Staff Members

Management

Larry Cotter, Chief Executive Officer
Larry Cotter is the Chief Executive Officer of APICDA and its subsidiary companies. He has lived in Alaska since 1974. The entire time has been spent in the commercial fishing industry. He spent 4 ½ years as a seafood processing worker in Juneau, and then eight years as a labor organizer and representative for seafood processing workers and longshoremen. He served on the Advisory Panel to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for six years and as a voting member of the Council for an additional six years. This was during the transition years when foreign fishing was being phased out and domestic allocation issues were first coming to the forefront. During that time he was Chair of several committees including the Bycatch Committee and Crab Management Committee. Larry continues to volunteer time for fishery management issues and currently serves as Chair of the Council’s Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee.

Larry has also been active in his community, and served as a board member of Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau (including two years as Chair). He was a member of the Fish & Game Transition Team for both Governor Palin and Former Governor Murkowski. Larry has traveled extensively throughout the world, and is an accomplished cook.

Don Beeson, Chief Operating Officer
Don Beeson is the Chief Operating Officer of APICDA and its subsidiary companies. He has lived in Alaska since 1960.  Don was raised on the Kenai Peninsula and in Anchorage.  He attended UAF, UAA and graduated from Alaska Pacific University with a bachelor degree.  Don has worked in the fishing industry since 1966 with side stints in construction.  Don has worked in precast and pretension concrete plants, laid underground utilities, and built more than 235 houses.  His 20 year career with Icicle Seafoods took him from Kotzebue to Petersburg setting up buying and flying operations to provide raw materials to major processing plants.  Don ended his career with Icicle as the plant superintendent in Homer.  Don holds certifications in sealed can closures, HACCP, lead paint remodeling, BEES, and holds a residential endorsement.

Don has been married since 1972, has two grown children and 3 grandchildren.

Officer Robert Smith, Chief Financial Officer
Robert Smith is the Chief Financial Officer for APICDA and its subsidiary companies. He has lived in Alaska since 1983. He holds a bachelors degree with an emphasis in accounting and has over 31 years working in the financial arena. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and came to APICDA in 1995 after spending 2 years working for the State of Alaska, Southeast Commercial Fisheries Division.

 

Juneau Office

Samantha Keopple, Controller
Samantha Keopple has lived in Alaska all her life. She was born in Anchorage, raised in Petersburg and moved to Juneau in 1996. She went to school at the University of Wyoming. She started working for APICDA in April of 2000 as a bookkeeper and has recently been promoted to the controller position where she is responsible for the day to day operations of the accounting department. She is married with two boys and enjoys fishing, hiking, camping, various arts & crafts but most importantly spending time with her family.

Ralph Weatherby, Information Systems Manager
Ralph Weatherby is our Information Systems Manager; he maintains the corporate network, telephone and computer systems of all APICDA offices. Originally from Seattle, Ralph moved to Alaska 11 years ago and has been with APICDA since 2001. He has worked with computers since the mid 1970’s, building his first computer from scratch in 1984. He has taught computer software and hardware classes, and enjoys programming. When away from the office, Ralph likes spending time with his wife and son Gus (their yellow lab) going on outdoor adventures, riding their Harley’s, or fishing. Wag More - Bark Less

 

Rebecca Engen, Assistant to the CEO
Rebecca joined APICDA in 2008. Although she has lived in Alaska most of her life, she has also lived in Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, and Texas.  Her previous employment background is diverse, with experiences in horticulture, education, administration and bookkeeping.

Denisesha Gibb, Bookkeeper
Denisesha was born and raised in Petersburg, Alaska.  After graduating High School, she travelled all over the U.S. calling California, Utah, and Oregon her home.  In 2009, Denisesha returned to Juneau, Alaska where she joined the APICDA team.  She likes to travel, play outdoors, and take long walks on the Juneau trails with her best pal Sadie, a Bernese Mountain dog.  Denisesha enjoys her coworkers at APICDA, as well as the opportunity to work in the fishing industry while learning new skills in accounting.

Katie Conomos, Data Entry Clerk
Katie Conomos has lived in Juneau for her entire life. She feels it is a beautiful place to live, and she enjoys the active Juneau lifestyle. She likes to travel, as well as spend time outdoors and with her coworkers at APICDA. She looks forward to learning new aspects of her position and the new experiences it will bring.

