Board of Directors

Board Members

President 

Ann Kjera
HR Manager
Ampersand / AlasConnect
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
Remote Logistics
Accountant & Human Resources
payroll@taigaventures.com

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
gabrielle.baxter@inhc.org
 

Programs Director & Past President

Willow Bowen, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Doyon, LTD
Talent Development Manager
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 

Jen Wieland, SHRM-CP
Owl Ridge Natural Resources Consultants
HR Manager
jwieland@owlridgenrc.com

Jen Wieland is a Certified Human Resources Professional and joined Owl Ridge in December 2023. She has over 20 years of experience in the Alaska mining, mineral exploration, and resource development industries. She began her career working on various exploration and drill projects throughout Alaska and has worked in human resources since 2011, where she has been responsible for all functions including recruitment, employee relations, compensation, benefits, compliance, workforce development and community outreach – often in remote worksites.  At Owl Ridge, Jen is responsible for managing human resources and business administrative functions and facilitating the health and safety program. Jen also provides HR consulting services. Jen was recently appointed to the board of the Northern Alaska Society for Human Resource Management and will serve as the organization’s Certification Director. She previously served on the board of the Alaska Miners Association from 2015-2021 and remains active in the organization.

Membership Director

Melisa Stuvek
Interior Community Health Center
HR Officer
melisa.stuvek@inhc.org

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
gina.benavides@foundationhealth.org

Gina Benavides is a Senior HR Business Partner at Foundation Health Partners, she brings a wealth of experience to the role with over 21 years in Human Resources, including 14 years specializing in recruitment within Healthcare, IT, and allied health services; she has a proven history of sourcing and nurturing top talent. Her expertise extends to leader-employee consulting, with a strong focus on ADA compliance and fostering inclusivity in the workplace. A recent graduate from the University of Alaska – Fairbanks, Gina is an avid indoor enthusiast who loves reading, writing, creative arts and traveling. 

Webmaster, Social Media Director & President Elect

Kelly Wighs, SHRM SCP, PHR
Foundation Health Partners
HR Sr Manager
kelly.wighs@foundationhealth.org

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.