Meg Nordale knows what it means to give back and be a part of your community. To her, these are fundamental to a sustainable business. Meg is President of GHEMM Company, a long-established general contracting firm in Fairbanks. Outside of GHEMM, Meg is active in the community of Fairbanks and participates in a number of civic organizations and events.

GHEMM is invested in educating Alaska’s future workforce. The firm established the GHEMM Company Scholarship in 1999 to support students studying civil engineering who graduated from an Alaska high school. In addition, GHEMM Company has partnered with Design Alaska by providing matching gifts during KUAC’s Fall and Spring fundraisers and regularly sponsors special events at the university. Meg notes that GHEMM “strongly believes in educating individuals who have the ability to potentially work with and for” Alaskan businesses.

A life-long Alaskan with deep roots in the Anchorage community, Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism as a student athlete with the University of Alaska Anchorage Cross-Country Ski Team. After 15 years of sales and marketing experience, coupled with 25 years of property management and real estate acquisitions, Jennifer and her husband Tim established Signature Land Services--a leading contracting service company specializing in snow removal, concrete, and asphalt paving. Jennifer oversees major client relations, marketing, and contract management. She is an outdoor enthusiast and an active volunteer with a variety of organizations including the Covenant House, West Anchorage High School, and the Alaska Women’s Gold Nugget Triathlon.

Roald serves as the chief operating officer for the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. He previously served as the chief executive of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. Roald leverages community relationships and partners to gain resources for program development, facility expansions, community infrastructure, and service and system improvements.  

He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and minor in public administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a Master of Science in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He began his undergraduate education at the University of Alaska Southeast – Sitka Campus.

Roald grew up in Sitka, Alaska. He splits his time between Juneau and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. He is Eagle/Frog of the Sgajuuga.ahl clan, an enrolled tribal citizen of Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Tlingit & Haida, and a shareholder of Sealaska Corporation. He is married to Carly Helgesen and together they have two children.

Stephanie Erickson is Greater Prudhoe Area Manager for ConocoPhillips Alaska, where she leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals to oversee ConocoPhillips' non-operated interest in Prudhoe Bay and its satellite fields.  

Stephanie was raised in Minnesota. She earned a bachelor’s in geological engineering from Michigan Technological University and a master’s in geophysics from the University of Utah. Stephanie began her career at Phillips Petroleum Company in 1998 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She lived in Anchorage 2002-2009, spent 12 years in Texas, and moved back to Anchorage in 2020

Stephanie has a passion for engineering, sciences, and analytical thinking. She loves spending time outdoors and playing music with her two sons and husband.

Anna Atchison is a lifelong Alaskan, born in Palmer and raised on a traditional homestead at the base of the Talkeetna Mountains. She calls Fairbanks home and enjoys traveling internationally and spending time hiking with her husband, Shane, and their daughters.

Anna is the director of external affairs for Kinross Alaska, overseeing its interests and assets including the Fort Knox mine in Fairbanks and the Manh Choh project located on Tetlin tribal land.

She has over two decades of professional experience in government and community affairs; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility; communications; and risk management. A University of Alaska
Fairbanks graduate, Anna earned her B.S. in natural resource management.

In addition to her service to the University of Alaska as UA Foundation Board member and member of the UAF Board of Advisors, she serves on the National Mining Association’s ESG Task Force as well as on the boards of the Resource Development
Council, the Council of Alaska Producers, and others.

Anna was honored to be a 2022 UAF Meritorious Service Award recipient.

Laura Bruce, CFP®, ChFC®, is a pioneer for women in finance in Alaska and has over 20 years of broadly diversified investment management experience. In 2007 she joined Alaska Permanent Capital Management where she quickly became an integral part of the team in helping institutions across the state build optimal investment plans to serve generations to come. In 2014 Laura helped establish the private wealth subsidiary Alaska Wealth Advisors. As owner and director, she and her business partner were intentional about creating an empowering environment for both employees and clients. It is now one of the leading financial planning and investment firms in Alaska.

Laura makes contributions to her community a priority. She puts her financial acumen and passion for people to work for numerous organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Make a Wish Foundation, Board of Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, and the Municipality of Anchorage Trust Fund committee. Her commitment to diversity, inclusion, and empowering women and youth was most recently recognized by her YWCA 2022 Women of Achievement award.

