MEET OUR TEAM
Jana Hennig - Executive Director
Jana, also affectionately known as Ms. Positivity, is a hybrid of business mind, environmentalist and fish head, and strongly believes that livelihoods and conservation goals have to work together. She holds both an MBA and a MSc in Marine Resource Management from Stanford University. Jana earned her marketing stripes working on global brands in large CPG food businesses and the Olympic Games in a variety of functions spanning brand management, shopper marketing, sales and e-commerce. In total, she has helped to bring over 300 new products to market. Jana has also worked with start-up accelerators and seafood impact investors, supporting and mentoring start-ups to get off the ground, which has proven to be invaluable experience for building Positively Groundfish.
Shadae Zamyad - Program Manager - Health & Nutrition
Shadae is a seasoned nutritionist with over a decade of diverse experience in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Specializing in nutrition marketing, personalized nutrition, and recipe development, she brings a unique blend of nutritional expertise and culinary arts to address complex health challenges in a holistic way. Shadae has also worked on multiple nutrition marketing campaigns and has helped create a food-as-medicine meal delivery service. Holding degrees from Johnson & Wales University in Culinary Arts and Culinary Nutrition, as well as an MSc from The University of Western States in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, she is dedicated to empowering individuals to make better dietary choices, and spreading awareness of the nutritional benefits of groundfish.
Jake Stein - Content & Social Media
Jake is a photographer, filmmaker and writer who splits his time between the ocean and mountains of the West Coast, and always makes sure to bring his camera along. But not only is he a talented photographer and videographer, but he also earned a Master’s Degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institute of Oceanography, where he focused on the interaction between fisheries and conservation. Blending his unique background with his passion for storytelling, Jake works with us to tell the story of the West Coast fishing community.
Ramnik Sekhon - E-commerce Project Management Intern
Ramnik Sekhon is pursuing an MBA at the University of San Francisco, focusing on Finance and Business Analytics. Originally from New Delhi, India, he has diverse tech industry experience and also successfully ran a hydroponic and horticulture venture. His specialties include customer success, digital marketing strategies, and analyzing online retail presence. Ramnik is passionate about bridge business acumen with environmental sustainability.
Farida Bashandy - Data Analytics Intern
Farida is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Engineering Math and Statistics, as well as Computer Science and Economics at the University of California Berkeley. She is excited to apply her deep statistics and data analytical skills in a practical context, and to support work that aligns with her passion for environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
Brent Lee - Marketing Communications Strategy Intern
Brent is a recent graduate of the University of Oregon with a degree in Advertising and a minor in Business Administration. He will return next year to pursue a Master's in Advertising and Brand Responsibility. Born in Portland, Oregon, Brent has lived most of his life in the state. Passionate about the creative industry, he has already gained experience in marketing, advertising, and branding through internships, part-time positions, and brand ambassadorships.
William Zhao - Digital Marketing Intern
William is a sophomore studying Computer Science at UC Santa Cruz, with a focus on SEO and Data Engineering, where he enjoys exploring the intersection of marketing and technology. William has already gained comprehensive practical experience in marketing and data engineering projects, and especially in Search Engine Optimization. William aims to leverage his technical skills to drive innovative marketing solutions.
Ava Baglioni - Retail Marketing Intern
Ava, originally from San Diego but raised in Portland, Oregon, graduated from the University of Oregon with a Business Administration degree, specializing in marketing. At REI in Eugene, she transitioned from sales specialist to store impact steward, focusing on volunteer stewardship, promoting racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and environmental awareness. Outside of work, she curates and resells clothing and has appeared as an extra in film and TV productions.
OUR BOARD
Yelena Nowak - President of the Board
As the head of the Oregon Trawl Commission, Yelena represents the interests of Oregon trawl fishermen, working to enhance the image of the industry and increase opportunities for its profitability. With a Masters degree in International Management from Portland State University and a background in both public and private sectors, Yelena's experience is centered around various areas of business, including trade development, marketing, global supply chain management as well as international trade and compliance. Prior to joining the commercial fishing industry, Yelena worked at the Oregon Department of Agriculture on its Market Access Program.
Brad Pettinger - Treasurer
Brad has participated in the West Coast fishing industry for almost 50 years - as a fisherman, as an industry representative on various committees and commissions, as well as a member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. To call him an “institution” in the West Coast fishing world is no exaggeration. He has spent the last 14 years as the director of the Oregon Trawl Commission, where he worked collaboratively in the Pacific Fishery Management Council process to improve the management of west coast groundfish fisheries. Under Brad's leadership, the West Coast groundfish fishery was certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as well-managed and sustainable fisheries in 2014.
Andrew Bornstein - Secretary of the Board
Andrew Bornstein is a 3rd generation seafood processor from the Pacific Northwest, who has practically grown up in his family’s seafood processing plant. Together with his two brothers, Andrew now leads Bornstein Seafoods, where he focuses on strategy and brand management. With 80 years of experience and strong relationships in the fishing community, Bornstein Seafoods is a major first receiver and primary processor of all key species of seafood from the West Coast, especially groundfish. Bornstein Seafoods has long been committed to the sustainability of our oceans as well as to supporting our industry and communities.
