Thursday, November 12, 2015

BBRSDA names new leader

Becky Martello will take over as executive director of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, effective Dec. 14.

Here's a press release with details about her background.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great. Sue Asplund 2.0

Anonymous said...

I know BBRSDA had some other fine candidates, with real world processing and marketing experience, but chose to go with another bureaucratic type. Which is fine, but call a spade a spade. In these times of poor prices and a disgruntled membership, the board wants someone it can tell exactly what to do, instead of bringing in fresh ideas, leadership, and real-world Bristol Bay experience.

Anonymous said...

So 12:05, Calling you a spade! When was the last time you attended a BBRSDA meeting? Who's are the names of your candidates with"real world processing marketing experince, that you would like to see run the BBRSDA? Maybe they did contact them ? Maybe those candidates didn't want take tyhe position because of whining piss holes like "YOU" ? So I say come to the next BBRSDA meeting and bring your real-world Bristol Bay experience fresh ideas about poor prices and disgruntled membership and your "GREAT LEARDERSHIP" and share it with all of us !

Anonymous said...

The ED simply follows direction from the board. The chairman runs the board meetings and the committee's are suppose to determine how to best achieve goals outlined by the Strategic Plan. The ED should be someone that has political connections, understands the business, communicates effectively and is extremely well organized. Becky Martello is a fine choice. Let's give her support for the task at hand.

Anonymous said...

Time to put this puppy to bed. Sign the petition to eliminate this mess of an organization. Okay quality 2010 equals $1.25 ex vessel. 2015 greater quality equals .50 ex vessel. I've seen and heard enough.

Anonymous said...

This bears repeating, especially for 4:43 who can't quite equate why markets don't always go up. Good thing you didn't invest in the oil patch.

I don't think I've seen or read a more concise overview as the one that I copied & pasted below.
So, ya, go ahead and sign the petition to eliminate this mess…but I've got news for you, the marketplace will still have a mind of its own, and there you'll be with no advocacy. You will need a "puppy" to cheer you up...


Anonymous Anonymous said...
Most of the comments on here are from people that think the processors are screwing them, that someone is at fault that they're not making more money. I wonder how many of these guys have RSW, float their fish, or most importantly in todays market bleed their fish. ( Can you even sell a sour, unbled tuna anymore ? why a sockeye ?) If the processors are making so much money, (some will lose money this year in Bristol Bay) why will Silver Bay fishermen/processor owners not receive anymore for their fish this year than the base price - are they screwing themselves ? Why do some fishermen think they can slam, throw, kick, stuff fish into their dry, warm bacteria ridden boat, then whine & demand that they get more money & that they're getting screwed. The low IQ gang has it figured out, it's the scabs fault from 20-30 years ago, time to strike ( strikes don't work with the here today, gone tomorrow spawning species like salmon & herring) and now it's the ill thought out "price mediator" idea. The idea of a price mediator would be great if you knew every year the exact amount of product that would be harvested, the exact amount of all competing product on the global market to be harvested, probability factor of possible Chilean coho or other farmed salmon disease outbreak, currency exchange forecasts etc. Once again another idea from the I want more money for my pile of shit crowd. It's a great idea on a year when there is a 25 mil forecast & 50 mil fish show up, I got my price-so what my processor was forced into bankruptcy, oh wait.. who am I going to sell to next year? But what about the year 50 mil are forecast & 25 mil show up, oops - just shot myseif in the foot, negotiated a price but the market doubled between June & August. When things aren't all rosy the cannibals & morons come out (buttjam's & scab yappers). I've been gillnetting the west coast for 49 years, 36 in Alaska & 34 in Bristol Bay and can see after reading the comments on this site why the rest of the industry thinks gillnetters, Bristol Bay especially, are a bunch of idiots

November 7, 2015 at 8:02 AM

Anonymous said...

