Geoffrey White Named ACCSP Director
Robert E. Beal, Executive Director of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, has announced the selection of Mr. Geoffrey White as the Director of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP). Mr. White has been with the Commission for more than 20 years and has worked in various capacities for ACCSP for the past 15 years. Since 2015, Mr. White has coordinated and managed the transition to and full implementation of state conduct of the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS), an integral component of the Marine Recreational Information Program. Mr. White replaces Mr. Michael Cahall, who served as ACCSP Director from 2007 to May 2019.
“Geoff’s long-standing dedication to the Commission and ACCSP, combined with his outstanding record of accomplishments over two decades, made him a clear choice for ACCSP Director,” stated Robert Beal. “His leadership in overseeing the transition of APAIS from a federal contractor to state conduct for the states of Maine through Georgia is particularly notable. With an extensive background in both fisheries science and information technology, Geoff is ideally suited for this position. He understands the absolute necessity for high quality, dependable, and timely fisheries data, as well as the need to leverage technological innovations to improve efficiencies at all levels of data collection and management.”
Joining Mr. White in a new leadership position is Ms. Julie Defilippi Simpson as ACCSP Deputy Director. Ms. Defilippi Simpson is another ACCSP veteran, having joined the Program in November 2007 as a Fisheries Data Coordinator. Dedicated, hard-working, and highly proficient in all that she does, this will be Ms. Defilippi Simpson’s third promotion. As Deputy Director, she will coordinate the annual request for proposals process and staff the Operations Committee. She will also continue to lead the Data Team, providing guidance on all data-related activities including standards, warehousing, and dissemination.
In accepting the Director position, Mr. White stated, “I am honored and privileged to direct a program I feel so passionate about. I’m very proud to have been part of the progress ACCSP has made to date and I am excited to work with our new Deputy Director, Ms. Julie Defilippi Simpson, to maintain our rigorous program standards while exploring opportunities to improve data collection and access. One of our goals will be to more fully integrate ACCSP’s activities with partner needs.”
In 1995, recognizing the need for consistency across Atlantic coast fishery-dependent data collection efforts, the 23 state, regional, and federal agencies responsible for fisheries management on the Atlantic coast established the ACCSP. Using a committee-based approach, ACCSP works with its partners to increase data utility by: (1) developing and implementing coastwide data standards; (2) providing electronic applications that improve partner data collection; (3) integrating and sharing partner data via a coastwide repository; (4) facilitating fisheries data access while protecting confidentiality; and (5) supporting further technological innovation. Since the Program’s inception, the Commission has played an important role in its creation and administration. In 2016, ACCSP officially became a Commission program.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (2019, August 20). Geoffrey White Named ACCSP Director (press release). Retrieved from http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5d5c361epr25ACCSP_Leadership.pdf.