Laura appreciates her work with the Foundation, a special highlight has been helping to guide the University in forming their strategic plan that includes an intentional plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to support staff and diverse students.

Andrea Canfield is a partner at the law firm Stoel Rives LLP, where she advises Alaska Native corporations and privately held, small and middle market companies in mergers and acquisitions.
As a life-long Alaskan from Eagle River, Andrea is passionate about giving back to the community and creating a bright future for Alaskans. In addition to her legal work, she is actively involved in numerous pro bono and community-focused initiatives including serving as the President of the Board of Directors of Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, Inc. (AWAIC), as a mentor for Color of Justice Alaska, and as a volunteer attorney through the American Bar Associations’ Free Legal Answers Program. She is also a long-time member and former President of the Anchorage Association of Women Lawyers (AAWL). As a collegiate softball hall of fame athlete, Andrea is also a dedicated advocate of the local softball community. Alaska Journal of Commerce included Andrea in its 2023 Top Forty Under 40 ranking.
Andrea received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and graduated from Delaware State University with an M.B.A. and a B.A. in political science. She has been a member of the UA community since joining the UAA Legal Studies Program Advisory Committee in 2019. Andrea also studied Japanese at UAA.
Whenever possible, Andrea loves spending time outdoors with her family.

Ella Goss, MSN, RN, is Providence Alaska Medical Center’s senior executive, overseeing all medical center services at the 401-bed hospital. She previously served as the director of the Providence Cancer Center, the state's most comprehensive cancer treatment facility.

Since joining Providence in 1997 as a staff nurse in the hospital's Emergency Department, Goss has served in a variety of leadership positions, including chief flight nurse for LifeGuard, clinical manager of Emergency Services, director of Medical Staff, Risk Management and Regulatory Services. Prior to joining Providence, she worked in rural emergency departments in Kotzebue and Newfoundland.

Goss has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing, Illinois. She also has certification as a professional in health care risk management and health care quality.

Providence enjoys a decades-old partnership with the University of Alaska (UA), particularly the University of Alaska Anchorage School of nursing. Between alumni recruitment and hands-on learning opportunities for nursing students, Providence is committed to working with UA leaders to build a robust health care workforce in Alaska.

During more than 15 years in the health insurance industry, Jason has become widely recognized as a thought leader and civic influencer, deeply committed to helping communities transform the way they provide and pay for healthcare. He currently serves as vice president of sales and strategic market development at the Moda family of companies, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. 

Prior to moving into this role, Jason served as Moda’s director of Alaska sales and service. He earned a bachelor's in English from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a master’s in business administration from the University of Alaska Southeast, and is a past president of the UAF Alumni Association.

Jason’s responsibilities today include the growth and expansion of business for the entire family of Moda companies throughout Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, and Texas. With more than 1,400 employees, Moda is a multi-faceted organization offering a wide range of medical, dental, pharmacy and vision plans. Affiliated enterprises include Moda Health Plan, Delta Dental of Oregon and Alaska, Moda Assurance Company, BenefitHelp Solutions, Ardon Health, Dentists Management Corporation, EOCCO, Summit Health and Emerging Health.

A passionate outdoorsman, Jason sets the healthy living standard for his workforce by maintaining an active lifestyle, though much of his current running, he confesses, involves chasing his four young children around the house.

As a retired Financial Services Executive, Mr. Greimann enjoyed a 35 year career while living and serving clients in Alaska, Nevada and Colorado. The majority of his corporate tenure were spent in Senior and Executive leadership roles with Wells Fargo Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Guarantee Bank and Trust of Colorado and most recently Northrim Bank in Alaska. Mr. Greimann has broad expertise in Real Estate Markets, Wealth Advisory, Multigenerational Client Relationships, Private Banking and Commercial Credit Structuring.

Currently, Mr. Greimann manages a family office consisting of Real Estate, Equity and Bond Investments. In addition to his role with the University of Alaska Foundation, Mr. Greimann is a Charter Member of the Colorado based Economic Development Conservancy.

