Council Members

Captain Bob Pawlowski is well-recognized throughout Alaska’s maritime community, having served as Navigation Advisor for Alaska, Commissioned Officer with NOAA, Port Advisor for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and General Manager of the St. George Chadux Corporation, among his many responsibilities. Throughout his years in Alaska, Captain Pawlowski has worked closely with Cook Inlet interests on port, harbor, and channel designs and dredge plans, improving navigation services, and promoting safe and efficient operations in Cook Inlet and communities that are dependent on commerce and oil and gas resources. Bob is committed to keeping an open dialog on how to continue development and maintain commerce in Cook Inlet while respecting the importance of the waters, living resources, and habitats.

Jim McHale is a consultant providing professional, technical, and emergency management services to U.S. and foreign governmental agencies, local communities, cruise ships, commercial fishing, and oil industries. He is a retired Vietnam Veteran and has 35 years of experience working in various management capacities with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, Alaska Clean Seas, and SEACOR Environmental Service International. With undergraduate studies in Business Administration at Troy State University, Chapman College, University of Alaska, Anchorage, and Alaska Methodist University, Jim is currently enrolled in an MBA Program at Chadwick University. He has participated in national and international studies on contingency planning, prevention, and response strategies and is published nationally and internationally in conference proceedings, magazines, and journals. Jim and his wife Mariane enjoy life on the Kenai River in the Funny River area.

Captain Justin Theriot of Homer was appointed to the PROPS committee in 2023.

He has nearly two decades of experience in the spill response industry and is currently the North Slope Marine and Drilling Supervisor for Alaska Clean Seas. Throughout much of Justin's career he has acted as the environmental specialist for various oil fields on the North Slope, with the responsibility to advise employees and stakeholders to ensure operations are done in an environmentally sound and compliant manner.

Justin has resided in Homer since 1995 and is an Upper Cook Inlet drift gillnet permit holder. He also serves on the Cook Inlet Harbor Safety Committee and the Global Response Network (GRN) Offshore group.

A lifelong Alaskan, Candice joined CIRCAC this last fall of 2021. She was born and raised in Anchorage, with family ties to the village of Golovin. She moved from Anchorage to the Kenai area in 2005. During the last 16 years, she has co-owned and operated a restaurant, worked in the healthcare field and raised children. Now she looks forward to learning more about the oil industry while applying over 20 years of administrative experience to her new role at CIRCAC.

Shaylon joined our team in 2020. A resident of the Kenai Peninsula since 2011, Shaylon brings nearly a decade of journalism and media experience to the organization. Most recently, he was a host and reporter at KDLL Public Radio in Kenai, where he reported extensively on the oil and gas industry, sharing stories with local, state and nationwide audiences. Out of office time is usually spent with his dog, Abby, exploring the Peninsula’s many hiking, bike and ski trails and the taking advantage of the abundant fishing opportunities in the summer.

Maddie joined CIRCAC in the fall of 2018. Prior to moving to Alaska, she received degrees in both Environmental Sustainability Studies and Geography at the University of Utah. Maddie has previous work experience with community event planning, recreation management, campus and education, aquatic programs, and coordinating volunteers for a non-profit organization. Originally from Hawaii, Maddie looks forward to further exploring and learning here in Alaska.

Vinnie assumed duties as Director of Operations in February 2006. His background includes a career in the U.S. Coast Guard with an extensive background in Damage Control and Marine Safety as a pollution investigator, boarding officer, vessel engineer, and coxswain.
After his retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard, he worked as a Vessel Manager for Alaska Maritime Agencies, followed by employment with Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response, Inc. (CISPRI), as a Logistics Technician and later as an Oil Spill Technician.
He is qualified in all aspects of spill response, heavy equipment operation, mobile and fixed crane operations, held a Tankerman’s License, and Class “A” Commercial Driver’s License with Hazardous Materials Endorsement. Other duties and qualifications as part of his duties at CISPRI included equipment maintenance, HAZWOPER instructor, and he was a member of the High Angle Recuse Team.
Vinnie and his wife Robin have been residents of the Kenai area since 1990, residing in Nikiski. They enjoy cross country motorcycling, fishing, and spending time with their nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Susan Saupe received a B.S. in Chemistry (1985) and an M.S. in Chemical Oceanography (1990) from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. During the mid- to late 1980s, she worked on multiple stable isotope food-web studies in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas, including her thesis “Nutrient dynamics and carbon supply to the north Aleutian Shelf nearshore ecosystem.” In 1988, she moved to Woods Hole, MA, to work with a team developing stable isotope methods for assessing dissolved organic flow through east coast estuarine ecosystems. She returned to Alaska to conduct damage assessment studies for the University of Alaska Fairbanks following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill until 1996 when she joined CIRCAC’s staff. Since joining CIRCAC, Ms. Saupe has developed a multi-disciplinary science program with multiple funding sources and partnering organizations. She was also the Lead Scientist for the first surveys of Alaska’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program and initiated a web-based ShoreZone coastal mapping program in Cook Inlet and surrounding areas that has since developed into a state-wide program sponsored by NOAA.

