Our Team

A woman standing outdoors near the water, with boats anchored in the harbor behind her and a tree in the foreground.

Melissa Mahoney

Executive Director

Executive Director since August 2022, Melissa leads the Trust's work to stabilize local fishing, expand community seafood access, and revitalize the working waterfront. She brings over two decades at the intersection of sustainable seafood, fisheries policy, and marine innovation on the U.S. West Coast — translating complex fishery science and regulation into practical solutions where environmental stewardship and economic resilience reinforce one another.

A woman with dark hair, glasses, and a tattoo on her arm, smiling and wearing a blue button-up shirt, standing in front of a wooden fence.

Marilou Inzunza

Operations Manager

Born and raised around Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz, Marilou joined in April 2023. With a Santa Clara University degree and an MBA from CSU East Bay, she brings deep experience in operations, business and project management, and HR — and a personal commitment to giving back to the community that raised her.

A woman with long brown hair smiling in front of a window with green trees outside.

Emily Hess

Programs & Communications Manager

A Monterey resident and science illustrator, Emily joined in November 2023. She brings communications and program-management experience from the Catalina Island Marine Institute, Real Good Fish, and others, with a BS in Marine Ecology and a graduate degree in Science Illustration from CSUMB.

A woman with curly brown hair and a light striped t-shirt standing outdoors in front of a wooden fence and some green plants.

Kelley Johnson

Director of Development

Kelley joined in 2019 and leads fundraising and grants. She brings a decade-plus in marine conservation and climate communication, a BS in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz, and an MS in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco.

Man wearing camouflage baseball cap and outdoor gear outdoors in a rural landscape.

Dwayne Oberhoff

Quota Manager

Dwayne manages the Trust's quota and permits, drawing on years of quota work with The Nature Conservancy and the Morro Bay Community Quota Fund. He founded Ecological Assets Management, Inc. and holds a Master's in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Man wearing a black apron with 'Auberge Carm' written on it, holding two cooked lobsters in front of the camera, with a neutral background.

Mark C. Anderson

Contributing Writer

A Monterey native who dives and body-surfs the local shores, Mark tells the Trust's stories. His reporting has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Monterey County Weekly, Edible Monterey Bay, and America's Best Food Writing.