Greimann is a 3 rd generation Alaskan and holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Shauna is a huntress, skier, leader, advocate, and mentor. She joined Koniag in 2016 and serves as President. Prior to joining Koniag, she was the Chief Administrative Officer for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Vice President of Shareholder Services for Afognak Native Corporation.
 
A homegrown Alaskan, Shauna holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alaska and a graduate certificate in Alaska Native Executive Leadership from Alaska Pacific University. Shauna is a YWCA Woman of Achievement, Anchorage Athena Society inductee, German Marshall Memorial Fellow, Native American Top Forty Under 40, and Alaska Top Forty Under 40.
 
Shauna is a Shareholder of Koniag and Afognak Native Corporation and an enrolled tribal member of the Native Village of Afognak and Native Village of Port Lions.

Dave Karp is the senior vice president and managing director for Saltchuk in Alaska. Saltchuk owns and operates 11 companies in the state of Alaska. Prior to his current role, he served as president and chief executive officer of Saltchuk’s Aviation division with operations in Alaska, Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean.

Dave is a member of the Northrim Bank board of directors, Alaska Communications community advisory board, and serves on many nonprofit boards. Dave is a graduate of the University of Oregon. He and his wife Debbie grew up in Nome and have resided in Anchorage for the past 34 years. They enjoy spending time at the cabin with family and travel.

Stephanie Madsen has been involved in Alaska fisheries since arriving in Alaska over forty years ago.  She has lived in the fishery dependent communities of Cordova, Kodiak, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and now Juneau so Stephanie understands first-hand the importance of healthy, sustainable fisheries to thriving communities.  Fisheries and climate Research is critical to sustainable fisheries and Stephanie has been involved in supporting funding for the last ten years. Her involvement in the North Pacific Fishery Management Council both as a member and former chair provides a broad understanding of fisheries both in Federal waters and waters of our State. 

She serves on the Ecosystem committee for the NPFMC as well as the Marine Protected Federal Advisory Committee where she serves as co-chair of the Arctic MPA subcommittee. 

Ms. Oliver holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Alaska Anchorage, is a certified public accountant (CPA), and completed the Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program (ANELP) at Alaska Pacific University. As CIRI’s corporate controller, Rhonda Oliver is responsible for the design, implementation and supervision of all accounting systems, financial reporting, financial controls, budgeting and treasury functions. She also ensures the internal control procedures of the company and its subsidiaries are followed.

An Ahtna Incorporated shareholder of Athabascan descent, Oliver became controller in February 2010 and was promoted to vice president, corporate controller, in 2018. Before starting at CIRI in 1999 as director of accounting, she worked at Deloitte & Touche, a national accounting firm. She is a member of the Alaska Society of CPAs and American Institute of CPAs. For the last eight years she has been a member of the Trustee Committee for the Cook Inlet Region 401(k), Retirement Plan (the Plan).

Melissa Reiser is a trusted partner who develops financial strategies and customized solutions to help Alaskans and their businesses and communities thrive.

For more than 15 years, she has worked with healthcare professionals and organizations throughout Alaska. As senior healthcare lending officer for First National Bank Alaska, her local knowledge and experience has helped numerous businesses, medical professionals, and practices succeed.

Melissa majored in finance and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's in business administration from Troy State University in Dothan, AL. She attended the Foster School of Business Executive Leadership Training and graduated with honors from the prestigious Pacific Coast Banking School.

Melissa is active in the Anchorage business community and has served on several local boards, including the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and Anchorage Project Access, an organization dedicated to ensuring low-income, uninsured Alaskans gain access to specialty and dental care. She is also a member of the Anchorage South Rotary. Melissa enjoys the outdoors, hiking, fishing, and golfing.

Ben Roth is a lifelong Alaskan with deep roots in the region. He has always been a strong advocate for his community, having served on a number of charitable boards of directors in the area. Born and raised in Fairbanks, he graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with two degrees: a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and a BBA in Economics, while a student athlete with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Division I Ice Hockey team.
 
After Ben graduated from the University of Alaska, he went on to start his financial planning career and is a founding partner of SBS Retirement Consultants in Fairbanks. Ben earned his Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC®), and Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) professional designations during his 30-year career of helping people plan for their lives in retirement.
 
