Our Team

Meet Our Team

The Saltchuk Board and Corporate Home Team are proud to provide leadership and support for our most valuable asset–the team of extraordinary people who work across the Saltchuk family of companies.

Saltchuk Board of Directors Saltchuk Corporate Home Saltchuk Corporate Flight Thea Foss

Saltchuk Board of Directors

Andrew W. Evans

Retired Chief Financial Officer of Southern Company

Andrew W. Evans

Retired Chief Financial Officer of Southern Company

Andrew W. Evans is the retired Chief Financial Officer of Southern Company, an electrical and natural gas utility holding company. He served as CFO from 2018 to 2021, with responsibility for investor relations, public reporting, information technology, cybersecurity, business development, and risk and capital deployment. Prior to that he served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGL Resources, Inc., the largest publicly traded gas distribution system in the U.S. During his 15 years at AGL, Mr. Evans served as Treasurer, CFO, and COO before becoming CEO. Prior to AGL, Mr. Evans worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and at Mirant Corp, a global energy provider. Mr. Evans has served as chair of several philanthropic organizations, including the Grady Hospital Foundation and Zoo Atlanta. He is currently a trustee of Emory University and is a director of Georgia Power, Centuri Holdings, Inc., and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Brandon Pedersen

Retired CFO of Alaska Airlines

Brandon Pedersen

Retired CFO of Alaska Airlines

Member of the Saltchuk Audit Committee and Compensation Committee

Brandon retired from Alaska Airlines in 2020 after nearly 10 years as CFO and 16 years as a member of the executive team. He brings his experience as a public company CFO and a “Big 4” audit partner to the board in the areas of strategy, risk management, and governance. He is active in the Seattle area, serving on the board of Northwest Harvest, and as an adjunct faculty member at the UW Foster School of Business teaches about leadership and the role of the board. He earned his BA in Accounting and Economics from the University of Washington and is a licensed CPA.

Daniel S. Fulton

Ret. CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company

Daniel S. Fulton

Ret. CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company

Lead Independent Director, Chairman Saltchuk Compensation Committee

Dan served as CEO and director of Weyerhaeuser Company from 2008 through 2013, when he retired after nearly 38 years with the company. Prior to becoming Weyerhaeuser’s CEO, he served in a number of finance and real estate related positions, including president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company, and president of Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors.

During his Weyerhaeuser career, Dan served on numerous boards related to the forest products and homebuilding industries. He is an executive fellow and past chair of the Policy Advisory Board of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, a member and past-chair of the Washington Roundtable, past-chair of the United Way of King County, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

Dan holds a BA in Economics from Miami University (Ohio), an MBA in finance from the University of Washington, and he completed the Stanford University Executive Program. From 1970 to 1974 he served on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps.

Denise Tabbutt

Saltchuk Principal Shareholder

Denise Tabbutt

Saltchuk Principal Shareholder

Chair of the Saltchuk Governance Committee

Denise has served on the Saltchuk Board of Directors as the Chair of Saltchuk’s Governance Committee since 2007. She has also served on the Board of Directors for SeaBear Smokehouse since 1996. Committed to education and youth development, Denise joined the board of Seattle Nativity School, an independent middle school serving low-income students in the Seattle area, in 2020. She served on the board of Seattle Preparatory School from 2011 to 2018 and the Board of Trustees at Westside School from 2001 to 2013. In addition, Denise was on the Whitman College Board of Overseers from 2011 to 2015. She was named to the Board of Trustees for Whitman College in 2015. She also served on the Board of YouthCare, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending youth homelessness, from 2010 to 2014. Denise received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and French from Whitman College in 1987 and completed Finance for Senior Executives and the Executive Education Program from Harvard Business School in 2002.

Mark Sterrett

Principal at Makai Advisory Services

Mark Sterrett

Principal at Makai Advisory Services

Member of the Saltchuk Audit & Risk Committee

Mark Sterrett is a Principal at Makai Advisory Services in Seattle. Mark brings to the board 15+ years of experience in corporate and commercial banking and deep knowledge of our companies as part of the Saltchuk shareholder group. Mark earned his BA in Accounting from the University of Denver, is a CPA, and has completed the Management Program at the University of Washington as well as the Corporate Governance program through Kellogg Executive Education. He is a board member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington.

Mark Tabbutt

Chairman of Saltchuk

Mark Tabbutt

Chairman of Saltchuk

Member of Saltchuk Governance Committee

Mark began working at Saltchuk in 1995. He served as General Manager of Alaska for Totem Ocean Trailer Express from 1996 -1999; President of Saltchuk from 1999 – 2007; and was elected Chairman in 2007. Mark holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Whitman College, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Puget Sound / Seattle University, and completed the Owner-President Managed Program, unit #32, of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program.

Nicole Piasecki

Retired VP of Propulsion at Boeing

Nicole Piasecki

Retired VP of Propulsion at Boeing

Member of the Saltchuk Compensation Committee

Nicole Piasecki retired from Boeing in 2017 as the Vice President and General Manager of the Propulsion Systems Division of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. During 25 years with The Boeing Company, Nicole held a number of senior roles, from Senior Vice President of Business Development & Strategic Integration to President of Boeing Japan. Nicole is the Chairman of the Seattle University Board of Trustees and a member of the board of directors of Weyerhaeuser. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, which included studies at the Keio Business School in Japan. Nicole holds a single-engine pilot’s license, is married, and has three sons.

Paul Goldberg

Founder & CEO of Pure Audio

Paul Goldberg

Founder & CEO of Pure Audio

Member of Saltchuk Governance Committee

Goldberg is the founder and CEO of Pure Audio, Inc., a leading broadcast audio production facility in Seattle since 1996. For the past 13 years Paul has served on the board of directors for the Evergreen State College Foundation. He has served on the board of directors for TVW.org since 2006. Paul graduated from The Evergreen State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree; he later went on to complete the Executive Education Program at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. Goldberg joined the Saltchuk board of directors in February 2015.

