Board of Directors

Meet our Board

Our Board of Directors consists of business owners, fishermen, non-profit leaders and community members who live and work on the island, and care deeply about preserving its fishing culture for future generations.

John Keene

President, Founding Member

John is a long-time island resident who grew up in Menemsha, working in one of the Vineyard's fish markets with his brothers and sisters. As a kid, he lobstered, quahogged, and harpooned for swordfish, dreaming of growing up to be a commercial fisherman. But instead, he bought a chainsaw, and then a tractor, eventually starting John Keene Excavation, Inc.—the company he still owns today, over thirty years later.

Shelley Edmundson

Executive Director, Founding Member

Shelley spent every summer with her family on Martha’s Vineyard exploring the island’s

shores and fishing off her grandfather’s boat, the Seabird. Shelley received her PhD in Zoology/Marine Biology studying channeled whelks (nicknamed 'conchs'), marine snails that support one of the Vineyard's largest commercial fisheries. Throughout her research, Shelley collaborated with many local fishermen with the goal of helping protect the species and sustainably manage the local fishery. Shelley’s love of the Vineyard, marine biology, and the commercial fishing community drives her passion to work for the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust .

Emily Bramhall

Treasurer

Emily Bramhall was born into a family deeply connected to fishing and the sea. Her formative years included fishing, clamming and scalloping along with some marine biology and ocean sciences. Emily's favorite job was working alongside Everett Poole at his fish market, unloading and filleting totes of locally caught flounder and other fish delivered right to the dock. She joins the board hoping to assist in preserving the local fishing industry in a sustainable manner. She is the former Executive Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation.

Matt Mayhew

Clerk, Founding Member

Matt Mayhew grew up fishing for sea scallops, squid, and swordfish on the F/V Quitsa Strider II with his father, and is a member of a long line of family fishermen in Menemsha. He currently operates an oyster farm, Menemsha Creek Oysters, in Menemsha Pond and works as an electrician. Matt is a founding board member of the MVFPT and brings a life-long passion of working on the water and a commitment to helping the next generation of fishermen. He lives in Chilmark with his wife, Molly, and daughter, Ida.

Marilyn Vukota

Board Member

Marilyn Vukota is originally from Armonk, New York but grew up spending summers clamming and crabbing on the Vineyard with her family. Her first job was shucking clams and making sandwiches at Coop de Ville in Oak Bluffs. In 2000, Marilyn made the Vineyard her permanent home. Marilyn has been practicing law on Martha's Vineyard since 2002 and is a founding partner of McCarron, Murphy & Vukota LLP in Edgartown. She has extensive experience representing charitable and religious organizations in real estate transactions, permitting, litigation and applications for non-profit status and has served on the Boards of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, the Boys & Girls Club, and the YMCA.

Nick Wilbur

Board Member

Nick Wilbur joined the Board in 2024. He fishes for lobster, conch, sea bass, triggerfish, and bonito from his vessel, Little Feat, out of Menemsha.

Former Board Members

We are so grateful for the time and talent that our former Board members have offered us through the years. The value of their stewardship is immeasurable. Thank you!