Board of Directors
Mike Racine - President
Mike
retired from Onyx Software in 2001 as Executive Vice President in charge
of Services. He was a founding equity owner at Onyx and served there
from its organization in 1994. As a member of the executive team during
that time, Mike helped lead and grow the company from 4 to 725 employees
and $0 to $120 million in revenue. At its peak, Mike oversaw a services
organization of $50 million in revenue and 225 employees. The service
groups at Onyx included system integration, technical support, education,
information systems, and facilities.
Prior to Onyx, Mike played various project management roles at Microsoft Corporation in their IT organization. Projects focused on development of internal business systems in the areas of email, helpdesk call tracking, and sales consolidation, reconciliation, & reporting.
Mike
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Rangeland Management from Utah
State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from
the University of Oregon. In addition to his role at Pacific Northwest
Aquatic Association, Mike serves on the board of directors at the Cascade
Land Conservancy in Seattle.
He is 48 and the husband of Wendi and father of Madeline.
James Trask - Vice President
James E. Trask
Current Occupation: Cashier
Retired First Sergeant – U.S. Army, 25-years
Chairman – Marine Advisory Council, Metropolitan Parks of Tacoma, 2 years
President – Pacific Northwest Aquatic Association, 4 years
Manager – Boeing Aerospace Company, 19 years
Education: AA degree in Criminal Justice, Certifications in Project Management, Applied Economics, Computer Applications, Business Management and Lean Manufacturing. Diver since 1998, Advanced Open Water Certification
Position in WSA requested: President and or Executive Director of Operations
I will bring to this organization the ability to create a teaming environment which will allow it to move forward as the leading dive organization in the Northwest. I will do everything needed for “Enhancing our Waters for Divers”.
Karlista Rickerson - Treasurer
Avid
scuba diver specializing in sites near Vashon Island and the mid Puget
Sound region for the past 20 years. No special skills related to marine
science other than a photo record of the changes that have taken place
in various sites.
Currently Treasurer of Washington Scuba Alliance, an organization that has worked with Washington State Parks to try and refurbish some of the "old" artificial reef sites put in place by the Washington State Dept of Fish and wildlife.
Very interested in establishing MPA, safe places for scuba divers and marine life, maintaining safe beach access for the public, and helping with marine life educational events.
Rick Myers
I have been in the dive business since 1974, first as a commercial diver (10 years) and also managing a dive harvest fleet. I have had my 100 ton Captains Lisc. for 19 years and started Bandito Charters Inc. in January of 1997. Since then I have operated the charter business full time. I have worked retail in the dive industry and have taught diving from 1993-2001 @ Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound and Curtis High School and Underwater Sports. Between 1988 and 1996 I owned and operated a drywall and painting company with between 15 and 50 employees.
Janna Nichols
Janna Nichols is a scuba instructor focusing on Marine Life Education. As a volunteer for the
REEF organization she has conducted over 300 marine life surveys in
various parts of the world, manages the local REEF organization's website
and email list to over 500 local divers. She has spoken to many NW dive
clubs about marine life and teaches at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. She
has also taught Fish and Invertebrate ID classes for the SeaDoc Society,
Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and Puget Sound Action Team at the
Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the Seattle Aquarium, and various
other locations throughout the northwest. She is currently involved
with the invasive tunicate problems in Washington state, and helping
with the low dissolved oxygen problem in Hood Canal.
One of her favorite activities is photographing Pacific NW Fish and Invertebrate life and she has shot and cataloged well over 3000 photos, which she shares with local marine life educators as well as being a collaborator with the worldwide FishBase online. She also serves as Washington State University's Dive Safety Officer for their scientific diving program in Vancouver.
She holds a BS in Engineering Technology from Brigham Young University and is a native Washingtonian who enjoys diving, camping, bicycling, motorcycling, snowshoeing, geocaching, her family and grandchildren, and has her own website design business.
Mike Racine - President
Mike
retired from Onyx Software in 2001 as Executive Vice President in charge
of Services. He was a founding equity owner at Onyx and served there
from its organization in 1994. As a member of the executive team during
that time, Mike helped lead and grow the company from 4 to 725 employees
and $0 to $120 million in revenue. At its peak, Mike oversaw a services
organization of $50 million in revenue and 225 employees. The service
groups at Onyx included system integration, technical support, education,
information systems, and facilities.Prior to Onyx, Mike played various project management roles at Microsoft Corporation in their IT organization. Projects focused on development of internal business systems in the areas of email, helpdesk call tracking, and sales consolidation, reconciliation, & reporting.
Mike
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Rangeland Management from Utah
State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from
the University of Oregon. In addition to his role at Pacific Northwest
Aquatic Association, Mike serves on the board of directors at the Cascade
Land Conservancy in Seattle.He is 48 and the husband of Wendi and father of Madeline.
James Trask - Vice President
James E. TraskCurrent Occupation: Cashier
Retired First Sergeant – U.S. Army, 25-years
Chairman – Marine Advisory Council, Metropolitan Parks of Tacoma, 2 years
President – Pacific Northwest Aquatic Association, 4 years
Manager – Boeing Aerospace Company, 19 years
Education: AA degree in Criminal Justice, Certifications in Project Management, Applied Economics, Computer Applications, Business Management and Lean Manufacturing. Diver since 1998, Advanced Open Water Certification
Position in WSA requested: President and or Executive Director of Operations
I will bring to this organization the ability to create a teaming environment which will allow it to move forward as the leading dive organization in the Northwest. I will do everything needed for “Enhancing our Waters for Divers”.
Karlista Rickerson - Treasurer
Avid
scuba diver specializing in sites near Vashon Island and the mid Puget
Sound region for the past 20 years. No special skills related to marine
science other than a photo record of the changes that have taken place
in various sites.Currently Treasurer of Washington Scuba Alliance, an organization that has worked with Washington State Parks to try and refurbish some of the "old" artificial reef sites put in place by the Washington State Dept of Fish and wildlife.
Very interested in establishing MPA, safe places for scuba divers and marine life, maintaining safe beach access for the public, and helping with marine life educational events.
Rick Myers
I have been in the dive business since 1974, first as a commercial diver (10 years) and also managing a dive harvest fleet. I have had my 100 ton Captains Lisc. for 19 years and started Bandito Charters Inc. in January of 1997. Since then I have operated the charter business full time. I have worked retail in the dive industry and have taught diving from 1993-2001 @ Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound and Curtis High School and Underwater Sports. Between 1988 and 1996 I owned and operated a drywall and painting company with between 15 and 50 employees.
Janna Nichols
Janna Nichols is a scuba instructor focusing on Marine Life Education. As a volunteer for the
REEF organization she has conducted over 300 marine life surveys in
various parts of the world, manages the local REEF organization's website
and email list to over 500 local divers. She has spoken to many NW dive
clubs about marine life and teaches at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. She
has also taught Fish and Invertebrate ID classes for the SeaDoc Society,
Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and Puget Sound Action Team at the
Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the Seattle Aquarium, and various
other locations throughout the northwest. She is currently involved
with the invasive tunicate problems in Washington state, and helping
with the low dissolved oxygen problem in Hood Canal.One of her favorite activities is photographing Pacific NW Fish and Invertebrate life and she has shot and cataloged well over 3000 photos, which she shares with local marine life educators as well as being a collaborator with the worldwide FishBase online. She also serves as Washington State University's Dive Safety Officer for their scientific diving program in Vancouver.
She holds a BS in Engineering Technology from Brigham Young University and is a native Washingtonian who enjoys diving, camping, bicycling, motorcycling, snowshoeing, geocaching, her family and grandchildren, and has her own website design business.