Scott Anderson

Owner, Cedar Grove Partners

Scott Anderson

Owner, Cedar Grove Partners

Member of the Saltchuk Audit & Risk Committee

Scott Anderson has been a principal of Cedar Grove Partners, LLC, an investment and consulting/advisory partnership, since 1997, and a principal of Cedar Grove Investments, LLC, a private seed capital firm, since 1998. Prior to founding Cedar Grove, Scott was with McCaw Cellular/ AT&T Wireless, most recently as Senior Vice President of the Acquisitions and Development group. Before joining McCaw Cellular in 1986, he was engaged in private law practice. Scott received a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Washington, magna cum laude, and a law degree from the University of Washington Law School, with the highest honors.

Susan Mullaney

Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group

Susan Mullaney

Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group

Member of the Saltchuk Governance Committee

Susan is the former President of Kaiser Permanente Washington, a nonprofit health plan providing high-quality, affordable health care to more than 681,000 members in Northwest, Central and Eastern Washington, Coastal and Olympic regions, and Puget Sound. She served on the board of directors at the American Heart Association and the Oregon Hospital Association, where she served as board chairman in her final year. Susan received a master’s degree in Health Care Policy and Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She represents Kaiser Permanente at the International Federation of Health Plans’ Executive Development Programme, which includes a respected cohort of global healthcare leaders. Saltchuk welcomed Mullaney to the board in January 2018.

Timothy Engle

Board Member

Timothy Engle

Board Member

Member of the Saltchuk Audit & Risk Committee

Tim is a member of Vistage International and currently serves on the University of Washington Foster School of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and the board of The Commerce Bank of Washington.

Tim holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Seattle University, an M.B.A. from the University of Washington, and completed the Owner/President Management Program of Executive Education at Harvard Business School.

Tim served as President of Saltchuk from 2007 to 2019. Before that, he was a Director of Foss Maritime Company and held positions in the San Francisco and Seattle offices. He also worked for TOTE Maritime Alaska for three years.

Saltchuk Corporate Home

Alexa Juarez

Senior Benefits Manager

Alexa Juarez

Senior Benefits Manager

Alexa joined Saltchuk in 2019. She leads the long-term health/welfare and retirement benefits strategy across the Saltchuk family of companies and helps the team with M&A due diligence and acquisition integration activities.

Prior to joining Saltchuk, Alexa spent four years in the Health Benefits Program for Microsoft, where she oversaw their U.S. health plans. Prior to that, she spent 14 years at Esterline Technologies in an assortment of roles. These roles included managing their health, wellness, retirement, and domestic and international stock programs, acting as a project manager for key HR benefits and HRIS projects, and leading numerous acquisition integration activities. Alexa has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Washington.

Outside of work, Alexa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending her two children’s many sports activities, relaxing at the lake on summer days, and snowboarding on winter weekends.

Alex LaFord

Senior Analyst, Indirect Tax

Alex LaFord

Senior Analyst, Indirect Tax

Alex LaFord joined Saltchuk’s tax team in 2023 as a Senior Tax Analyst. Prior to joining Saltchuk, Alex worked at Deloitte on their state and local tax team, on both income and indirect tax issues, and Bader Martin, where he focused on federal and state income taxes. Alex obtained both his bachelor’s in accounting, as well as his master’s degree in taxation from Gonzaga University. In his free time, Alex enjoys playing soccer, biking, hiking, and spending time with his two cats.

Amanda Huiatt

Corporate Accountant

Amanda Huiatt

Corporate Accountant

Amanda Huiatt joined Saltchuk in November 2023 as a Staff Accountant.

Amanda graduated from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and worked in public accounting audit before joining Saltchuk’s Corp Home team. She holds a CPA certificate in Washington.

Outside of work, Amanda enjoys exploring new restaurants, reading, and being outdoors.

Andy Aley

Associate General Counsel

Andy Aley

Associate General Counsel

Andy Aley joined Saltchuk in October 2017 as Associate General Counsel. Andy came to Saltchuk after spending eight years practicing at Seattle-based law firm Garvey Schubert Barer, where his practice focused on advising both established and emerging companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, entity structuring, commercial contracts and general corporate matters. Prior to joining Garvey Schubert Barer, Andy was a law clerk to Judge Alfred T. Goodwin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, where he assisted in the disposition of both federal appellate and district court matters.

Andy has been named by peers as one of Washington’s “Rising Stars” in Super Lawyers Magazine, 2013-2017. Andy attended Western Washington University, graduating cum laude in 2004, and earned his JD from University of Washington School of Law in 2008, where he graduated with honors and was elected to the Order of the Coif. While at University of Washington, Andy served as a managing editor of the Washington Law Review.

Andy lives in Kenmore with his wife and three children. In his spare time, Andy enjoys hunting for interesting craft beer and vintage stereo equipment.

Blaise Sinclair

Senior Manager, Indirect Tax

Blaise Sinclair

Senior Manager, Indirect Tax

Blaise joined Saltchuk in 2020. As the Senior Manager, Indirect Tax, she supports the overall tax strategy and compliance for the Saltchuk companies in relation to federal excise taxes, state and local sales/use taxes, property taxes, and other non-income-based taxes.

Blaise began her tax career at TrueBlue, Inc., working in the internal tax department on tax return compliance for federal, state, and international income taxes, sales/use taxes, property taxes, and VAT. After obtaining her CPA license, she spent 5 years in PwC’s State and Local Tax group, where she focused on helping companies and individuals understand Washington’s unique state and local taxes through M&A transactions, audit and controversy support, and general tax consulting.

