Meet MBFT Board Member Chaps Poduri

By Emily Hess, April 8, 2024

After nearly two decades of bouncing around the US following a career in technology, and then banking, Chaps Poduri and his wife moved to Pacific Grove in 2016 to raise their family and live in the beautiful place they had always enjoyed visiting. Since then, he has become a complete convert to coastal living and has become a very active member in the community, committed to a prosperous and sustainable future. 

“Early morning jogs along the Coastal Recreation Trail have always been awe inspiring and generally give me a perspective on how beautiful and immense this world of ours really is”, Chaps replies when asked about his favorite way to interact with the Monterey Bay. 

Outside of his work as a Director for Commercial Payments at Bank of America, Chaps is secretary on the board for the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, as well as a City Council member for Pacific Grove. 

“One aspect that I’ve learnt since I’ve gotten involved in politics, “ Chaps says, “is that everything and everyone is interconnected and every little bit contributes towards change. Climate change is upon us, and I would like to personally make a difference in as many ways as possible to move the needle.”

“One thing I’ve discovered about myself is that I am challenged by learning something completely new. The [Fisheries] Trust appealed to me as it resonated with my own ideals of environmental sustainability, and I wanted to learn more about and contribute towards actively aiding our coastal communities.” 

The Trust is truly fortunate to have Chaps’s expertise, guidance, and dedication as a board member helping steer us towards a bright future. He is part of an exceptional team, and he echoed that sentiment when the Trust asked him which part of the MBFT’s work and mission spoke to him the most. Chaps responded, “I am, and continue to be, amazed by the experience that the Trust’s board brings to the table. Vice President Spring’s name is etched on the record for reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 2005, Chair Scheiblauer and former harbormaster’s immense knowledge went into Monterey Fishing Community Sustainability Plan, Board member Dooley sits on the Pacific Fishery Management Council to throw out three examples. Collectively with all of the board members, we have several decades of combined real-world experience in commercial fisheries, state and federal ocean policies, and environmental sciences.”