board of directors
board of directors
John Poppe
Chair
John Poppe is the Plant Manager at the West Sound Utility District’s South Kitsap Water Reclamation Facility in Port Orchard where they are doing some amazing things with wastewater treatment. He manages the plant with a focus on community involvement and has a lot of face time with Federal and State elected and regulatory officials. He has also made several trips to Washington DC to lobby on behalf of the District. The facility is already utilizing membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology and cooperative efforts in the works include diversified utilization of reclaimed water, biogas generation and reuse, microturbines, solar energy, wind turbines and geothermal energy applications. John has a lot of knowledge in the wastewater and alternative energies fields and will assist us with educational interpretive projects to implement on our property.
John has a degree in wastewater technology and clean water is a passion for him. He has served on multiple boards including that of the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association, the Water Environment Federation and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. John was the Chair and Facilitator of a one day Membrane Bioreactor Technology Summit that Norm Dicks, Mason County Commissioners and various state agencies attended. He was also Chair and Facilitator at a 2008 Energy Summit sponsored Representative Larry Seaquist and Senator Phil Rockefeller and the 2009 Water for Life Summit for world water treatment technologies. John is skilled at making partnerships work and is a great asset to the Board.
Diane McLean
Vice Chair
Diane graduated magna cum laude from University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in Journalism and minor in Economics. She brings extensive experience as a university research administrator and small business owner. She served as Deputy Director for the Office of Sponsored Programs, Executive Officer for the Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory, and Director of Intellectual Property & Licensing. She has served on several Mason County advisory committees and is currently a member of the Mason County Board of Equalization. Her days are filled with civic activities, hobbies, caring for her three active dogs, and enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Mike Henderson
Treasurer
Mike Henderson is a founder and has served as Chairman of Albina Community Bank since its founding in 1995 in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Henderson retired in February 1998 as President and Chief Executive Officer of PacifiCorp Holdings, Inc. which held interests in energy, telecommunications and financial services. After his retirement from PacifiCorp, he invested in several small and growing companies and was the CEO of Pinemeadow Group, a manufacturer of golf clubs and other consumer products and CEO of Prolifiq Software.
From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Henderson served as Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Foods, Inc, a Seattle based spice manufacturer. He previously headed the Northwest consulting practice for Deloitte Haskins & Sells during a seventeen year career there. Mr. Henderson was both a CPA and Certified Management Consultant during his tenure with DH&S.
Mr. Henderson is a director and chairs the audit committee of North Pacific Group, an employee owned trader, distributor and manufacturer of wood products with more than $1 billion in annual revenues. He served on the board of Longview Fibre, one of the country’s larger pulp and paper producers, until its sale in 2007. He serves on the board of Prolifiq Software, an internet technology company serving the marketing needs of Fortune 1000 companies. He has served on the boards of several non-profits including the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Mr. Henderson has been coming to Hood Canal since early childhood and now splits his time between Portland and his home here on the Canal. He is an avid outdoorsman and believes that preserving the native salmon will have a positive impact on the quality of our environment.
kelli kohout
Secretary
Kelli Kohout is the Chief Administrative Officer at Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle where she manages the office administration and human resources functions of a 500-attorney international law firm. In her role as CAO, Kelli oversees office operations, attorney and staff recruiting and development, compensation and benefits administration, regulatory compliance, industry monitoring and firm-wide strategic and planning initiatives. Kelli was born and raised in Boise Idaho and moved to Seattle to attend college. She is passionate about nature preservation and enjoys spending time in the outdoors hiking, fishing and skiing. Kelli is a past Board Member for Treehouse – the non-for-profit agency helping the foster children in Washington. In 2018 – Kelli founded the three-day music festival HOODSTOCK. Kelli’s vision behind the festival is to showcase the talent in the community and raise awareness about salmon preservation. It’s all about giving back to the community and preserving our natural treasure called Hood Canal. HOODSTOCK is dedicated to supporting the vision of HCSEG.
Greg Shimek
Greg Shimek is a retired telecommunications executive and fly fishing enthusiast. He was born and raised in Shelton, and grew up on Hood Canal, building a passion for clean water, healthy fish and good habitat. In addition to his service with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, he has taken an interest in Washington’s coastal cutthroat populations, working with WDFW on research in Puget Sound. He also serves on the board of the Puget Sound Flyfishers.
Michael Siptroth
Michael Siptroth is a local teacher with the North Mason School District. He teaches students in grades K-5, and leads the Environmental Studies Club at Belfair Elementary School. He also leads EnviroCamp, a youth summer camp offered at the Salmon Center, educating students on the environment, agriculture, and sustainability. Michael is involved with other organizations locally and is an active Kiwanian. He owns and operates Mountain Lake Farm, a local organic operation.
Ron Reimer
Ron Reimer is a retired medical oncologist who has lived with his wife Susan on the Hood Canal since 1982. He has previously served on the boards of KPS Health Plans and Harrison Medical Center. He is passionate about restoring and preserving the pristine environment of the Hood Canal and its surrounding communities.
Megan Richard
Megan Richard is a Professional Geologist who works for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe as a Restoration Project Manager. In this role she works to restore habitats for fish, shellfish, and wildlife and improve the Tribe’s resilience to the effects of climate change. As a native Washingtonian, she spent her youth exploring the mountains, forests, river valleys, and beaches. It was through these experiences that her affinity for the health of our watersheds was born. She attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Geosciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. Her interest in salmon habitat restoration grew from a blending of these academic backgrounds. She and her husband have been living in Hansville for the past four years and have been thoroughly enjoying life on the Hood Canal.
Tom Brown
Tom moved to Belfair, Washington, several years ago after spending much of his life in Bremerton. A Washington native, he graduated from University of Washington with a degree in Atmospheric Sciences. He worked at the Naval Shipyard as a Nuclear Engineering Manager and is now retired. His wife, Dorinda, is also a longtime resident of the area. Besides being an active volunteer with our organization, he is one of the North Mason Cancer Crusaders. Tom enjoys fishing, hiking, gardening, and the outdoors. Tom has been a Board member since 2010.
Dirk deGroot
Bio to come
Peter Roberts
Bio to come
Leah Pokraka
Leah Pokraka is the Branch Manager at Peninsula Credit Union in Belfair, where she has proudly served for the past 10 years. A passionate advocate for financial empowerment and community connection, she also serves as Treasurer of the North Mason Chamber of Commerce and holds the designation of Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE). Leah is deeply committed to supporting the people and businesses of North Mason and fostering meaningful community growth.
Raised between Washington and Alaska as the daughter of a commercial fisherman, Leah spent most of her childhood exploring small Alaskan towns like Yakutat, Bethel, and Homer — often aboard her dad’s troller, tender boats, and working the slime line on large fish processing barges. Her roots, however, run deepest at Triton Cove in Lilliwaup, where her family’s love for the Hood Canal began. She spends her summers there shrimping and crabbing, a cherished tradition her grandfather instilled in her and one she proudly carries forward. Leah now lives in Gig Harbor and is a proud mother of four, with whom she continues to share her love of the Hood Canal.