OCEAN
Winds, Waves, and Sun
About Us
OCEAN Winds is an Oregon corporation and has applied for recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Board Members
David Petrie Chairman
David Petrie is an enrolled Tribal Elder of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians and Chairman of OCEAN Winds. His background includes brokering timber products into Asian markets, grant writing for tribal economic development and cultural projects, tribal Cultural Director, and founder of Coos Waterkeeper, a sanctioned chapter of Waterkeeper Alliance.
Throughout his adult life, he has made a conscientious effort to bridge the cultural divide and offer solutions for the benefit of fellow citizens and the planet. He is committed to incorporating Traditional Indigenous Knowledge (TIK) and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into processes to develop renewable offshore wind energy ethically. He has a long history of successfully facilitating community and corporate relationships, offering viable solutions to complex problems while focusing on environmental protection and economic development opportunities that benefit all citizens and our future generations' quality of life.
Cynthia Hovind Secretary
Cynthia Hovind is a board member and holds the office of Secretary for Ocean Winds.
She is an enrolled member of The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians and a Siuslaw Elder. She attended The Evergreen State College where Environmental Indigenous Studies were highlighted and went on to obtain an MEd in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon.
Cynthia is a Cultural Historian and former Education Director for the Tribe and although an educator at heart, lately rural library districts have attracted most of her professional attention. She is intimately familiar with environmental impact statements and the NEPA process.
John Levison Treasurer
John Levison is a board member and holds the office of Treasurer for Ocean Winds.
He has a broad background that embraces group dynamics, general research, and chemical engineering. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Drexel Institute of Technology and a MEd in Group Dynamics/Psycho-Educational Processes from Temple University. He was head of research for numerous projects involving museum exhibitions and documentary production. His passion for learning throughout his lifetime is coupled with his love of playing guitar and athletics. He has a penchant for precision and dedication to detail.
Peter Braun Board Member
Peter A. Braun, a dedicated citizen of Bandon, has tirelessly contributed to his community through impactful civic work. Peter served eight years on the Bandon Chamber of Commerce Board and is the past president. He is a founding board member and past president of the Greater Bandon Association. Peter has served ten years on the Bandon City Council and is a past council president. Peter's leadership extends to environmental conservation efforts, where he has played a pivotal role in organizing community clean-up drives and advocating for sustainable practices. He has served as a board chair of Washed Ashore, an organization dedicated to solving the problem of ocean debris. His commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Bandon is evident through his active involvement in local government, where he advocates for policies prioritizing community welfare and prosperity. Peter A. Braun stands as a beacon for positive change in Bandon.
Roger Scott Board Member
Now retired, Roger Scott began his professional production career in New York City in 1974. He has provided creative services to IBM, CBS, NBC, ABC, Colgate Palmolive, Emmenthaler Cheese, NJ Devils, Sears, RCA, Galoob, Fisher Price, Mattel, Olympus, Prentice Hall, FAO Schwarz, and Huffy Bicycles among many others. He has provided creative and technical consultation services to clients in a wide range of specialties. Media services included campaign planning and execution, copywriting, graphics, animation, art direction and design. Web services included full-stack programming and brand development, social media strategie and execution. He is currently working on numerous development projects for animation and teaching animation to children and adults.
Advisory Board Members
Michael Mitton Advisory Board Member
Now retired, Michael Mitton was a co-founder and CEO of Synthetech, Inc. He led the biotech company through several rounds of financing, an IPO, listing on NASDAQ and the acquisition of its manufacturing facility in Oregon. Synthetech was subsequently acquired by a Fortune 500 company. Afterwards, he started and served as the first executive director of a trade association for Oregon’s fledgling biotechnology industry now called Oregon Bioscience Association. He also served on the Governor’s Task Force for Technology Transfer. His prior business experience includes working in management capacities for 2 multinational companies. He also worked with 3 small companies from startup. For the past 30 years he has been also been active in climate-related issues as a volunteer. He evaluated environmental technology business plans for venture capital investors. He has volunteered with 350.org and other similar organizations. He is currently a member of the steering committee for OLCV-MCAT (Metro Climate Action Team) and a member of Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps.
Mark Petrie Advisory Board Member
Mark Petrie is a Hanis Coos tribal citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians, and former Tribal Council Vice-Chair for his Tribe. He draws from his strong cultural ties to his Indigenous roots to guide him forward in a holistic and intentional way for the wider community and the next seven generations. He has nearly 20 years' experience in education and outreach for his Tribe focusing on culture, ethnobotany, and history. Mark practices and holds a perspective that includes Traditional Ecological Knowledge paired with contemporary scientific models of knowing and understanding the world around us to promote a sustainable and healthy future for all of our relations, including our plant and animal relatives.
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