Two employees, Emery Johnson and Carrie Crouse, received the President’s Spotlight Award during the Coffee with the President event September 20. The award, developed to recognize Statewide staff for exceptional accomplishments, includes a special plaque and gift certificate. Individuals may be nominated by co-workers or supervisors using this FORM.

Emery Johnson was recognized for the essential support role she provides for the President’s Office. She provides administrative support including travel and purchasing for the President’s Office, which often involves short notice, cancellations and itinerary changes. Johnsen serves as backup to the president’s executive assistant. The nomination notes “this takes confidence, good judgment and organization, all traits Emery possesses.” In addition, she is backup support for University House which sometimes entails early mornings and weekends. “Emery does all this with a smile, while keeping up with her studies and her responsibilities as the executive assistant to the CITO. That is admirable.”

Carrie Crouse was recognized for the critical assistance she has provided by taking on management of University House. The building transitioned this past year from a residence to a rental facility and Crouse has taken on the additional responsibility of managing the facility. Crouse ensures the rented facility is in top shape for events ranging from university department retreats and training to dinners for diplomats and large receptions. All this on top of her work for the UA Foundation. The demands of the House commonly include early mornings, late evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. The nomination notes, “It is difficult for me to imagine how we could have managed if Carrie had not stepped up to take on this responsibility.”

Started September 7, 2016

Geoff Bacon
Director of Labor & Employee Relations
SW Human Rsources

Geoff Bacon has joined the Statewide human resources department as Director of Labor and Employee Relations. Prior to coming to the university, Bacon worked as a field representative for the Alaska Public Employees Association. He was a human resources intern with Doyon, Limited and a labor relations intern with National Credit Union Administration.

Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Bacon attended Cornell University, School of Industrial & Labor Relations, in Ithaca, New York where he earned his bachelor's and master's in Industrial & Labor Relations. He is a certified Professional in Human Resources, through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).

He is engaged to his beautiful fianc�e Rachael. They have a golden retriever puppy. Bacon enjoys cooking, travel and learning about new and exciting cultures.

Started September 19, 2016

Austin Somaduroff
Human Resources Technician
SW Human Resources

Austin Somaduroff has joined Statewide Human Resources team as a HR technician. He will primarily be working on PERS/TERS and payroll. A UAF graduate, Somaduroff was previously a senior financial services representative with Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.

Born in Anchorage at Providence Hospital and raised in Chugiak, he started his undergraduate degree at UAF in 2009, finished in 2013, and has been finding his way back ever since.

Somardouroff has a Bachelors of Arts, in music and an Emergency Services minor from UAF. He has CompTIA A+ certification and spends a lot of time studying on his own.

He loves spending as much time with his wife and kiddo as possible. Marchelle and Austin have one on the way who will be arriving within the next few weeks. They enjoy hiking, watching TV shows, cooking, and other family activities. Somardouroff enjoys any manner of computer work including researching, reading, gaming, problem solving and hardware repair.