Blaise grew up in the Pacific Northwest, primarily in eastern Washington and Oregon. She moved to Tacoma in 2004 and lives there with her husband, son, and pets (two cats and two dogs, at last count). She graduated from the University of Washington, Tacoma, and is a licensed CPA in Washington. In her free time, she enjoys supporting the Seattle Sounders and the OL Reign soccer teams, stand-up paddle boarding, reading, gaming, and gardening.

Bob Figueroa

Manager, Internal Audit

Bob Figueroa

Manager, Internal Audit

Bob joined Saltchuk in February 2023 as an Internal Auditor Manager, responsible for providing independent, objective assurance and consulting activities. Previously he was the Internal Controls and Process Improvements Manager for Saltchuk Aviation.

Prior to Saltchuk, Bob worked at DaVita Kidney Care in Accounting, Revenue Operations, and Internal Audit. Bob graduated from the University of Washington in Tacoma with degrees in Accounting and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

When not working or spending time with his family, Bob enjoys golf, reading, cooking, and listening to music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.

Brenna Russell

Tax Manager

Brenna Russell

Tax Manager

Brenna Russell joined Saltchuk in September 2023 as a Tax Manager, where she supports the team with federal income tax compliance, tax accounting, and tax planning. Prior to joining Saltchuk, she spent five years in public accounting with PwC and EY in Seattle and London. In public accounting, she supported companies in many industries with accounting for income tax matters and tax compliance.

Brenna holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Taxation from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Washington.

Outside of work, Brenna enjoys time with family and friends, travel, and Formula 1 racing.

Brian Reid

VP, Controller

Brian Reid

VP, Controller

Brian joined Saltchuk in 2021 as the Vice President, Controller, responsible for accounting and financial reporting for the Saltchuk family of companies. He was previously the Corporate Controller of Saltchuk Marine.

Prior to Saltchuk, he worked at Esterline, a global aerospace manufacturer, in a variety of finance and accounting roles. Brian graduated from Washington State University with a degree in accounting. In his free time, Brian enjoys spending time with his family exploring the northwest and a variety of outdoor activities.

Catie Chandler

HR Coordinator

Catie Chandler

HR Coordinator

Catie joined Saltchuk in 2019 as a Receptionist. During her time at Saltchuk, she advanced from Receptionist to the Facilities & Administrative Assistant to the Facilities & HR Coordinator to her current, part-time role as HR Coordinator where she assists Saltchuk’s VP HR in all leadership training and developement, new hire onboarding, Cornerstone LMS administration, and company corporate social events.

When Catie is not in the office, she loves reading and spending time with her husband and two little boys exploring Seattle's parks and coffee shops.

Christina Anderson

Senior Analyst, Risk Management

Chris Coakley

VP, Government Affairs

Chris Coakley

VP, Government Affairs

Chris Coakley is based in Washington, DC. He represents Saltchuk’s interests at the federal level and coordinates the companies’ public policy and political activities nationwide.

Chris previously spent four years as vice president of legislative affairs for the American Waterways Operators, an industry association representing the U.S. tugboat, towboat, and barge industry. For three years he served as vice president for AWO’s Atlantic Region. Before joining AWO, Chris was a government affairs associate at the law firm of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds. For three years immediately following college, he worked in the office of Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) in the House of Representatives.

Chris received his Master’s Degree in transportation policy, operations, and logistics from the School of Public Policy at George Mason University. A graduate of Colby College, he also studied at the London School of Economics and was an intern at the British Parliament. Following college graduation, he participated in the “Business Bridge” program in accounting, finance, and marketing at Dartmouth University’s Tuck School.

Chris and his family make their home in Washington, D.C.

email | (202) 650-6910 | 1000 Potomac Street NW, Ste 500 | Washington, DC 20007-3501

Christopher Smith

Senior Director, Government Relations and Strategic Projects

Christopher Smith

Senior Director, Government Relations and Strategic Projects

Christopher Smith joined Salthuk in 2024 as the Senior Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Projects, where he is responsible for aligning Saltchuk’s growth strategies with federal, state, and local public policy initiatives and works with Saltchuk companies to structure and execute public-private partnerships and securing governmental approval and funding for capital projects.

Christopher brings over 20 years of experience in transportation, logistics, and energy policy to Saltchuk, most recently serving as the Director of Government Relations & Corporate Communications for TOTE Group. Christopher holds an M.B.A. in journalism from Georgetown University and a B.A. in journalism from Georgia State University.

Colleen Rosas

SVP, Human Resources

Colleen Rosas

SVP, Human Resources

Colleen joined Saltchuk in 2014 from subsidiary Foss Maritime where she served as the Vice President of Human Resources.

Colleen’s professional background includes 20+ years of HR leadership in a variety of industries including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, architecture, and healthcare. Colleen joined the Saltchuk family of companies after spending four years with Swedish Health Services, where she provided strategic HR leadership for one of the largest physician groups in the U.S. Prior to joining Swedish, Colleen was the Director of Human Resources for a large architectural firm, with offices throughout the United States and China. She has had the distinction of earning “Best Company to Work For” designations in many of her prior roles.

Colleen received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Western Washington University, and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, boating, and traveling.

