Tongass Advisory Committee Member Bios
Jaeleen Araujo -Vice President and General Counsel for Sealaska Corporation
Jaeleen directs all legal activities for Sealaska, including development of legislation and
regulations that advance Native issues and protecting shareholders’ interests. Prior to her
position at Sealaska, Jaeleen worked for a law firm in Washington D.C., focusing on Alaska
Native, tribal and energy issues. She has a strong knowledge of Alaska laws and how they
relate to Forest Service activities. Jaeleen grew up in Angoon and currently lives in Juneau.
Wayne Benner - City Administrator, Thorne Bay
Prior to coming to Thorne Bay and serving as City Administrator since 2010, Wayne gained
extensive experience as a public servant during his time in Idaho. He served as a county
commissioner for six years, as an elected fire district commissioner for 12, and spent nine years
as Bonner County Planning Commissioner. Professionally Wayne has held various positions as
director of planning and development in the private sector. He also owned an organic farm for
27 years. Wayne serves on the Prince of Wales Advisory Council and lives in Thorne Bay.
Kirk Hardcastle - Owner, Taku River Reds
Kirk is co-owner of Taku River Reds, a direct to market wild salmon fishing company, and a
research technician at Alaska Center for Energy and Power. He is also owner of Taku
Renewable Resources, a commercial fishing tender and renewable resource company. Kirk has
15 years of experience as a commercial fisherman in Southeast Alaska, and 15 years as a master
captain, including time in Hawaii. Kirk previously worked for the Alaska Conservation
Foundation and American Safari Cruises. He lives in Juneau.
Phil Hyatt-Owner/Operator, Good Faith Lumber
Phil has worked in the forest products industry since the age of 16. He has over 40 years of
experience with logging, milling wood and manufacturing high-value added forest products.
Phil has been an owner and operator of Good Faith Lumber on Prince of Wales Island since
2011. Previously he was owner of a custom woodworking business in Thorne Bay, and a cabinet
shop in Payette, Idaho. Phil also worked as a seasonal logger throughout Southeast Alaska in
the early 1980s. He lives in Thorne Bay.
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Lynn Jungwirth: Senior Fellow, Watershed Research and Training Center
Lynn brings more than 20 years of experience in multistakeholder natural resource
collaboratives at the local, state, regional and national level. She was the founder of the
Watershed Research and Training Center and served as its executive director for 16 years, more
recently transitioning into a senior fellow position. Lynn is a board member of the Forest
Stewardship Council-U.S., Social Chamber, participates in the Western Region Wildland Fire
Cohesive Strategy Working Group, and in the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition. She also
served on the Western Governors Association Forest Healthy Advisory committee for more
than 10 years, and chaired the communities committee of the 7th American Forest Congress.
Lynn lives in Hayfork, California.
Chris Maisch: Director and State Forester, Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Chris has worked on forestry issues throughout Alaska for more than 30 years, and has been the
Alaska State Forester since 2005. He is currently Chair of the Alaska State Board of Forestry,
President of the National Association of State Foresters and participates in the Western Forestry
Leadership Coalition. Prior to becoming the state forester, he was regional forester for the
Division of Forestry, and Chief Forester for the Tanana Chiefs Conference. Chris lives in
Fairbanks.
Brian McNitt: Program Officer, Alaska Conservation Foundation
Brian came to Alaska in 1984, originally working as a fisheries volunteer for the Forest Service.
During his time in Sitka he has worked as a commercial salmon trolling deckhand, as a biologist
for the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, and was the owner/operator of
two cafes in town. Brian is currently the Tongass program officer for the Alaska Conservation
Foundation. He served previously as the executive director of the Sitka Conservation Society
and conservation director for the Alaska Rainforest Campaign. Brian lives in Sitka.
