Courtney was born and raised in Port Angeles and, after a few years away to attend college and kickstart her career, she moved back with her husband a few years ago. She has a background in public accounting as well as corporate accounting and currently works as an Assistant Controller for a consulting firm for start-up businesses across the country. When she’s not crunching numbers, she loves being outdoors, whether that be skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, or exploring all the trails and forest service roads with her two Shiba Inu dogs.
Lynnda and her husband have shared their time between Atlanta and Port Angeles for almost 13 years. With a background in education, having served as a Principal, Director of Leadership Management, and programs developer for gifted students in three countries, Lynnda recognizes
the value of the MDC for students of all ages. Having served on a number of Boards, including Boys and Girls Clubs, YWCA, and a large Atlanta School Board, Lynnda brings her experience of grant writing, project development, and education to the Marine Discovery Center. “I am honored to be a part of this exciting project with the MDC and helping to support the vision of the Board”. Lynnda volunteers with the PA Marathon, Goat Run, Olympic Discovery Trail, Big Hurt, and 4PA. Completion of the marine learning center will offer tremendous cultural and learning opportunities for the community and for visitors to our area.
Melissa came to Feiro in May 2014 after holding positions of progressive responsibility for over seven years at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, most recently as the Vice President of Learning. A lifelong informal science education professional, Williams has also held positions at the University of Arizona’s Flandrau Science Center in Tucson and the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Her academic background includes an undergraduate degree in psychology from New College, Florida, focused on animal cognition and behavior, and a master’s degree in instructional leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Damie (rhymes w/Sammy) grew up in Port Angeles where she also raised her family. A 1975 PAHS graduate, she recently graduated from Peninsula College with honors earning an A.A.S. in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Damie has always had a strong sense of giving back to her community and has been involved in organizing many fundraising events over the years for local charities and national disasters. For the past 8 years, she also helped raise money as a tree designer for the OMC Foundation’s Annual Festival of Trees. Growing up near the water Damie has had a natural love for the sea for as long as she can remember and every chance she gets, she heads out west to the coast to “recharge her batteries”. Damie is excited to be joining the team at Feiro Marine Life Center, working with Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to help bring the vision of the new Marine Discovery Center building to reality!
Born and raised in Port Angeles and a member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Linty has a deep connection to the area and had the privilege of being an early and frequent guest to the center upon its opening in the early ’80s. As a child, Linty was particularly drawn to the wide array of different sea life that she had not realized existed beneath the water she saw each day. Linty graduated from the University of Oregon with a BS in Communications/Public Relations and a minor in planning, public policy, and management. Gaining her first non-profit development position while still in college, she spent the next 10 years in a variety of progressively responsible roles working in resource, organizational, and community development in Lane County, Oregon. Linty returned to the Olympic Peninsula in 2009 and since then has led teams at Peninsula College, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and Olympic College.
Bob Milner currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Feiro Marine Life Center Board of Directors in Port Angeles, Washington where he has lived for the past 8 years. Recently retired as a defense consultant for issues impacting Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the Fires Center of Excellence, Milner served as an active duty Army Field Artillery officer, held various mid and upper-level management positions with Central and SouthWest Corporation and American Electric Power, and served as Vice President for Advancement with Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma before settling into his defense consulting role and as a registered federal lobbyist.
Bob is married to his wife, Linda, and has two daughters and three grandchildren.
Deborah has been involved in the nonprofit world for her entire career. She has started a number of successful nonprofits in her own community, taking them from the grassroots need to building boards and strategic plans to managing programs and facilities. Deborah thrives on problem-solving; whether it is how to provide pre-k opportunities to lower-income families or how to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on our ocean and on our communities. Deborah was raised on a homestead in northern British Columbia where everyday life was dictated by nature. Respect and wonderment for everything in and of the natural world is Deborah’s passion.
Betsy is a Port Angeles native that moved to Seattle to go to school and work in Information Technology. She moved back to Port Angeles in 1995 to help her husband Mark purchase and run his parents’ business, Airport Garden Center. Since 1998 she has been a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, including their Building Great Futures Capital Campaign.
“It makes me happy to be part of this project. As one of the campaign’s newest volunteers, I have been completely inspired by the people involved, the goals, and the mission of this project, and was easily motivated to join. My grandparents were teachers and always encouraged me to continually learn. The more I learn about this project, the more I am convinced it will be an impressive teaching facility. The new center will be a fun and wondrous place for our community and visitors for many generations.”
Laurel came to the Olympic Peninsula in 1978 after attending the University of Oregon and the University of California at Long Beach. In 1980, Laurel established Laurel Black Communications + Design, providing visual design and communications to the region’s business community, nonprofits and government agencies. Laurel first became involved with FMLC when she was commissioned to create its logo. In 2022, Laurel joined the FMLC board, recognizing the importance of awareness and education of the marine environment to the region’s residents and visitors. Laurel resides in Port Angeles and is married to Joe Murray, a consulting forester. Laurel serves on the communications committee and looks forward to supporting the development of the Marine Discovery Center.