October 2022: Offshore Wind Development on the West Coast

Ryan Calkins, Commissioner, Port of Seattle

Ryan Calkins was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. Ryan works as a nonprofit professional at Ventures, a charitable organization that supports low-income entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in the Puget Sound area. For more than a decade, Ryan ran an import and distribution company in Seattle that was recognized for its industry-leading sustainability initiatives. In 2007, he formed Seattle Microfinance Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs with limited economic resources. Ryan began his career in Central and South America, working for disaster relief and human rights nonprofits.

Alla Weinstein, CEO, Trident Winds

Alla Weinstein is a global leader in marine renewable energy development. Ms. Weinstein instigated offshore wind being proposed in California through developing the Castle Wind project in Morro Bay. She brings more than 20 years of experience in permitting marine renewables, technology development, energy markets and project financing. Ms. Weinstein is the founder and CEO of Trident Winds, a deep-water offshore wind project development company. She is also the CEO of Castle Wind, a joint venture between Trident Winds and TotalEnergies. Prior to founding Trident Winds, Ms. Weinstein founded and ran two marine renewables technology companies.

Heather Mann, Executive Director, Midwater Trawlers Cooperative

Heather Munro Mann has served as the executive director of MTC since 2013. On behalf of the organization, Heather sits on a number of boards and committees, including the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Advisory Panel and the Seafood Harvesters of America Board of Directors. She chairs the Port of Newport’s Commercial Fishing Users Group (CFUG) committee and has extensive experience in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industry. Prior to joining MTC, she was the deputy director of the West Coast Seafood Processors Association and the director of the Seafood Consumer Center/Community Seafood Initiative. A native of Massachusetts, Heather currently resides in Newport.

Brent Paine, Executive Director, United Catcher Boats

Brent Paine has served as the Executive Director of United Catcher Boats (UCB) since 1994.  UCB is a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of the owners of 71 trawl catcher vessels that participate in the West Coast whiting fishery, the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Pollock, Pacific Cod and Yellowfin Sole fisheries.  Prior to his employment at UCB, Brent was a staff member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.  UCB has been an active industry participant in the Regional Fishery Management Process that governs the federal fisheries off the West Coast and Alaska.  

Ankur K. Tohan, Partner, K&L Gates

Ankur Tohan is a partner in the firm’s Seattle office and a practice group coordinator for the firm’s global Environment, Land, and Natural Resources practice group. Ankur’s practice focuses on energy infrastructure and natural resource development, compliance counseling, and defense of governmental and citizen enforcement actions. With an emphasis on renewable energy development and carbon management, Ankur advises a variety of industries on issues related to energy transition, expanding opportunities in the blue economy, as well as the impact of shifting carbon policies. In addition, Ankur works with clients on a broad range of complex regulatory, permitting, and enforcement matters, under federal and state laws, related to wildlife and natural resource management, pollution control, and cleanup of hazardous wastes.