AGC CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Betsy Haines returned to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company to serve as Interim President in August 2022 following a brief retirement. She spent nearly 30 years working at the organization and on TAPS, ascending to the role of Senior Vice President, Operations & Maintenance.
As Senior Vice President of Operations & Maintenance, she oversaw the operation of the pipeline system, all pipeline and Valdez Marine Terminal maintenance, and Emergency Preparedness and Response, which includes SERVS. Prior, she worked as the Senior Vice President of Engineering & Risk, where she was responsible for Projects and Project Controls, Engineering, System Integrity, Health, Safety, Environment and Enterprise Risk. Other previous positions include project management, pump station management, Executive Assistant to the CEO, Director of Oil Movements in the Operations Division, and Director of Engineering.
Betsy was raised in Anchorage with six siblings. She was a 1980 Olympian in cross-country skiing and remains a passionate skier and runner. She is a graduate of East Anchorage High School and got her BS Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Vermont.
Betsy was named as one of the YWCA’s 2004 Women of Achievement as an acknowledgement of her work in the community through Nordic skiing, Habitat for Humanity, raising the awareness of women’s issues at work and helping young girls explore science and math. Betsy currently serves on one board – the Gold Nugget Triathlon. Betsy has two beautiful daughters.
Dan Fordice is vice president for Fordice Construction Co. He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology from Mississippi State University. He served 13 years in the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard. Fordice Construction is a heavy civil operation that builds precast concrete bridges and articulated concrete mattresses for the Army Corps of Engineers and has a marine and a commercial building division.
Dan is active at the local and national levels with many professional and civic organizations, especially with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). He has served as president and has been on the board of the Mississippi Valley AGC for over 25 years. He also has served on numerous committees for the national AGC, is a life member of the Board of Governors, and is currently the national vice president. Dan founded and currently chairs two not-for-profit foundations. The Southern Heritage Air Foundation honors WWII aviation and pilots and operates numerous WWII aircraft. The Warrior Bonfire Program works with post-9/11 Purple Heart veterans. He is a 2015 Distinguished Fellow from the Bagley School of Engineering at Mississippi State.
Jacqueline Garcia (Jackie), has over 25 years’ experience in workforce development. Jackie has been a resident of Alaska for the past 22 years. Jackie is currently the Alaska State Director for US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. Jackie has tremendous experience in Registered Apprenticeship Programs and the benefits the program brings to employers of all sectors. Jackie assists employers in creating and customizing apprenticeship programs and is a strong advocate for the ‘grow your own’ philosophy. Jackie has registered over 50 employers and assisted in creating over 15 apprenticeship programs across the State of Alaska.
Mark “Rock” DeRocchi has served as the Chief of Engineering and Construction for the Alaska District since 2019. In addition to oversite for all Design work and Construction placement, he also serves as the Chief of Operations which includes oversight of the Moose Creek Dam facility in North Pole, AK and serves as the Dam Safety Officer and Levee Safety Officer for the District.
Jessica Jacobsen, MSPM born and raised in Alaska. Involved in the Alaskan construction industry since 2009. Graduated with her first degree in Construction Management in 2013, as one of the only 4 girls in the program at that time. Most recently, obtaining her master’s in Project Management with honors in December 2019. This makes her a part of the 1% of Alaska natives with a master’s degree. Her current role is a Construction Manager at Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, where her primary responsibilities include monitoring the performance of maintenance contractors, vendors and other groups involved in the field implementation of maintenance projects. Previously, she worked for ANTHC, where she held the position of the only female construction manager bringing water and wastewater infrastructure to some of the most rural places in Alaska.
In her free time, Jessica likes to spend time in nature golfing, hiking or cycling, trying new recipes, and traveling to scenic places. She stays connected to her university and is a Mentor to multiple students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. She serves on multiple professional boards including President and Cofounder of Alaska Indigenous Exchange, Chapter President for Engineers Without Boarders, Chapter President for the National Association of Women in Construction, Alaska Chapter #197, and Vice President on the Board for University of Alaska Alumni Association.
