Alaska Governor Sarah Palin [on July 17, 2009] announced appointments to the Alaska Community Service Commission, Juvenile Justice Advisory Commission, Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority and the Royalty Oil and Gas Commission (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶1).
Alaska Community Service Commission
The 15- to 25-member commission prepares a national service plan for the state of Alaska, recruits participants into programs that receive assistance under national service laws and ensures outreach to community-based agencies that serve under-represented populations (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶3).
Governor Palin appointed Leona Grishkowsky, Becky Judd and Ron Yeager and reappointed Elaine Dahlgren and Denise Morris to the Alaska Community Service Commission (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶2).
Biography of Leona Grishkowsky
Grishkowsky, of Unalakleet, has been a PenAir agent at West Coast Aviation since 2001, and worked in the office of the Bering Strait School District (BSSD) from 1988-2000 where she won the district Educator of the Year award in 1997-1998. Prior to that, she worked as a BSSD teacher from 1977-1988. She served on the Unalakleet City Council for more than eight years, and in numerous capacities within the community, including the Head Start Parent Committee and as a member of the Alaska Arts in Education. Grishkowsky has lived in Unalakleet since 1977 and retired as an educator from the school system there. She was appointed to a seat representing business (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶4).
Biography of Becky Judd
Judd, of Anchorage, has been a youth development specialist with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) since 2003 and serves as staff to the Alaska Association of School Boards’ Developmental Assets initiative. She also co-founded and serves as board president for the Spirit of Youth organization in Anchorage. Previously, she served as an adolescent health coordinator for DHSS in Anchorage, a health educator for the Alaska Council on Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Anchorage and a youth recreational program leader with Nome Community Center. She has been heavily involved in youth development, education, health and correction organizations and various service organizations. Judd holds a bachelor of arts in education from Portland State University and a master of arts in education from Alaska Pacific University. Judd was appointed to a seat representing youth development (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶5).
Biography of Ron Yeager
Yeager, 23, of Anchorage, has been a structural designer for CH2M Hill since 2007. He has served as a teaching assistant at University of Alaska Anchorage since 2008. Prior to that he was an AutoCAD technician and surveying aide for Global Position Services Inc. of Anchorage from 2005-2007. Yeager served as vice president of the IDEA Partners Club from 2002-2003 and won the Martin Luther King Student Appreciation Citation from University of Alaska for 2007 and 2008. Yeager was appointed to a seat representing individuals aged 16-25 (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶6).
Biography of Elaine Dahlgren
Dahlgren, of Anchorage, has been the president and CEO of Volunteers of America of Alaska, Inc. since 1999. She is a past chair of the United Way Directors Association and currently serves on the National Board of Volunteers of America. She led the Volunteers of America effort to recently complete construction of a 24-bed residential facility for youth called the Adolescent Resident Center for Health in Eagle River. Dahlgren was reappointed to a seat representing the Older Adults Service Program (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶7).
Biography of Denise Morris
Morris, of Chugiak, has served as the president and CEO of the Alaska Native Justice Center since 1999. Morris holds a bachelor of arts degree in justice from the University of Alaska. Most recently she was appointed to serve on the Section 904 Violence Against Women in Indian Country Federal Task Force. Other boards and committees she currently serves on are the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault – Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership through Alliances steering committee, the Anchorage Community Police Relations Task Force, the Alaska Pro Bono Program, the Alaska Innocence Project, the Alaska State Commission on Community Service, Chanlyut Board and Weed & Seed Steering Committee. She is the former chair of the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission and past board member of Standing Together Against Rape. Morris was reappointed to a seat representing Native Alaskans and Indian Tribes (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶8).
Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee
The 15- to 33-member board assists the Department of Health and Social Services in strengthening and improving the social services and juvenile justice systems at all levels (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶10).
Governor Palin appointed Jeff Budd and Lisa Typpo to the Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶9).
Biography of Jeff Budd
Budd, of Sitka, is a career guide with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Previously, he has served as the executive director for the Sitka Prevention and Treatment Services from 1997 to 2000, and as executive director for the Sitka Teen Resource Center from 1995 to 1997. He was also the executive director for the Ketchikan Youth Services substance abuse program from 1985 to 1991. Budd has a variety of experience in alcoholism treatment, community schools, human services and recreational programs. He has received numerous awards for youth service and substance abuse treatment and served as a board member of the Sitka Summer Music Festival and Youth Advocates of Sitka. Budd also served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. He holds a bachelor of science in recreation leadership from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a master of science in Juvenile Corrections from the University of Oregon. Budd was appointed to a public seat (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶11).
Biography of Lisa Typpo
Typpo, of Anchorage, has been a member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Drill Team. Typpo grew up in Bethel where she was an admissions specialist for Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, and worked for the Alaska Commercial Company as a cashier. She has served in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and has participated in various sports programs in Bethel. Typpo is currently a junior at the University of Alaska Anchorage with a major in social work. Typpo was appointed to a seat representing youth under the age of 24 (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶12).
Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority
The seven-member authority is charged with advancing development of public transportation systems in the upper Cook Inlet area through construction of a bridge to span Knik Arm and connect the Municipality of Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶14).
Governor Palin reappointed Michael L. Foster to the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶13).
Biography of Michael L. Foster
Foster, of Eagle River, has more than 20 years of engineering, design and construction related experience in Alaska. He is the owner and principal engineer of Michael L. Foster & Associates Inc. His company provides civil, arctic, geotechnical, sanitation and environmental engineering services for planning, design and construction projects throughout Alaska. Foster earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in arctic engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Foster was reappointed to the Municipality of Anchorage seat and currently serves as the chair of the authority (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶15).
Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board
The eight-member advisory board facilitates wise development of Alaska’s oil and gas royalty interests by providing means and procedures for sales, exchanges or other dispositions of interest in ways calculated to promote private economic growth (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶17).
Governor Palin appointed John Carman and Steve Selvaggio to the Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶16).
Biography of John Carman
Carman, of Anchorage, has more than 30 years of experience in the mortgage lending and banking industry. He is currently the president and managing member of Homestate Mortgage Company which he founded in 1996. Previously, Carman served in various capacities in the mortgage banking industry in Alaska and Colorado including manager of mortgage loan production, senior vice president of commercial lending and as an independent mortgage broker. He served as past president to the Alaska Mortgage Ankers Association and chair of the legislative committee for seven years. Carman graduated from the Pacific Coast School of Banking from University of Washington and earned his bachelors degree in economics from Pacific Lutheran University of Washington. Carman was appointed to a public seat (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶18).
Biography of Steve Selvaggio
Selvaggio, of Delta Junction, is the president and co-founder of Whitestone Community Association. He has extensive experience working with many government agencies on project development, management and permitting, including the Denali Commission, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Alaska Energy Authority, the Department of Natural Resources and various federal agencies. Selvaggio serves on the Alaska Energy Authority Oceanic and River Energy Working Group. He was appointed to a public seat (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶19).
Commentary
Governor Palin has made 112 appointments and re-appointments this year, including 105 to boards, commissions, and councils; five judicial appointments; an attorney general; and one state senate appointment. In the 198 days that have passed this year, she has averaged one appointment every 1.76 days.
References
Governor makes board appointments. (2009, July 17). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1972
Follow Ron Devito on Twitter
Friend Ron Devito on Facebook