Dave Stewart

SVP, General Counsel & Chief Ethics Officer

Dave Stewart

SVP, General Counsel & Chief Ethics Officer

Dave Stewart, SVP, General Counsel & Chief Ethics Officer of Saltchuk, returned in 2022 from a year of public service in Washington DC, where he served as General Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Prior to that, Dave served as the Chief Investment Officer and General Counsel of Copper Leaf, a diversified family investment fund, and the EVP, General Counsel, and Strategic Advisor, Philanthropy for Vulcan, Paul Allen’s holding company. Dave graduated from Harvard College and earned law degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Dave Karp

SVP, Managing Director for Alaska

Dave Karp

SVP, Managing Director for Alaska

Dave began his role as SVP & Managing Director for Alaska in 2019. Dave’s position is the only Saltchuk position based in Alaska. He is responsible for collaborating with our Alaska companies on business development, public policy issues, philanthropy, and Saltchuk’s overall profile in Alaska.

Prior to joining Saltchuk full-time, Dave served as the President and CEO of Northern Aviation Services and in various aviation-related roles since 2006. Dave is a 50-plus-year resident of Alaska who was raised in Nome. He’s married to Debbie they have four grown children.

Dave is involved in multiple not-for-profit boards. His primary passion is focusing on youth development and responsible natural resource development in Alaska. Dave loves sharing the Saltchuk story, and our operating footprint with customers and Saltchuk employees when they come to Alaska. Come on up!

https://peopleofsaltchuk.com/saltchuks-alaska-director-focused-on-making-a-difference/

Dianne Bouton

Senior Paralegal

Elizabeth Joy

VP, Finance & Treasurer

Elizabeth Joy

VP, Finance & Treasurer

Elizabeth Joy joined Saltchuk as VP of Finance & Treasurer in November 2023.

Before Saltchuk, Elizabeth gained broad finance experience through a career with companies such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Microsoft, Vulcan, and, most recently, Dell Technologies. She has held progressive roles in banking, treasury, sales operations and finance, planning & analysis (FP&A).

Elizabeth is a Yale graduate and earned her MBA at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Elizabeth enjoys reading, skiing, and spending time with her family outside of work.

Emily Reiter

Director, Communications & Marketing

Emily Reiter

Director, Communications & Marketing

As the Director of Communications and Marketing for Saltchuk, Emily helps share the story of the Saltchuk family of companies.

She was previously the Director of Marketing and Communications at TOTE Group and Director of Communications and Philanthropy at TOTE Maritime Alaska.

Before joining the Saltchuk family of companies, Emily was the General Manager of Business Examiner, where she also cohosted a monthly business television show, South Sound Business Report. Emily holds a B.A. in Communications from Washington State University.

Emily is responsible for People of Saltchuk online magazine as well as Saltchuk’s Regional Corporate Giving Programs.

email | 206.652.1129

Erin Kittleman

VP, Human Resources

Erin Kittleman

VP, Human Resources

Erin joined Saltchuk in May 2019, supporting Colleen Rosas, SVPHR, and the corporate office staff. Before that, she worked at Esterline, a global aerospace manufacturer, for 20 years in a variety of HR leadership roles at operating company and business division levels. Before Esterline, Kittleman worked as a leadership trainer for Boeing’s Training and Organizational Development Group. Erin is an avid skier and triathlete and enjoys spending vacations in Hawaii or Sun Valley.

Gavin Dowd

Senior Manager, Corporate Development

Gavin Dowd

Senior Manager, Corporate Development

Gavin joined Saltchuk in 2024. On the Corporate Development team, he supports mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, and capital allocation across the Saltchuk family of companies.

Prior to joining Saltchuk, Gavin held roles in Corporate Development at SSA Marine and a rotational program at Blackstone supporting portfolio owned companies.

Gavin is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Washington, with undergraduate degrees in Finance and Management from Syracuse University.

In his free time, Gavin enjoys backpacking, traveling, attempting to fly fish, and trying new activities.

Heather Vogler

Senior Director, Finance and Strategic Projects

Heather Vogler

Senior Director, Finance and Strategic Projects

Heather joined Saltchuk in 2022. Before joining Saltchuk, Heather had a 20-year career at Nordstrom in Seattle, where she held various roles within Finance & Strategy, including a pivotal leadership role that developed and executed the entry of Nordstrom into Canada. She last served as its Vice President of Strategic Planning & Execution. Heather, a CPA, attended Eastern Washington University, where she received her B.A. in Business Administration / Accounting.

Outside of work, Heather enjoys spending time with family and friends and enjoying as much time as possible outdoors exploring and experiencing the amazing beauty of the Pacific Northwest in addition to visiting National Parks across the US.

Jacob Eisenmann

FP&A Manager

Jacob Eisenmann

FP&A Manager

Jacob joined Saltchuk as FP&A Manager in June 2025.

Previous to Saltchuk, Jacob started his career in the business valuation practices of KPMG and CFGI before shifting to working in financial planning & analysis, most recently with a local Seattle startup, Possible Finance.
Jacob is a graduate of the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma with a BBA in Finance.

Outside of work, Jacob enjoys spending time in nature skiing, hiking with his family and two dogs, tennis, and all things Philadelphia sports

Jane Moody

Director, Taxes

Jason Clinton

Senior Manager, Accounting

Jason Clinton

Senior Manager, Accounting

Jason joined Saltchuk’s Corp Home team in 2022 from Saltchuk Marine, where, since 2019, he held various roles in the accounting and finance organization, with his most recent role as Manager, FP&A. Before Saltchuk Marine, Jason worked for 13 years in the accounting and reporting group at the corporate offices of Esterline, where he deployed and managed systems and process improvements and worked with their business units on complex accounting, reporting, and internal control items. In his free time, Jason enjoys golfing, traveling, and cooking.

Jason Lingg

Senior Director, IT

Jason Lingg

Senior Director, IT

Jason spent seven years with Saltchuk’s energy distribution business unit, NorthStar Energy, as the IT Director before joining Saltchuk as the Director of Infrastructure and Operations in 2019. Prior to joining NorthStar, Jason worked for Compass Capital, Core Oncology, and owned his own business, Plateau Data Systems. Jason received his undergraduate degree in Geographic Information Systems from the University of Idaho. In his spare time, Jason loves to golf and gets at least 20,000 steps (8.5 miles!) in per day!

