board is supported by staff in Cordova, Anchorage, and also Juneau during the Legislative Session. 

 

Read more about us
Organizational Bylaws

The Board of Directors

  • A man with a beard wearing a brown jacket and a black beanie, smiling, standing next to a woman with brown hair in a gray jacket, smiling, on a boat surrounded by fishing equipment and wooden docks.

    Michael Hand

    President
    Seine Fisherman | F/V Seaview

  • A man in camouflage clothing kneels next to two mountain goats with horns on snowy terrain with mountains in the background.

    Dennis Zadra

    First Vice President
    Drift Gillnet Fisherman | F/V Raging Bull

  • A man with a beard, wearing a blue knit beanie, a gray outdoor jacket, with a mountainous landscape in the background.

    Forest Jenkins

    2nd VP - Setnet Seat
    Setnet Fisherman - Eshamy District | Gillnet Fisherman - FV Intruder

  • A man sitting on grass on a mountain, with a scenic view of mountains, ocean, and sky with clouds in the background.

    Steven Swartzbart

    Treasurer
    Drift Gillnet Fisherman | F/V Alpine

  • A young woman standing on a boat, wearing a red waterproof jacket with a gray hood, in a marina with snow-capped mountains in the background.

    Hayley Fleming

    Director
    Drift Gillnet Fisherman | F/V Nellie Juan

  • Jason Lee

    Director
    Herring and Drift Gillnet Fisherman | F/V Home Channel

  • Woman on a boat holding a fish with mountains and trees in the background, smiling and wearing sunglasses.

    phyllis Shirron

    Drift Gillnet Seat
    Drift Gillnet Fisherman | F/V Cape Fear

  • A man with curly hair and a full beard smiling outdoors near a body of water with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.

    John Kraning

    Drift Gillnet Seat
    Drift Gillnet Fisherman | F/V Mongrel

  • A fishing boat named Morning Star is being towed by a smaller boat across a body of water with forested hills in the background. One person in a yellow jacket stands in the smaller boat.

    Mike Meints

    Seine Seat
    Seine Fisherman
    F/V Morning Star

  • A man with a beard and sunglasses smiling while leaning out of the helicopter window, wearing a baseball cap.

    Andrew Scudder

    Seine Seat
    Seine Fisherman | FV Gorbuscha

  • A man wearing a brown hoodie, gray Carhartt beanie, and black pants standing outdoors near a boat with fishing equipment and supplies.

    Makena O'Toole

    Groundfish/Shellfish Seat
    Groundfish, Crab, Shrimp, Seine and Drift Gillnet Fisherman | F/V Freyja Dawn

  • A man with a beard wearing a baseball cap and dark sweater takes a selfie near a marina with boats and wooden docks, with a mountain and residential buildings in the background.

    Marc Carrel

    Groundfish/Shellfish Seat
    Drift Gillnet and Groundfish Fisherman | F/V Silver Moon

  • A boat named Amy Rae on a body of water with mountains in the background, people on the front deck, with one child and one woman smiling at the camera.

    Ryan Thorne

    Herring Seat
    Drift, Seine, Groundfish and Herring Fisherman | F/V Amy Rae

Email the board of Directors

Board nominations are open year round, and close the end of August. Ballots are released in September, with new board members seated at the October meeting.

The CDFU Board of Directors meets monthly October - May in the CDFU office and on videoconference. CDFU members are welcome to attend. There is a standing agenda item for member comment.

Nominate a board member

Staff

  • Woman on a boat holding a large fish she caught, wearing sunglasses, a blue jacket, orange waterproof pants, and a gray cap, with the ocean and blue sky in the background.

    Kelsey Hayden

    Operations Director and SERVS Fishing Vessel Administrator

    Kelsey is a born and raised Cordovan with family ties in Valdez. Kelsey graduated the University of Alaska with a Bachelors in Liberal Studies, and came home as quick as she could. She has been supporting fishermen from the Union Hall office in Cordova since 2011. Originally hired to administer the SERVS contract, Kelsey’s role has expanded to include many hats; program manager, membership coordinator, and now overseeing all of the leadership and financial operations of the organization. Kelsey has a seat on the City of Cordova’s Fisheries Committee, and volunteers extensively within the community on various boards and commissions.

    Contact
  • A smiling woman wearing an orange raincoat, gray beanie, and blue gloves holding a large fish on a boat in open water with a cloudy sky in the background.

    Hannah Heimbuch

    Policy Director
    Hannah is a third generation Alaska commercial fisherman, and CDFU's Policy Director. She brings more than a decade of experience in Alaska and U.S. fisheries policy and professional communications. Hannah grew up fishing with her parents, starting in Prince William Sound's Main Bay at 5 years old. Today, she owns and operates a setnet site on the Southend of Kodiak Island. Hannah has worked with fisheries organizations across the State, and today sits on the boards of the North Pacific Fisheries Association, Seafood Harvesters of America, and United Fishermen of Alaska as an at-large board member. Outside of salmon season, she lives in Palmer, AK. 

    Contact