Kathy Kinnett has served as the USACE Alaska District’s Small Business Professional since December 2018. She is responsible for managing the Small Business Program for the Alaska District, which provides a full range of quality engineering, science, technical and construction support services in support of peacetime and contingency operations in Alaska as well as across the Pacific Region and around the world.
Chad began his federal career in 1994 in Representative Don Young’s state office where he served six of seven years there as Deputy District Director. From 2001-2008, he served as a Presidential Appointee under former President George W. Bush and State Director to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency and Rural Development.
Chad returned to the Congressman’s office in 2009 to serve as his State Director for 10 years before being sworn in as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State Director for Alaska on March 18, 2019 as the career Senior Executive in the State for the Bureau.
As the career Senior Executive for BLM in Alaska, Chad was responsible for the management of 72 million Acres of federal lands in Alaska ranging from recreational lands to sole responsibility for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA). Chad was instrumental in the approval of the Willow Project in the NPRA for ConocoPhillips, leasing in the 1002 area of ANWR and working revising the NPRA Integrated Activity Plan to open more lands for oil and gas development in the NPRA. He was responsible for the approval of access to the Ambler Mining District under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and recommended the revocation of 28 million acres of public land withdrawals to fulfill remaining entitlements of the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Corporations under the Statehood Act.
In September 2021, Chad joined the office of Senator Dan Sullivan as State Director overseeing the Senators daily operations in the State and continues to be involved in all areas of federal management issues statewide.
Teresa Rule is the President and founding member of RNT Professional Services, LLC, a Cybersecurity and Data Privacy firm. A nationally recognized leader in her industry, she holds multiple industry certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA); Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) and CMMC Provisional Assessor certifications. Teresa is a renown subject matter expert on cybersecurity project management, cyber ethics, critical infrastructure protection and small business cyber hygiene.
RNT Professional Services has offices in Anchorage, AK, and Norman, OK. It is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOB), a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). RNT is a member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Veterans in Business Network, the American Water Works Association and supporting member of the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association, and the Association of General Contractors.
RNT is pioneering a new era in the training of a new generation of cybersecurity professionals through the RNT Cyber Academy and the Cyberspace Train, its organizational cyber-awareness tool. RNT also is pioneering the field of Cyber Ethics with its annual RNT Cyber Ethics Conference, featuring global thought leaders, and is entering its fifth year.
A native of Cleveland County, Oklahoma, Teresa Rule graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Letters. She holds a Master’s degree in Education for Adult and Community Education from Eastern Carolina University. As a US Marine, she served as a Transportation Officer before transitioning into Joint Special Projects. She served tours in the United States and Okinawa. Teresa currently is on the National Small Business Association executive advisory board, the PMI Alaska Board of Directors and the Infragard Oklahoma Board of Directors. She and her husband Randy, another retired Marine, recently celebrated 40 years of marriage and are the proud parents of six adult children.
Leslie brings over 25 years of experience coaching leaders, teams,
and organizations to drive positive shifts in strategy, culture, and performance.
She works from a belief that people in an organization are capable and hold the solutions, that conflict is a signal for change, and that people engage and thrive in environments with purpose, alignment, and positive accountability.
Leslie holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Development, earned her Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, and has completed her Professional Certified Coach Certification from the International Coach Federation (ICF). Prior to founding People & Change Consulting in 2000, she spent 10 years with EY and Coopers and Lybrand, leading national practices on people and change. Leslie is qualified to administer MBTI and DiSC.
In addition, she is certified in the Leadership Circle Profile and Culture Survey, a research-based 360 and culture assessment that reveals reactive mindsets and stage of development in leaders.
Marcus is a life-long Alaskan and graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He has been employed by Brice Incorporated for the past 18 years and currently serves as the Construction Manager. In that capacity he is responsible for the operation of Brice’s construction business line, which focuses on complex, logistically challenging heavy civil construction projects throughout the state of Alaska. Marcus also serves on the Board of Directors of the Associated General Contractors of Alaska where he currently occupies the Secretary position.
