Month: June 2022

Thomas E. Elliott, Sr.​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2012​

​

Tom Elliott was an executive for Slade Gorton & Co, Inc. He was very active in seafood issues in California. A native of Lombard, IL, Tom made his mark in the seafood industry by co-founding and running TEMA, a successful commodity seafood import brokerage company in San Francisco. He also served as a regional VP and general manager at Slade Gorton. He was the president of the California Seafood Institute from 1977 to 1978, and the chairman of the National Fisheries Institute from 1988 to 1989. He followed with many years of service on NFI’s board of directors. 

Susan B. Chamberlain​

Memorial Fund​

Established 2012​

​

Susan Chamberlain, wife to George Chamberlain, was a central force in establishing and growing the Global Aquaculture Alliance, the world’s leading aquaculture certification body.​ Susan managed the GAA office in St. Louis, helped organize the GAA’s annual GOAL meeting, and spearheaded the evolution of the Global Aquaculture Advocate from newsletter to magazine and online publication.

William N. Bloom​

Living Tribute Fund, Established 2006​

Memorial Fund, Established 2011​

​

Bill Bloom is the founder of Eastern Fish Company, located in Teaneck, New Jersey.  Mr. Bloom became a member of the National Fisheries Institute in 1974.  He served as chairman for NFI in 1998, a position held by his son, Eric, ten years later.  He was an avid supporter of SIRF.  In 2011, the SIRF Board of Directors established a memorial fund for Bill in recognition to a true leader in the seafood industry.​

Stephen H. Warhover​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2010​

​

Stephen Warhover was CEO and president of Gorton’s Seafood for 23 years.  Steve started his career with General Mills in 1968 as Marketing Assistant and worked his way to Vice President/General Manager in 1983.  He was appointed CEO of Gorton’s Inc. in 1986 and retired in 2009. He is an alumnus of Dartmouth College, Class ’66. He received his MBA from Kellogg Graduate School, Northwestern University.  He  currently serves on the board of directors for Gorton’s.   ​

​

Bill Herzig​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2010​

​

Bill Herzig began his 23 years career at Rich-SeaPak, in St. Simons, Ga. He worked his way up to senior VP of operations, procurement, quality assurance and commodity sales before taking a position as director of seafood purchasing for Darden Restaurants in 1997. Two years later, he became VP of seafood purchasing, and later became president of Darden Aquafarms, a lobster aquaculture facility in Malaysia. Bill received GAA’s 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award.​

Charles H. Bundrant​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2009​

​

Chuck Bundrant is the Chairman & Founder of Trident Seafoods, the largest vertically integrated seafood harvesting and processing company in North America.  In 1961, he left the family farm in Tennessee after watching the movie “North to Alaska” starring John Wayne. Chuck arrived in Seattle with $18 in his pocket and made his way to Alaska and took whatever work he could find. He repaired boats, shoveled shrimp, and worked his way onto the deck of a crabber, fishing some of the world’s roughest waters in the nation’s most dangerous profession. Chuck worked his way to the pilothouse and eventually purchased his first fishing vessel in 1965.  ​

Roy E. Martin​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2008​

​

Roy Martin was a professional staff member of the National Fisheries Institute for 27 years.  After a 17-year career with Swift Company, Mr. Martin joined NFI as Vice President of the Science & Technology Department.  His responsibilities included long-range development and communication of technologies to aid future advances in the seafood industry, among which included smoked fish research, aquaculture drugs, HACCP, shellfish regulation, and Codex standards.  Culminating his 42 years in the food industry, Roy retired from NFI as Senior Vice President.  ​

Joel Kolen​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2007​

​

Joel Kolen was the president of Empress International. He also served as president of the National Fisheries Institute and chairman of the Seafood Industry Research Fund board.  Joel was pivotal in rebranding the Fisheries Scholarship Fund (FSF) to now the Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF). Joel retired from his SIRF chairmanship position in 2012.​

Peter V. Cardone​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established  2007​

​

Pete Cardone founded Harbor Seafood in 1975.  He started his career as a general food brokerage in Canal Street and eventually grew his company into an international seafood importer and exporter. Pete used his extensive experience as a chef to become a successful and respected food broker. He discovered a passion for seafood after working with the Wakefield line and moved Harbor Seafood away from brokerage, into importing and packaging seafood. Pete served as chairman of NFI from 1990 – 1991, and a long-time supporter and board member for SIRF.​

Wallace R. “Wally” Stevens ​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2006​

​

Wally Stevens is an outstanding leader of 47 years in the seafood industry. His seafood career includes the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), Slade Gorton (over 17 years), Ocean Products, and Booth Fisheries. Before entering the industry, Wally served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, assisting with transporting men and materials to and from Southeast Asia.  He  was an integral part of GAA’s growth as well as the expansion of its Best Aquaculture Practices certification program. He served as NFI chairman in 2001, co-founded the NFI Future Leaders Program, and was inducted into the Boston Seafood Hall of Fame.​