Rocky Elerding is promoted to the position now that longtime CFO Jim Sarvela is retiring. Elerding was born and raised in Sitka. He earned a degree in finance from the University of Washington and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington’s MBA program. He has been with First Bank since 2004. Elerding had been working as Southeast Regional Mortgage Manager.
To replace Elerding as Southeast Regional Mortgage Manager, First Bank hired Dawn Wesley. Wesley moved away for twenty years but moved back in 2011, gaining experience in the mortgage and insurance sectors.
Mike Huston becomes the bank’s President, a title that Chairman and CEO Joe Schierhorn had been holding as well. Huston also remains Chief Lending Officer, a position he attained in 2017 when he was hired as an executive vice president. Huston was previously chief banking officer at First Interstate Bank in Billings, Montana. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School.
Amber Zins is promoted to COO and Executive Vice President from her previous role as chief administrative officer. Zins has been with Northrim Bank for fourteen years since she was hired as internal audit manager. Zins holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UAF and is a certified public accountant.
Also, to manage a new loan production office in Nome, Northrim Bank hired Drew McCann for the position of VP, Lending Branch Manager 1. McCann was previously director of the Nome Convention and Visitor Bureau. He is taking classes at UAS toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in management.
Cindy Cevasco is the bank’s new Vice President and Human Resources Manager. Cevasco has more than thirty-six years of experience in human resources and management in the financial industry. She now oversees payroll and all other human resources tasks for Mt. McKinley Bank.
Courtney Durham is the new Assistant Vice President, Mortgage Lending at the Delta Junction branch. Durham grew up in the Delta Junction area and spent twenty-two years in residential, agricultural, and commercial real estate all over Alaska. Her experience also includes owning a small business in Delta Junction and developing commercial properties. Durham raises cattle and trains horses at her ranch.
The new COO at Alaska Tribal Broadband is Brad Angasan. He most recently served as president of Alaska Peninsula Corporation, the company that jointly serves the villages of Kokhanok, Newhalen, Port Heiden, Ugashik, and Angasan’s hometown of South Naknek. Angasan attended Western Colorado University and the UAF School of Management. He has more than twenty-five years of management experience in for-profit and regional nonprofit sectors.
A veteran of the company returns as Vice President of Sales. Rich Wolverton first worked for Peter Pan in 1989, when “Seafood” still had a plural “s” at the end. He had been working in food sales after earning a degree from the University of North Florida. Wolverton later served as president of the Northwest Fisheries Association and worked for Food Services of America as vice president of category management before launching his own consulting firm.
Michael Mussell joins the team as Executive Vice President of Projects, Ingredients, and Canning. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Santa Barbara and a master’s from San Diego State University, Mussell developed production facilities and new applications for Omega 3 oils and low molecular weight fish proteins in Europe, Africa, South America, and North America.
Matt Frazier comes aboard as Regional Sales Manager. Frazier brings more than fifteen years of experience at every stage of the process, from catch to retail.
Jeff Read is the new Parking Director. A US Air Force veteran, Read was hired from BAC Transportation, the limousine and coach service where he worked as chief operating officer. Read oversees EasyPark’s customer service, dispatch, security, parking enforcement, and facility maintenance divisions, as well as the parking garages and lots owned and operated by ACDA. Read has worked in management and owned businesses in the hospitality, retail, and fitness industries for more than twenty-five years. He is also a past commander of American Legion Post 29.
EasyPark’s new Facilities Manager is Phillip DeRouin, a twelve-year veteran of the department most recently serving as facilities lead. DeRouin is trained in electronics and is responsible for coordinating year-round maintenance and custodial workers for the upkeep of ACDA’s buildings, grounds, and equipment.
Elias Rojas joined MTA as Marketing Manager for Commercial Solutions. In his new role, Rojas focuses on marketing and business development for MTA’s array of enterprise and wholesale solutions. Rojas comes to MTA from Alaska Pacific University, where he served as director of marketing and communications. Rojas has a master’s degree in business administration from Alaska Pacific University and a bachelor’s degree in international business from San Diego State University.
MTA hired Steve Brockman as its Commercial Solutions Analyst. In his new role, he helps MTA expand its commercial solutions business in adjacent markets and government programs. Brockman spent the last ten years at Copper Valley Telephone, most recently as a business analyst. Brockman earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing analytics from Liberty University. His service in the US Air Force from 1978 to 1982 brought him to Alaska.
A senior interior designer with Bettisworth North Architects and Planners received the Certified Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID) designation after passing a rigorous examination. Tiffany Coffman’s new credential distinguishes her from other architects, designers, and decorators. The CHID certificate is the highest designation for a healthcare interior design professional and is sought by many healthcare organizations when choosing an interior designer. Coffman holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Colorado State University and has worked in interior design for ten years, specializing in senior assisted living facilities.
The Anchorage School District selected Jharrett Bryantt to succeed Deena Bishop as Superintendent. A nationwide search found Bryantt in Houston, Texas, where he leads the office of talent at the eighth-largest school district in the country. He starts at the same salary that Bishop accumulated after six years on the job.
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska hired Janice Hotch as Business & Economic Development Director. In that position, Hotch leads efforts to promote business and economic opportunities for the tribe, its tribal business enterprises and citizens, and Southeast Alaska communities. Hotch’s Tlingit name is Kooseen and she is L’uknax.ádi (Raven/Coho) from the Daaginaa Hít. She holds a master’s certificate in government contracting from The George Washington University School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Washington. She comes to the tribe from MRV Architects.