Jeff Marth

Director of Safety, Reporting, and Analytics

Jeff Marth

Director of Safety, Reporting, and Analytics

As the Director of Safety, Reporting & Analytics for Saltchuk, Jeff Marth supports our Business Unit and Safety leaders in making positive change.

He was previously the Senior Director of Continuous Improvement & Operations for Saltchuk Aviation, where he led efforts to enhance organizational capabilities through Continuous Improvement, Business Intelligence, and Project Management.

Prior to joining Saltchuk in 2019, Jeff built his expertise in operational efficiency, change management, and strategic leadership through various industry roles. Jeff holds professional certifications in continuous improvement methodologies.

In his current role, Jeff oversees safety initiatives, reporting systems, and analytics to drive data-informed decision-making across Saltchuk's operations.

Jeremy Buchanan

Manager, Corporate Development

Jeremy Buchanan

Manager, Corporate Development

Jeremy joined Saltchuk in 2022. He supports strategic planning, acquisition analysis and execution, and capital allocation across the Saltchuk family of companies.

Prior to joining Saltchuk, Jeremy held roles on the Financial Markets team at PwC, the Corporate Development team at Accenture, and the Private Equity team at a boutique firm specializing in cross-border M&A and special situations advisory. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati and is a CFA Charterholder.

In his free time, Jeremy enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

Jerry Richards

SVP, Chief Financial Officer

Jerry Richards

SVP, Chief Financial Officer

Jerry Richards is the Senior Vice President and CFO of Saltchuk, with overarching responsibility for accounting, financial reporting, income taxes, and treasury across the company. He also collaborates closely with Saltchuk’s Chairman and President on capital allocation decisions and acquisitions.

Prior to joining Saltchuk in 2023, Jerry held the position of CFO at PotlatchDeltic, a publicly traded company based in Spokane, for a decade. He also worked at Weyerhaeuser for eleven years before that, including serving as the company’s Chief Accounting Officer for three years.

Jerry hails from a small timber town in Oregon and attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland. He and his family are outdoor enthusiasts who call Western Washington home.

Jessica Liu

Senior Accountant

Jessica Liu

Senior Accountant

Jessica joined the Saltchuk Corp Home team as a Senior Accountant in 2022. She started her tenure with our family of companies in 2015 in accounts payable at Saltchuk Marine. After completing her graduate certificate in Accounting with the UW Foster School of Business and passing the CPA exam, in 2020 Jessica joined the GL/Accounting team as a G/L accountant.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys gardening, taking walks with her dogs (Potato and Tomato), and practicing yoga. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Justin Hayworth

Manager, Finance & Strategic Projects

Justin Hayworth

Manager, Finance & Strategic Projects

Justin joined Saltchuk in 2023 as a Manager, Finance & Strategic Projects, focused on supporting the development of Foss Offshore Wind and the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal. He previously had a seven-year career on Wall Street, most recently working in Power & Energy Investment Banking at Jefferies.

Justin received an MBA from Cornell University and a B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan. In his free time, Justin enjoys spending time with family, hiking, photography, and playing trivia.

Karen Lewis-Doldron

Senior Treasury Analyst

Karen Lewis-Doldron

Senior Treasury Analyst

Karen, a native of St. Thomas (USVI), joined the Saltchuk Treasury team in 2021 after spending 13 years with Saltchuk’s international shipping business unit Tropical Shipping. She started her accounting career out of high school in the banking industry and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at Strayer University. In her free time, Karen enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family.

Karl Zanot

Senior Internal Auditor

Karl Zanot

Senior Internal Auditor

Karl joined Saltchuk’s Internal Audit team in 2023. Before Saltchuk, he worked as an Audit Associate at KPMG Seattle. Karl is a CPA and hold degrees in Accounting and Finance from Washington State University. He grew up in Boise, Idaho and enjoys reading, climbing, cycling and walks.

Katie Johnson

Financial Reporting Manager

Katie Johnson

Financial Reporting Manager

Katie joined the Corporate Accounting team in 2022 after working for two years on the FP&A team for Saltchuk Aviation. Before joining the Saltchuk Family of Companies, Katie spent several years in Anchorage and Seattle as a Certified Public Accountant, primarily working in audit, where she worked for a range of clients, including construction companies, public entities, and Alaska Native Corporations. In her spare time, Katie enjoys reading, cooking, and skiing.

Kelsey Morgan

Director, International Tax

Kelsey Morgan

Director, International Tax

Kelsey joined Saltchuk in 2022. She is responsible for international tax planning, compliance & reporting for all Saltchuk companies. She also advises on tax policy issues and other special projects.

Prior to joining Saltchuk, Kelsey worked at Zillow for 5+ years, helping grow the tax team and serving as Senior Manager, Income Tax. She began her career in public accounting in New York City and Seattle. Kelsey is a CPA and received her B.A. in Business Administration/Accounting at Gonzaga University and her Master’s in Tax from the University of Washington.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her family and reading/listening to podcasts.

Kerri Bates

Corporate Administrative Manager

Kerri Bates

Corporate Administrative Manager

Since joining Saltchuk in June of 2016 to support the Chairman and shareholders of Saltchuk, Kerri’s role has grown to include managing the professional team aboard the Thea Foss and supporting Saltchuk Aviation. Before joining the Saltchuk team, she worked in the Corporate Affairs Department at Nordstrom. She and her husband relocated from Texas, where she worked in the Legal Department at Michaels for 15 years. Kerri enjoys the outdoors and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband.

