R.J. Kopchak

Founder, Emeritus

300 Breakwater, PO Box 705 Cordova, Alaska 99574

rkopchak@pwssc.org

R.J. was one of five original incorporators of the Science Center in 1989, where he served as the first board chairman and president while helping secure initial funding for the center’s operations. He’s also served the Science Center over the years in various capacities, including development, facilities and program expansion. R.J.’s background includes being the director of the Ecotrust Copper River Program for seven years, where he worked on watershed scale approaches to better understanding wild salmon and their habitat. His efforts focused on creating regional partnerships to develop web based information and educational maps and tools that incorporate multiple agency, academic, cultural, and institutional knowledge about Copper River and Bering Glacier watersheds. He has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit development and fundraising, ranging from youth and family services and mental health to fisherman co-ops and salmon marketing.