Kevin Whitworth, Executive director
kevinwhitworth@kritfc.org | 907-574-0388
Growing up in McGrath, Kevin learned from his elders to love the land, the river, and the natural world from an early age. He spent many hours exploring, hunting, fishing, and trapping out in the woods and on the rivers. Through high school and college, Kevin spent his summers working as a biological technician at several wildlife refuges across the state. After graduating from University of Alaska Fairbanks, he worked a number of full-time positions for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including Deputy Refuge Manager for the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge in McGrath. Kevin has also worked for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and as the Lands and Natural Resources Manager for MTNT Limited, the McGrath village corporation. While working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kevin met his wife, Dara. They have a young son and two daughters and enjoy spending time at their remote cabin, dogsledding with their team of dogs, and being outside as much as possible. He joined KRITFC’s team in May 2018 and has served as Executive Director since 2022.
Justin Leon, Research Director
justin@kritfc.org | 907-434-1038
Justin was born and raised in Georgia, where he found his love of fish and wildlife while attending the University of Georgia. He moved to Alaska after graduating and has made Alaska home since then. He studied fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he focused on Chinook salmon in the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. He worked as a Tribal liaison for the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society after spending 10 years with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. As a fishery biologist with the state, he worked with crab and salmon research, and wild fisheries stock management in Northwest Alaska, the Alaskan interior, and the Aleutian Islands. Justin lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with his wife, Liz, and three sons. He enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, foraging, and spending time with his family in his free time.
ANDREW MAGEL, FISHERIES BIOLOGIST
andrew@kritfc.org | 907-545-2692
Andrew grew up in Connecticut, where he developed his love for wildlife and ecology. He came to KRITFC as a Fisheries Technician Jesuit/AmeriCorps volunteer in August 2022, and is excited to return to the Kuskokwim to work with KRITFC, its Tribes and its partners. While in Bethel, Andrew enjoys birding, berry-picking, and exploring the Kusko and the tundra.
Avery Hoffman, Fisheries Biologist
avery@kritfc.org | 907-545-6680
Avery Tuntull'er Hoffman was born and raised in Bethel, Alaska, where he still resides. He enjoys the outdoors, driving snow machines, boats, and flying, as well as hunting, fishing, and being with my family. Avery has been involved with fish interviews, management, and the keeping up with folks along the river since 2017, and was a KRITFC in-season manager from 2020 to 2023. He graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2024.
Terese Vicente, Policy & Programs Director
terese@kritfc.org | 907-545-7388
Terese grew up in Tacoma, Washington, where her deep appreciation for the ecology and beauty of the Pacific Northwest began. She first came to the Kuskokwim as a Jesuit/AmeriCorps Volunteer with KRITFC in August 2020. After two years with JVC Northwest, Terese was grateful to start full-time work with KRITFC and its Member Tribes in August 2022. Terese lives and works in Bethel, where she loves to pick berries, run outside throughout the year, and spend as much time as she can on the Kusko.
Daniel o’connor, Jesuit Volunteer/Fisheries Technician
daniel@kritfc.org | 907-545-4379
Daniel was born and raised in Yakima, Washington and attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 2024. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest and spending a lot of time outdoors gave Daniel an appreciation for the environment and conservation work. Apart from exploring nature, he enjoys basketball, soccer, and attempting to play the guitar.
Kristen Maxie, Knowledge Steward Intern, Summer 2024
kristen@kritfc.org
Kristen was raised in Napaskiak and grew up practicing subsistence activities throughout the Kuskokwim River, where she grew admiration for the environment as she was surrounded by the vast tundra, rivers and diverse wildlife. Her summers have been spent at her family's fish camp cutting salmon and picking berries on the tundra, while the fall seasons consisted of hunting moose, and ice fishing during the winters. She is currently attending University of Alaska Fairbanks and anticipates continuing her Yup’ik cultural practices while helping the communities and environment flourish.
Elyssa Loughlin, Communications Coordinator
elyssa@kritfc.org
Elyssa grew up in New Jersey and attended La Salle University in Philadelphia before moving to Alaska in 2020. She was first introduced to KRITFC and its mission when she served as the Jesuit Volunteer/AmeriCorps member at KYUK in Bethel from 2020-2022. During her time at KYUK, she reported on health and wellness and collaborated with KRITFC on radio PSAs and environmental conservation programming. She is honored to work with KRITFC and to have the privilege to connect with its member Tribes.
KRITFC also employs seasonal part- and full-time staff at our in-season salmon monitoring projects, including the Kwethluk River screw trap, Takotna River weir, and Community-Based Harvest Monitoring (CBHM) Program. We are looking for CBHM harvest monitors as of May 2024. Please visit our employment page for more information.
Interested in working with us? Send an email to info@kritfc.org.
Quyana, Tsen’anh, Thank you!