Members

The proposed Lake Erie National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council includes 15 voting members and 15 alternates representing a variety of user groups and related interests. The advisory council provides advice to NOAA and helps to guide sanctuary management. Council members will also act as liaisons to their communities, building a strong connection between the sanctuary and its partners. The advisory council also has seven government agencies that serve in a non-voting capacity.

Voting Seats

Citizen-at-Large (2 seats)

Kathy Dahlkemper
Christopher Spriegel
Jacob Kulp (alternate)
Joyce Montigny (alternate)

Commercial/Charter Fishing (1 seat)

Peter Alex

Divers, Dive Clubs and Archaeology (1 seat)

Nicole Tupek

Economic Development (1 seat)

Tina Mengine

Education (K-12) (1 seat)

Jennifer Swigonski
Hannah Rhodes (alternate)

Higher Education (1 seat)

Sherri Mason

Historically Underserved Populations (1 seat)
History, Maritime Heritage, and Public Interpretation (2 seats)

Ryan Cook
Melinda Meyer
Alexa Potter (alternate)
Jerry Skrzypczak (alternate)

Maritime Industry (1 seat)

Teresa Geurrein

Outdoor Recreation (1 seat)

Tom Cermak

Recreational Fishing (1 seat)

Mark Fachetti
David Eaglen (alternate)

Research, Science and Technology (1 seat)

Jeanette Schnars

Tourism and Marketing (1 seat)

Christine Temple
Anthony Perino (alternate)

Non-voting Seats

The following entities each have one seat on the advisory council.

United States Coast Guard
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Coastal Zone Management
Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission - State Historic Preservation Office
City of Erie
Erie County
Erie Area Council of Governments - representing lakeside municipalities
Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority

Additionally, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries welcomes the participation of interested Indigenous Nations and Tribes on the council. This can be initiated by contacting the designation project manager at honey.stempka@noaa.gov. Participation on the council does not take the place of government-to-government consultation nor does it serve as the only opportunity for engagement between NOAA and Indigenous Nations and Tribes.