Katie Apatiki
Special Project Coordinator at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Katie Pattison Apatiki grew up in Sunburst, Montana. She moved to Anchorage in 2010 and joined the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in 2011. She has held various roles and is currently a Special Projects Coordinator for the Behavioral Health Aide Training Center. Katie graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage (2023) with a BA in Anthropology and a minor in Alaska Native Studies. She loves reading, walking the trails, nerding out over cool rocks, and adventuring with her family.
Esbei Arurang
Education & Training Program Manager at Alaska Air National Guard
Esbei Arurang, an Education and Training Program Manager in the Alaska Air National Guard, blends a criminal justice degree with his love for the outdoors—fishing, hunting, and hiking. Raised in Palau and Saipan before settling in Alaska, he embodies resilience and adventure.
Mawuor Dior
Program Coordinator at Alaska State Troopers
Mawuor Dior moved from Juneau to Anchorage last year in 2022 with his family. He lives with his wife, Madelina and their three children. Mawuor lived in Juneau for about 8 years before he decided to relocate with his family to Anchorage. Since their move to Anchorage, their kids have been madly lobbying to get a pet cat. The addition of a furry family member is still being negotiated.
Tanisha Gleason
Shareholder Communications Supervisor at CIRI
Tanisha was raised in Chugiak and Anchorage and has spent the last 23 years offering her experience to help support Alaska Native companies and to improve the lives of Alaska Native people. She works at Cook Inlet Region Inc (CIRI) as the Supervisor of Shareholder Communications.
Kate Henry
Founder of EQuotientMind & Massage Therapist
Katie is often seen walking her dog and two cats around the town of Homer, where she is currently living with her husband and two teenagers.
She wears many hats throughout her days and weeks, including that of mother, a wife and friend, a massage therapist, a Qigong instructor, a life coach, a photographer, an aspiring sailor, a builder, a baker, a skier, a dancer, a Spanish language learner, and a ukulele player.
Maxine Laberge
Communications and Marketing Fellow at Alaska Fellows
Maxine Laberge is originally from New Hampshire and after eight years in Washington, DC now resides in Anchorage, AK with her dog, Frank. She graduated from American University with a double major in Business Administration and Public Relations. She worked for several years at Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital as the Outdoor Program Specialist. She is a recent alumna of the Alaska Fellows Program.
Maxine enjoys spending her free time backpacking, being on the water, reading, and playing cards.
Danielle Aliiraq Larsgaard
Owner of Aliiraq Arts and Resource Basket Supervisor at RurAL CAP
Danielle is a mother and student originally from Bristol Bay. Danielle relocated to Anchorage for education and job opportunities. In which she has developed relationships throughout the state through her rural behavioral health work. Danielle is also the owner of Aliiraq Arts traveling art studio teaching traditional art classes in rural communities. Danielle strives to be involved and to make a difference in the communities she loves and works in. She loves to subsist with her son and cooking!
Lillian Maassen
Editor at the Alaska Native Language Center
Lillian was born and raised in Anchorage, then spent most of her young adulthood wandering. She traveled through the US, Europe, and Africa. She worked as a bartender, a carriage driver, and an English teacher, and she earned her BA and MA. But nowhere else ever felt like home, and when she moved back to Alaska in 2020, she knew she was ready to stay. She now works as Editor at the Alaska Native Language Center and spends her free time hiking, skiing, and generally admiring our beautiful state.
Elizabeth Nicolai
Assistant Director at Anchorage Public Library
Elizabeth Nicolai grew up in the Kansas City area. In 2008, she moved to Anchorage to be a youth services librarian at the Anchorage Public Library, then a Branch Manager, the Youth Services Coordinator and the Assistant Director. Elizabeth received the Supervisor of the Year in 2016 and the I Love My Librarian award in 2021. She was a member of the 2012 Newbery Award book committee. Elizabeth lives in South Anchorage with her husband and two daughters. She leads Girl Scouts and plays handbells.
Christina Ranken
Director of Rooms at Anchorage Marriott Downtown
Christina Ranken is the Director of Rooms at the Marriott Anchorage Downtown. She brings 17 years of hospitality experience to her role. She began her career in Scottsdale, Arizona at the The Phoenician Resort and has grown to love the hotel and resort industry. She believes in the value of tenacity and that learning is a lifelong journey.
