September 24, 2014 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:
A North Carolina commercial fishing groups continues its reorganizational efforts as new staff members join the team. The North Carolina Fisheries Association, (NCFA), is a 61 year old trade association representing the interests of commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors. One full-time employee and two consultants will assist NCFA, according to Jerry Schill, the group’s President.
Schill was brought on last December by NCFA’s newly constituted Board of Directors, headed by New Bern’s Brent Fulcher, owner of B&J Seafood in James City and Beaufort Inlet Seafood in Beaufort. Serving as President for 18 years previously, Schill came back after a 9 year absence.
Lauren Morris began her new full-time position as NCFA’s Membership and Operations Manager on Wednesday, September 24th. She comes to the group from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries as the Marine Fisheries Commission Office Assistant. Her duties will include website and social media maintenance and outreach to commercial fishing constituents and public relations. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from UNC Wilmington in 2005 with a degree in English Literature.
Jess Hawkins will be providing research and fishery management plan advice to the Association’s Board of Directors. A 30 year veteran of the Division of Marine Fisheries, Hawkins retired from the agency in 2006.
Justin LeBlanc will provide the state’s commercial fishing industry with his many years of federal expertise at the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. A resident of Ocracoke, NC, Justin will attend meetings of the Council and ASMFC and speak on behalf of NCFA. He is a former staffer of a US Senator and has extensive experience on fisheries matters on Capitol Hill.
“The NCFA Board is pleased with the direction our group is headed as we continue our reorganizational efforts”, said Chairman Fulcher. “As President, Jerry gives us years of experience in operating a non-profit group and also has maintained connections politically and within the fishing community nationwide. Lauren is a coastal native and knows commercial fishing well and has the people skills we need to keep growing the organization. Jess and Justin are well respected individuals that will expand the voices of our commercial fishing communities.”
“These additions to our staff will enable us to be much more effective”, added President Jerry Schill. “Peggy Page has been NCFA’s Administrative Assistant and bookkeeper for several years, and Maureen Donald is a former Communications Director and current Editor of our newspaper, Tradewinds, so we do have an excellent team in place."