2024 NOAA Fisheries Team Member of the Year Award Winners
Exciting News! We are thrilled to announce that SEVEN of OAI’s employees have been selected to receive NOAA’s Team Member of the Year award for 2024!
Join us in congratulating Molly Bradtke, Lynn Evans, Selene Fregosi, Mitchell Lowell, Michaela Melanson, Jessica Ruth and Carolyn Sotka for this well-deserved recognition! We’re proud to have them on our team!
Molly Bradtke – For significant contributions to the Seafood Import Monitoring Program’s (SIMP) comprehensive review that enabled the agency to deliver a high-profile action plan and provide ongoing support to enhance SIMP
Lynn Evans (Administrative/Support ZA-3-5 equivalent) – For providing excellent program operations support for SWFSC Marine Mammal and Turtle Division research.
Selene Fregosi – For exceptional breadth and depth of expertise and contribution in the NMFS transition away from ships and toward passive acoustic gliders for cetacean assessment surveys.
Mitchell Lovell – For carrying out complex consultations and managing a significant workload within a year of coming to the Protected Resources Division, with no prior ESA Section 7 experience. He is an active and quick learner, a pleasure to work with, and an asset to SERO.
Michaela Melanson – For providing key support using novel and sophisticated analytical methods for the Groundfish Biological Opinion, that will also be instrumental in upcoming Take Reduction Team deliberations to address whale entanglements.
Jessica Ruth (Professional/Scientific/Technical Achievement ZP-1-2 or ZT-1-3 equivalent) – For her work in support of the Cetacean Health & Life History Program – she processed endocrine samples, led R data analysis, authored manuscripts, responded to strandings, surveyed gray whales, and assisted the Marine Turtle Ecology Program.
Carolyn Sotka – For championing conservation through communication and consulting.
CONGRATULATIONS to you all!