Wow! 4:43, you've seen and heard enough? Try opening up both your eyes and ears to the fact that the marketplace also has an influence on things. Do you think we would be at this price with a 20 million harvest?

To think that you can blame the RSDA for the ex-vessel price in Bristol Bay, is way too convenient. We wish it was that easy. Especially those of us at Silver Bay Seafoods.

Anonymous said...

Right on 4:43 seen and heard enough also. Put this thing to bed.

Anonymous said...

1:25 PM, can you tell us any more as to why Becky Martello is a fine choice? Not much of substance in the press release. What exactly is a "Graduate Seminar in Marketing" focused on a "proposed salmon processing business"?

Mfmdmere said...

Seriously!?! Sue Asplund 2.0? Have you even seen this gals background or credentials? She grew up fishing the same waters we do. And for you mister or Mrs. 4:43, you know we had way more fish. Of course the price is lower. I support the change. Suck it up buttercup. There is a new director in town. I for one give her my full support. Maybe you should try it. I promise it doesn't hurt. Maybe try coming to the new gal with solutions instead of just problems? I am willing to bet she'll listen.

Anonymous said...

443 there you go, there is no reason to take primo care of your product, just let it go the way it has always, and we (red salmon fishers from other parts of the state0 will take all your market share, because we will take primo care of our fish, bleeding every one at the roller , immersion in live bleed tank and slush ice that is.

Anonymous said...

No experience what-so-ever.
BBRSDA should be ashamed for hiring this poor choice.

She did not attend graduate school, but does however fluffs up her "graduate seminar" to a degree level.

She spent less than a year at AMSEA, but spent several years as a Health Systems Specialist, which clearly makes her qualified for ED at BBRSDA.

Girl hasn't fished commercially since she was a teen.

Anonymous said...

To 9:45 PM. I am sorry you have difficulty reading. I already stated why Becky would do a fine job. I'll try and explain it slower...

The ED simply follows direction from the board. The chairman runs the board meetings and the committee's are suppose to determine how to best achieve goals outlined by the Strategic Plan. The ED should be someone that has political connections, understands the business, communicates effectively and is extremely well organized.

Are you wanting more as in her grade point average? or extra curricular activities? What part of she will do a great job don't you understand?

Anonymous said...

10:58? So is she going to tell us why the BBRSDA is paying for the lawyers in that United States District Court, for Bob Waldrop, Robert Heyano, Buck Gibbons, etc, etc, etc... and the others involved in issues that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with a regional salmon development corporation?

U.S. District Court Judge Holland is listening, and he's got a whole lot of subpoenas on the table.

One thing about the pro pebble crowd, when these fucking inbread gill netters vote, you can bet your bottom dollar they will vote against themselves; EVERY SINGLE FUCKING TIME!

https://www.adn.com/sites/default/files/Pebble%20Motion%20to%20Compel.pdf

Anonymous said...

To 6:47 PM: Mrs. Martello, it is good that you are proud of your daughter Becky and have faith in her abilities. However, try to understand that no matter how many times you repeat she will do a "great job", it remains just your opinion.

The BBRSDA press release introducing Becky is little more than a brailer bag of buzz words. If you want to help BBRSDA members understand more about Becky's qualifications, please provide us with the following minimal information regarding her education and work history:

Date of graduation from high school
Dates of attendance at University of Alaska Southeast
Chronological list of employers since completion of college studies

Anonymous said...

Mfmdmere and 9:45 PM

Sue Aspelund, working for her own agenda, supporting those she likes and making life miserable for those she doesn't. Operating on her own agenda often never even consulting the board. Took the job with a multi year committment and quits 18 months into it because she wants to "work in her garden". Good riddance.

As for the new director, she may know the political landscape but why not spend that 100K hiring a director that knows both the political and industry landscape? Would a health systems company hire a seafood industry person as an ED. Don't think so.
Too bad the Board members don't have some real business experience other than owning a shitty little boat and spending our assessment money promoting movies and paying for Chef's to visit Bristol Bay and go sportfishing and bear watching. Exercise your right , VOTE TO DISBAND this nightmare.

