
Peggy Kircher with Simon Kinneen
At this meeting, the Council recognized Mr. Aaron Martin, who has served as the US Fish & Wildlife Service Council member representative for several years, as the alternate for USFWS Regional Director Greg Siekaniec. He will be replaced by Mr. Jon Gerken, the USFWS Fisheries Branch Chief in the Anchorage Field Office. Jon has spent many years conducting fisheries management, population assessment, and habitat restoration efforts throughout much of the state. Thank you, Aaron, for your service on the Council, and welcome aboard Jon!
The Council also said goodbye to the Council’s long-time senior Administrative Assistant Peggy Kircher, who is retiring at the end of April. Peggy originally started working for the Council as a Secretary in September 1980 and stayed through May 1991. After a stint working in the private sector and raising three boys, she returned to work for the Council as an Administrative Assistant in 2004 and served as the secretary for the Advisory Panel through 2018. Peggy has been an integral to keeping the office and the meetings running smoothly, and she will be sorely missed. Best wishes on your retirement, Peggy!