The tribal corporation for the Kuskokwim River village of Akiak created the new position of Chief Growth and Strategy Officer and appointed Patrick Crovo to the role. Working alongside Akiak Holdings CEO Kevin Hamer, Crovo facilitates collaboration with government to drive the company’s growth in digital enterprise services. Crovo was most recently president of a professional services firm and IT firm which was successfully acquired by private equity in 2020. He was responsible for operations management, strategic planning, and company growth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from University of Maryland, Baltimore and an MBA certificate in information technology from University of Maryland, University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus).

A veteran of oil field support services, Kelly Droop is the new Regional Manager in Alaska for heavy equipment supplier Papé Kenworth. With extensive leadership background in off-road trucking, field operations, and capital planning, Droop most recently served as COO for Colville, managing its six business lines in Alaska. Prior to that, Droop was an executive at Worley, overseeing oil field construction, fabrication, operations, and maintenance. Droop has served on industry-focused nonprofit boards and is a past president of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance.

Crowley appointed Kollin Fencil as Senior Vice President and General Manager to lead its Crowley Fuels business unit. In this position, Fencil oversees one of Alaska’s largest petroleum wholesale providers, serving 280 mostly rural communities through a network of sixteen terminals and a fleet of river and coastal marine vessels. Fencil joins Crowley after serving as senior vice president, operations of global energy company Santos in Alaska. He previously served in management roles at BP and other energy companies after beginning his career as an engineer. Fencil earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. He also served as a US Peace Corps volunteer, assisting healthcare education and teaching high school science in Tanzania.

Nortech—an environmental, energy, health, and safety services firm with offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau—added new hires to its team.

Janine Way recently joined the firm as an Environmental Professional. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UAF and previously worked at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Way has expertise in hazardous waste management, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as well as mechanical and nuclear engineering. Way is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Jacob Ferrill comes aboard as an Environmental Staff Technician, applying his experience in monitoring environmental conditions, collecting samples, and managing data related to water quality, air pollution, and hazardous waste for various Nortech projects throughout Alaska. Ferrill holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from UAS. He has notable experience in chemistry labs and biochemistry labs. In his free time, Ferrill enjoys hiking, fishing, reading, and rock climbing, as well spending time with his cat, Hamentashen (called “Homie” for short).

UMIAQ Design, part of the commercial services division of Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, promoted Jessica Cederberg to the position of Architecture Manager. Cederberg is a licensed architect in Alaska and Washington, certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. She earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Oregon, with minors in interior architecture and art history. Since joining UMIAQ Design in 2019, Cederberg’s projects have included industrial facilities in Utqiaġvik, Anaktuvuk Pass, and Cordova, along with work in Anchorage, Nuiqsut, and Point Lay. Cederberg was also elected president of the Alaska chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

R&M Consultants, Inc. promoted Chris Black to the position of Group Manager of Site Development, where he had been working as senior project engineer. As group manager, Black is responsible for planning, design, and construction administration at worksites. Born in Juneau, Black has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UAA. He is a professional civil engineer licensed in Alaska and a certified erosion and sediment control lead. Black has thirty years of construction and civil engineering experience. He first joined R&M as a project engineer in January 2015. Some of Black’s recent projects include the King Salmon Snow Removal Equipment Building, Alaska Psychiatric Institute Parking Lot Rehabilitation, and Chugach Electric Association Campbell Lake Substation.

Anchorage-based business consulting firm Professional Growth Systems (PGS) brings Chris Dykes to the team as a Consultant. Dykes adds to the company’s planning and leadership services by applying skills he acquired in the US military. During his nine years in the US Army, Dykes served in leadership positions with Special Operations. Dykes received his bachelor’s degree in criminology from The College of New Jersey. His strong focus on development and growth is what attracted Dykes to PGS. “I found that the most rewarding experiences do not come from promotion, advancement, or awards. They come from cultivating genuine relationships, building effective teams, and striving for improvement every day. Improvement, not perfection,” he says.

KPMG US, one of Alaska’s largest accounting firms and the only Big Four professional services firm with an office in Alaska, promoted two managing directors for its Anchorage office.

As the new Audit Managing Director, Melissa Beedle is responsible for spearheading audit quality and leading engagement teams in project execution. Beedle joined KPMG in 2005. Beedle is a graduate of Western Washington University and resides in Juneau.

As the new Tax Managing Director, Nick Whitmore leads federal and state tax consulting and compliance services. Whitmore joined KPMG in 2011, specializing in Alaska Native corporations, settlement trusts, net operating losses, and financial statement accounting. He is a graduate of UAA.

The fundraising arm of Providence Alaska promoted regional director of operations Cynthia Libby as its President and Chief Philanthropy Officer. In this new role, Libby leads Providence Alaska Foundation’s operations to support philanthropic efforts in the community. She is the successor to Suzanne Carte-Cocroft, who announced in August that she is moving to the Lower 48. Libby has been with Providence Alaska for nearly ten years, credited with helping to raise tens of millions of dollars, including philanthropic investments for the construction of Alaska CARES, a facility that supports children who are victims of abuse. Libby earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Walla Walla University, and her MBA with a concentration in finance is from Washington State University.

The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC), a nonprofit affiliate of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, now has eight attorneys among its total staff of thirty, thanks to two new hires.

Maude Blair is the new Tribal Justice Manager. In that role, Blair coordinates ANJC’s Tribal Justice Support program, including statewide tribal justice initiatives. Before joining ANJC, Blair served as the senior corporate counsel for Southcentral Foundation and worked for the Alaska Federation of Natives and NANA Development Corporation. She is also on the board of the Alaska Native Heritage Center. An Iñupiat from Kiana and Kotzebue, Blair earned her undergraduate degrees from UAF and her JD and Indian Law Certificate from Arizona State University.

Samantha Cherot joins ANJC as Managing Attorney. In that role, Cherot collaborates with ANJC’s COO Alex Cleghorn to strategize and develop service delivery processes. Cherot brings a wealth of experience in public defense and legal administration. In her previous position as the Public Defender for the State of Alaska, Cherot supervised thirteen offices throughout the state. Born and raised in Anchorage, Cherot earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Santa Clara University and her JD from California Western School of Law.