Anonymous said...

9:58 Am, if Bristol Bay gets a low price then you will too.
They will always dictate the market, your quality has nothing to do with it
when BBay has HUGE runs .

Anonymous said...

6:26 referring to me, the original posting at 6:47. That's funny shit I like your sense of humor. Yes, that is my opinion. That’s what it’s meant to be. Congratulations for figuring that out all by yourself. Or, did you rely on the AIFMA board to help you? Whether you like it or not, the ED does not run the show. The board does. This is the problem with the model. 9:43 nailed it on the head. This board is run by fishermen with very little business experience beyond ordering gear, making paying borough tax, boat and permit payments and maintaining their LLC's Wow! Again, the ED just takes orders from the board. It's the board you need to rail on, not the ED. She (not my daughter) is a good choice for handling the job as outlined by the board. Now, should this board change so the ED is required to where big boy pants? Yes! Is it going to happen with this current structure? No. Go to a meeting and see for yourself. These board members are tripping over themselves to second a motion so their names appear in the minutes, rush home to show their wives how important they are. Dump this organization the turn it over to AISMI. AISMI will certainly accomplish more than this high water slack set bunch.

Anonymous said...

Wow, 6:09 PM can't even properly type the 4 letter acronym for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

Anonymous said...

I'm calling for a fisticuffs brawl at Expo... Let's see how tough these keyboard warriors really are! Perhaps Discovery Channel will provide media coverage; Tough Girl can be the referee...

Anonymous said...

ASMI 6:09? Really, well since we previously paid ASMI taxes, and got absolutely nothing in any marketing plan, what would be the difference today? 2, RSDA's Statewide? More like two, low water, stuck on a sandbar sets. Fishing is the sport of drowning worms, and cooking fish.

Bay fishermen watch Monday night football, drink beer, drive pickup trucks and prefer noisy women with big breasts, and even bigger asses, just like their newest fleet of boats. PWS fishermen watch MacNeil-Leher, drink white wine, drive foreign cars with passenger side airbags and hardly think about women at all. This last characteristic may have something to do with the fact that PWS fishermen spend most of their time immersed up to their balls in ice cold water.

The quality of the local product, matches the quality of the local mind.

"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone line man, trying to outwit a organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." Paul O'Neil

"It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and looses has it coming" John Steinbeck

32 braincells divided into 1850 permits, a self evident truth. You could pay a 99% marketing tax, and this group could still not sell a fish to a cat.

Anonymous said...

6:09, you mean ASMI not AISMI. I agree with you that the BBRSDA is likely to accomplish very little. But ASMI has also accomplished very little. Remember that the very processors who dominate ASMI were the ones that turned their backs on MSC. Then recognizing their mistake, attempted but failed to force their way back in. The failure to have MSC certification most certainly effected 2015 grounds price.

Anonymous said...

2:08 that's why we got 2 dollars a lb this year, because bb dictates our fresh market
9:58

Anonymous said...

What is all the whining? Your checks will be so small in 2016 you won't even notice the little deduction to fund the BBRSDA.

4:54 - I think about women all the time but I will leave the fat girls to you Bay fishermen. Too funny.

Groundswell said...

Time to revisit the idea that major groups (fleets) of Bay gillnetters have State issue a "buyer card"/processing permit of their own. Next, when fish prices are unknown or unacceptable at start and during season, each fisherman inserts his permit card AND one of many copies of the group card into the imprinter = NOT the card of his fish processor.

