Board of Directors

Board Members

President 

Ann Kjera
HR Manager
Ampersand / AlasConnect
Phone: 907-457-4994
rak@alasconnect.com

Ann Kjera has been a volunteer leader for the last eight years on the local, state, and NHRMA level. At various times, she has held the positions of chapter legislative and workforce readiness director and chapter president. At the state level she has been secretary/treasurer and state council director. Currently, she is president-elect for the Northern Alaska SHRM Chapter and state council past-director. Ann has worked in HR for over twenty years and currently holds the position of HR Manager for a managed IT services company in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Treasurer

Terri Atkins

Terri has over 40 years of accounting experience, and over 10 years of Human resources experience, and is the owner of a small accounting business in North Pole, Alaska. She also has been treasurer for some local non-profits; Girl Scout troops, the Literacy Council of Fairbanks, and the Forget Me Not bookstore. Terri enjoys doing both accounting and Human resources because although she loves numbers, she also enjoys working with people.

Secretary

Gabrielle Baxter
Interior Community Health Center
HR Specialist
Fairbanks, AK
 

Programs Director & Past President

Willow Bowen, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Doyon, LTD
Talent Development Manager
1 Doyon Place
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907-459-2027
bowenw@doyon.com

Willow Bowen is the Talent Development & Employee Relations Manager for Doyon, Limited.  She is responsible for managing talent initiatives such as employee training and development, recruitment, performance management, employee engagement, employee relations and internal investigations, and deploying succession strategies at Doyon, Limited and across the Doyon Family of Companies.  Willow has served on the NASHRM board for several years, holding past roles of Secretary and Membership Director.  Willow enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, sewing beadwork and cheering on her kids on in their various sports and other activities.
 

Certification Director

Traci Gatewood, SHRM-SCP
Owner/Consultant
G2 Diversified Services
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907-378-8456
traci@g2diverse.com

Traci Gatewood owns G2 Diversified Services, which provides individualized services to improve business effectiveness and quality by working collaboratively with organizations to develop solutions to human resource management and process challenges that hinder performance and growth. She holds a Master of Science in Business Organizational Management with a Concentration in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. In addition, she has over twenty (20) years of experience in personnel, budget, project, and grants management.

Traci has served on the NASHRM board since 2016. In addition to NASHRM, Traci also serves on the Alaska Behavioral Health Board, the City of Fairbanks' Discretionary Fund Committee, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough's Salaries and Emoluments Commission.

Outside of her business endeavors, Traci enjoys spending time with her family, including her two beautiful granddaughters.
 

Membership Director

Melisa Stuvek
Interior Community Health Center
HR Officer
Fairbanks, AK

Melisa is the HR Officer at Interior Community Health Center. Graduating from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2006 with a BA in Justice, she cultivated a strong sense of fairness and equity. Melisa's commitment to excellence led her to attain the SHRM-CP certification, underscoring her love of human resources. She fosters a positive workplace environment while overseeing a spectrum of HR functions, including employee relations, recruitment, and compliance. Beyond her professional achievements, Melisa finds immense joy in spending time with her husband, kiddos and furry companion, Gerty. She enjoys camping, fishing, cooking, reading and travel around and outside of Alaska.
 

Professional Development Director

Gina Benavides, SHRM-CP
Foundation Health Partners
Sr HR Business Partner
Fairbanks, AK
 

Webmaster, Social Media Director & President Elect

Kelly Wighs, SHRM SCP, PHR
Foundation Health Partners
HR Sr Manager
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Kelly is the HR Sr Manager at Foundation Health Partners and has over 10 years of experience in HR. She started her HR career in recruiting but found her niche in consulting, advising, organization and leadership development.  Kelly is an alumni of UAF with a BA in Organizational Theory and Development and an MBA.  Kelly has served on the NASHRM board since 2019, and really enjoys the ability to continuously learn about HR and build relationships with her peers.  Oustide of HR, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, going on dog walks, fishing, hiking, and cross country skiing. 
 

Sallie Stuvek, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CEBS
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Sallie served as the Director of Human Resources for the Fairbanks North Star Borough in Fairbanks, Alaska from 2001-2020 where she was responsible for personnel, payroll, benefits and risk management. Sallie has a business degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Kennedy Western University.Sallie has over 30 years of human resource experience in the public sector. Sallie is currently providing consulting services on human resource matters.

Sallie has been a member of SHRM since 2000.She has served in several capacities on the local SHRM board, including 6 years as president of the Northern Alaska Chapter. She is currently completing a 3 year term on the NHRMA (Northwest Human Resource Management Association.) Sallie was awarded the Northwest Human Resources Management Association Distinguished Member Award in 2017.

Sallie is enjoying being a Grandmother (x4), fishing and traveling.In her spare time she continues to serve as an advisory board member for the local Salvation Army.

UAF Student Chapter Advisor

Kris Racina
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Instructor, Business Administration
Office 213 H, Bunnell Building
Fairbanks, AK 
907-474-6532
khracina@alaska.edu