Cyndi Reeves
Gui Kima Project Coordinator at Anchorage School District
Cyndi Reeves is Yup'ik, born in Bethel and raised in Alakanuk. She has traveled and lived throughout Alaska. Cyndi has a real passion for working with Alaska's youth. Currently, she is the Project Coordinator for Gui Kima in Indigenous Education for the Anchorage School District. In her free time Cyndi hikes, fishes, and harvests both edible and medicinal plants. She enjoys sewing qaspeqs and creating native art. Cyndi has two adult children and a "Grandy" in Seattle, whom she visits often.
Rachel Ries
Founder/CEO at Campbell Creek Group
Rachel Ries lives in Anchorage with her family. Rachel has fulfilled a range of roles, including paralegal, MEDEVAC pilot, military Commander, and Aviation Operations, taking her around the world, including deployment to Afghanistan.
Rachel is a business owner, the Board Chair of the Veterans Affairs Program for P.U.P Inc, Commissioner for the Budget Advisory Committee, President of the Huffman-O’Malley Community Council, and member of the Anchorage Home and Landowners Organization (HALO).
Helena Sarcone
Manager at Grassroots Fair Trade Store & Owner of Sarcone Consulting
Helena Sarcone was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. A proud alumni of West Anchorage High School and the University of Alaska Anchorage, she has a background in Anthropology and Project Management. She currently works in the fields of fair trade and community development, and is an organizer of Spenard2ndSaturday. Helena is motivated to experience, grow, and share the community she loves.
Jenny-Marie Stryker
Political Director at The Alaska Center
Jenny-Marie Stryker (she/her) grew up in the Bay Area, California, but is honored to live, work, and play on Dena'ina Land in Anchorage for the last six years. She works as the Political Director for The Alaska Center, after working on political campaigns and briefly as a journalist. She loves spending every day supporting clean air and water, healthy communities, and a strong democracy. Outside of work, she can be found walking her Malamute pup with her partner, cooking, and enjoying Alaska.
Lorna-lei Sua'ava
Prevention Fellow with Washington State University and Alaska Department of Behavioral Health
Lorna-lei Sua’ava was born in Long Beach, CA and raised in Palmer, AK. In 2020, Lorna-lei graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry & Psychology from Southern Virginia University. She is currently working towards her Masters in Neuroscience at University of Arizona Global Campus. After college, she has been working hard to empower and uplift the Pacific Islander youth and young adults in the community. She strives to be an example for those who aspire to be in higher education, more specifically in STEM! Lorna-lei now works as a Prevention Fellow with Washington State University and SOA Dept Behavioral Health. Her aim is to continue work in coalition and community development, to implement culturally-centered practices and collaboration to provide opportunities for all.
Monica Terrones Vargas
Events Manager at Rasmuson Foundation
Monica is from Lima, Peru but has been living in Anchorage for the last 33 years. She works as the Events Manager for Rasmuson Foundation and loves her job. It allows her to meet so many new businesses and great community partners. In her spare time, she enjoys walking or hiking her dog Bonita. She loves to travel to as many new places as possible. Listening to music and trying to get out dancing is also a must.
Molissa Udevitz
Youth Program Designer at the Alaska Humanities Forum
Molissa grew up hiking, camping, and studying ballet and modern dance in Alaska. Molissa’s professional education work has ranged from leading youth day camps to teen backpacking trips to creative aging workshops. She currently works at the Alaska Humanities Forum where she collaboratively designs programs that help Alaska Native youth take pride in their cultural identities. In her free time, Molissa enjoys dancing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and volunteering with outdoor education programs.
Sarah Weideman
HR Manager at the Dimond Center
Sarah Weideman was born in Anchorage, Alaska and spent most of her teen years in the Mat-Su Valley. Currently, Sarah is the Human Resource Manager for the iconic Dimond Center in Anchorage. When not at work Sarah enjoys riding and teaching with her two horses and relaxing at home with her boyfriend, teen daughter and two dogs.
