Board & Staff

  • Ray Kennedy, President

    Ray has been fishing commercially for over 33 years and primarily fishes for CA Spiny Lobster. He has owned/operated several fishing vessels throughout his career and is currently the owner/operator of F/V Rainman.

    Alternative fisheries that Ray has participated in have included rock crab, hook and line for tuna, seabass, halibut, and rockfish.

    Ray is also a proud father of two sons who are both involved in fishing and marketing.

    Ray serves as the President of CLTFA (Pro Tem) that he resurrected with Rodger Healy in the fall of 2023, and he also serves as the Vice President of the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara.

  • Cameron Cribben, Vice President

    Cameron grew up on the docks of Point Loma starting as a pinhead at age 11 and working his way up to earning his captain license at 19. Soon after owning his own commercial lobster business, becoming a partner in Tunaville Market & Grocery, and captaining a number of the vessels including the Vagabond and the American Angler. He also commercially fished black cod and rock crab. Cameron is embarking on his 12th season of commercial lobstering.

  • Zach Greenfield, Treasurer

    Zach is from San Diego but his homeport is Dana Point, California. Commercial fishing and CLTFA have been central to his life from his earliest memories, starting as a crewman alongside his grandfather, John Guth, a former CLTFA President. His great-grandfather, George, also made his mark as a boat builder and commercial fisherman. For three generations, his family has forged its path through trap fishing for lobster, crab, and spot prawns, and he has been privileged to contribute to this tradition for over 20 years.

    Zach is now entering his fifth season as an operator. With six years of service in the Coast Guard and a long history of commercial fishing, the sea is truly Zach's home, and fellow fishermen are like family. It is with great pride and privilege that he serves as Treasurer for the dedicated men and women of the commercial lobster/trap fishing fleet.

  • Miles Wallace, Santa Barbara-Based Board Member

    Miles was born in Goleta and has made it his family's home too. Fishing locally has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. As a child, Miles begged his parents to drop him off at the beach, the harbor, a pond, or lake, and he would fish as long as there was light. He started commercial fishing right out of high school with the great brother duo of Curt and Cappy Petterson who dove abalone and sea urchin onboard a 26’ Anderson the “Double Edge.” Learning the ropes from them prepared Miles to feel confident on any fishing boat. While traveling on Indonesian surf trips and lengthy road trips through Baja, he came to the understanding of how great we have it here and he developed a deep interest for sustainable fishing practices to ensure the longevity of our fisheries and oceans.

    Winning his urchin diving permit made him drop anchor and really embrace his roots in the Santa Barbara harbor. Miles' fishing vessel, Isla, is a 36’ Radon which is perfect for multiple fishing techniques and is a reliable platform. She is a constant balance between working her and working on her - A perfect give and take. Currently life as a fisherman includes; sea urchin diving, lobster trapping, and hook-and-line fishing.

    Activities outside of fishing that Miles enjoys include surfing and spending time with his wife Sarah and their two sons, who all enjoy fishing as well!

  • John Hoadley, Santa Barbara-Based Alternate Board Member

    John has spent countless hours free diving and scuba diving throughout his entire adolescence from San Diego to Point Conception. In 2004, John completed the Marine Diving Technology program at SBCC. During this time he worked with Truth Aquatics Inc. starting as a deckhand. He acquired his 100 ton USCG Masters license and worked as a Mate for many seasons. He has worked in the offshore oil industry as a Commercial Diver off the Santa Barbara coastline and in Hawaii doing work ranging from cleaning and inspection of platforms to installing sub-sea systems in support of large Power Buoys and hydrographic seafloor listening devices. 

    When not offshore, John spends his time raising his 2 daughters along side his wife Lindsey who is an integral part of the seafood business on the home front and in the office. The family loves to spend their time at the islands and on the boat as much as possible. 

    For the last 14 years, John has owned and operated The Good Captain Co, a commercial fishing business that provides sea urchin, sea cucumber, and lobster to local Santa Barbara restaurants and seafood providers. You can find his online store at www.thegoodcaptainco.com and you can follow his ocean advocacy and work on Instagram at @thegoodcaptainco

  • Devin Grace, Ventura-Based Board Member

    Devin is a father of 2 young girls Harley and Saylor, and is married to his beautiful wife Lacey. Devin's father was a scuba instructor in the 80s and through his love of the ocean, he found his. Devin's dad certified him at the early age of 7 and that's when he started diving the Channel Islands. Devin developed a deep connection to the ocean yearning for the extremes it offers. 

    As Devin got older, he wanted to make a living on the ocean and got his first commercial job as a crewman in 2009 on a lobster boat. He continued his career working winters here in CA and summers in the Alaska salmon fisheries. Once he saved up enough to buy the boat he had crewed on, he bought it in 2015.

    Devin currently fishes for rock crab, box crab, and lobster on his vessel the ET. He loves delivering some of the planet's freshest and best tasting seafood to the world. Through his journey, he has met some of his life-long friends in the fishing community who've become like family to him and he continues to keep his mentors close so he can continue to learn from their many years of experience.

  • Brian Aresco, Ventura-Based Alternate Board Member

    Brian is a seasoned lobster fisherman with over 15 years of experience, deeply rooted in Carpinteria, California. Raised amidst the waves and waters of the Channel Islands, Brian grew up fishing and surfing, following in the footsteps of his father, who was an abalone diver in the early 80's. His life has been a harmonious blend of ocean adventures and global travels, reflecting his lifelong passion for the sea.

    Brian’s boat hails out of Ventura, where he fishes the Channel Islands, while his land-based pursuits include managing his avocado orchard. Residing in Carpinteria with his wife Lindsey and their three children, Brian cherishes family time and the simple pleasures of life on the coast. 

  • Chris Smith, Newport Beach-Based Board Member

    Captain Chris Smith has been fishing out of Newport Beach for over 30 years. Chris started fishing commercially 5 years ago and he is now entering his second year fishing for California Spiny Lobster. Chris also fishes commercially for Bluefin Tuna, White Sea Bass, Ocean Whitefish, and Blackgill Rockfish.

    During his “offseason,” Chris works on his blueberry farm in Oregon. Chris attributes his passion for the ocean and fishing to his fishing mentor, the legendary Tom Patierno. Chris is excited and honored to be able to serve on the board of CLTFA.

  • Travis Vaughan, Orange County/North County San Diego-Based Board Member

    Travis started working on the water at the age of 12 on sport boats, getting his 100 ton captain license at age 19 operating sport boats such as new lo-an, Success, and Apollo.

    Travis has been lobster fishing since 2011 and is looking forward to pulling gear into his elderly years until he passes on the fishery to the next generation. Travis operates out of Oceanside and Dana Point. 

  • Ava Schulenberg, Executive Director

    Ava is grateful to have been born and raised in Santa Barbara where she spent most of her childhood in the harbor spending time with the fishing community; Her father, Eric Schulenberg, was a lifelong commercial crab/lobster fisherman and urchin/abalone diver.

    Ava studied Environmental Studies and Philosophy at Tulane University and feels grateful that she is now again surrounded by the harbor community she grew up with and considers family. In addition to working for CLTFA, Ava is the Assistant Director of the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, she deckhands on a variety of boats (primarily lobster/rock crab), is the Manager of the Saturday Fishermen’s Market of Santa Barbara, and is a stewardess on private/charter boats.