Randee began her career in safety in 2009 starting as a Safety Administrative Assistant. With many years of corporate safety roles under her belt, Randee incorporated SafeLogic Alaska LLC to begin offering services of a part-time safety consultant to small businesses who needed the safety support but could not hire a full-time position. Over the last 6 years, SafeLogic has grown to be a dependable subconsultant for industry leaders in construction, telecom, aviation, retail, medical and more.
As the leader of the SafeLogic team, Randee works closely with owner clients, their customers, and her team to provide fluidity between the entities. Randee doesn’t just aim to meet the needs of Clients, she works hard to thoroughly assess the situation, creatively envision the solution, and then produce cultural change.
Randee performs high level safety program management, oversight and coaching, and guidance to management teams for safety leadership. She assists Clients as a direct liaison with regulatory agencies such as OSHA, EPA and the FAA. She promotes the culture of safety, and focuses on customer satisfaction, sustainable growth and methodical stabilization of the business. As the leader of the team, Randee makes it a priority to grow and mentor the SafeLogic staff in their own professional careers.
Randee is results-driven, detail-oriented, and fast-paced. She has a strong enthusiasm for life and the protection of lives through effective safety management systems. Her responsibilities vary from regularly visiting Client jobsites for audits and evaluations, to providing temporary coverage at USACE projects on military installations throughout Alaska or coordinating and providing safety training. She’s a master at producing high quality deliverables such as safety manuals, safety handbooks and risk analysis. Randee covers the State of Alaska and beyond as a technical expert in her field and a well-respected and contributing member of the community.
Randee loves flying, skiing, being a mom to her three kids, traveling and is passionate about supporting other cancer patients. She is a recent cancer survivor and advocate for ovarian cancer research and on the Board of Directors for CCS in the Mat-Su Valley.
Carrie Jokiel is the President and majority owner of ChemTrack Alaska, Inc. a small, 8(a) Alaskan-woman owned environmental and construction services business that has been in operation since 1973. ChemTrack was the recipient of the 2019 SBA Woman Owned Small Business of the Year for Alaska and 2019 United States Senate Small Business of the Week. Carrie is also the Managing Member of ChemTrack/Cornerstone JV, LLC. ChemTrack/Cornerstone is a construction focused joint venture that is in the All Small Mentor Protégé Program (ASMPP) with the SBA.
Carrie has her Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well a master’s in Project Management (MSPM), from the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).
Carrie is active on the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Executive Board of Directors as well as the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) Board. She is also a member of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), The Women’s Procurement Circle, the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) as well as an Ambassador for Women’s Ice Hockey in the Fast and Female International Program.
Carrie was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a five-time USA Hockey National Champion and is active in the hockey community through ownership in a local sports complex, playing and coaching. She enjoys spending as much time as possible in Girdwood skiing, running, and enjoying the mountain town lifestyle. Carrie is the proud only child of her strong Alaskan-raised mother, Gayl and her impactful and entrepreneurial, late father, Sig Jokiel. Most importantly, she is the proud mom of her thirteen-year-old daughter, Will, whose name is inspired by her incredibly strong German Oma, Wilhelmina.
I moved to Alaska in 1986 and graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in Psychology, Philosophy and a commercial driver’s license. Exactly one third of those things proved relevant to making a living. I began my career in the construction industry as a concrete mixer truck driver. Within 2 years it became clear that I was a terrible truck driver, but I was fairly good at concrete mix designs and was moved to the quality control lab at University Redi-mix where I worked for the next 15 years. In 2008 I was hired by Alaska Basic Industries where I remain. ABI is the cement supplier for most of Alaska. I also have responsibilities at Alaska Soil Recycling, and Anchorage Sand & gravel.
Guy is a Vice President and Account Executive in our Surety Department, responsible for the overall surety needs of his clients.