Also, each carries a simple rubber stamp and ink pad, with a notice that:
"This fish remains the product of 'Fleet X' and the supplier (fisherman) until such time as a fair and equitable price is agreed upon. Processor X2 is obligated under its State issued processing permit to process the seafood, BUT is not allowed to transport said product out of the USA or beyond basic warehousing UNTIL such fair price is declared and legally binding upon agreement of Fleet X and its membership."
Use commercial CONTRACT LAWS to ensure the price-making situation is derived by Mutual Assent, for an agreeable Consideration ($ value or acceptable payment formula method), to Known Terms of Contract Promises and Delivery etc.
Put the price power back into your hands, on your boat, and protect YOUR fish until such time as a legitimate contract with said buyer(s) is concluded.
State of Alaska should then enforce law and ensure all processors live up to the promise to State that getting said permit is part of a system of ensuring adequate overall processing capacity, and maximizing quality, and final sales value through proper product mix, and maximizing State fish taxes etc./That no processor be allowed to reject any fish, nor tie any fishing vessel-permit to deliver for a price any lower than may be obtained elsewhere.
Lender Liability laws apply - i.e. processor may not act as a subsidiary finance company, loan money to fisherman, then deny that borrower the right to deliver his fish to highest paying buyer at any time. Borrowers have such good faith rights in order to maximize ability to repay lenders. Lenders may not deny borrowers information about general nature of business that they need to know = no special insider information just because a fish company-lender has a "larger" relationship with their bankers. They must make all information openly available to all classes of borrowers.
USE THE LAW! TAKE BACK YOUR RIGHTS! USE STATE TO ENFORCE YOUR RIGHTS TOO!
--- Stephen Taufen, Groundswell Fisheries Movement

Anonymous said...

Uh, oh - 'Taufen showed up.

He's truly an unhealthy individual...

Blah, blah, blah... Same old argument.

I love the pure ignorance of guys who refuse to face the fact that their own processors integrate farmed fish into their corporate business plans. Classic Alaskan cowboy mentality when the Alaska State Constitution barred any state-level involvement in fish farming operations.

Wake up.

Wild caught fish no longer sets the price precedent for the market.

Remember the last time the Bay guys whined and cried? The Japanese issued a resounding "F^%K to YOU" and put the price in the toilet for about 5 years. Sure, let's get the state involved in dictating international market dynamics...

Anonymous said...

Back to topic:
It is quite easy to be a sniper in these shadows of anonymity. If you went to Fish Expo last week, attended our two day board meeting, our Thursday morning member meeting, or attended one of the many industry functions, you would have had the privilege to meet and confer with our new Executive Director Becky Martello in person. You would have found her to be quite the qualified, informed, professional and tenacious advocate for Bristol Bay. She is made of the right stuff to help lead the BBRSDA into the emboldened and aggressive improvements of our marketing, quality, and public relations divisions. The BBRSDA team is well aware of the state of emergency that this financially depressed salmon fishery is in. We are developing additional action plans, and will effect programs to address shortfalls as rapidly and responsibly as possible. As always, we solicit your proactive input and/or constructive criticisms. Rest assured, uninformed and destructive comments are deeply discounted. In fact, the negativity only serves to weaken us all. We are one large interconnected community that all float on the same tides.
Once again, I welcome Becky aboard and look forward to working with her on the difficult yet rewarding challenges we have in front of us.

Larry Christensen
BBRSDA Vice President
Marketing Chair, Finance committee

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all your work Larry, it's very much appreciated by most of us.

Anonymous said...

I imagine everyone on this string already subscribes to Bristol Bay Waypoints,but if not, you can sign up to receive it on the right hand side of the BBRSDA's home page, at www.bbrsda.com. Bristol Bay Waypoints is the email update that the organization routinely sends out with information for the fleet. They do a good job of keeping the content relevant.

Anonymous said...

I have worked with Becky and she is a solid leader with great organizational skills and she left a good job to take this one, because she always wanted to come back to the Bay.
Show her some respect and give her a chance.

Anonymous said...

Becky, welcome to your new job. You are working for some truly great people, and a much larger group of completely clueless dip-sticks. I hope you are able to enjoy the former enough to compensate for the task of managing the latter.