Michael Munger has been the Executive Director since 2003 after serving 2 years as CIRCAC’s Director of Operations. Mike brings over 39 years of experience working with the oil industry in Alaska both in Cook Inlet and the North Slope. Prior to Cook Inlet RCAC, he was with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation during which time he served as an Environmental Specialist responsible for regulatory oversight of all Cook Inlet exploration, production, and refining facilities.

An Alaskan since the age of 10, Scott has lived in Kodiak since 1962 when his father moved the family from Wisconsin for a job at the Kodiak Navy Base. He has been involved in local government for more than 40 years, serving on the Kodiak Service Area 1 Board since its inception in 1979, the Fire Protection Area 1 Board for more than 30 years, in addition to terms on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Solid Waste Advisory Board, school board, architecture review board and the borough lands committee. Scott holds a degree in business and accounting from Western Washington State University. Scott is currently a member of the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly and has served previously for three year terms in 1983 and 1997.

Walt Sonen is a 36 year resident of the Seldovia area and Alaska. He has made his living commercial fishing since his residency, and several years before. He serves on the board of the Seldovia Oil Spill Response Team, and has been involved with the organization almost since its inception after the Exxon Valdez spill. He believes that a clean and healthy Cook Inlet environment is a legacy that should be maintained by and for us all.

Ms. Stanley began teaching marine science, art, and other subjects at Kenai Junior High. She later taught at both Soldotna and Skyview high schools before retiring to Homer in 1997 and has remained active in the marine science community over the years writing curriculum, serving as the Alaska Director for the Northwest Association of Marine Science Educators, plus working and volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Her efforts there are in some ways an extension of her work that dates back to the Exxon Valdez. After the spill, Ms. Stanley led an Alaska Department of Fish and Game team that tracked commercially caught King Salmon during summers. “The marine environment is very precious to me,” commented Ms. Stanley. “Keeping it clean and safe is important.”

Michael Opheim, son of Norman and Nancy Opheim (Kodiak) is of Aleut descent, and currently resides in Seldovia, Alaska. As an active community member for 38 years, Michael grew up harvesting from the land and sea with family members. He spent many long summer days fishing for pinks on the Seldovia Outside Beach; gathering bidarkis, clams, mussels, china caps, octopus and kelp from the sea; harvesting berries and other edible plants; and hunting local game off the land in early fall. As most young Alaska men, he spent nine years as a commercial fisherman, and later earned the position of Environmental Coordinator for the Seldovia Village Tribe in 2003. As the Environmental Coordinator, he is responsible for the administration and management of the Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP) and other environmental projects. Under his leadership, the SVT Environmental Office has flourished, bringing essential environmental projects to Seldovia that benefit the entire community. Michael finds his best days are those that allow him time in the field doing what he loves best. As the Environmental Coordinator, he has been able to travel throughout the state, affording him the opportunity to establish many contacts and friends throughout our tribal communities. Michael believes that we are stewards of our natural resources, and works to ensure those resources are available for the coming generations.

Bob Flint came to Alaska in 1971 with the Vista Program and with the exception of one year in Juneau, has lived in Anchorage ever since. In 1973, Bob went to work for what would amount to nearly 33 years with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), working primarily on regulated programs, such as oil, wastewater, water quality, solid waste, air quality, and hazardous material, ultimately progressing to regional manager. Bob spent most of his time in oil spill prevention and response, benefiting from on-the-job training in ICS (incident command system), HAZWOPER (hazardous waste operations and emergency response), tanker-man assistant, and law enforcement. Over the years, Bob has responded to scores of spills of varying sizes, and has been the state of Alaska’s incident commander on several, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Since 1989, he has participated and evaluated many drill exercises. While working for ADEC, Bob set up the non-tank vessel program. Since retirement, he has formed his own company (Flint-Emergency Management Services) and his company has participated in a number of training exercises in Alaska. Further from Alaska, Bob played key roles in spill responses in San Francisco during the Cosco-Busan oil spill, the Mar-Gun grounding on Saint George Island, and the BP spill in the Gulf. Closer to home, Bob was Logistics Chief during the 2009 Pathfinder grounding in Prince William Sound and Operations Chief a year later for the rescue of the M/V Golden Seas that lost 85% of its engine power and floundered in the Aleutian Islands. He has participated in a number of training drills in Cook Inlet. In addition to his work life, Bob enjoys playing in Southcentral Alaska; camping, fishing, and doing some hunting. Although he used to SCUBA dive in Prince William Sound, Bob has hung up his flippers and taken up the wood lathe, making lots of shavings.