Guy specializes in surety bonds for general and specialty contractors and Alaska Native corporations, and his clients are active throughout the United States. In addition to maximizing his clients’ available bond credit, Guy’s tenure in the construction industry makes him a valuable resource for a range of business issues that his clients face, including market and project risk analysis and mitigation, contract negotiation, and internal business issues like perpetuation, estimating, and cost account systems. His prior experience as a bond manager at a leading surety company makes Guy a strong, adept client advocate in negotiations with underwriters. His current surety clients include companies with annual revenues ranging from $25 million to over $2 billion.
Guy began his surety career with Safeco in 2001 as a contract surety underwriter. He held several positions of increasing responsibility, culminating as bond manager. In that position, he managed contractors with nationwide operations headquartered in Alaska, Washington, and Hawaii. Guy received his B.A. from the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business.
Guy is an active member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), currently serving a three-year term on the Board of Directors. He is an instructor within Parker, Smith & Feek’s University Series, and is a frequent guest speaker within the construction and surety industries.
Elinor Harrington is a Senior Account Executive with Carlile Transportation for the past 7 years. She graduated from UAA with a Masters in Project Management in 2020; and currently using those skills in applying Logistics & Supply Chain expertise to help customers.
She joined NAWIC Alaska, along-side Jessica, in 2020. For the past three years she has been on Board of Directors and currently serving as the Treasurer and Membership Chair for the organization.
If not out seeing customers or working to recruit NAWIC Members; Elinor can be found riding her horse, Winnifred, or downhill skiing
Thomas Krider, Esq. is an accomplished construction and federal government contracts attorney, and is a partner at Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker, LLP.
With over 23 years of construction litigation experience, large and small companies involved in public and private construction projects come to Tom for his experienced counsel on complex commercial litigation and contract negotiation matters. He is a problem solver who works with his clients to expeditiously and efficiently mitigate risk and navigate their most challenging issues throughout all project phases, from the initial contract formation through project completion, including claims and, if necessary, litigation. Given his extensive experience in representing notable companies in large construction disputes and his own personal interest in the technical/engineering aspects of those projects, Tom understands the actual construction aspects of projects and advises clients on how the law applies to them.
Tom has represented clients in a wide variety of projects across the U.S. and internationally, including projects in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Tom has been involved with projects involving tunnels, dams, bridges, water treatment, large-scale solar, and various vertical structures.
Tom is ranked by Best Lawyers in America in Construction Law and Litigation-Construction, listed in Who’s Who Legal: Construction, is the co-chair of the Washington AGC Legal Affairs Committee, sits on the AGC ConsensusDoc Document Forum, is a member of The Beavers, and recently served on the Board of Directors for the NUCA of Washington.
John Daley, P.E., S.E., is currently acting as the engineering manager for the Port of Alaska Modernization Program (PAMP). He began that position in the fall of 2022. Prior to that Mr. Daley worked as a civil, structural and waterfront engineer and consultant for over 25 years. Mr. Daley has a broad range of project management, planning, engineering design, construction management and inspection experience. He has managed and or participated in a wide variety of civil and waterfront engineering projects including roadways, water and wastewater pipelines, bridge dock and harbor inspections, flood control projects, erosion control projects, as well as the planning and design of docks, harbors, and breakwaters. John is an experienced corrosion engineer and has designed cathodic protection systems for underground and submerged structures. Mr. Daley has also served as project manager and resident engineer in charge of construction on a number of marine projects. John is currently actively involved in the ASCE 61 committee for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI). This is for the development seismic design standards for piers and wharves. This committee is tasked with creating comprehensive national seismic design standards for ports. Before becoming an engineer, Mr. Daley worked in the marine construction industry for 12 years. He is also a certified commercial diver and has participated in numerous diving and underwater inspection related projects.
