Meet our team
In addition to fishing families, we’re also a team of bright, caring, hard-working folks!
Sonia Strobel
Co-founder & CEO
Sonia married into the Strobel family in 2001 and quickly became involved in helping connect Otto’s sustainably harvested seafood with friends and family in Vancouver. She worked in a variety of community-based organizations, non-profits, and as a high school teacher for many years, striving for social and environmental justice. Sonia has been a member of Community Supported Agriculture programs since the early 90’s and brought her knowledge of CSA’s to the family fishery, first conceiving of the idea for the CSF in 2008.
Shaun Strobel
Co-founder & Lead Fisherman
Shaun is Skipper Otto’s son, who began fishing with his father when he was just 7 years old. In addition to fishing, Shaun selects and maintains solid relationships with other fishermen and navigates the complex logistics of getting fish from the hands of our fishermen to the hands of our members. Dismayed at the dwindling salmon fishing fleet in the wake of the big business Seine fleet and fish farms, Shaun wrote an M.A. thesis at SFU on the labour history of fishing in BC. Shaun was a high school Social Studies teacher for many years, taught SCUBA diving, and is a technical diver.
Chris Kantowicz
COO
Chris has spent his career growing businesses that support environmental, social and cultural missions. He first worked with Skipper Otto in 2014 as their business coach at the Sauder School of Business’ Centre for Social Innovation & Impact Investing. Chris has an MBA from the Sauder School of Business at UBC and genuinely enjoys all his strategic business planning and financial management responsibilities.
Aaron Clark
Facility and IT Manager
Aaron has been a Skipper Otto member for many years and loves being a part of this food community. Aaron has a background in music composition, engineering and producing, as well as technology & systems. His diverse skillset, ability to learn quickly, and his can-do attitude make him a great asset to the Skipper Otto team.
Allison Hepworth
Marketing Manager
Allison has spent much of her career supporting the growth of small businesses. Her educational background includes degrees in English, Fine Arts and Secondary Education, as well as marketing at BCIT, which provides a solid foundation to support Skipper Otto's mission and help the CSF model grow. Passionate about connecting like-minded people with the sustainable bounty that farms, wineries and fisheries provide in BC and beyond, she is excited to share this with all of our Skipper Otto communities. Life outside of the 'dock' finds Allison spending time with her husband and young son, exploring the outdoors or museum exhibits together with family and friends.
Chantal McFarlane
Member Services Manager
Chantal grew up in Ontario and earned a BSc with a Major in Marine Biology and Minor in Psychology from Dalhousie University. Passionate about ocean conservation and fisheries science, when she isn't helping out members, she plunges into the cold Pacific ocean as an avid Scuba Diver and Divemaster. She loves exploring the nature of BC through snowboarding, rock-climbing, and hiking, or camping out of the van she built. She is enthusiastic about joining the Skipper Otto team and helping you connect to your sustainable fishing community!
Alexa MacEwan
Operations Manager
Alexa comes from a background working with people in the field of community and recreation. She first learned about Skipper Otto CSF while involved in various local food systems initiatives during her time at UBC. After finishing her degree in Food, Nutrition and Health, she went on to complete her Masters focusing in Fish Nutrition; and shortly thereafter, joined the Skipper Otto team! Her experience has granted her strong problem solving and communication skills, and she looks forward to using these skills to continue to connect with both fish and people.
Gordon Havelaar
Community Partner Manager
Gordon is an SFU dance graduate, occasional CSA farmhand and a wool spinner. He is proud to be a part of the Skipper Otto CSF team and contributing to local food security.
Mike Joyce
Distribution Manager
Through work experience and education in the geological sciences, Mike has developed a deep reverence for Canada’s outdoors and fosters a keen interest in the sustainable exploitation of our natural resources. He cherishes the bustling life and cast of characters down at Fisherman’s Wharf and works eagerly to help the Skipper Otto distribution team meet their goals.
