BSFA Team

Karen Gillis

Karen’s biography is notable because of the great many elders and mentors who have shaped her abilities by providing guidance and encouragement; it is important to recognize that her life has been rewarded by the lives of gifted people from many walks of life.

Karen began working for the BSFA in 1992 supporting the Community Development Quota program start-up and helping to manage a number of projects and grant awards related to BSFA’s Fisheries Extension Services. Karen worked quickly to grasp the cultural dynamics within Alaska and has taken several classes over the years such as Alaska Native Politics and Traditional Native Life to improve her understanding and appreciation for the people and the way of life she works to support.

Karen worked as the Program Director until being promoted to Executive Director in 2004. The focus of Karen’s position requires that she works closely with state and federal oversight agencies as well as BSFA’s communities and residents bringing together ideas and hopes for the future. Karen works closely with the BSFA Board of Directors to develop programs and implement projects related.

Karen increasingly expands her involvement in Alaska’s fisheries industry focusing on economic development, salmon marketing, marine and freshwater salmon research and finding ways to introduce collaborative efforts. Karen has the honor of participating in many different forums related to western Alaska and serves the BSFA as a participant or representative of the following efforts: North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission; Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative; Norton Sound Research and Restoration Initiative; Western Alaska Salmon Stock Identification Program Advisory Committee; Kuskokwim Fisheries Research Coalition; and Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Coalition.

Karen is most proud of her family; husband Vern and children, Jordan, Bailey and Reagan. She is active in things which aren’t fishy at all including Program for Infants and Children, Alaska State School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Communication Awareness Project; a program which Karen founded to help promote the full range of communication options for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Alaska. Outside of her professional interests, she enjoys traveling, reading, writing, and living in Alaska.

Originally from Washington State, Karen studied International Affairs with a concentration in business at Eastern Washington University, with degree completion services from University of Alaska Anchorage.

Chris Stark

Chris was born and raised in western Montana, near the shores of Flathead Lake on the Flathead Indian Reservation (Flathead, Salish and Kootenai tribes) were he was able to run wild for 20+ years prior to heading of to college in Missoula, MT and graduating from the University of Montana (BA in Zoology). While in Montana he spent much time in the mountains and boating lakes and streams (usually chasing fish). After a couple world fun tours, he landed in Fairbanks (1981), began researching fish and invertebrates (fish food) for UAF School of Fish and Ocean Science, and where he has remained with the Institute of Marine Science (IMS) as a Research Professional II, working primarily on saltwater projects (i.e. Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics (GLOBEC), Bering-Aleutian Salmon International Surveys (BASIS) and numerous Exxon-Valdez oil spill related projects – his favorite being smolt outmigration and feeding studies in Prince William Sound cause he got to live in remote areas several months a year). While employed at UAF, he has earned teaching credentials and a MS in Fisheries.

Wanting to become more involved in salmon research, he joined Bering Sea Fishermen's Association in 1999. Since that time he has managed several BSFA freshwater projects (i.e. Salcha and Goodpaster River salmon counting towers) and represented BSFA in various settings or public meeting venues (i.e. U.S.-Canada Joint Technical Committee –salmon size and Ichthyophonous subcommittees, Escapement Goal Analysis). Chris is also sometimes asked to advise BSFA and other agencies on various fisheries issues (Bering Sea-Aleutian Islands by-catch, hatchery policy, harvest strategies, disease issues (i.e. Ichthyophonous) and salmon size. Chris’s favorite focus is still spending as much time in the field as possible because that is where he functions best and learns the most.

Katie Williams

Katie joined BSFA in November of 2006 and has immersed herself in developing connections with the residents, scientists, and managers connected with the BSFA. The fishing and indigenous communities of western Alaska have inspired her to return to the University of Alaska Anchorage to pursue her degree in Political Science. Katie is excited to be working on challenging issues that have the potential to change lives and she relishes the opportunity to work within the diversity offered by western Alaska. Katie was born and raised in Alaska, and loves the lifestyle and activities Alaska has to offer. Katie likes to hike, mountain bike, camp and fish. Katie is very close with her family, most of which still live in Alaska. Katie enjoys spending time with her husband Curt and new baby Paul.

Michele Henzler

Michele Henzler has worked at Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association since 2002 and is the Financial Administrator. While working at BSFA Michele received her accounting degree from UAA.

Michele is the youngest of six children and loves to spend time with her family. She was born in Fairbanks and raised in Anchorage. In the summer she enjoys camping, fishing and boating.

In the summer of 2007 Michele had the opportunity to work on one of BSFA’s summer salmon projects. She traveled 35 miles up the Goodpaster River to the project camp site. At camp she counted salmon that were traveling to their spawning grounds. She also learned how to catch and take fin samples from the salmon for research purposes. It was a wonderful learning experience in Biology and a nice change from her office job in Anchorage. She is excited to be scheduled to go back for the 2008 summer season. Michele’s mom is originally from the village of Fort Yukon that is along the Yukon River. Last summer After a 10 year absence, Michele visited Fort Yukon in 2007 to celebrate her mother’s birthday and to see all of her extended family. She plans to attend a Gwich’in gathering this summer in Old Crow Canada with her parents, sister and newphew.