Heather Tabisola Email and Phone Number

I support two research programs through a NOAA Cooperative Institute, at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle, WA. In this role, I coordinate and support research efforts for the Ecosystems and Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations program, and the Innovative Technology for Arctic Exploration program. While my role varies slightly in both (content management versus program management, respectively) my focus is organization across research and the development of written and oral content for internal and external communications. I also run and lead the EcoFOCI seminar series, a bi-annual series focused on fisheries and oceanography in Alaska's marine ecosystems.

Principal owner and operator of Kainani Inc. A Marine Mammal Observer and passive acoustic monitor for the Oil & Gas industry. I have implemented marine mammal mitigation/protected species guidelines under BOEMRE (former MMS), JNCC, as well as project specific guidelines during seismic acquisition surveys in US and International waters. I have acted as a Lead on several projects. Observer duties include: observation and documentation of any seen protected species including proper identification, behavior, and quantitative data; advising of and implementing seismic compliance and mitigation, initiating shutdown of seismic acquisition where necessary, and photography for records and positive ID when appropriate. Lead duties include the above as well as: presenting and attending start-up meetings, organization and documentation of field and vessel data, utilizing Excel to organize biological, environmental, and seismic activity data, preparation of scientific reports for federal agencies, party chief, and clients. I have written several project final reports as lead and non lead. Other responsibilities include working as a team member with seismic crew and industry representatives. I successfully identify species, implement guidelines, monitor for marine mammals, utilize HSE standards; as well as organize, schedule, and train as needed; while also having a strong background in writing to complete and compile reports.Geographical Work ExperienceNorth America: Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay (coastal to offshore Massachusetts), Bay of Fundy (Maine and Canada), Gulf of Maine (coastal and offshore research), Atlantic Ocean (offshore for research cruises), Gulf of Mexico (offshore Texas and Louisiana)South America: South Atlantic United Kingdom: North Sea Africa: Mozambique Channel, Gulf of Guinea (offshore Togo), South Atlantic Ocean (Angola and Republic of the Congo)Arctic: Chukchi Sea, Baffin Bay

As Vessel Coordinator, I provided logistics and management of the daily vessel operational needs and support requirements of two vessels, the DPV Ocean Carrier (Mexico), and the RV Ocean Starr (US) and the respective crew. My tasks included but were not limited too:Vessel• Communication: Liaison between vessel, internal company departments, and occasionally vendors and clients. • Daily Operations: Monitor and track vessel submitted daily reports, ISM reports, and charter documents including vessel logs, invoices, and agreements.• Requisition and Purchase Logistics: Receive vessel material requests, ensure vessel requisitions are reviewed, and when approved, track purchases and ensure delivery to the vessel.• Port Call Logistics: Port Call arrangements for vessel including berthing, bunkering, waste removal, agent notification (where required), etc. • Crewing: Entering and review of employee payroll including raise requests, and reimbursements; and creating and distributing work schedules. • Operations Budget: Monitor vessel operating budgets against monthly actual performance especially in vessel lay-up periods. • Other: Assists in coordinating projects on assigned vessels during vessel lay-up periodsCrew• Arranges/coordinates all crew travel/accommodations.• Verify and keep up to date documentation of both current crew and potential crew hires.• Primary contact for crew members.• Acts as liaison between crew and family.• Communicate with crew when they are both on and off rotation.

Research Assistant, Oceanography, October 2007, October 2008, October 2009, October/November 2011Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA. aboard R/V Oceanus and R/V EndeavorActed as research assistant for both deck (collection) and lab (processing) in an annual field study investigating the population dynamics of Alexandrium species in the Gulf of Maine in order to form a prediction model of the toxic algae. The tasks included 24-hour oceanographic sampling (CTD, Niskin, Craib Corer, Van Veen Grab) with on vessel lab processing of mud sample, microscope identification of phytoplankton and Alexandrium cysts, and opportune monitoring of waters for marine mammals including count, identification, and reporting of marine mammals observed.

Research Technician, Zooplankton Ecology and OceanographyUniversity of Washington, Seattle, WA. The Keister Lab. Research Technician position to enter, organize, quantify, and analyze various sets of zooplankton data collected over a period of years from several sampling stations in Puget Sound. Extensive use of Access and Excel including data entry, pivot tables, query search and creation. *This was a limited term position.

I was the training leader and coordinator at Legal Sea Foods, an established restaurant, and chain based in Boston, MA. The position at the largest Legal Sea Foods restaurant. With this newly opened position, I liaised with HR and the training team to create a restaurant specific training book. I also initialed and coordinated the interview and training schedule, test administration, written and verbal communication with the general manager and created and performed training follow-ups on all servers (over 100 persons) on a monthly basis. I also managed the validation process of new hires, 2-20 persons per month, once they passed rigorous training to ensure LSF quality of service and standards.

One of the lead naturalists, educator, and deck hand for the Water Transportation Alternatives/ New England Aquarium whale watch. Providing educational narration during New England Aquarium whale watch cruises; covering topics such as marine mammal biology and marine conservation. http://www.neaq.org/visit_planning/whale_watch/index.php

Primary responsibilities included day research cruises in Cape Cod Bay collecting marine zooplankton (vertical and horizontal mesh tows) and oceanographic data, with continual observation of right whales for photo-ID and species abundance monitoring on the R/V Shearwater.Played an integral role in the collection, rapid assessment, and reporting of marine zooplankton of Cape Cod Bay to determine the habitat characteristics that influence right whale distribution in Cape Cod Bay. It was my job to organize and coordinate all material and gear necessary for daily boat research; to design and create the method by which all plankton samples were archived, stored, and tracked; to design an in-lab key for all plankton species seen in Cape Cod Bay utilizing photographs of samples; to create and design an in-lab education station including reading materials, hands-on activities, and video; to write and post daily research cruise journals; to keep a calendar of all research days, meetings, etc.; and creating new contacts as well as maintaining a cooperative and positive relationship with other CCS labs and research.

A research assistant for observation, photo id, and opportunistic fecal sample collection (in field), data entry, review, and processing of collection (in lab) of the North Atlantic Right whales in the Bay of Fundy and Roseway Basin. Included analysis and entry of survey data into the NARW catalogue, the use of DIGITS (Digital Imaging Gathering and Information Tracking System) for image processing, Logger software for survey data collection, and experience with the operation and maintenance of R/V Nereid (29’), fishing vessel R/V Galatea (46',) and a RHIB.

Monitored waters for marine wildlife (R/V Galatea and Cessna Skymaster) on Platt’s Bank including count and identification all wildlife observed. Acted as oceanographic technician for sampling equipment (vertical and horizontal mesh tow, CTD, acoustic backscatter at 75 kHz, a high-frequency (1200 kHz) acoustic Doppler current profiler, nets) and photography throughout cruise.