A new cabinet commissioner is in charge of the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF). Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed Ryan Anderson to the job, replacing John MacKinnon, who had been commissioner since December 2018. Anderson, a twenty-year veteran of the department, previously oversaw DOT&PF’s Northern Region. He has a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from UAF.

He challenged, then endorsed, Dave Bronson in the race for mayor of Anchorage in April, and now Mike Robbins is working within the new administration. Robbins has been hired by the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA) board of directors as its new Executive Director. He replaces Andrew Halcro, who resigned in March. A long-time local business owner himself, Robbins will oversee ACDA’s mission of economic revitalization, financial stability, and supporting development projects. “I have the utmost confidence in Mike Robbins to aggressively pursue economic expansion and diversification for our city,” says Mayor Bronson.

NOAA Fisheries announced its hire of Bael Baldwin-Schaeffer as a new Tribal Research Coordinator in Anchorage. She joins the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Communications Program to foster relationships with subsistence communities and fishing. Baldwin-Schaeffer has both a science background—a bachelor’s degree in sustainability studies and a master’s in environmental science from APU—as well as ties to local communities. In her previous work, she led a collaborative study examining offshore gold mining and effects on structural habitat for juvenile red king crab in Norton Sound.

Sitnasuak Financial Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nome-based Sitnasuak Native Corporation, hired Sharon K. Elliott as President, overseeing the operations of both Fidelity Title Agency of Alaska and Mat-Su Title Agency. Elliott’s diverse financial background in Alaska and Washington state includes eighteen years in real estate, loan origination, and title and escrow closing. Most recently, Elliott was founder and president of Alaska Exchange Corporation, now Alaska Exchange Company, which opened in Anchorage in 1993.

KeyBank is making moves in its Alaska commercial division.

Tracy Morris has been promoted to the division’s Senior Vice President, where she works with large corporate businesses. Morris began her banking career more than eighteen years ago on the retail side while attending UAA, where she studied business management as a student-athlete. Morris sits on the advisory board for Providence Hospital.

KeyBank also brought in Jake Askren as Commercial Analyst. He brings more than twenty years of experience as a small business banking specialist. In this role, he assists the commercial bank unit in approving loans by analyzing financial statements to determine credit worthiness and identify known and unknown risks. Most recently he served as branch manager at the Benson branch.

The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska brought aboard Misty Browne as Manager of the 477 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) department. Browne oversees daily management of the TANF program, which provides financial assistance to families while emphasizing work participation, education, family stability, and self-sufficiency for Alaska Natives in Southeast Alaska. Browne earned both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in psychology.

Some personnel at R&M Consultants are leveling up, while a former colleague returns.

Andrea Story, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at R&M Consultants, was named a Fellow by the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). SMPS fellows represent the highest level of experience and leadership in marketing and business development within the design and building industry. Story calls her fellowship a “gift” to the Alaska chapter of the society, which she helped re-establish in 2011.

Robert Colles, a Project Engineer at R&M Consultants, successfully passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam, gaining his Alaska license in civil engineering. Colles earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UAF and joined R&M in 2014 as an intern in the Materials Laboratory. Now a member of R&M’s Airport Engineering Group, he develops specifications for projects such as the Newtok Airport Relocation, Bethel Airport Main Runway Reconstruction, and Dillingham Runway Rehabilitation.

Former R&M employee Clark Rosencrans is back with the firm as Group Manager of Special Inspections. Since his first stint from 2012 to 2016, Rosencrans has worked for the Municipality of Anchorage as a structure inspector and code abatement officer. Now that he has rejoined R&M, Rosencrans is already busy inspecting security vestibule upgrades at Anchorage public schools, as well as the construction of the Homer Chemical Storage Building. In his off time, he races his 1966 Ford Fairlane at the racetrack in Palmer.

Peter Pan Seafood Co. welcomed Michael De Caro to its team as Vice President of retail sales and product development. De Caro leads the team developing new retail items and portion control as the company produces more value-added products under new ownership. De Caro comes to Peter Pan with years of experience in the restaurant industry, where he trained as a chef, before he eventually began working as a seafood supplier in Seattle.

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) welcomed Dave Heimke as Chief Operating Officer. Heimke previously served as executive vice president of risk and engineering at Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. He first came to Alaska in 1985 after working at scientific research stations in Antarctica. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering from UAF. As chief operating officer, Heimke is responsible for leveraging AIDEA programs to foster public and private investments for Alaska.

Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) welcomed Kate Matheson as its new Development Director, where she is responsible for all revenue and event functions as well as investor relations. Matheson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Auburn University and comes to AEDC from United Way of Anchorage, where she worked as the director of workplace giving.

Yoshi Ogawa, an agent for New York Life Insurance Company, has earned a master of science in financial services from American College, an accredited institution specializing in insurance and financial services education, located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Ogawa has been a New York Life agent since 2007 and is associated with New York Life’s Alaska General Office in Anchorage.

The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA) tapped one of America’s top cross-country skiers, Kikkan Randall, as its new Executive Director. Randall grew up in Anchorage and participated as a child in NSAA’s Junior Nordics program, which eventually led to five Olympic appearances and a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Games. Randall comes to NSAA with experience in nonprofit management and community engagement.

Heather Sealy, a founding partner of NorthForm Architecture, has earned professional registration as an architect from the state Division of Professional Licensing. Sealy holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Idaho and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. She has thirteen years of experience designing building projects across Alaska and is currently working on the new Prince William Sound Science Center in Cordova.