Jon Bersche
Keynote

Ann Avary is Director of the NW Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology for Washington State. She is current Chair of the Marine League of Schools, a national consortium of 14 marine technology education providers. Ann works directly with the marine industries of Washington State, standards organizations, state, and national partners, to introduce industry-based technologies, processes and best practices in the classroom and lab to support the marine industries workforce. Ann has led multiple research projects focused on the marine industries workforce, emerging technologies, and the development of industry-recognized skill standards.

When not working, Ann spends time with her family and “works on” her project boat, Bucket.

Sarah Scherer
Maritime Advocate City of Seattle
Keynote

In 1989, Sarah’s maritime career began as a Cadet at Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) which is also the Texas Maritime Academy. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences and an Unlimited Tonnage Third Mates License from the US Coast Guard, she enjoyed working in various parts of the Maritime Community. Her sailing endeavors included work on supply boats, tugs, landing crafts, high speed catamarans, seismic and fisheries research vessels from the South Pacific Ocean to the Bering Sea. One of her shoreside adventures included being the Assistant Scientific Support Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii and Oceania with NOAA HAZMAT providing scientific support during Oil or Hazardous Material Spill Incidents to the USCG or US EPA. Her introduction to commercial shoreside operations began with Foss Maritime Company in the Health & Safety Department.

In Dec 2007, she earned a master’s degree from the Leadership Institute of Seattle in Leadership and Organizational Development. She continued her career as a Regulatory Training Manager for Crowley Maritime Corporation on the Gulf and East Coasts. Sarah stepped away from the maritime industry for a couple of years doing leadership and organizational development. She moved back to Seattle and into the fishing industry as a Safety Manager for Coastal Villages Region Fund.

Jen Haaland
NW Explorations
Panelist

I have been working as a Marine Technician with NW Explorations for seven years and have been the Lead Electrician for over five years with certifications in Marine Electrical, Diesel Engines, Marine Corrosion, and ABYC Standards.

After graduating from Seattle University with a Fine Arts bachelor's degree, I found myself working as a server/bartender looking for a more fulfilling career. I was fortunate to find the ANEW (Apprenticeship and Non-traditional Employment for Women) program which gave me the confidence to pursue a career in a “non-traditional” field. Following ANEW, I attended the Marine Maintenance Technology school through Skagit Valley College. After just nine months in the program I had the knowledge and skills to be fully employable in the marine industry.

I love the variety of work and satisfaction that comes from successfully troubleshooting an electrical issue or completing a complicated installation. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others, particularly other women, and have taught several classes in electrical and diesel maintenance.

Kyle Vonstroberg
Skagit Valley College
Panelist

Kyle is a graduate of the Marine Maintenance and Technology program at Skagit Valley College and used this degree to start a new chapter in his life. As a former inmate, he endured many barriers and obstacles to success; after serving numerous stints in jail, education was a motivating factor to take this next step. The marine field was a great opportunity to prove himself, through hard work and determination, some wonderful teachers, and with so many businesses in the region, he was able to secure a full time job as a Rigger/Mechanic at Tom-N-Jerrys Boat Center.

Kyle is also the founder of the Second Chance Foundation and Scholarship which provides scholarships at Skagit Valley College and Edmonds Community College to formerly incarcerated or homeless individuals wanting a better life through school.

Michael Lewis
Dakota Creek Industries
Panelist

In 1990, Michael entered the Las Vegas Sheet Metal local 88 as a pre-apprentice. He completed his five-year apprenticeship program in 1997. Upon becoming a journeyman, he took on the added responsibility of teaching at the apprenticeship school in the evenings until 2002. He worked his way up to Foreman and then General Foreman by the time he left the sheet metal industry in Las Vegas in 2012.

Looking to start a new life with his family in the Puget Sound area, he started a new career in shipbuilding at Dakota Creek Industries. Using his 22 years of construction experience, he managed to become a Shipfitter Foreman in a few short years and has taken on the new challenge of becoming a Project Manager.

Michael hopes to use his past experiences as an instructor to encourage and help train new generations of shipfitters and welders.