Prior to joining Parker, Smith & Feek, Alec was a surety underwriter at Liberty Mutual where he worked with contractors ranging from small, specialty subcontractors to international organizations with multi-billion-dollar surety programs. Over the years, he played a pivotal role in Liberty Mutual Surety’s expansion throughout Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan. Currently, Alec’s clients are primarily active in Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Alec grew up on the island of Maui, Hawaii, but moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington where he earned his B.A. in Business Administration. In his spare time, he is an avid golfer and motorsports enthusiast.
David Prado has served in the Alaska District safety office for 18 years, with the past 10 years as the district’s Safety and Occupational Health Manager. His office is responsible for ensuring that acceptable USACE and other governmental safety practices are implemented on district projects for the wellbeing of contractors, government employees, and the public.
Parker, Smith & Feek
Lynne is a Vice President and Account Executive serving Alaska-based contractors among other businesses. In addition to insurance program design and placement, Lynne has over 33 years’ experience in injury and loss prevention management strategies, and claims management programs and implementation for clients.
After earning her Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering, business, and pre-law from Arizona State University, Lynne began her risk management and insurance career with a major insurer in 1988. She went on to work for 13 years with a Top 3 Worldwide broker until her move to Parker, Smith & Feek over 15 years ago.
She is a licensed insurance broker in property and casualty insurance in several States. She held the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation for over 25 years. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce and Associated General Contractors of Alaska Board. In addition to Board service, Lynne also serves on several committees such as Legislative and Government Affairs. She is a member of Rotary International and served as President of the Board of the Anchorage “Downtown” Club.
Lynne loves to fish, boat and be in the wilderness of Alaska working on her personal “contracting” projects whenever she can.
Scott was a surety underwriter for 14 years before joining Parker Smith & Feek , where he has been for the last 18 years. Alaska has always been a major part of Scott’s professional experience, having worked actively in Alaska on an uninterrupted basis since 1995.
Scott has been a featured speaker at industry events all over the country, but especially Alaska, Washington and Oregon. AGC has always been a critical component of Scott’s professional engagement. This engagement includeed serving as a trustee on the AGC Board of Trustees in Washington from 2007 through 2009. Scott was named associate of the year by the AGC in 2009.
Scott grew up in Seattle, earning a B.A. in Business Administration and a B. A. in Germanics from the University of Washington. His perspective was broadened from early jobs as a logger, a high school teacher, a bus driver for Metro and from his service in the military, where he served as a linguist and an interrogator.
Clare joined the staff at AGC as the membership director in June 2019. Since then, she has focused on connecting members to the services and benefits that membership with AGC has to offer. With over six years of experience in association-based membership, marketing, and recruitment, Clare has a passion for promoting the value that our association provides Alaska’s construction industry at-large. A lifelong Alaskan, Clare graduated from East Anchorage High School and went on to get her degree in public relations and communications from the University of Idaho.
Senator Click Bishop represents parts of Fairbanks, a large area of the Interior, and communities in the Yukon River drainage basin.
He’s a longtime placer miner and heavy-equipment operator.
After graduating from Lathrop High School in 1974, he joined Operating Engineers Local 302 and, over the decades, worked on building the Trans Alaska Pipeline, the Red Dog Mine, and other projects across the state.
Click was commissioner of the state labor department under governors Sarah Palin and Sean Parnell.
He now serves as co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
His many interests include job training, energy, economic development, and mining.
Alan Weitzner is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), the State of Alaska’s economic development finance authority. Alan originally served as AIDEA’s Chief Investment Officer in 2018 and was moved into the CEO role in 2020. Alan has over 30 years of experience in global infrastructure development and project management and has worked all over the world but Alaska is home. He and his wife Stacy have two daughters currently studying in the healthcare sector and can proudly say both are focused on coming back to Alaska.
Steve Ribuffo is the Director of the Port of Anchorage. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day business operations of the Port; interacting as needed with tenants, the U.S. Coast Guard, the military and any new business prospects interested in operating out of the Port. He has been with the Port since August 2007, when he came aboard as Deputy Port Director.