 

Marisa Morgan, Lead Accountant
Recently appointed to the position of lead accountant, Marisa Morgan has been with APICDA since the early summer of 2011. Marisa was born and raised in Juneau. She has also lived in San Diego and Washington, D.C. She has a six year old son named Jason. She has a brother in San Diego also named Jason. Her mother is from St. George Island, and her father is from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Carla Drueckhammer, Fish Settlement Specialist
Carla is new to Alaska, having moved here recently from Colorado. She and her husband, Dave, have two children, Alexis and Austin. She enjoys hiking, camping and gardening. Carla also enjoys numerous forms of crafts. Carla was born in New Orleans, and brings with her to APICDA some of that Southern charm.

 

Deborah Johnson, Juneau Office Manager
Deborah has an academic background in French language (she has a rotten accent) and English literature from Portland State University and a paralegal degree from the University of Alaska Southeast.  Her employment history usually is focused on writing, research, in office management and project coordination, or in some combination of the two. She and her husband have raised their three sons in Juneau.

Anchorage Office

Chris Mierzejek, Director of Administration
Chris Mierzejek , a 15 year resident of St. George, began work at AJV as the Quota Manager. He holds a B.S. in Fishery Science, an A.S. in Fish Husbandry and a one year degree in Mariculture. Before joining the APICDA organization, Mr. Mierzejek was quite active in the Pribilof School District. He managed all day to day aspects of the St. George School, instructed science to all grades, and developed a small salmon hatchery program on St. George. Mr. Mierzejek is APICDA’s Director of Administration. In this capacity, he is involved with all in-house activities of the organization.

Laura Delgado, Director of Human Resources
Laura Delgado was raised in Unalaska. Through the assistance of APICDA’s higher education scholarship program Laura graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with a BA in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Cleveland State University. Laura started working with APICDA in 2002 as the Human Resources Director. Laura loves working with people from back “home” and enjoys helping others in their pursuit for education and employment. Away from work Laura enjoys cooking and baking for her friends and family, crafting, fishing, camping, and 4-wheeling.

Jeff Kashevarof, General Manager - Marine Operations Division
Jeff Kashevarof is originally from St. George; he began working for APICDA several years ago as the Port Engineer and was promoted to AVI Vessel Manager. He attended AVTEC twice and received certificates as Power Plant Operator and Diesel Mechanic and worked for the City of St. George for 9 years as the Power Plant Operator. Jeff is a long time commercial fisherman and continues to fish his IFQ when time allows. Jeff also served on the APICDA board from 2002 to 2004 and served on the City of St. George board for three years back in the 90s.

George Weaver, General Manager - Tourism Division Division
George Weaver is a retired Alaska State Trooper, a previous Chief of Police and a former owner of a lodge and charter boat business in Kodiak. George comes to us with an impressive background in personnel management, sport fishing and hunting. He has been involved with Larry Csonka and his Alaska Outdoor television show and spent time working for the State of Alaska as an investigator for the Big Game Commercial Services Board. As Director of Tourism, George will promote and oversee the management of the Ugludax Lodge in Nikolski. He will work closely with top management in the development of APICDA's growing tourism program.

Ken Smith, General Manager - Shoreside Operations Division
Ken Smith is originally from False Pass and has vast knowledge of the APICDA region and its fisheries. He has traveled extensively in our region during his past employment with the Aleutian Housing Authority and the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association. As APICDA's Community Development Specialist, Ken will be the primary liaison between APICDA and our communities. He will focus his attention on reviewing and expanding community development plans and meeting with local and regional entities and residents to discuss future projects. Ken will also spend a significant amount of time in Atka, assisting management with AJV operations.

Keith Dirks, Port Engineer
As port engineer, Keith is in charge of vessel maintenance, which includes updating all of the safety gear and lifesaving appliances on all of the vessels.  He is also in charge of the crew contracts.  Keith travels to all of the APICDA communities whenever his services are needed.  He has been in charge of the maintenance and safety of the APICDA fishing vessels and crew for the past four and a half years. 

 

Ivy Pelkey, Administrative Secretary & Receptionist
Ivy was born in Anchorage and raised in Akutan, a beautiful volcanic island in the Aleutians, which is one of the APICDA Communities. Being a small town girl with big city intentions, Ivy moved to Valdez to graduate High School and attended a semester at the local Community College. In 2005 Ivy found herself in Anchorage and has been working since. Ivy started with APICDA as an intern in 2008 and took a short break when she gave birth to her only child. Ivy returned to finish her internship and when it ended she started working in the airline business. In late summer 2009 Ivy applied/interviewed for the Secretary position for the APICDA Anchorage Office and was hired for the full time position. Ivy is thankful and enjoys being a part of the APICDA family.

