Council Staff

The Council staff supports the Council by providing information for management decisions, informing the public about Council activities, helping the public participate in the process, coordinating the process and meetings, creating fishery management documents, and assisting advisory groups.

Printable Staff Contact Sheet

Meet the Staff

Dr. Christopher Moore

Executive Director

Chris Moore has been the Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council since July 2010. Before he became the Executive Director, he was the Chief of the Partnerships and Communications Division in the Office of Sustainable Fisheries at NOAA Fisheries Headquarters. Prior to NOAA, Chris worked for the Mid-Atlantic Council in various roles including as the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Plan Coordinator, Senior Fishery Management Specialist, and Deputy Director. He has also served as the Acting Director of the Northeast Cooperative Research Partners Program and worked for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission as a Bluefish Plan Writer. Chris has served on the National Fish Habitat Board since 2013 and was the Vice-Chair from 2017 to 2020. Chris was also the Acting Executive Director for the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) from 2019 to 2021. In recognition of his leadership, Chris was the recipient of WAFWA’s 2021 President’s Award. Chris has a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, a Master's from the University of Florida, a B.S. from the University of Dayton and over 30 years of experience related to fishery management and science issues.

(302) 526-5255
cmoore@mafmc.org

Julia Beaty

Fishery Management Specialist

Julia Beaty joined the Council staff in February 2015. She is the staff lead for black sea bass, chub mackerel, and offshore wind energy development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Smith College and masters degrees in Marine Policy and Marine Biology from the University of Maine. Prior to joining the Council she worked as a contractor for the National Marine Fisheries Service and also worked for the Alaska Marine Conservation Council.  

(302) 526-5250
jbeaty@mafmc.org

Jessica Coakley

Fishery Management Specialist

Jessica Coakley joined the Council staff in 2004 and has over 20 years of experience related to state and federal fishery management and science issues. Jessica grew up in New Jersey and graduated with a BS from Rutgers University before completing a MS at the University of Maryland - Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. She is the staff member responsible for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fishery management plan and lead for the Council’s habitat activities and initiatives and implementing aspects of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management. She is the current Vice-Chair of the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership, which focuses on the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of habitat for native Atlantic coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fishes. Before working with the Council, Jessica was employed with the State of Delaware and the State of Maryland.

(302) 526-5252
jcoakley@mafmc.org

Kathy Collins

Operations Officer

Kathy Collins is the Operations Officer for the Council.  She is responsible for the financial management of the Council, including budget development and monitoring, accounting and cash management, financial reporting, maintaining Council benefits programs, audits, managing contracts, and other administrative operations.

(302) 526-5253
kcollins1@mafmc.org

Karson Cisneros

Fishery Management Specialist

Karson Cisneros (formerly Karson Coutre) joined the Council staff in December 2018. She is the plan coordinator responsible for bluefish and is also the staff lead for protected resources and electronic reporting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from University of New England and a master’s degree in Fisheries from University of Alaska Fairbanks. Prior to joining the Council, she worked as a fisheries biologist in Juneau, Alaska, working with the Marine Ecology and Stock Assessment (MESA) group at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

(302) 526-5259
kcoutre@mafmc.org

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Kiley Dancy

Fishery Management Specialist

Kiley Dancy joined the Council staff in June 2012. Kiley is the plan coordinator responsible for summer flounder and deep sea corals, and a secondary coordinator on scup and black sea bass. Kiley received a BS in Biology from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. 

(302) 526-5257
kdancy@mafmc.org

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Jason Didden

Fishery Management Specialist

With the Council since 2007, Jason’s primary responsibilities include coordinating management of Atlantic mackerel, Illex squid, longfin squid, butterfish, and spiny dogfish. Jason is the Mid’s staff point of contact for river herring and shad (bycatch concerns), and the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP - recreational data). Jason also provides support for Mid-Atlantic perspectives on species primarily managed by the NEFMC including monkfish, Atlantic herring, scallops, whiting, skates, and groundfish. Jason’s undergrad majors were Political Science and Biology and he has a Masters of Marine Policy from the University of Delaware. 

