Who We Are — Islands' Oil Spill Association

The IOSA Team

IOSA is the only oil spill response organization in the San Juan Islands and the only non-profit, community-based spill response organization in the Pacific Northwest, and one of just a handful in the world. IOSA’s many dedicated volunteers are the heart and soul of the operation and bring a wide variety of experience and knowledge to the effort.

The IOSA leadership team is comprised of a full-time Executive Director, a full time Operations Manager, and a robust volunteer Board of Directors.

**Julie Knight, Founder**
Julie created IOSA following a 1985 spill impacting San Juan Island. In the many years since Julie has been a leader in wildlife and spill response, an advocate in island communities, a friend to all (especially dogs and ducks), and a well respected voice in the PNW and national spill response community. Her passion for the people and places of the islands are the very foundation of the organization. She lives on Lopez Island.

Jamie Stephens, Board MemberJamie is a longtime Lopez Island resident, where he and his wife raised two children, are local business owners and have served in a number of leadership roles in the community. Since 2012, Jamie has served on the elected… — **Jamie Stephens, Board President**
Jamie is a longtime Lopez Island resident, where he and his wife raised two children, are local business owners and have served in a number of leadership roles in the community. Jamie served on the elected San Juan County Council from 2013-2022. Like many islanders, he first came for the beauty and stayed because of the community.

**Alan Bush, Board Secretary**
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Alan has a strong background in electronics and IT, having held senior roles in multinational corporations. He founded a software-as-a-service company specializing in supporting food manufacturers, and in 2014, he moved to the San Juan Islands. As an avid ham radio enthusiast, Alan regularly participates in emergency practice drills, ensuring that he's always ready to assist in times of crisis. Currently residing on the west side of San Juan Island with his wife, he enjoys the island's serene beauty while actively training as an IOSA Tier One volunteer.

**Sophie Todd, Board Member**

Sophie is the Crisis and Continuity Advisor for BP Cherry Point Refinery. She has a strong background in oil and chemical spill response and was previously the Marine Operations Manager with NRC/US Ecology. During 2022, she managed oil spill response operations of the F/V Aleutian Isle response on San Juan Island. A lifelong resident of Washington, she looks forward to this opportunity to help protect the islands and their unique ecology by serving on the IOSA Board.

Richard Liepelt, Board MemberRichard was born and raised in Seattle.  He spent his summers as a child sailing Lake Washington where his passion for the water and boats began.  That same passion guided him to wooden boat school and more tha… — **Richard Liepelt, Board Member**
Richard was born and raised in Seattle. He spent his summers as a child sailing Lake Washington where his passion for the water and boats began. That same passion guided him to wooden boat school and more than 40 years in the marine industry; commercial fishing, crewing for Atlantic Richfield on board oil tankers, and professionally as Crew and Captain of sailing and motor yachts. Richard turned to building and project management of yachts until he closed out his career managing a shipyard in Tacoma. Since retirement in 2015, Richard and his wife Cindy remain committed to marine activities and are currently restoring a 1929 Bridge Deck Classic built by Boeing Aircraft of Canada. Richard is an IOSA Tier One volunteer on SJI.

**Jeff Solomon, Board Member**
Jeff started working at the Lummi Natural Resources Department in 2016 and by 2018, Jeff had secured a role in the Water Resources Division as a Natural Resources Technician. He serves today as a Natural Resources Specialist helping to implement a range of environmental programs for Lummi Nation. In 2021, Jeff assumed the role of Oil Spill Response Coordinator, working to develop Lummi Nation’s spill response capacity and network. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. Jeff holds a B.S. in Native Environmental Science from Northwest Indian College.

**Elaina Thompson, Executive Director**
As a caretaker on Vendovi Island for the San Juan Preservation Trust, Elaina began volunteering with IOSA during the revitalization efforts in 2019 where she served as the PIO on the Action Team. She joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and served as the Vice President of the Board in 2021 and 2022. Elaina was born and raised in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in Washington State. She holds a BA from WWU, a USCG 100 Ton Master License, and has over 20 years of combined professional experience working within the marine industry and the nonprofit realm. Elaina’s affinity for being on the water and her deep love of nature gives her great respect for her home, the San Juan Islands. She is dedicated to their lasting preservation and protection.