Steve retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel, having served 30 years on active duty. A native New Yorker, he graduated from Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. He also has an MBA from Golden Gate University, and a Master of Science degree in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He also carries the Accredited Maritime Port Executive credential.
Steve is a member of the Board of Directors of the Anchorage Downtown Partnership and Anchorage Economic Development Corporation Investors Council. He is Vice-Chair of the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives’ Board of Advisors. He also serves on the University of Alaska – Anchorage’s Global Supply Chain Management curriculum advisory committee and is a UAA adjunct professor for Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Darci Ahlin-Stieren, principal of HR Solutions, LLC, is an experienced human resource practitioner and leadership coach with twenty-five years of human resource and organizational development experience. She established HR Solutions, LLC in 2009 after over a decade in corporate human resources. The decision to provide human resource consulting and professional coaching was driven primarily by a desire to have unlimited opportunities in her partnership both with individuals and organizations, while leaving a positive impact. Today, her clients span from the great State of Alaska to New York.
Darci collaborates with individuals and organizations that want to improve their performance, increase staff engagement, communicate more effectively, and manage conflict productively. She partners with organizations to address their day-to-day HR challenges, facilitate strategic plans, lead organization assessments, deliver training and development programs, conduct investigations, mediate conflicts, structure compensation and benefit plans, customize training and workshops, and provide leadership coaching.
A Certified Professional Coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), she provides leadership and life coaching to individuals and groups. Using self-awareness principles, new concepts, and tools Darci helps clients successfully navigate career transitions and life challenges.
Through coaching, clients have an opportunity to overcome barriers that otherwise hold them back from living a life that brings greater joy and fulfillment with less stress and overwhelm. Clients form a trusted relationship with Darci, allowing the ease to share with her their journey, so they do not have to go it alone.
Darci earned her bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University and maintains her Professional Human Resource and Coaching Certifications. The Business Journal of Commerce in 2011 recognized her with the Top Forty under Forty Award and in 2017 she was a recipient of YWCA’s Women of Achievement. Darci is passionate about her community and demonstrates that through volunteering and as co-founder of 100+Women Who Care Anchorage, an organization of which has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to charitable organizations in the Anchorage Municipality since 2014 - ask her about this amazing group, she would love to tell you about it!
Mr. Cunard has more than 38 years of experience in the environmental, marine, construction and oil industries. His work experience ranges from Contractor Quality Control and Site Health and Safety Manager responsible for oversight of environmental remediation projects to Field Supervisor on civil vertical construction to hydro demolition operator and undersea diver. He is skilled in the use of environmental testing equipment and sampling.
Mr. Cunard has extensive quality control experience in environmental project verification and documentation, materials workmanship, and operations in compliance with OSHA, military, corporate, and a wide variety of federal, state, and local regulations. He has worked internationally in oil operations.
Tracy Wickham has served as the Chief of Contracting for the Alaska District since May 2021. In his position he serves as the primary business advisor to the Commander and is responsible for overseeing the proper award, administration and closeout of contracts and grants/cooperative agreements to include construction, AE, supply, Environmental and support services, and dredging.
Regina has worked in the construction industry for over 25 years, with 22 of those at Davis Block & Concrete, where she oversees all financial aspects, special projects, and project management.
Regina served on the Soldotna City Council 2010-2017, AGC Board 2013-present, member of the Kenai, Soldotna and Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, member of the Kenai Peninsula Builders Association and Kenai Chapter of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. Regina and her husband Scott reside in Soldotna and enjoy traveling, snowmobiling and recreating at their cabin in the Caribou Hills
David Ames of Jacobs Engineering is the Program Manager for the Port of Alaska Modernization Program. He has over 24 years of experience as a commercial diver, engineer and manager in the ports and marine structures field. He has managed major container terminal development projects and engineering offices in Colombia, Oman, Jordan and New York; and has consulted on other specialized port projects in over 25 countries around the world.
Jason Charton is Vice President, Health, Safety, and Environment, for ConocoPhillips Alaska.