Ben loves to spend time with his wife, Karma, playing in the outdoors of Alaska and traveling around the world. His primary passion in life is to support other Alaskans as best he can through the work that he does along with other like-minded advocates and partners in our great state.

Tim Thompson is the public relations and marketing director – Alaska for Alaska Airlines, where he is responsible for community, media, and public relations. Tim also oversees the state of Alaska corporate giving programs for Alaska Airlines and is the executive director for the Alaska Airlines Foundation.

As a third generation Alaskan with over 30 years of communications experience, Tim's specific areas of expertise are corporate communications, community relations, public relations, government affairs, crisis communications, digital and traditional media.

Before joining Alaska Airlines, Tim was a partner at Thompson & Company Public Relations. Previous to Thompson & Company, he was the director of external affairs for the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the assignment manager for KTUU Channel 2 News.

Tim holds a master's in business administration in telecommunications management from Alaska Pacific University and is a 1994 graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage with a bachelor's in journalism and public communications. He currently serves on the boards of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, the Atwood Foundation, The Foraker Group, and the Anchorage Museum.

Dale Anderson was appointed to the University of Alaska Board of Regents in 2012 by Governor Parnell and re-appointed by Governor Dunleavy in 2021. Regent Anderson, a lifelong Juneau resident, works in the financial services industry and owns Auke Lake Bed & Breakfast. He brings to the board extensive life experiences from both the private and public sector. He has owned and operated numerous enterprises as well as served as a member of the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly, legislative aide for the House Finance Committee in the Alaska State Legislature and as commissioner of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. 

Regent Anderson holds a certificate of judicial development in administrative law from the University of Nevada and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Oral Roberts University. He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Alaska Travel Industry Association, Juneau Chamber of Commerce and the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau. He lives in Juneau with his wife Honey Bee and has four children and a grandson.

Mary K. Hughes of Anchorage, was appointed by Governor Knowles in July 2002, re-appointed by Governor Palin in January 2009 and re-appointed to a third term by Governor Walker in 2017.
She graduated from the University of Alaska with a bachelor's in management in 1971 and earned her juris doctorate from Willamette University College of Law in 1974.
A partner in the law firm of Hughes, Thorsness, Gantz, Powell & Brundin until 1994, she served as the Anchorage Municipal Attorney from 1995-2000 and Of Counsel with the firm until May 2005 when she became Alaska state director for the Office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a position she held until January 2008.

For seven years, she hosted a weekly radio show, Profile Alaska, on AM 700 KBYR. She is a past president of the Alaska Bar Association Board of Governors and the Alaska Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. She is presently a board member of the University of Alaska Foundation and a life trustee emeritus of Willamette University. She was elected to the board of directors of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges in 2013.

Additionally, she is a former chair and director of the Alaska Humanities Forum and the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation. She serves on the Alaska community advisory board of Alaska Airlines and is a member of the Defense Orientation Conference Association and a JBER Honorary Commander.

The University of Alaska Board of Regents appointed Pat Pitney as the university system’s 17th president on Feb. 25, 2022. She served as interim president since Aug.1, 2020.

Previously Pitney served as the state’s Director of the Division of Legislative Finance. She was the former Vice Chancellor of Administration, University of Alaska Fairbanks and worked at UA Statewide for 17 years. In all, Pitney spent 23 years with the University of Alaska before leaving to serve as the State Budget Director in the administration of former Governor Bill Walker. 

Pitney moved to Fairbanks in 1987 from Billings, Montana. She earned her MBA from UAF and an engineering physics degree from Murray State University (Kentucky). She has three adult children and three grandchildren. All three of her children are UA graduates, with degrees from UAF, UAA and UAS.

Before moving to Alaska, she was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team and won a gold medal in women’s air rifle.

Daniel M. White has served as the University of Alaska vice president for academic affairs and research since March of 2015. He joined the faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1995 as a professor of civil and environmental engineering. White has served in several positions at UAF, including director of the Institute of Northern Engineering, UAF associate vice chancellor for research and head of the Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization and interim vice chancellor for research. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Colorado College, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Washington University and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Alaska.