The board of Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) chose Travis Million as its CEO, succeeding John Burns, who retired in June. Since last September, Million had been working as GVEA’s chief operating officer. Prior to that, he was CEO at Copper Valley Electric Association, an electric utility that serves roughly 2,700 customers (covering 8,000 people) from Valdez to Glennallen.

Jessica Linquist joins the team at Alaska Communications as Vice President of Human Resources, overseeing compensation and benefits, workforce development, employee engagement, performance management, and labor strategy for the Anchorage-based telecommunications provider. Linquist previously served in human resources roles at Hilcorp, BP Alaska, and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. She has a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and a master’s degree in public administration from UAA.

After serving for three years in an interim capacity, Diane O’Brien was named Director of the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology. O’Brien, a professor of biology and wildlife, came to UAF in 2004 and served as deputy director of the UAF Center for Alaska Native Health Research. She was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences. O’Brien earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Amherst College and a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University. Her research investigates nutritional questions in public health and ecology using naturally occurring stable isotopes.

Alaska Pacific University (APU) hired Allison Knox as Chief Advancement Officer, responsible for fundraising strategy, alumni relations, sponsored programs, and major gifts. Knox has worked in the Alaska Native healthcare system and for Native corporations and nonprofits. Her background is mainly in public relations and strategic communications, such as serving as a press liaison at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah and handling media relations for the 2003 World Mountain Running Trophy in Girdwood. Knox earned an MBA with an emphasis in health services administration from APU in 2020, and she started working at APU on January 2, 2024.

The new Executive Director of the Atwood Foundation succeeds her father in the role. The board of the Anchorage-based philanthropic fund supporting journalism, arts, and culture chose Sara Perman to lead the organization now that her father, Ira Perman, is retired. Sara Perman has been an integral part of the Atwood Foundation for the past five years, and the board selected her as the best individual through a succession planning process. She brings eight years of experience in public affairs, most recently as the state government relations manager for UA. She is a lifelong Anchorage resident with an extensive background in Alaska Dance Theater and playing first-chair violin in the Alaska Youth Orchestra. She received two Alaska Press Club awards for her radio storytelling.

United Way of Anchorage’s board of directors appointed Eric Utraq Billingsley as the organization’s next President and CEO. Billingsley worked for NANA Regional Corporation for fifteen years, most recently as president of NANA Management Services. Billingsley previously served as United Way’s employee campaign coordinator. A graduate of Chugiak High School and UAA, Billingsley grew up in Anchorage while his father served in the US Air Force. He takes over for Mike Abbott, who led the organization during the interim since Clark Halvorson stepped down as CEO last December.

A veteran of the US Army and Anchorage Police Department, Myron Fanning was promoted to Vice President of Operations, Security at NMS. As the largest and most experienced security provider to Alaska’s oil and gas industry, NMS has benefited from Fanning’s leadership with the company. He is credited with expanding NMS’ footprint into the Lower 48 and initiating the first-ever security internship program for shareholders of parent company NANA Regional Corporation. Prior to joining NMS, Fanning served nearly a decade as a US Army infantry officer. He spent twenty-three years in law enforcement, earning the Medal of Valor twice and rising to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police.

Calista Brice, a holding line for construction and environmental subsidiaries of Bethel-based Calista regional corporation, hired Mac Stevens as Director of Safety and Risk at its Anchorage office. In this role, Stevens supports the safety and risk programs across nineteen Calista Brice companies and spearheads new programs to engage employees in Calista Brice’s safety-focused culture. Originally from Talkeetna, Stevens earned a degree in occupational safety and health from UAA. He began his career on the North Slope and previously managed health, safety, and environment for ASRC Construction.

Reorganization of two subsidiaries of UIC Commercial Services—a holding line for businesses owned by Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC), the village corporation for Utqiaġvik—into the Alaska Civil Construction division means new leadership titles.

To lead the division, Kodi Long is promoted to Vice President of Alaska Civil Construction and continues as General Manager of component company Qayaq Construction. Since 2020, his leadership efforts have resulted in building a highly skilled and dedicated Qayaq team.

Bill Hoople, CEO of the division’s other core component, HC Contractors, is promoted to Chairman of HC Construction Holdings. Hoople founded HC Contractors in North Pole in 1993, growing it to $87 million in revenue. UIC acquired HC Contractors in 2022.

To lead its Juneau office, PND Engineers promoted Sean Sjostedt to Vice President. In that role, he assumes office coordinator responsibilities for the firm’s Southeast Alaska operations. Sjostedt takes over for PND Vice President Dick Somerville, who has worked the firm for more than thirty-six years and has managed the Juneau location since 1996; Somerville continues to work at PND to support Sjostedt while Somerville transitions into retirement. Sjostedt, who grew up in Cordova, is approaching his 13th anniversary at PND, all from the Juneau office.

David Popiel joined the Anchorage office of Bettisworth North Architects and Planners as a Senior Architect. During twelve years of practice in Alaska, Popiel has been involved in projects for the Alaska State Library, Archives & Museum in Juneau; Mt. Edgecumbe High School Aquatic Center in Sitka; Kelsey Dock Interpretive Center in Valdez; and Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak. Popiel earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado. As a board member of the nonprofit Alaska Huts Association, Popiel is volunteering to develop a ski hut at Spencer Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula.

Tara Riemer joined Alaska Public Media as Senior Director of Finance. In this newly established position, Riemer serves as the financial liaison with the board of directors and reports to the chief operations officer and vice president of administration on budget management, grants, cost-benefit analysis, and financial forecasting. Riemer holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical and electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Prior to moving to Alaska in 2002, she worked as a strategic management consultant for McKinsey and Company in Boston and Auckland, New Zealand. Riemer joined the Alaska SeaLife Center in 2003 and served as its president and CEO starting in 2012.

The board of the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living (IAC) selected Brian Taylor as Executive Director. In that role, he carries out the organization’s mission of domestic violence intervention and prevention. Taylor was previously executive director at Fairbanks Youth Advocates. He has worked in mental health, chemical dependency counseling, education, electrical, business management, accounting, administration, and as a hospice chaplain. He takes over for Interim Executive Director Kara Carlson, who returns to her previous role as Deputy Director.