Eric Nichols: Owner Alcan Forest Products and Owner, Evergreen Timber
Eric has more than 30 years of experience in the timber industry, ranging from working for
three public forest products companies to being a partner in the largest timber company in
Alaska. He is an industry representative to the Alaska Board of Forestry, on the board of
directors for the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, and a board member for the Alaska Forest
Association. Eric has worked in Japan, China, Korea and Canada and currently lives in
Ketchikan.
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Richard Peterson: President, Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
(CCTHIA)
Richard was recently the youngest person ever elected as the President of CCTHITA, bringing
with him years of community leadership experience. Originally from Kasaan, Richard has
served as CEO of Prince of Wales Tribal Enterprise Consortium, LLC (POWTEC) since 2008,
served as president of the Organized Village of Kasaan (OVK) since 1998, was the mayor of
Kasaan from 1996-2008, and has been a city council member since 2008. Richard also serves on
the Alaska Tribal Leaders Council as an advisor to the Forest Service. He currently lives in
Juneau.
Keith Rush-Conservation Forester, The Nature Conservancy in Alaska
Keith has been a regular participant in collaborative forest management efforts on the Tongass
since he started his position as conservation forester for The Nature Conservancy in Alaska in
2006. Prior to joining TNC he was a naturalist and interpreter for Glacier Bay and Wrangell St
Elias National Parks and for the Chugach National Forest. When Keith lived in Montana he was
a forester and consultant advisor from 1994-2001 for the Montana Forest Stewardship Program.
At various times he has been a fisherman, ski instructor, and teacher. Keith lives in Juneau.
Carol Rushmore-Economic Development Coordinator, City and Borough of Wrangell
Carol has been the economic development coordinator for the city and borough of Wrangell
since 1993. During this time Carol has served extensively on community committees and
boards, including the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, SeaTrails, Alaska’s
Rainforest Islands, and the Wrangell Lions Club among others. She currently serves on the
board of directors for Southeast Conference. Carol is also a small business owner. She lives in
Wrangell.
Andrew Thoms-Executive Director, Sitka Conservation Society
Andrew has been the executive director at the Sitka Conservation Society since 2006, and was a
founding member of the Sitka Collaborative Stewardship Group. During his time in Sitka he
has been a community volunteer, 4-H leader, youth mentor and member of the Sitka Tourism
planning committee. Prior to coming to Alaska, Andrew spent ten years working in Latin
America as an environmental specialist in international development projects, focusing on the
intersection between the sustainable use of natural resources and the conservation of tropical
biodiversity. He lives in Sitka.
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Erin Steinkruger-Doctoral Student, Portland State University and Co-Founder, Tatoosh
School
Erin is a doctoral student in Public Affairs and Policy at the Mark O. Hatfield School of
Government at Portland State University and a program assistant for the Center for Public
Service's Executive Seminar Program. She has interest and experience in environmental
governance and leadership, civic capacity, adaptive management, and higher education policy.
Erin is a co-founder of the Tatoosh School, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization offering field-based,
university level courses examining the ecological and human dimensions of the landscape of
southern Southeast. Erin lives in Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales and Portland, Oregon.
Woody Widmark-Councilman, Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Woody has served on the Council of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska for more than twenty years,
including as Chairman, and has been the sports coordinator for the Sitka School District for
nearly 25 years. He also previously served on the board of the Native American Rights Fund.
Woody grew up in Sitka, attending Sitka High School and Sheldon Jackson College and still
calls it home.
Wade Zammit-President and CEO, Sealaska Timber Corporation
Wade has nearly 30 years of experience in the timber industry with extensive experience in
manufacturing, marketing and sales. He has been the President and CEO of Sealaska Timber
Corporation since 2006, is a board member and treasurer of the Alaska Forest Association, and a
founder of The Working Forest Group, Alaska’s first statewide professional forest management
organization focusing on forest industry issues. Prior to coming to Sealaska, Wade worked for
companies in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, including Rayonier and Wester Timber, Ltd.
among others. Wade lives in East Sound, Washington.