John Nickels III, Financial Analyst
John was raised in the community of False Pass, Alaska, and was a recipient of the APICDA Higher Education Scholarship. John started working for APICDA in June 2009 as a summer intern while attending his final semester at the University of Alaska Anchorage. John has since graduated from UAA and now holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Technology with an emphasis in Management and a Minor in Business Administration. John currently works full time for APICDA, assisting the CFO with company financial forecasting and with various research and investment projects.

Darin Krukoff, Maintenance Assistant
Darin grew up on Nikolski.  He worked every summer as he grew older on a ranch on the northern end of Umnak Island, where he learned useful skills such as operating heavy equipment, and working on diesel and gas engines. He moved to Unalaska his senior year in high school, where he graduated in 2010.  In Unalaska he took two years of welding, a year of carpentry, and a year of AutoCAD. The beginning of 2011 he threw boxes of fish product in Dutch Harbor for three months.  He ultimately accepted his current job with APICDA as maintenance assistant.  He enjoys traveling all over the Aleutians where he helps to maintain plant equipment and infrastructure. For recreation Darin enjoys four-wheeling, fishing, hunting, and spending time with family and friends.

Jake Betts, Maintenance Specialist
Jake grew up in the small island community of Frenchboro Maine.  He worked on his father’s lobster boat until high school when began training as an apprentice electrician.  After graduating high school, Jake joined the Coast Guard where he attended Machinery Technician School in 1999 and was then stationed in Homer, AK. Nine of his eleven years in the Coast Guard were spent stationed on ships: the majority of which were in Alaskan waters.  Jake has also been stationed in Saugerties, NY, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kuwait, and Cordova, AK.  He is a passionate New England fan and enjoys hunting and sports.

 

Rebecca Shellikoff, Human Resources Specialist
Rebecca Shellikoff joined APICDA in April of 2010, as the human resources specialist.  She was born in Holikchuck Alaska, graduated from West High School in Anchorage, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a Bachelor of Arts in Rural Development.  Rebecca has lived in the communities Grayling and False Pass. She has three children Ivan, Donovan, and Danelle and one granddaughter Aliza.  

Steven Kashevarof, Assistant to the General Manager
of Shoreside Operations
Steven Kashevarof grew up in St. George, Alaska. He graduated from Galena High School where he focused on aviation and took flying lessons.  Steven attended both UAS and UAA after high school graduation and has been living in Anchorage ever since. He started commercial fishing on his dad’s boat at sixteen and became very familiar with the Aleutian-Pribilof region while working as a deckhand/engineer aboard APICDA vessels for five years.  Prior to coming to work with APICDA, Steven worked for Jiffy Lube as the Service Supervisor.  Some of the things he likes to do on his off time are 4-wheeling, snow machining, and subsistence fishing.

Kevin Gramson, Senior Director of Sales
Kevin worked with APICDA in a consulting capacity for 3 years before coming to work on a full time basis in October of 2010. He started in the fish business at the age of 13, setting up a fish cleaning table at the local fuel dock cleaning fish for sports fisherman.  He spent 21 years with Ocean Beauty where he quickly moved up the ranks. Starting out in sales, Kevin then became distribution manager in Spokane WA and ended up in the cooperate office in Seattle where he worked in procurement traveling to different parts of the world buying warm water species such as Tuna, Sword & Mahi.  Later, Kevin became the Production Plant Manager in Seattle overseeing fillet and steaking operations locally and overseas.   In 2004, seeking a change in scenery, he left Ocean Beauty and he and his wife Julie moved to Eastern Oregon where they own and operate their own seafood based Brokerage & Consulting company.  In his free time, Kevin enjoys sports of all kinds, hunting, playing cards with the guys, and keeps his competitive edge by coaching the Boys Varsity basketball team at little Condon High School.

Laurie Slone, Payroll Specialist
Laurie Slone became APICDA's Payroll Specialist in June, 2011. Laurie was born in Anchorage, graduating from East High School. In 2001, she moved to a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. In 2005 she decided she didn't want to be away from family or the mountains of Alaska. She moved back to Anchorage a short time later. Laurie's pride and joy, her wonderful daughter Ryleigh, was born in 2006. During her last year in high school, Laurie began working in Payroll and Human Resources during a work for credit/on the job training program through the King Career Center in Anchorage. She has continued growing in the Payroll/HR field throughout her career.

Alvin Merculief, Port Engineer
Although he just began working for APICDA about a year ago, Alvin Merculief brings over 30 years of mechanical experience with him to his position as port engineer.  He tends to the mechanical needs of APICDA’s vessels, which change depending upon the time of year.  His professional talent is not restricted just to the water; he is also a commercial instrument graded pilot.  His hobbies include fabricating model airplanes and helicopters.  His photography can often be found in the yearly APICDA calendar.  Alvin was born and raised in St. George, and he now lives in Anchorage.  He and his wife have three children and three grandchildren.

