The first Alaska location for the Tommy’s Express Car Wash national franchise opened this summer under the management of a US Air Force veteran. Local franchisee Wild Spruce Ventures selected Steven Udall as General Manager in Alaska. Udall is managing the first of eight Tommy’s Express locations planned for Anchorage. Udall returns to Anchorage, having been previously stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in 2010.

A voice familiar to public radio listeners joined the leadership ranks at Alaska Public Media (AKPM). Lori Townsend was promoted from news director to Chief Editor and Senior Vice President of Journalism, facilitating collaboration within the statewide public radio news network while extending the reach of AKPM’s reporting. Townsend has been a fixture at AKPM for twenty-one years as a reporter and host for Alaska News Nightly. She now manages that operation and the local Anchorage newsroom while hosting Talk of Alaska for radio and Alaska Insight for television.

Goldbelt Heritage Foundation (GHF) selected Neilgáa Koogéi Taija Revels as Executive Director. Previously a member of the GHF board of directors, Neilgáa Koogéi brings experience from working at the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and the US Bureau of Indian Affairs. Neilgáa Koogéi holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from Portland State University and a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska hired Ethan Petticrew as Senior Director of Early Education to oversee all early education programs and initiatives. This new position follows Tlingit & Haida’s announcement that it will build two early education campuses on Prince of Wales Island. Born and raised in Wrangell, Petticrew is Unangax̂ and Yeil of the Kiks.adi from Gagaan Hit, and his Tlingit name is Daayoosh. He holds a master’s degree in education and previously served as executive director for Cook Inlet Native Head Start.

The village corporation for Old Harbor on the south side of Kodiak Island expanded its senior leadership team by appointing Kristina Woolston as Executive Vice President. In this role, Woolston works alongside Old Harbor Native Corporation CEO Carl Marrs while taking on some of the CEO’s administrative duties. Woolston spent the past five years as external affairs manager at Donlin Gold. She also spent ten years on the leadership team at Chenega Corporation. Woolston was external affairs manager at Quintillion and worked on statewide broadband connectivity with the Rasmuson Foundation.

The former COO of Afognak Native Corporation is taking the same job in Nome. Sitnasuak Native Corporation appointed Matt Thorpe as its COO, Corporate Development, responsible for team building, strategic planning, and shareholder development. Thorpe is credited with building Afognak’s commercial division from zero revenue to more than $112 million annually. He founded Delta Leasing, a vehicle and equipment leasing company now majority owned by Old Harbor Native Corporation, and he served as general manager for Anchorage Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

Two executives join GCI’s leadership team.

Maureen McCabe Moore was promoted to Senior Vice President & Chief Customer Experience Officer. In this role, Moore reviews the company’s strategy initiatives through the lens of GCI customers. Moore began her career at GCI in 1997 as an advertising manager and was promoted to vice president of consumer services. A graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in business administration, Moore also serves as the executive sponsor of GCI’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

GCI selected Moira Smith as Senior Vice President Law and Chief Administrative Officer. Smith most recently served as general counsel for ENSTAR Natural Gas Company since 2012. In her new role, Smith directs GCI’s state and federal external affairs strategy, leads the company’s HR department, and oversees legal and compliance functions. A graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School, Smith completed undergraduate studies at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and earned her JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Promotions at RSA Engineering augment the mechanical and electrical consulting team in Anchorage, serving clients throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, and Antarctica.

Jeremy Maxie is promoted to Principal Electrical Engineer. Maxie, who has been with RSA for fourteen years, now provides principal-level oversight and leadership while managing his own projects. Maxie specializes in designs for security, door access, video/camera, and fire alarms. A licensed professional engineer, Maxie holds a certification from Registered Communications Distribution Designers.

Evan Mathers is now a Senior Mechanical Engineer at RSA, responsible for leading project design as well as managing staff assigned to his projects. A licensed professional engineer, Mathers joined RSA in 2021 with six years of previous experience. His background includes HVAC and plumbing consulting, manufacturing experience, and programming and coding knowledge.

AJ Schirack is promoted to Associate Principal Mechanical Engineer, leading the mechanical engineering department while overseeing his own projects. With a decade of dedicated service, Schirack has demonstrated a reputation for exceptional skill and leadership.

Steven Bassler received a promotion to Senior Engineer, taking on greater responsibilities such as overseeing key projects and developing strong client relationships. A licensed professional engineer with eight years of experience, Bassler brings extensive infrastructure experience as well as engineering experience from all over Alaska.

Frank Silberer successfully passed the Professional Engineering exam, becoming a licensed professional engineer and earning a promotion to Project Engineer. With ten years of experience, Silberer has been instrumental in delivering innovative electrical engineering solutions.

An engineer at the Anchorage office of Nebraska-based architecture, engineering, and construction firm HDR is now in charge of its global highways program. Matt Stone was named Technical Leader, overseeing more than a thousand highway professionals across North America, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Australia. Stone earned his degree from UAF and is a registered professional engineer in both civil and environmental design. He began his career in the US Army as an engineer officer.