Lisa McQueen

Senior Director, Risk Management

Lisa McQueen

Senior Director, Risk Management

Lisa joined Saltchuk in 2015 from the Seattle-based office of Aon Risk Services where she was a Senior Vice President overseeing strategic property and casualty insurance brokerage program design, placement, and consulting services to a variety of national and regional clients in both the private and public sectors. Her expertise is diverse and has been oriented towards multi-national, complex risk management clients of various industry sectors, including ports, airports, supply chain logistics, marine, aerospace parts manufacturing, retail, banking, and technology. After joining Aon in 1998, Lisa had the opportunity to work with Saltchuk Resources in a broker-client capacity beginning in late 2007 until her transition to Saltchuk in 2015. She has over 30 years’ experience in the risk management and insurance field.

As Senior Director of Risk Management, Lisa is responsible for overseeing the risk management strategy and implementation for Saltchuk and its six business units. Her key responsibilities include risk identification, risk financing and actuarial reviews, enterprise risk management, total cost of risk, due diligence for mergers & acquisitions, complex claims, insurance program design and procurement, and the strategic risk and insurance business partner relationships for Saltchuk Resources and its subsidiaries.

Lisa received her B.A. in Marketing and Communications from the California State University of Northridge and has completed the Property & Casualty Insurance Certification Program at Pepperdine University.

She and her husband both thoroughly enjoy all types of outdoor activities including (but not limited to!) golf, biking, camping, skiing, and boating. They love to travel, cook, entertain, spend time with family and attend the theater. Currently, Lisa serves on the Board of Directors for a local non-profit theater.

Mark Krone

Senior Analyst, Corporate Insurance Programs

Mark Krone

Senior Analyst, Corporate Insurance Programs

Mark Krone joined Saltchuk’s risk team in 2023 as a Sr. Analyst, Corporate Insurance Programs.

Prior to Saltchuk, Mark was a Risk Management Analyst for six years with Sierra Nevada Corporation, and before that, an Insurance Program Coordinator for FCC Services in Denver, CO. Mark works closely with Saltchuk business units, brokers, and others to help manage enterprise risk and corresponding insurance programs.

Mark holds Risk & Insurance Industry Designations RIMS-CRMP, AINS, ARM, and CPCU.

Mark Tabbutt

Chairman

Mark Tabbutt

Chairman

Mark began working at Saltchuk in 1995. He served as General Manager of Alaska for Totem Ocean Trailer Express from 1996 -1999, President of Saltchuk from 1999 – 2007, and was elected Chairman in 2007. Mark holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Whitman College, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Puget Sound / Seattle University, and completed the Owner-President Managed Program, unit #32, of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program. Mark is an inactive member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Matt Nichols

Senior Internal Auditor

Matt Nichols

Senior Internal Auditor

Matt joined Saltchuk’s internal audit team in 2022. Prior to Saltchuk, he worked for KPMG and PwC as an experienced audit associate. Matt is a CPA with a BA in Business Administration and an MBA from Drury University, where he was captain of the men’s swimming and diving team. In his free time, Matt enjoys hiking, golfing, and spending time with family.

Max Sinista

Senior Manager, Technical Accounting

Max Sinista

Senior Manager, Technical Accounting

Max joined Saltchuk’s accounting team in 2024, where he supports Saltchuk’s family of companies on technical accounting issues that develop here at the corporate office and our business units. Before joining Saltchuk, Max worked at Expedia in their technical accounting space and at EY in their audit group. Max obtained his bachelor’s in accounting from Sacramento State University. In his free time, Max enjoys exploring new hiking trails, cooking for friends and family, and vegetable gardening.

Megan Henshaw

Senior Manager, Risk Managment

Megan Henshaw

Senior Manager, Risk Managment

Megan joined Saltchuk in July of 2016 as the Insurance Manager. Prior to joining Saltchuk, she had a 23 year career as an insurance professional, including most recently as Account Executive/Client Service Manager with Saltchuk’s aviation insurance broking team. Megan has extensive experience in Property and Casualty insurance and began her insurance career with a marine insurance brokerage firm.

Megan has a B.A. Degree in both Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Studies, both from the University of Washington. She has obtained the insurance designations of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Certified Aviation Insurance Professional (CAIP) and is currently working on the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation.

Megan, her husband, and two young boys love living in the Pacific Northwest and take advantage of the natural beauty by spending time in the winter at their cabin in Cle Elum, and during the summer at a family cabin on Bainbridge Island beachcombing and fishing.

Melissa Martinez

Senior Manager, HR Analytics & Payroll

Melissa Martinez

Senior Manager, HR Analytics & Payroll

Melissa joined Saltchuk Resources in January of 2015. She started in HR and payroll knowing that she could provide excellent service to all Saltchuk business units. Prior to Saltchuk, Melissa worked at Swedish Medical Group and Providence Health as Sr. Payroll Manager with a small staff plus account payables. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping, and riding quads out on trails or the dunes.

Melissa Sugihara

Risk Management Specialist

Michael Leichner

Managing Director, Tax

Michael Leichner

Managing Director, Tax

Michael joined Saltchuk in June 2019 as Senior Director of Tax. He is responsible for tax compliance, tax planning, and tax accounting for all of the Saltchuk entities.

Prior to joining Saltchuk, Michael worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP in Seattle for just under 12 years. At PwC, he focused on privately-owned companies, both large and small, helping clients through complex tax compliance and accounting for income tax matters. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration/Accounting and a Masters in Taxation from the University of Washington. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Washington.

In his free time, Michael likes to spend time with his wife and two children, supporting the UW, playing soccer, and enjoying craft beer.

