Charlie Albertson, born in 1932, is a former North Carolina Senator from Beaulaville, North Carolina. He grew up on a farm in Eastern Duplin County during the Great Depression, where he learned farming chores and purchased his first guitar at the age of 11. His interest in public service was influenced by his father's involvement in the community, serving on the School Board in Duplin County.

Larry Collins is President of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association. He was born on July 28, 1957. Larry Collins discusses the context, origins, and development of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association. He describes the need for access to fish, markets, and infrastructure in order for working waterfronts to succeed. He explains that the fishing association was created in an effort to address these needs of the small boat fishermen in San Francisco as catch share programs posed challenges to this fleet.

Laurie Kay Sommers is a freelance folklorist and historic preservation consultant based in Okemos, Michigan. She has been writing about Michigan history and culture since the 1970’s. Laurie Sommers was interviewed to document the experience of Fishtown, Michigan, in establishing the Fishtown Preservation Society. Bringing together local expertise, the Fishtown Preservation Society has combined historic preservation efforts along with folklore to promote stewardship of the historic Fishtown waterfront. Ms.

Lewis “Lewie” Lawrence is the Executive Director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission in Saluda, Virginia. Lewie Lawrence was interviewed to document the Middle Peninsual Planning District Commission’s experience in establishing the country’s first Public Access Authority. The Public Access Authority was established to identify, acquire and manage water access opportunities in the Middle Peninsula of Virginia. Mr.

Peter Katich is the Senior Planner for the City of Gig Harbor, Washington. Peter was born in April 1954. He has worked in the planning field for 37 years. Peter Katich was interviewed to document the City of Gig Harbor’s experience with the establishment of a historic working waterfront shoreline district through its Shoreline Master Program. Mr.

Sarah Garcia is the Community Development Director and Harbor Planning Director for the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Sarah Garcia was interviewed to document the experience of Gloucester, Massachusetts in completing an economic assessment to better understand the economic contribution of waterfront activities. Ms. Garcia discusses the history of Gloucester, the long standing polarization around waterfront issues, and the harbor planning effort which included the economic assessment.

Biographical Note:
Sherrie Miller is a resident of Panacea, Florida born on December 19, 1961. She works in her family’s restaurant, Posey’s Restaurant, and serves as the Vice- Chairman of the Panacea Waterfronts Florida Partnership.

Shey Conover is the Chief Operating Officer at the Island Institute in Rockland, Maine. She was born on March 5, 1980. Shey Conover describes the Maine Working Waterfront Mapping Inventory that her organization, with many partners, conducted in the mid 2000's. Ms. Conover describes how the Maine Working Waterfront Coalition was striving to provide communities with tools to protect their waterfront access, but that a comprehensive inventory of existing access points and type of access was lacking. Ms.

Wayne Davis is a commercial lobsterman from Tremont, Maine. Wayne Davis was interviewed to capture his family’s experience using the Maine Working Waterfront Access Protection Plan (WWAPP) to secure the Davis wharf’s future as a commercial fishing pier in perpetuity. Mr. Davis describes the important history of the Davis wharf to that region of Mount Desert Island and how, in the late 2000’s, the effects of the lobster price collapse due to the recession triggered extreme pressure on the family to sell. Mr.

Biographical Note:
William “Bill” Needelman is the Waterfront Coordinator for the City of Portland, Maine. He was born in Portland, Maine on April 3, 1964.