Megan Mueller Waters, President
Megan is a marine policy professional focused on the intersection of scientific research and its application to effective public policy. She completed a BS in marine science and biology and holds a JD along with a certificate in environmental law. Megan spent her early career in Washington, DC working for NOAA before falling and love with and moving to the Pacific Northwest. She brings experience working on ocean and environmental policy issues with the federal, state, and local governments and is currently working for the City of Seattle on shoreline management and development issues. She is an avid hiker, outdoors enthusiast, and novice sailer working on restoration of her 20′ sailboat. Megan joined the board in 2017.
Marlene Meaders, Vice President
Marlene currently works at Confluence Environmental Company and has specialized in marine and freshwater biology since 2000. She manages and implements a variety of fisheries projects, with a focus on shellfish aquaculture. Marlene is a certified senior author for biological assessments, and has written numerous consultations for the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). She has coordinated with federal, state, and local agencies to complete environmental permitting of marine projects. She is well versed at describing the direct impacts/benefits that an operation or project might have on the environment. She joined the board in 2017.
Matthew Distler, Treasurer
Matt is an ecologist with an enduring interest in aquatic and wetland systems, stream ecology and ecological restoration. His professional experience includes vegetation management research and planning for urban parks, stream and riparian restoration with the Washington Conservation Corps, research on phytoplankton dynamics with the Marine Biological Laboratory, wetland restoration and vegetation monitoring to improve spawning conditions for walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and land management planning in the Cascade Mountains. Matt joined the Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group board in 2012.
Noel Gilbrough
Noel draws from a deep well of experience amassed from a long career as an engineer (now retired) with the Army Corps of Engineers. He brings to Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group a wealth of knowledge related to environmental engineering and enhancement projects in the Puget Sound region. Along with his work as Mid Sound president, Noel has acted as Mid Sound representative to the WRIA 9 forum. Noel is an avid cyclist, skier, metal artist and outdoorsman.
Rob Karlinsey
A native of the Puget Sound region, Rob has been captivated by the natural beauty of Western Washington his entire life. Rob has worked for cities in King and Pierce Counties since the mid 1990s and has played a role in a variety of wildlife habitat projects throughout his career, including shoreline cleanups, open space acquisitions, culvert replacements, and riparian zone restorations. Rob currently serves as the city manager of Kenmore, Washington and is a graduate of Mid Sound’s CATS program. His heart tree is the Western Hemlock, and he enjoys slaying invasive Himalayan blackberries on the weekends.
Dana Kemmerling
Dana grew up in the Pacific Northwest in a family of outdoorsy food lovers that fostered her love of animals and nature. A varied career path ranging from camping tour guide, pub manager, organic landscaper to national sales manager at Tom Douglas’ Rub with Love, has always allowed her to incorporate those two loves into her everyday at both work and play. Most recently Dana has enthusiastically taken on the opportunities to develop partnerships with two non-profits, the Alaska Wild Salmon Fund and Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, in her role at Rub with Love as well as joining the board at MSFEG. Driven by hope, Dana is committed to raising public awareness about the challenges our earth faces today, hoping to inspire people to positive action by example, and dreams of one day living and working on her own animal sanctuary.
Tom Ostrom
Bio coming soon.
Interested in becoming a board member? Email antonia@midsoundfisheries.org