Michelle Fabela

Senior Manager, Treasury

Michelle Fabela

Senior Manager, Treasury

Michelle joined Saltchuk in 2022 as the Sr. Treasury Manager responsible for cash management for the Saltchuk family of companies. Michelle came to us from Blue Origin, an aerospace company, where she helped to stand up the Treasury department. Prior to Blue Origin, Michelle worked as the Director of Treasury at Nordstrom, where she spent 12+ years in various Treasury roles.

Michelle is originally from Seattle and attending Seattle University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring new places to camp in the Pacific Northwest.

Mike Dannenberg

VP, Corporate Development & Strategy

Mike Dannenberg

VP, Corporate Development & Strategy

Mike is responsible for evaluating and executing acquisitions, partnerships, major capital projects, divestitures and the allocation of capital across the family of companies.

Prior to joining Saltchuk in 2020, Mike held roles in both investment banking and corporate finance, gaining experience in strategic, operational, and financial planning, financial and deal analysis, business development, M&A, and equity and debt transactions.

Monica Evans

Receptionist

Monica Evans

Receptionist

Seattle native Monica Evans joined the Saltchuk team in 2022, bringing years of customer service experience to a new industry. In her free time, Monica enjoys baking, photography, nature, and spending time with family.

Nicole Powers

Senior Manager, Internal Audit

Nicole Powers

Senior Manager, Internal Audit

Nicole joined the Saltchuk team in 2014 from subsidiary, Tropical Shipping. She earned her B.S. degree in Accounting from The State University of New York at Utica/Rome, and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and is Certified in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA). Nicole’s professional background includes 20+ years of audit experience.

Nicole lives in West Palm Beach, Florida with her husband, Ken and dogs, Rosie and Rocco. In her free time, she loves photography, traveling, and volunteering. Nicole served five consecutive years on the Palm Beach County Chapter of The Institute of Internal Auditors in various leadership roles, as well as five years as a member of The Palm Beach Toastmasters Club. She also held various leadership roles and served as a member of The Junior League of the Palm Beaches where she was dedicated to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving her community.

Patrick Abrigo

Facilities & Administrative Assistant

Patrick Abrigo

Facilities & Administrative Assistant

Patrick Abrigo is a Facilities & Administrative Assistant with extensive experience in human resources, customer service, and operations support. He excels at creating efficient workplace environments that enhance both employee experience and business outcomes.

Patrick's strengths include coordinating and supervising diverse teams, demonstrating adaptability in dynamic settings, and ensuring seamless administrative operations. His hands-on approach has consistently delivered results throughout his career.

Committed to professional growth in human resources, Patrick focuses on fostering positive workplace cultures while continuously improving operational processes.

Paul Morrison, CPA

Director, Internal Audit

Paul Morrison, CPA

Director, Internal Audit

Paul joined Saltchuk in 2014 having been with Tropical Shipping since 2006. A graduate of the University at Buffalo, Paul worked as a controller and internal auditor before joining Tropical.

Paul enjoys golfing, snorkeling, Broadway shows, and creative writing.

Peter Bobkowski

Senior Director, Internal Audit

Rachel Varndell

Senior Benefits Analyst

Rachel Varndell

Senior Benefits Analyst

Rachel Varndell is a Senior Benefits Analyst with a deep understanding of benefits programs and their impact on both employees and organizations. She specializes in analyzing, managing, and optimizing benefits programs to enhance employee well-being while aligning with organizational goals. Her ability to navigate the complexities of benefits administration allows her to provide strategic guidance and effective solutions that support both the workforce and the business.

Rachel graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Legal Studies. She is dedicated to continuous learning and improvement, ensuring that benefits programs are structured thoughtfully to create positive employee experiences.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys traveling and spending time with her two black cats.

Rose Laughlin

Office Manager

Rose Laughlin

Office Manager

Rose joined the Saltchuk team in 2017. She earned her BA in Comparative Literature from the University of Washington and has held various office administrative positions in banking, high tech and insurance.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family, reading and getting out in nature.

Sofia Schweitzer

Senior Tax Analyst

Sofia Schweitzer

Senior Tax Analyst

Sofia Schweitzer joined the Saltchuk team as a Senior Tax Analyst in 2024.

Sofia started her career in 2016 at Ernst & Young in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she was part of the Financial Services Office team, providing U.S. tax services for clients in the New York City area. After moving to Seattle, she worked in the corporate tax function at Trupanion.

She holds a graduate certificate in accounting from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s in business administration from the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE).

In her free time, Sofia enjoys hiking, playing the piano, and trying new restaurants with her husband.

Steph Fitzpatrick

HR Manager

Steph Fitzpatrick

HR Manager

As an experienced HR professional, Steph Fitzpatrick has spent over 15 years driving HR excellence through strategic leadership, talent management, and organizational development. She collaborates with executive teams to implement effective HR initiatives that align with business goals and foster organizational growth.

Steph's expertise spans strategic HR business partnering, leadership coaching, talent acquisition, and workforce planning, ensuring organizations are structured for optimal performance. She is skilled in total rewards, benefits administration, and compensation planning, creating systems where employees are competitively and fairly rewarded.

With a strong foundation in employee engagement and change management, Steph excels at navigating complex organizational changes while building trust and fostering a positive workplace culture. She has demonstrated success in managing cross-functional projects, overseeing HR compliance, and designing innovative learning and development programs.

Committed to continuous improvement, Steph leverages her comprehensive HR expertise to help organizations achieve their business objectives while developing high-performing teams.

Yesenia Velasquez

Senior Tax Analyst, International Tax

Yesenia Velasquez

Senior Tax Analyst, International Tax

Yesenia Velasquez joined Saltchuk in 2024 as a Senior Tax Analyst.