Reign Galovin, Information Systems Assistant
Reign was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska.  She spent many summers in Sand Point, Alaska with her grandparents while growing up.  After she graduated from Bartlett High School, she attended both the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and AVTEC Alaska Institute of Technology, where she received a certificate for IT/ Network Support.  Before joining the APICDA team, she worked for the Aleutian Pribilof Island Association for eight years.  Reign has one son whose name is Lucas, age 8, as well as raising a set of twin boys, age 16, named Cody and Bradley.  Her hobbies include camping, darts, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Homer Office

Shawn Hansen, Construction Manager
Shawn Hansen is the Construction Manager for APICDA. His duties include planning, expediting and executing Board of directors conceived projects in the APICDA communities. He has lived in Alaska since 1976, working in the construction industry and fishing Salmon, Herring and longlining.

 

 

Rhonda Ecker, Homer Office Manager
Rhonda Ecker came to Alaska in 1985 from Wisconsin.  She graduated from UW Madison with a BS in Art/Commercial Advertising and Design. She has had a very interesting and diversified work history. Upon arrival in Alaska she became a “Spit Rat” in Homer and began her commercial fishing career that spanned 14 years, including 2 seasons in the Bering Sea as a crabber. Her off- seasons were spent as a fisheries tech for various hatcheries around the state and ADF&G.   Winters were spent as a driller/explosives handler for seismic oil exploration companies. She spent several seasons on a research ship in S.E. Alaska doing surveys of Tongass Nat’l Forest, & two seasons in Antarctica as an ice core driller for National Science Foundation.  She worked as a deckhand on the USF&W vessel Tiglax for 8 seasons in Alaska Maritime Nat’l Wildlife Refuge, and worked for the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve doing GIS work on a watershed project.  She also has both road and residential home construction experience and ran a home-based home design company.  Rhonda likes to spend time on her properties in the Big Bend area, West Texas, whenever she can.

Kenai Office

Luci Roberts, Quota Manager
Luci is the CDQ Quota Manager for APICDA. Luci was born in Columbus, Ohio and moved to Cold Bay, Alaska in 1985 where she worked for Reeve Aleutian Airways until she moved to Anchorage in 1990. In Anchorage she worked for GCI for 5 years and then made her way to Juneau in 1996. In 1997 she started with APICDA as a bookkeeper and was promoted to the Quota Manager in 2000. Luci is married with two children and enjoys arts, crafts and scrapbooking.

Seattle Office

Everette Anderson, Business Development &
Corporate Relations Specialist
Everette Anderson is the Business Development & Corporate Relations Specialist based in Seattle, WA. Everette opened the Seattle office in October 2006 – located in historic Ballard. He works closely with APICDA’s partners and also ensures that APICDA is represented at seafood industry activities. Everette is originally from Dillingham, has a B.S. in Social Science, commercially fished in Bristol Bay, processed pollock in the Bering Sea, and worked in seafood marketing and sales. Everette’s hobbies include travel, mountain biking, fly fishing, basketball – and most importantly, spending time with his wife and three children.

Field Operations

Larisa Prokopeuff, Atka Pride Seafoods Administravtive Manager
Raised in Atka, Larisa has live on the island her entire life and is a graduate of Atka High School, Yakov Netsvetov.  At 17, Larisa began working at APS in production and continued each summer until 2009 when she was promoted to APS Plant Administrative Manager.  She has also assisted with the production of salmon, halibut, and cod in False Pass at Bering Pacific Seafoods.  From 2005-2007 Larisa worked on the F/V Starbound.

Jimmy Prokopeuff, Atka Pride Seafoods Operations Manager
Jimmy Prokopeuff has been in the fishing business most of his life.  He began fishing with his dad at a young age, and after fishing on a few different boats, eventually made his way into processing.  From 1999-2007 he worked seasonally at Atka Pride Seafoods and during APS’s off-season, as a processor on the F/V StarBound.  Jimmy began as a processor at APS, worked his way up to Plant Foremen, and was most recently promoted to Plant Operations Manager in 2009.

 

Jason Dirks, Chief Mechanic
Jason started working for Atka Pride Seafoods as a local fisherman and processor.  In 2000 Jason began to apprentice with the APS Plant Engineer and after several years of training, both on the job and through vocational classes, Jason was promoted to Assistant Engineer.  Jason became Chief Mechanic in 2008.  He currently maintains APS plant equipment and vehicles as well as assisting the Plant Operations Manager with field operations.