Grace Merkes has been an Alaskan Resident for over 50 years. She homesteaded in Sterling and lives there with her husband, Leon Merkes. They have 8 adult children, 7 of whom still live in Alaska. Some of the government and non-profit organizations she has been involved with are: Alaska Municipal League, National and Local Republican Women’s Organization, Chair Person of the Alaska Human Rights Commission, Kenai Peninsula Brown Bear Task Force, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly (2001-2009), Sterling/Ridgeway Fire Service Area Board, KPB Planning Commission, and a State House of Representatives candidate. Grace was appointed by the KPB Assembly to the Cook Inlet RCAC Board in 1998. Grace has seen the KPB grow from the days of the discovery of oil in the Swanson River area to what it is today, with the diversity of oil platforms, fishing industry, pipelines, refinery, LNG, Agrium, tourism, and so on. She currently sits on the Cook Inlet RCAC PROPS, Executive, and Audit Committees. Her goal on these committees and the Board is to weigh all issues fairly and represent all the people in a way that is in the best interests of the citizens of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the Cook Inlet Environment and the oil industry.

Rob Lindsey was born in Kodiak several years prior to the 1964 earthquake and tidal wave. Commercial fishing was the source of income for his family and his first career for about 30 years in the waters around Kodiak, Shelikof Strait and the westward region.

A graduate of the Kodiak school system, he has enjoyed a wonderful life watching Kodiak and the whole state grow and still be seen as a pristine global treasure. The effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill confirmed his belief that everyone is involved in the oil industry. Rob says it’s been a great honor to be a part of the Cook Inlet RCAC.

Hans Rodvik is the Deputy Communications Director for Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson. Mr. Rodvik has worked for Gov. Mike Dunleavy and in the state legislature in public relations, strategic communications and government affairs. He grew up in Anchorage and graduated from Dimond High School and the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He has also served on the Sand Lake Community Council. He has setnetted in Cook Inlet and currently owns a drift gillnet permit in Bristol Bay. Mr. Rodvik resides in Eagle River with his wife and son.

Mr. Shadura is the elected representative of the Cook Inlet Commercial Fishing organizations. He is a third generation Cook Inlet salmon, halibut, and herring fisherman and has fished set gillnet, seine, and longline,  as well as tendering and buying. He is a past United Fishermen of Alaska vice president and board member; past president, vice president, and executive director of Kenai Peninsula Fishermen’s Association; and Finance Chair on Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association board. He owns PAS Services, a resource consulting business.

Robert Peterkin II was born in Anchorage, Alaska in 1968 and has lived in Kenai ever since. Robert, a 1987 Kenai Central High School graduate, started R&K Industrial inc. in 1988 and was president of the company until 2004 when he sold the company to ASRC. Today, Robert is a 50% owner of Atigun Inc, Metalizing Inc., and M&R Properties. He is also a past president of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and the Kenai Petroleum Club. Currently, he is president of the Kenai Peninsula Youth Foundation (KPYF), that owns the Kenai River Brown Bears, a junior A hockey team. Along with serving on the Board at Cook Inlet RCAC and KPYF, Robert sits on the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce board. He regularly attends Kenai Christian Church with his three awesome children Craig, Elisabeth and Jolie. As a proud father, his main interest is spending time with his children; however, he also enjoys the outdoors, mushroom hunting, fishing, boating, six-wheeling, and, of course, snow machining.

Deric was born and raised in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He spent four years in the US Navy attached to Fighter Squadron 41 onboard the carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. After military service, he studied AAS Conservation Technology at Essex Agricultural Institute, and served as a former Massachusetts and National Certified Arborist before earning his BS in Natural Resource Management at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Deric spent ten years with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Sport Fish Division, and another twenty years with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. He retired in 2010. Deric is a founding and current Director for Peninsula Community Health Services, and is on the Board of ReGroup, a Kenai Peninsula community recycling organization. He is a lifelong lover and owner of ’60s vintage Volvos.

John Williams came to Alaska in 1962 as a supervisor on the installation of the industrial instrumentation and automation systems at the Collier Carbon and Chemical plant and the Tesoro refinery in Nikiski. He and Sen. Tom Wagoner were instrumental in starting Kenai Peninsula Community College, now part of the University of Alaska statewide system. In 1986, Mr. Williams was elected mayor of the City of Kenai and served in that position for 18 years. In the fall of 2005, he was elected as mayor and CEO of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and served in that position until 2008. Mr. Williams was appointed to the Council by the City of Kenai in 2009.

Gary Fandrei has a B.S. degree with a major in Ecosystems Analysis from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and an M.S. degree with a major in Environmental Biology from the University of Minnesota - Duluth. Gary is currently retired. He was Certified Fisheries Professional by the American Fisheries Society and has earned a Certificate in nonprofit management from the Foraker Group. Prior to coming to Alaska in 1990, Gary worked for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a Pollution Control Specialist and a Research Scientist. In Alaska, Gary worked for the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association where he previously served as a biologist and its Executive Director. During his time at CIAA, Gary also served as an alternate Director for the Cook Inlet Salmon Brand, Inc. (Kenai Wild), as a member of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council's Public Advisory Committee (PAC) and served on the Finance Subcommittee and the Hatchery Subcommittee of the Alaska Legislative Task Force on Salmon Fisheries. Gary remains active in the Kenai Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. He joined the CIRCAC Board of Directors in 2006.