Jason joined ConocoPhillips in 2004, as an environmental coordinator supporting Alpine operations. He became supervisor Health, Safety, and Environment for the Panhandle, Anadarko, Barnett asset in 2009. In 2012, he was named director, Cook Inlet Health, Safety, and Environment and Alaska Crisis Management and Emergency Response. In 2015, he became director Health, Safety, and Environment for the Kuparuk Asset. In 2019, Jason was named general manager Health, Safety and Environment for the Australia Business Unit, where he served until assuming his current position in 2021.
Jason earned a Bachelor of Science in natural science from Arkansas Tech University and a Master of Science in environmental science from Alaska Pacific University.
Blumer, a life-long Alaskan, was appointed by Gov. Sean Parnell on May 17, 2012, as the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Previously, for more than 20 years she served the State of Alaska, including leadership positions as director of the Division of Personnel and Labor Relations and deputy director of the Child Support Services Division. She served as a special assistant to Governor Parnell, advising on regulation and policy for three Departments: Administration, Revenue and Commerce, Community and Economic Development.
Blumer was born in Ketchikan and raised on Prince of Wales Island. She lived in various Southeast communities until 2007, when she moved to Anchorage. In addition to her public service, Blumer worked in the private sector managing a Sitka hotel and owning two successful Juneau businesses.
Currently, Dianne operates her own successful consulting and advocacy business, NavagateAK, which represents a wide array of Alaska Communities and Business.
Blumer was co-chair of the Alaska Prisoner Re-entry Task Force, served on the Alaska Gas line Development Corporation Board of Directors, the Alaska Workforce Investment Board. She has also served on the Municipality of Anchorage Public Transportation Advisory Board, the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Wildflower Court Assisted Living Facility Board of Directors, the American Cancer Society Gala Committee (Chair 2017).
Randy Bowker has served as the Alaska District Deputy District Engineer and Chief of the Program and Projects Management Division for eight years. In this position he provides oversight of the district’s various programs and activities throughout the state and is responsible for assuring efficient and timely delivery of military, civil works, environmental, and other agency construction projects with an average annual value in excess of $500 million.
Joe Michel has been the Director of Alaska Trucking Association since January of 2020. Before that he was a Legislative Aide for the House Finance Committee. He had the opportunity to coordinate 5 Capital budgets and 6 D.O.T. Operating Budgets. Joe is proud to say he never cut a D.O.T. Blade operator position in all 6 of those budgets. He was raised in Fairbanks and learned about Construction through his parents who have owned and operated American Mechanical for the past 37 years. He now lives in Anchorage with his wife Amy and two boys Eli & Leo.
Suzanne serves as the State Director for the Alaska Laborers Training School (AKLTS), which is a statewide vocational training program for Construction Craft Laborers and a federally registered apprenticeship program. Suzanne has a MS degree in Natural Resources Management, a BS degree in Geology and over 20 years’ experience working in post-secondary education and workforce development. She oversees two campuses, one in Chugiak and the other in Fairbanks, both of which have brand new state-of-the-art training facilities. Each campus runs a federally registered Apprenticeship program which provides a pathway for those with little or no construction experience to enter a solid, high-wage career that includes full benefits. There are approximately 130 Laborer apprentices statewide with 50-75 new apprentices accepted annually.
Nathan Harris is a born and raised Alaskan, a Civil Engineering graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a registered Professional Engineer. Nathan is a Senior Engineer for PND Engineers, a local multi-disciplinary civil engineering firm. He has been employed with PND for the last 8 years, where his career emphasizes heavy civil site design, waterfront facilities design, regulatory compliance and contract administration on a variety of projects throughout Alaska. Nathan is also a participating member of the Alaska Associated General Contractors Legislative Affairs Committee, aiming to assist the organization is making meaningful impacts to public policies which impact the local construction and engineering industries.
When he’s not putting together plans and specs, or checking in on contractors, Nathan enjoys spending his time in the outdoors his wife, Saigen, and trying to keep up with his ever-busy two-year old daughter, Magnolia.