Jim Dunlap
Dunlap Towing Company
Panelist

Dunlap Towing Company was founded in 1925 by Gene Dunlap, Jim became the third generation of Dunlaps to work for the company after taking over as President in 1987. Jim graduated from Gonzaga Law cum laude 2015 and graduated Tulane Law with distinction earning an LLM in Admiralty Law in 2017. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Howard Bean
North Harbor Diesel & Yacht Service
Panelist

North Harbor Diesel & Yacht Service was founded by Howard and Pam Bean in 1985 as a sole proprietorship in Anacortes, WA and in 1992 became a corporation. This year they will be celebrating their 35th Anniversary. In addition to running a successful marine business they also raised a family of five children, two of which, work in the company today.

Prior to 1985 Howard was in the US Army and worked on the oil platforms in Saudi. After that, Pam and Howard decided to set sail on their 38’ sailboat for a long distance cruise. They traveled to various ports and countries before settling in Anacortes. Howard started working with the local charter companies repairing vessels and grew North Harbor Diesel from there. Their favorite past-times include sailing on Nomad, working in the garden, and hanging out with family. They bought a condo in Mexico this last fall and plan to spend winters there in the warm weather.

Howard is still a very active owner and works closely with the managers when they re away. There is an average staff of 40 employees, six of them have been with North Harbor Diesel for more than 20 years. The recipe for success in this industry is finding and keeping loyal and dedicated employees, cultivating long-term and new customers, and supporting the community you do business with. The company provides the crew with specialty tools, dealer training schools paid for including wages and costs, good wages and benefits, assisting the technicians with personal hardships and always having an open door policy and relationship with them.

One of my greatest accomplishments in the marine industry was the creation of the marine - Sealift - I wanted to create a safer and more efficient way of hauling, launching, and blocking boats. This machine is self-propelled and is able to move boats with great ease, visibility is better for the operators and it is about 4 times quicker than a marine travelift. It also allows more boats in less space as the machine is under the boat rather than straddling the boat.

It has been very important to Howard to have a partnership within the local community of Anacortes and non-profit organizations. He works closely with Skagit Valley College’s Marine Technology Center, where he contributes annually to their scholarship fund and donates new and recycled parts and tools, a member of the Anacortes Marine Trades and Northwest Marine Trades Assoc., a member of the Port of Anacortes advisory committee and a volunteer for years with donations to the Boy Scouts of America to name of few

Kyle Porter
All American Marine
Panelist

Kyle joined the AAM team in 2017 and has quickly moved up the ranks to his current position as Production Manager, overseeing all aspects of production for the company. From 2007-2012, Kyle served as a Sergeant in the USMC where he managed teams of Marines in various conditions including foreign deployments to combat areas to ensure the readiness and serviceability of government assets.

Starting in 2013, after completion of his Applied Science and Welding degree from Bellingham Technical College, Kyle took on a role as a welder and quality assurance lead – as well as USCG liaison – for another West Coast shipyard. In 2017, Kyle started at AAM as weld/fab with his CWI obtained in 2015, then rose to his current rank due to his strong leadership skills and knowledge of vessel building.

Kevin LeCloux
Fluid Motion, LLC
Panelist

Kevin has been involved in custom yacht and shipbuilding for the past 30 years which includes opportunities within both domestic and foreign operations. During his tenure, he has held various positions by obtaining formal education and training in yacht/ship hull construction methods and phases and project management which includes key focus within the field of Human Resources Management. Areas of expertise include Strategic Planning, Employment Law, Recruitment & Retention, Training and Development, Benefits and Compensation to include Health, Safety and Environmental. His strategy to achieve success in these areas is to ensure a precise plan of organization through Team collaboration and engagement, a dedication of leadership, and clear, concise communications.

Kevin has recently accepted the position of Human Resources Director with Fluid Motion, LLC., builder of Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats with six locations throughout the State of Washington. Kevin is extremely excited to have landed an opportunity to become a member of the yacht and boat building community of the Pacific Northwest and truly looks forward to obtaining many new and long term relationships as he moves forward.

Jordan Pemberton
NW Explorations
Panelist

Born in Vail Colorado and raised in the PNW, Jordan spent 16 seasons crewing on the Mother Goose Cruise spending all of his summers in SE Alaska guiding bare boat charters. He received his 100 ton when he was 19 and started out as the fleet mechanic, he now leads the flotillas for the company in the summers.

After spending two years getting a degree in marine maintenance at the Anacortes campus for Skagit Valley College and completing a diesel apprenticeship at North Harbor Diesel, Jordan became full time at NW Explorations.