Mission, Board Members, Committees, and Support Staff
Mission, Board Members, Committees, and Support Staff
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Strength in numbers 84 Members and growing: Join today!
Values
VCCFA is guided by the belief that commercial fishermen deserve a strong, unified voice in the decisions that shape their lives, their businesses, and their future. At the heart of everything VCCFA does is an unwavering commitment to empowering its members - licensed fishermen, vessel owners, and deckhands alike — to actively participate in the policies, markets, and conversations that affect their livelihoods.
VCCFA is committed to community, recognizing that the relationship between Ventura County residents and their local fishing fleet is a vital and irreplaceable bond —one built on trust, fresh food, and a shared coastal heritage. VCCFA honors the working waterfronts of Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors as sacred economic and cultural anchors of that community, and pledges to protect and preserve that infrastructure for those who depend on it today and those who will inherit it tomorrow.
VCCFA believes that responsible stewardship of the ocean’s resources is inseparable from a thriving fishing industry. Through education, partnership, and sustained engagement with local, state, and federal agencies, VCCFA upholds the highest standards of sustainable fishing practice — not because it is required, but because fishermen understand better than anyone that the health of the sea is the foundation of their resilience. It is this resilience — the ability to adapt, unite, and endure — that VCCFA carries as its deepest value, sharing it freely with fishing communities across California and the nation.
Vision
The Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association envisions a future where resilient coastal communities across America have direct access to locally caught, sustainably harvested seafood; where working waterfronts are thriving centers of commerce, culture, and education; and where commercial fishing is celebrated as an essential part of our national identity and food security. By strengthening our roots in Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors and partnering with commercial fishing associations across California and the nation, VCCFA strives to be a model for how fishing communities can adapt, unite, and endure — preserving the livelihoods of fishermen and the traditions of the sea for generations to come.
MISSION:
The Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association (VCCFA) is a California nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting our community with the fresh, locally caught seafood that defines our coastal heritage. We educate the public and the next generation of fishermen about the rich traditions and opportunities of working waterfront life, while working to protect the harbor infrastructure of Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors that our fishing fleet depends on. Through active engagement with state, federal, and local agencies, we advocate for policies that remove barriers to market and preserve the rights of our members — licensed commercial fishermen, vessel owners, and deckhands — to make their living on the water. We promote responsible stewardship of our marine resources on a sustained yield basis, and support the economic vitality of our members’ fishing businesses, ensuring that commercial fishing remains a thriving, viable way of life for generations to come.
2025-2026
2025-2026
VCCFA
VCCFA
BOARD MEMBERS
BOARD MEMBERS
*Term will continue until next election session (June 2026)
The board of directors is directly responsible for the welfare of the organization. They hold a caretaker position of a public trust. Their main duty is to determine the role the organization plays in helping to improve society. This translates into the privilege to serve and the obligation to protect the association. The board acts as trustee and an administrator.
PRESIDENT: JASON WOODS (OFFICER)
VICE-PRESIDENT: TIM ATHENS (OFFICER)
SECRETARY: VACANT
TREASURER: DARRELL KELLER
CHANNEL ISLANDS REP: TIM ATHENS
VENTURA REP: JEFF BUCHANAN
PORT HUENEME REP: JEFF MAASSEN
MEMBER AT LARGE: ERIC HODGE
MEMBER AT LARGE: MIKE KENNY
MEMBER AT LARGE: KATIE BORDOFSKY
MEMBER AT LARGE: BILL KUEHN
BOARD MAY APPOINT NEW BOARD MEMBERS ANYTIME THRUOUGH THE YEAR per VCCFA bylaws
NEXT VCCFA ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD JUNE, 2026 per VCCFA bylaws
VCCFA SUPPORT STAFF
As Voted in by MAJORITY APPROVAL byVCCFA BOARD MEMBERS
VCCFA Support Staff is subject to approval of VCCFA Board Members
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: DAVE COLKER
ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: MELISSA WOODS
Committees:
VCCFA BYLAW COMMITTEE
Created: Sunday July 14th in VCCFA Board of Directors meeting.
