GSI’s strategic planning was led by former IBM executive Nancy Burris Perret, a renowned strategic planner whose company MindShare specializes in helping non-profits, the senior Gulf leadership group tackled the difficult task of establishing a road map for the organization for the upcoming year and beyond. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
Surrounded on three walls by past Biloxi Seafood Festival posters, staff, board and founding members of the Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI) met at the Biloxi Visitors Center for the first strategic planning session of the young organization.
Led by former IBM executive Nancy Burris Perret, a renowned strategic planner whose company MindShare specializes in helping non-profits, the senior Gulf leadership group tackled the difficult task of establishing a road map for the organization for the upcoming year and beyond.
GSI Florida board member Bob Gill explains some of his visions for the organization. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
“This is an exciting time for GSI,” said the organization’s executive director Margaret Henderson. “As a recognized voice for the Gulf of Mexico and the sustainable seafood it produces, it is imperative that we have clear goals and objectives that capitalize our strengths and keep us focused moving forward.”
The Gulf Seafood Institute strives to give a unified voice to a wide variety of Gulf communities committed to sustainable seafood, protecting the unique culture and elevating the Gulf brand with consumers and decision makers through advocacy, education and science.
“It is a pleasure working with a highly motivated and talented group of people who are already accomplishing great things,” said Burris Perret about the session. “The added focus that a strategic plan can provide will serve GSI well as it moves forward. This meeting goes a long way to laying a framework for such a plan for GSI.”
Chris Nelson, vice president of Bon Secour Fisheries who represents Alabama on the board, tries to work a problem to the smallest denominator while executive director Margaret Henderson listens. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
The mission of the organization is to continue sustainable, robust and viable fisheries for the commercial, charter and recreational sectors that keep the Gulf Seafood brand in high demand and available to all Americans.
“Five years from now it is important that GSI has a seat at the table pertaining to any Gulf seafood issue and to have our point of view and position sought after by congressional leaders, government organizations at both the national and state level, environmental non-government organizations and the media,” said Harlon Pearce, president of the organization’s board.
The meeting concentrated on articulating the values of the young organization that included: using accurate data to inform decisions, recognizing the importance of making Gulf seafood available to everyone, and the need to focus GSI’s efforts on issues where the organization can speak with one voice.
Texas Founding member Buddy Guindon express his ideas on where the organization should head. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
According to Alabama board member Johnny Greene, a charter boat captain, “It was a very productive meeting that brought out both positive and negative issues, highlighting our strengths and areas where improvement is needed.”
The strength of the Gulf-wide organization representing all aspects of the seafood community is its ability to work with a wide variety of established organizations; its strong relationship with Congress and the administration; its constant presence in D.C. and at Gulf Council meetings; and its positive focus on action-based solutions.
Going forward, the group agreed that it needed to continue to focus its attention on the upcoming reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, assuring the safety of Gulf seafood, protecting the industry’s labor force, increasing accurate data collection in the Gulf, and more.
“GSI has made great strides in during its inaugural year,” said Henderson. “It’s a tall order to keep up this momentum, and we are excited to take on the challenge.”
Buddy Guindon, owner of Galveston’s Katie’s Seafood Market, said, “This is a well staffed, non-biased group of professional fisheries experts that have come together to deal with fishery issues throughout the Gulf of Mexico through advocacy and outreach. I am proud to be one of the first Founding Members, and I encourage others to become involved immediately.”
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