Lacy Ogan - Board Member
Lacy is the Director of Public Affairs and Communications for Pacific Seafood, bringing over two decades of expertise in shaping initiatives for companies like Starbucks, Stanley Thermos, and Microsoft. Lacy’s passion for cooking and the intersection of food and community was kindled early on while working at her father’s restaurants in rural Oregon. Today at Pacific Seafood, she spearheads strategies for internal/external communications, community engagement, and legislative advocacy. Committed to diversifying consumer preferences in seafood, Lacy looks forward to making west coast groundfish a staple on American dinner tables.
Kyle Horgan - Board Member
As a 3rd generation in the fishing industry, Kyle grew up working on the docks from a young age, and exemplifies the classic “started from the ground up” story. So despite his young age, he’s already got 15 years of experience in the seafood industry. From Quality Assurance to Key Account Sales, Kyle understands what it means to bring people the best quality from ocean to plate. At Da Yang Seafoods Kyle is leading the charge of developing a Groundfish operation as he wants to continue to help the local community. His devotion, drive, and positive attitude will help continue to raise awareness of the now abundant MSC-Certified groundfish resource.
Angelina Skowronski - Board Member
Angelina is the Market Development Manager, US West for Marine Stewardship Council. She has been in seafood for 10+ years starting as a "fish pitcher" in Homer, Alaska. Since then, she has worked on the docks for a number of seafood businesses and NGOs from Alaska to California, leading projects such as tuna RFMO capacity building workshops with UN FAO, B-Corp certification, and fostering supply chain and retailer partnerships. She holds an MBA and MA in International Environmental Policy from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Joseph Hibbeln M.D. (CAPT, USPHS Ret.) - Board Advisor
Dr. Hibbeln is a practicing psychiatrist and nutritional neuroscientist, and is recognized as one of the leading experts on the role of Omega-3 fatty acids for our physical and mental wellbeing. During his 28-year service as a clinical and basic science investigator at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Hibbeln published a plethora of scientific articles, advancing our understanding of Omega-3 benefits, especially for neurological development and for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric conditions. He was also recently invited to present to the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine to re-evaluate current US Dietary Advice regarding seafood .
Erick Garman - Board Advisor
For nearly a decade, Erick Garman has been a pivotal figure at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, serving as a Trade Development Manager. In this role, he has been instrumental in championing Oregon's food and agriculture products, especially seafood products, across local, domestic, and international markets. For example, his efforts have significantly elevated the profile of Oregon groundfish in key markets such as the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Mexico. His commitment to working closely with small to mid-sized producers underscores his dedication to driving sales growth, expanding market access, and providing comprehensive regulatory guidance and export consulting services.
Christina DeWitt - Board Advisor
Christina is a Seafood Scientist and Professor in the Department of Food Science & Technology at Oregon State University, where her focus lies on improving seafood utilization, quality and safety and the minimization of seafood processing waste. Christina is also Director of the OSU Seafood Research & Education Center in Astoria, OR and is currently serving as the interim Director of the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station in Newport, OR. Moreover, Christina actively supports basic and applied science of seafood products through her service as the co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology.
Mike Okoniewski - Board Advisor
Mike is a Senior Advisor for Processing Operations & Fisheries Policies at Pacific Seafood and a valued advisor to our team. He has been in the seafood industry for 50 years, primarily managing processing operations but also international sales, fisheries policy, and fishing. He has worked in WA, OR, CA, AK, & Canada in every major wild capture fishery such as salmon, groundfish, shrimp, halibut, crab, squid. Presently, he sits on over a dozen committees including MAFAC, Council advisory sub panel (CPSAS), Columbia River Basin Task force, & the Joint USA-Canada Whiting Treaty advisory panel.
Melissa Mahoney - Board Advisor
Melissa has spent 20+ years working on advancing the sustainability of US West Coast commercial fisheries, working across academic, governmental, and non-profit sectors. Through her work with the Nature Conservancy (2013-2016) and with the Environmental Defense Fund (2016-2022), she helped build community-based organizations dedicated to supporting and revitalizing the West Coast Groundfish fishery. In August 2022 Melissa became the Executive Director of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust. She also co-produced a film about fishermen called “Of the Sea”, bringing fishermen’s stories to the screen.
Gil Sylvia - Board Advisor
Gil is a Marine Resource Economist and Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at Oregon State University, where his research focus is on fishery management, policy, and seafood marketing. Gil was also until recently the Director of the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES), the largest applied marine research group in Oregon. At COMES he worked in close collaboration with the fishing and seafood industry, coastal communities, and management agencies to increase the benefits from utilizing and sustaining West Coast marine resources.