Best Beginnings_VareeLong-time fundraising professional Julie Varee, CFRE, has joined Best Beginnings as development manager. She will help engage individual, corporate and foundation donors in Best Beginnings’ work statewide and assist Best Beginnings’ partners.

“We are delighted to have Julie on staff,” Executive Director Abbe Hensley said. “Her skills and experience are a tremendous asset to Best Beginnings and early childhood in general.”

Award Finalists to be Recognized during 55th Annual Event

ANCHORAGE - The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce's 2012 Gold Pan Awards will kick off at 5 p.m. Friday, Sep. 14 at the Dena'ina Center. This year's theme is again "Casino Royale."

Attendants can get lucky at numerous casino-style games while enjoying live entertainment, drinks and appetizers, all while supporting this year's business finalists.

FNBA_SchuhFNBA_CrowFNBA_HeinzFNBA_HofelingFirst National Bank Alaska’s board of directors recently named two new branch managers and also appointed two Alaskans to lead within the bank as vice presidents.

Anchorage Assembly Chair Ernie Hall announced Thursday (July 12) that a selection committee of three Assembly members has nominated Darrel Hess for appointment to the position of Municipal Ombudsman. The selection committee included Assembly members Dick Traini, Debbie Ossiander and Patrick Flynn.

Hess' nomination will be presented to the entire Assembly July 24 and, if approved, will be effective Aug. 1-Dec. 31. Hess has been employed as the homeless coordinator for the Municipality of Anchorage since 2009.

Lung Assn_Perez-Verdia.jpgThe American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific recently announced the hire of Kameron Holloway Perez-Verdia in the dual role of Alaska director and regional director of strategic growth.

Millennium_FraserMillennium Hotels and Resorts has announced the appointment of hospitality executive Carol C. Fraser as general manager of its Anchorage property.

Fraser brings 20 years of hotel management and destination marketing, specializing in Alaska, to her position.

As general manager, Fraser will oversee all operations of the 248 room property, actively participate in the continual development of the property’s ties within the industry and community and lead her team of hospitality professionals.

The board of directors of Greater Anchorage Inc. has announced that Jennifer Harrington will be the executive director of Anchorage Fur Rendezvous.

A life-long Alaskan, Harrington has more than 14 years of non-profit experience in Alaska. She has a strong background in non-profit management. Most recently, she worked with Providence Alaska Medical Center and the University of Alaska.

Harrington stated that she looks forward to working with the Greater Anchorage Inc. board of directors to keep this long-standing festival successful in the years to come.

ACT_StorrsThe Alaska Children’s Trust has announced the hiring of Trevor Storrs as the new executive director.

A graduate of Gallaudet University with a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling, Storrs brings more than 20 years of experience in the human services sector, of which 15 years was focused on nonprofit management.

NWStrategies_LeeANCHORAGE, Alaska– Northwest Strategies, a full-service marketing, advertising and public relations agency, is pleased to announce the hire of Amber Lee, who joins the NWS team as senior account supervisor.

Lee is responsible for account management, brand and campaign strategy and development and management of creative execution.

WHPacific_MacomberSeattle, WA (June 21, 2012) – WHPacific, Inc., today announced that veteran industry executive Robert G. ("Bob") Macomber has joined the firm as its new president. With 22 years of distinguished leadership and business development experience in the real estate, land development, and energy industries, Macomber's expertise includes enterprise planning and growth, strategic initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, and achieving industry recognition for corporate best practices.

CarlsonAnchorage, Alaska, June 25, 2012

CU1_Gelione
Credit Union 1 welcomes Joe Gelione as the new vice president of real estate lending. A graduate of Stockton State College where he studied financial management, Gelione brings more than 20 years of experience to the Real Estate Loan Department, with many of those years spent managing all aspects of large and diverse loan portfolios.

USKH_Murugesan
USKH_Bertelsen
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Two USKH employees recently earned their professional engineering licenses in Alaska.

Col. LestochiCol. Christopher D. Lestochi assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, July 2 in a change of command ceremony on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Col. Reinhard W. Koenig, the outgoing Alaska District Commander, relinquished command in a ceremony at District headquarters. Brig. Gen. Richard L. Stevens, commander of the Pacific Ocean Division, the Alaska District’s next higher headquarters located in Honolulu, served as the ceremony’s presiding officer.

Rodney Larson has joined the Pacific Alaska Lumber team as the regional manager of the company's Alaska territory and will be based at the new office in the historic Alaska Railroad Depot in Anchorage.

Larson has nearly 20 years of building material sales & logistics experience in the State of Alaska. Furthermore, he brings an understanding of the particular demands of the region that only comes from being a lifelong resident.

AMC_HughesAMC Engineers announces that Joseph Hughes, EIT, has passed the Construction Specifications Institute’s Certified Document Technologist examination.

Certification is awarded to individuals who have advanced knowledge and professional expertise in the preparation and evaluation of specifications and drawings and construction contract administration.

DAFCU_TillmanAnchorage—Whitney Tillman was promoted to marketing coordinator at Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union. In this role, she is responsible for communications with select employer groups, internal correspondence with the Credit Union’s central operations department and assisting with trade shows and special event planning.

Tillman joined the Credit Union in 2005 and spent six years in the loan control department before broadening her financial knowledge at the Eagle River Walmart branch.

Starzek
KyzerThe Anchorage Economic Development Corp. recently named Will Kyzer the new business and economic development assistant director for the organization and James Starzec the new research coordinator.

Local leadership program completes second year with 20 graduates

ANCHORAGE - After six-months, 10 courses and a slew of leadership challenges, 20 "students" of the Anchorage Chamber's Leadership & Executive Advancement Program recently graduated during a ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel earlier this month.

Athena Society camp-goersFrom left: Vang Her, Bartlett High School; Rebeka Hatcher, Bartlett High School; Yajaira Rodriguez, East High School; and Arina Filippenko, West High School.