**Bill Symes, Board VP**

Bill is a Bay Area native and retired academic living on Orcas Island. During a stint at UBC in the late 70’s, he discovered the Salish Sea and sailboat cruising, and has been passionate about both ever since. When IOSA revived in 2019, Bill saw an opportunity to give back to his community and the sea around us by volunteering to join IOSA as a Tier One volunteer, Board member, and manager of IOSA’s air monitoring equipment on Orcas Island.

**Frances (Frankie) Robertson, Board Member**
Frances Robertson is a marine wildlife biologist with over 15 years of marine mammal research and project management experience. She worked in the oil and gas industry for a decade as a marine mammal observer working on seismic surveys. As part of her PhD research, Frances studied the effects of seismic surveys on bowhead whales and behavioral responses of harbor porpoise to tidal turbine noise. Frances is the Marine Project Manager with San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship. She has been a volunteer with IOSA since 2016 and led the County’s participation in Shoreline “SCAT” surveys during the 2022 Aleutian Isle response. Frances lives on San Juan Island with her family.

**Ken Burtness, Board Member**
Ken has lived on Lopez since 1978. His family has been in San Juan County since around 1890. As such, he feels a deep connection with these islands and is very excited to be on the board of IOSA and to use that opportunity as a way of protecting the islands from oil spills. Ken began recreational boating in the San Juan's as a very young child, and started working for WA State Ferries at the age of 16, having spent a considerable portion of his life afloat on these waters by the time he retired as a captain. Ken brings a career in the Merchant Marine with its varied marine emergency response training to the IOSA Board where he has served for over 10 years. Ken is also a Tier One volunteer on Lopez Island.

**Justin Paulsen, Board Member**
Justin is a lifelong Washington resident, and has lived in the San Juan Islands for the past 25 years. He has served on multiple community boards and commissions, and he currently serves as San Juan County Council member for District #2, representing Orcas and Waldron Islands. Justin and his wife, Amber, have five “island-raised” children and an ever-growing group of grand children who all also reside on Orcas Island. As a small business owner raising a family in the islands, Justin is dedicated to maintaining the security and health of the Salish Sea.

Rick has been calling the San Juan Islands home for the past two decades. He spent most of his time living and working on one of the outer islands in facilities management and strived for systems sustainability. As an avid boater, he understands the importance of keeping our waters safe and healthy. His love for the islands runs deep, as he cherishes the peacefulness and beauty they offer. Rick loves exploring the islands with his family and flying stunt kites on windy days.

**Brendan Cowan, Board Treasurer**

Brendan has been the Director of the San Juan County Emergency Management since 2003, and a very part time sea kayak guide since 2001. Prior to his work with San Juan County he worked in international crisis response. Brendan has responded to a wide array of large scale disasters across the United States. He lives on San Juan Island, where he’s usually out for a run in the woods.

**Gary Shigenaka, Board Member**
Gary retired from NOAA in 2020 after a long career as a marine biologist, primarily providing scientific support during spills. He holds the title of *Scientist Emeritus* with NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration. His resumé of domestic spill responses includes most major U.S. incidents in the last 35 years. Gary taught many spill science and shoreline assessment classes. He also managed research initiatives on chemical dispersants, *in-situ* burning, Arctic response, and the history of oil spills. For 15 years, he served on the Region 10 Regional Response Team. Gary currently lives in Seattle and maintains a cabin on Lopez Island, where he is an IOSA Tier One volunteer.

Conor Keeney, Board Secretary Conor works for Marathon Petroleum in the Emergency Preparedness Group which is responsible for Oil Spill Contingency Plans, Incident Command System Training, and Exercise Design for facilities located in the western h… — **Conor Keeney, Board Member**

Conor is the Spill Response Program Manager for HF Sinclair. He is responsible for coordinating activities around Emergency Response, Oil Spill Contingency Plans, Incident Command System Training and Exercise design for facilities located in the United States and Canada. Prior to that he worked for the Washington Department of Ecology. He graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Environmental Science and also completed graduate certificates in Emergency Management and Geographic Information Systems .

Bill Rinesmith, Board MemberBill is the Emergency Response Lead for the Phillips 66 Petroleum Refinery in Ferndale, WA. Bill has over two decades of experience in spill response and on the water safety, including countless exercises and trainings wi… — **Bill Rinesmith, Board Member**
Bill is the Emergency Response Lead for the Phillips 66 Petroleum Refinery in Ferndale, WA. Bill has over two decades of experience in spill response and on the water safety, including countless exercises and trainings with IOSA over many years. As a long time WA resident, he values the unique opportunity to protect the islands, and partner with the community that calls them home.