Melissa Mahoney
Executive Director
Melissa joined the Trust in August of 2022 taking the lead as our new Executive Director. She was instrumental in coordinating early efforts among key community leaders to engage and support the genesis of the Trust. Since then, Melissa has acted as an Advisor and a Board member, participating in the Trust’s growth, challenges, and successes along the way. Given her deep institutional knowledge of the organization, combined with over 20 years of west coast fisheries project management and policy engagement experience, we felt Melissa was best poised at this time to take the reins from long-time ED, Sherry Flumerfelt.
She has spent the last 9 years as a conservation practitioner working across state/federal policy forums, helping to apply digital technologies in fisheries, and building partnerships for experimental fisheries such as rockfish hook and line in Monterey Bay. She is excited for this opportunity to be of service to the community in which she lives, working towards a vision she holds deeply - to see healthy, thriving local fisheries and fishing communities in Monterey Bay!
Marilou Inzunza
Operations Manager
Marilou joined Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust in April 2023 as its Operations Manager. Marilou has years of experience in operations, business & project management, and human resources. Born and raised in and around the Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz areas, she understands the need for access to resources for local community businesses and members to thrive.
Marilou received her Bachelor's from Santa Clara University and it was during this time that she began her career in operations. After years of working in operations, business management, and project management, she decided to get her Master's in Business Administration from California State University, East Bay. Marilou is happy to be working in the community and giving back to the place that saw her grow!
When not working, Marilou enjoys spending time with her fur baby, friends, and family, traveling, reading, hiking, and going to museums, anything that keeps her physically active and mentally stimulated.
Emily Hess
Programs & Communications Manager
Emily joined the Trust in November 2023 as its Programs and Communications Manager. Excited to be a part of the fisheries world once again, Emily brings to the position a skillset in communications and program management accumulated over years working for organizations such as the Catalina Island Marine Institute, Real Good Fish, Folktale Group, among others. A Seaside resident, Emily has also worked with various marine science agencies throughout the Monterey Bay area in her capacity as a science illustrator. She has a BS in Marine Ecology from Seattle Pacific University and received her graduate degree in Science Illustration from CSUMB.
Kelley Johnson
Director of Development
Kelley joined the Trust in the summer of 2019 as a grant writer and fundraising consultant. She has been providing environmental communication and non-profit development consulting services, with an emphasis in grant writing, funder research, and workshop coordination, since 2015. Prior to this, she worked for over 10 years in both the private and public sectors in marine conservation and climate change planning and communication. Kelley holds a BS in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MS in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco.
Dwayne Oberhoff
Quota Manager
Dwayne has several years of experience both in quota and permit management through his work with The Nature Conservancy and the Morro Bay Community Quota Fund. He is the founder of Ecological Assets Management, Inc. (a consulting firm based out of Los Osos, California), and has previously worked for Lisa Wise Consulting, the California Department of Fish and Game, California Army National Guard, and California Polytechnic State University participating in a wide variety of biological and environmental projects and programs. Dwayne has a Masters of Biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Mark C. Anderson
Contributing Writer
Mark has dedicated his professional life force to good causes, compelling storytelling and far-flung travel, often with local and sustainable seafood involved, from Halong Bay oysters to Yelapa bonito tuna. A Monterey native, he grew up on area shores where he now scuba dives and body surfs. His first nonprofit role was creating an intervention program for at-risk middle schoolers in Los Angeles, and he continues to serve with organizations like the Monterey County Food System Coalition. Writing and reporting has taken him from researching sustainable shrimp farms for Monterey Bay Aquarium to writing for the likes of Monterey County Weekly and Edible Monterey Bay. His work has appeared in places including the San Francisco Chronicle and America’s Best Food Writing.