Hellos, Goodbyes
- kiley prinz
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
AMSEA is welcoming two new roles this fall, Rick Petersen, our new Director of Training and Suzanne Oriel, joining us for the year through the Alaskan Fellows Program.
Rick Petersen - Director of Training
Rick has lived in Southeast Alaska for most of his adult life. Since the 1990s he has held a variety of education/training roles for Sitka School District, Sitka Native Education Program, Sheldon Jackson College, University of Alaska, Chatham School District, US Dept of Education, State of Alaska, and private tutoring.
Over the past decades he has been the owner/operator of multiple open deck saltwater skiffs and a 27-foot sailing sloop. He has been an avid sea kayaker, including guiding for tourists and school programs. His commercial fishing experience includes purse seining and trolling for salmon and crabbing in Southeast Alaska.
He began teaching for AMSEA in 2002 and worked on staff full-time from 2007-2017 as AMSEA’s Training Coordinator. During these years, Rick helped coordinate 3,577 AMSEA classes and personally taught over 258 classes in 23 communities nationwide for 4,424 students. In August 2025 he returned to AMSEA in the new role of Director of Training.
What drew you to this job:
I’ve almost always worked for a good cause. I want to have an impact, to have a job that matters and that makes a difference in people’s lives. I was attracted to AMSEA’s mission of helping people to help themselves in near death circumstances. AMSEA is not just about saving lives, we’re about helping people to become more self-reliant in getting themselves out of trouble.
What is your favorite activity to do on the water:
On most days I would say fishing, but now that hunting season is open, I have to say
searching for deer while cruising the snowy shorelines in a skiff in Southeast Alaska.
A close second would be quietly watching intertidal life from the seat of a kayak.
Suzanne Oriel - Alaskan Fellow
Suzanne will be joining AMSEA through the Alaskan Fellows Program. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, she recently graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in biochemistry and global health. With experience in health science research and rural health educational outreach, she brings a strong interest in community health and a deep appreciation for the natural world to her work. She is passionate in fostering well-being in both people and the environments they call home.
What drew you to this job:
I was drawn to this role because it brings together my passions for public health, community engagement, hands-on teaching, and the outdoors. I truly enjoy working with youth and supporting community well-being through education, and I was excited about the opportunity to do this by collaborating with local communities and contributing to meaningful projects and research related to marine safety.
What is your favorite activity to do on the water?
My favorite activity on the water is kayaking, I really like being close to the water and the feeling of being propelled forward by my arms. Off the water, I love to bike, whether it be on roads or trails; I like to bike just about everywhere.
Goodbyes:
As we welcome new faces, we also say goodbye to two colleagues.
Jeff Pearson, our Office Manager, and Ashley Green, our Administrative Coordinator, have each brought dedication and skill to their roles over the years. Their work has strengthened AMSEA in countless ways from keeping our office running smoothly to supporting our instructors, programs, and community partnerships.
While we will miss them in the office, we are excited for the new adventures that lie ahead for both Jeff and Ashley. We are grateful for the time and energy they have given to AMSEA’s mission, and we know their contributions will continue to ripple out in the lives they’ve touched here.
Please join us in thanking Jeff and Ashley for all they’ve done, and in wishing them the very best in this next chapter.
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