Purpose: Evaluate Bylaws and make determinations for changes to present to the Board of Directors for changes
Committee Members: Jason Woods, Tim Athens, Mike Kenny
Progress: Sunday August 18, 2024 Bylaw Committee Finalizes and approves changes to bylaws.
August 26, 2024; VCCFA Board votes on implimenting proposed changes to the bylaws. New bylaws passes VCCFA Board of Directors unanimously. New bylaws are posted to our website.
*Executive Director may attent the meetings, for purposes of support and suggestions. All decisions will be made from the Committee ultimately, and the ED 's Influence should not sway the committees ultimate decisions/recomendations.
VCCFA FISHERMANS MARKET COMMITTEE
VCCFA FISHERMANS MARKET COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs: Bill Kuehn, Katie Bordofsky
Committee Members: Jason Woods, Tim Athens, Mike Kenny, Eric Hodge,
Purpose: To discover, evaluate, create, and impliment Weekly Fisherman's Market: Specifically in Channel Islands Harbor.
Guidelines :
A familiarity with prior year's activities and the changes that are contemplated in the year to come.
A desire to serve the organization as a whole rather than an interest in a particular project.
At least a basic knowledge of budgeting, either on the personal or business level.
Connecting the character of the event with VCCFA's mission statement.
Next Committee meeting: TBD
*Executive Director may attent the meetings, for purposes of support and suggestions. All decisions will be made from the Committee ultimately, and the ED 's Influence should not sway the committees ultimate decisions/recomendations.
VCCFA FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE/ EVENT COMMITTEE
VCCFA FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE/ EVENT COMMITTEE
Created: Anticipated, will be created at the next VCCFA Board meeting
Purpose: To discover, evaluate, create, and impliment fund raising events. Fundraising events can include, but not limited to:
Fishermans Markets
Casino Nights
Beach Days
Dinners/ Galas
BBQ's
Committee Members: TBD
Guidelines :
A familiarity with prior year's activities and the changes that are contemplated in the year to come.
A desire to serve the organization as a whole rather than an interest in a particular project.
At least a basic knowledge of budgeting, either on the personal or business level.
Connecting the character of the event with VCCFA's mission statement.
Next Committee meeting: TBD
*Executive Director may attent the meetings, for purposes of support and suggestions. All decisions will be made from the Committee ultimately, and the ED 's Influence should not sway the committees ultimate decisions/recomendations.
2025-2026 BOD Schedule of Meetings
2025-2026 BOD Schedule of Meetings
October 19, 2025
February 15, 2026
June 14, 2026
Each at 4pm via zoom or in person
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITIES
President. Chairs meetings of the organization and is generally considered responsible for the overall well-being of the organization. Primary spokesperson to other organizations, media and the public at large. Supports the executive director.
VicePresident. Assists the president; assumes the role and duties of the presidency if the president is unable to continue or during the president’s absence. Often considered to be the "president-in-training."
Secretary. Custodian of records for the organization. Responsible for ensuring that minutes are taken and other documents necessary to manage the organization are created. Oversees records required by law. Reviews the policies of the organization and presents to the board any policies that need to be amended, rescinded or reaffirmed.
Treasurer. Monitors the finances of the organization (though remember—this is the job of the entire board) and heads the finance committee. Prepares yearly budget in conjunction with the executive director.
Past President Many boards include the immediate past president to provide consistency in the transition.
All officers are voting members of the board; they assist the president as appropriate and serve on appointive committees.
Rounding out the board of directors are the directors. Listed below is a brief description to further clarify their role on the board:
Directors/ Members at Large/ Port Representatives. Assist the officers in overseeing the well-being of the organization. They often serve as committee chairs or serve as liaison between the board and committee chairs. They vote on organizational policy and program issues and serve as a resource of knowledge and counsel to the staff and executive committee.
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