Yesenia started her career in 2020 at EY Seattle, where she worked on various tax matters (Federal, State, and International). She then transferred to Moss Adams Seattle, where she focused on international tax. Prior to Saltchuk, she worked at Lattice Semiconductor, focusing on international tax matters.

She holds a Master’s degree in Taxation from the University of Washington, as well as a Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Bachelor’s in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Washington.

Saltchuk Corporate Flight

Michael Youens

Senior Captain

Michael Youens

Senior Captain

Michael joined the Saltchuk Corporate Aviation team as Captain in 2022. With safety always at the forefront, he began his Aviation career in 2006 piloting corporate and charter aircraft for private owners. He then worked for several years for an aircraft manufacturer, holding roles ranging from Demonstration Pilot, flying a variety of certified and experimental pre-production aircraft, to Chief Pilot and Director of Operations, including multiple years based in the United Kingdom overseeing Europe-based flight operations. In 2018 he returned to the PNW as a Captain for a private corporation. Michael holds a BS in Aviation from the University of Oklahoma, an MBA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is a Certified Flight Instructor, and is pursuing his National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Certified Aviation Manager accreditation. In his free time, he enjoys sailing and the outdoors.

Rodrigo Mülchi

Director of Corporate Flight, Chief Pilot & Safety Officer

Rodrigo Mülchi

Director of Corporate Flight, Chief Pilot & Safety Officer

Rodrigo joined Saltchuk as Director of Corporate Flight, Chief Pilot & Safety Officer in 2024. Prior to Saltchuk, he spent 13 years flying for Starbucks Coffee Company, holding increasing levels of leadership responsibility throughout his tenure there. Before moving to Seattle, Rodrigo’s earlier aviation career included flying in the air cargo, med-evac, charter, and corporate domains. Rodrigo completed his Bachelor’s degree (Business Administration) in Goteborg, Sweden, after moving there with his family from Chile. He also holds a Certificate in Aviation Safety Management from USC and is a certified auditor for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operation (IS-BAO). In his free time, Rodrigo enjoys time with his family, tinkering with (and sometimes riding) his motorcycles, and recently began dabbling in golf.

Steve Werthwein

Director, Maintenance

Steve Werthwein

Director, Maintenance

Steve joined Saltchuk’s Corporate Aviation Team as Maintenance Manager in 2021, relocating to Seattle from Texas. Steve is an accomplished senior aviation administration and operations management professional with over 10 years of aircraft maintenance, parts, and inventory control, customer relations, and business operations expertise. He brings a wealth of experience to the Saltchuk Corporate Aviation team, having managed multiple long-range aircraft to global destinations. Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Tampa and is a licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors and time with family.

Thea Foss

Abby Canfield

Chef

Abby Canfield

Chef

Abby joined the crew of the Thea Foss in 2022. She has run Eat.Cook.Learn., hosting culinary experiences and adventures since 2018. Prior to becoming a freelance chef, she spent five years as Executive Chef at Agrodolce Italian restaurant in Seattle. Abby holds a Bachelor’s in Restaurant/Food Services Management from Colorado State University, and attended the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and exploring the world’s culinary delights.

Alex Doran

Deckhand

Andy Beeler

Captain

Andy Beeler

Captain

Andy grew up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, learning boat mechanics from his stepfather before moving to Quilcene, Washington at 15. He began his maritime career as a cook with Western Towboat in 2004, earned his Mate's License, and joined Foss Maritime in 2015. Andy has captained the Lindsey Foss since 2017 and received the 2021 Water Rescue Award from Northwest WA Red Cross for rescuing two kayakers from North Puget Sound.

He's a father and husband who enjoys camping, fishing, dirt biking, and auto bodywork.

Learn More About Captain Beeler and his career at Foss: https://www.saltchuk.com/foss-captain-andy-beeler-on-his-career-at-sea-dramatic-tug-rescue/

Becky Selengut

Chef

Becky Selengut

Chef

Author, instructor, speaker, and chef Becky joined the crew of the Thea Foss in 2022. After graduating at the top of her class from the Seattle Culinary Academy, she put in many years at some of the Seattle area’s most well-known restaurants including the internationally acclaimed Herbfarm Restaurant. A prolific and celebrated writer, Selengut has authored several books including How to Taste, Good Fish (a sustainable seafood cookbook), and Shroom: Mind-Bendingly Good Recipes for Cultivated and Wild Mushrooms. In her spare time, Selengut forages, makes a mean Manhattan, and shares her life with her sommelier wife and their lovably loony pointer mix.

Christie Biddle

Steward/MedPIC

Jimmy Luper

Chief Engineer

Jimmy Luper

Chief Engineer

Jimmy joined Saltchuk in early 2022 and brings a passion for historical preservation through operating antique equipment – with a particular fondness for the sea.

Prior to Saltchuk, Jimmy spent three years as Chief Engineer and Project Manager for Pacific Catalyst, which operates two antique yachts in the Alaska charter business. He has sailed between Baja and SE Alaska multiple times and has explored many places in between.

Jimmy graduated from Colorado State University with a BS in Chemistry and holds a USCG Master 100T license. In his free time, Jimmy enjoys working on his own boat, driving his Model A Ford, snuggling with the critters and the sweetie, and taking on life’s adventures.

Mark Maddock

Asst. Enginer, Deckhand

Mark Maddock

Asst. Enginer, Deckhand

Mark first set foot on the historic Thea Foss more than 40 years ago when his father, a Foss executive, brought him aboard. About the time his father retired in the 1970’s, Mark began as a part-time deckhand for Foss, coming aboard the Thea Foss full-time in the mid-1990s.

Torrey Stout

Deckhand

Our Corporate Structure

Learn More