Jeff Scott
Sustainable Fisheries Researcher
Jeff started on the Distribution Team in 2015 while he was working on his fisheries management MSc. at UBC's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. He's spent many years working as a fisheries observer in US waters, and as a field biologist for the International Pacific Halibut Commission in BC and Alaska. In addition to Jeff's work on the Distribution Team, he has also helped Skipper Otto enormously in their research on sustainable salmon fisheries.
Emily Cook
Distribution Team, Part Time
Emily is originally from Gitsegukla, a village on the Skeena River. Her lineage is Gitxsan on her maternal side, and comes from the Giskast Clan. Her wilp is Hanamaux – Don Ryan, and her Gitxsan name is Ama Mesa – "sitting pretty". Her patrilineal side is Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw; her father is a ‘Namgis First Nation fisherman Alert Bay. Emily’s Kwak̓wala name is T̓łaḵwagiladza̱mg̱a – copper woman. Growing up in a family of traditional harvesters and fishermen on northern Vancouver Island, she has always had a passion for seafood and living sustainably in our lands and waters. After moving to the city, Emily completed her training at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, as well as an Associate Degree in Social Work from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. She is pleased to bring her skill and enthusiasm to her position with the Skipper Otto team, as well as her extensive knowledge of food safety and excellent customer service. Emily looks forward to meeting folks in her daily interactions and is pleased to be at your service!
Dan Chudyk
Distribution Team, Part-Time
Dan grew up in Victoria, and earned a BA in Psychology from UVic. He’s passionate about music, canoeing, gardening, and his cat, Leonard. For the most part, he has worked in mineral exploration out of Dawson City, YT, but is now happy to contribute to the sustainable and equitable venture that is Skipper Otto. Outside his time spent on the distribution team, Dan works in a music-focused behavioural support capacity for people with ASD, with plans to pursue certification as a Music Therapist.
Hazel Maxwell
Distribution Team, Part-Time
Growing up in Kitimat, BC, Hazel spent every weekend in the Douglas Channel fishing, beach combing, inspecting tide pools, watching whales and sea lions and staying in a cabin her parents built. She left after high school to pursue her BA from UBC, and went on to complete a Diploma in Forensic Science. Now she's passing her love of fishing onto her kids, fishing off the Sunshine Coast on a boat that her husband built. In her spare time, Hazel is a felt artist.
Martin Story-Kapusta
Distribution Team, Part-Time
Martin lives for new experiences, and working with the distribution team within Skipper Otto has been a blast! He is currently working to set up his own self-practice as a creative therapist, and loves to work on creative projects outside of work, alongside being a steady meditation practitioner. He found out about Skipper Otto through Jeff Scott, whereupon hearing about the sustainability and responsible practice of the company, desired to join immediately due to wanting to be a part of a healthy change in our food industry.
Jill Goranson
Distribution Team, Part-Time
Jill is a graduate of Sheridan College with a degree in Music Theatre, a theatre creator & performer, an avid hiker, and an occasional scuba diver. She’s someone who loves being surrounded by fun and inspiring people, making the distribution team a wonderful place to be!
Manuela Guzman Vivas
Distribution Team, Part-Time
Manuela proudly hails from Colombia and is pursuing a degree in architecture at BCIT. Manuela's love for music is infectious, often humming tunes throughout the day while assembling member orders. She loves the friendliness of her fellow team members and her creativity is indispensable to our daily operations.
Alvaro Guzman Reyes
Distribution Team, Part-Time
Alvaro is a valued member of our distribution team, diligently ensuring that seafood orders are expertly packed and ready for delivery. Originally from Colombia, he brings his unique perspective and professional background as a civil engineer to our team. His fondness for precision extends seamlessly to his love for cars - driving the distribution team to excellence.
Christa Ovenell
Distribution Team, Part-Time
A proud Skipper Otto member from nearly the very beginning, Christa can be found on the trucks, in head office, and at the wharf helping out as and when needed. She’s also a licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer, and an end-of-life doula on a mission to help support, guide and educate people through the one part of life we all experience eventually.
Eating fish 1-2 times per week provides 100% of dietary Vitamin D.
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Member since 2015