(302) 526-5254
jdidden@mafmc.org

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Hannah Hart photo

Hannah Hart

Fishery Management Specialist

Hannah Hart joined the Council staff in May 2022. She is the plan coordinator responsible for scup and blueline tilefish and is also the staff lead for the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) and Highly Migratory Species issues. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the Florida Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Coastal and Marine Biology from University of North Florida. Prior to joining the Council, she worked as a fisheries biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(302) 526-5263
hhart@mafmc.org

Fishery Management Specialist

Tori Kentner joined the Council staff in May 2022. She is the technical lead for the Northeast Reginal Habitat Assessment and has a background in marine spatial ecology, GIS, data science and programming.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from York College of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Marine Biology & a GIS for Environmental Analysis certificate from San Francisco State University.

(302) 526-5262
tkentner@mafmc.org

Dr. José Montañez

Fishery Management Specialist

José Montañez has worked at the Council for 20 years. He holds an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and graduate degrees in Agricultural Economics.  He is the staff member responsible for the bluefish and golden tilefish management plans.  In addition, he also provides staff support for surfclam, ocean quahog, summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. 

(302) 526-5258
jmontanez@mafmc.org

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Brandon Muffley

Fishery Management Specialist

Brandon Muffley joined the Council staff in 2016 and has nearly 20 years of experience related to state and federal fishery management and science issues. He is the staff member responsible for coordinating the activities of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee and implementing the scientific and management objectives of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management guidance document. He also coordinates activities on a number of different state/federal issues and science initiatives. Prior to joining the Council, Brandon worked for the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Administration within the Division of Fish and Wildlife where he served in a number of positions including Administrator, Bureau Chief and Research Scientist. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Rider University in Marine Science and a Master’s degree in Fisheries Science from the University of Maryland.

(302) 526-5260
bmuffley@mafmc.org

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Stephen Pearson

IT Specialist and Data Manager

Stephen Pearson joined the Council staff in 2020 as the Information Technology Specialist and Data Manager. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the Council’s computer network infrastructure and administration, computer support services, database management, and a variety of other technical support functions. He holds a BS in Information Technology and has spent the last 15 years working in the web hosting and public cloud space supporting AWS, Azure, and VMWare clouds.

(302) 526-5256
spearson@mafmc.org

Mary Sabo

Communication and Outreach Coordinator

Mary Sabo is the staff member responsible for communication and outreach, strategic planning, and legislative affairs. Her day-to-day activities include managing the Council's website, developing press releases and outreach materials, interacting with the media, and tracking legislative activities. After joining the staff in 2011, Mary served as the staff lead on the Visioning and Strategic Planning Project, which culminated with the completion of the Council's first strategic plan in October 2013. In 2019 she oversaw development of the Council’s second strategic plan for 2020 through 2024. She continues to manage execution of the strategic plan through the development of annual implementation plans. Mary received a BS in Ecology and Biodiversity from Sewanee: The University of the South and a Master of Environmental Management degree from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two sons.

(302) 526-5261
msabo@mafmc.org

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Shelley Spedden

Administrative Support Specialist

Shelley Spedden joined the Council staff in July 2021. She provides administrative support to the Council staff and members, including overseeing Council meeting documentation and logistics. She has more than twenty years of experience in office administration with a zeal for serving with excellence. She has a certificate in nonprofit leadership and has completed extensive leadership and service training throughout her career. Prior to joining the Council, she served for three years as Development Director for a Delaware nonprofit and for fifteen years as Corporate Customer Service Manager and Executive Assistant at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.  

(302) 526-5251
sspedden@mafmc.org

Staff Contacts by Fishery and Topic

Fishery Management Plans

Ecosystem, Habitat, and Related Issues

Other Topics

Administrative

  • General Administrative Issues: Shelley Spedden

  • Council Travel: Kathy Collins

  • Communication and Outreach: Mary Sabo

  • Website: Mary Sabo

  • Webinar and IT Issues: Stephen Pearson