YPG "Make it Monday" Takeover - Alaska's Workforce: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

With so many discussions revolving around Alaska?s need for a larger workforce, let?s dive into the conversation with young professionals that have made the choice to live and work here in Anchorage. Get their unique perspective on industry trends, the future of our city and ask your own questions. 

Moderated by:

• Jen Motyka, YPG Chair/ Owner, Blitz Promotions
• Logan Burt, YPG Vice Chair / Director of Marketing & Leasing, Dimond Center

Featured panelists: 

• Jenny Doherty, CFP, Director, Freestone Capital
• Justin Milette, Owner, Aspire Realty Group
• Jacob Pollard, PT, DPT, Founder, Empower Physical Therapy
• Ryann Swalling, Architect, KPB Architects
• Jenna Wright, VP, Anchorage Economic Dev. Corp.

PLUS, a new member presentation from Codie Costello, President & C.O.O, ACPA and General Manager, Broadway Alaska.
 

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Jenny Doherty was born and raised in Homer, Alaska, and moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. She began her career at Coldstream Capital Management as a Private Client Service Associate supporting a relationship management team. She joined Freestone in 2015 as a Senior Associate prior to moving into a Client Advisory role. Jenny brings the expertise of Freestone to the ground in Alaska, based in Anchorage. Jenny helps her clients through her background in comprehensive financial planning, navigating state-specific estate and tax planning strategies in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, as well as long-term investing through the unique investment opportunities Freestone offers clients such as real estate, socially responsible (ESG), and alternatives.
 

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Justin Milette is the owner of Aspire Realty Group, Casa Rentals, and Co-Owner of Aspire Capitol and was born and raised here in Anchorage, Alaska. Justin began his Real Estate career by starting to invest in real estate in 2008. After buying and selling multiple investment properties, he decided to follow his passion and use his natural people skills by becoming a licensed Realtor in 2017.In November of 2019 Justin launched Aspire Realty Group and has had tremendous growth since inception with just one other team member. Justin is also a retired firefighter with the  Anchorage Fire Department and has more than 15 years of public safety experience. Justin and his team Aspire Realty group has set himself apart in the Anchorage market by using technology and developing unique marketing tools, Aspire Realty Group has had continued growth of 150% in sales volume year over year. Justin was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018 from the Anchorage Fire Department, Top 40 under 40 award by the Alaska Chamber of Commerce in 2019, and recently a Gold Pan Award from the Anchorage Chamber in 2022. You will find Justin out being social talking business and real estate, spending time with family, or doing all the fun Alaskan things.
 

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Jacob Pollard loves to help people! He has always tried to reach out and help as many people as he can. This love drove him to come to the Last Frontier and open Empower Physical Therapy in 2017. He has loved growing this business and helping provide exceptional care to Alaskans. He opened the clinic with the goal of creating a place of healing where people are heard, given correct tools and education, and empowered to help get to the root of their problems. 

He grew up an athlete, playing and training year-round in baseball, basketball, and football. In high school, he helped take his football team to the Idaho State Championship twice. He also earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America, instilling in him a sense of adventure and a passion for service. Jacob served for two years in Russia on a church mission. He attended Brigham Young University where he took an anatomy course and became fascinated with the complexities and systems of the human body. This, along with his experience as an athlete, drove Jacob to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Idaho State University. Jacob is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. His ongoing love of sports led him to coach girl?s high school basketball following his graduation.

Jacob loves working with patients, finding the root of their problems and changing their lives! He strives to become the physical therapist you trust to return to time and time again for the different injuries that happen throughout life. He began his Physical Therapy career in Wisconsin working as a travelling Physical Therapist. He then worked at an outpatient orthopedic clinic in Idaho before deciding to come north to Alaska and open Empower Physical Therapy.

Jacob is married to his wife Kiley and they have two boys that keep them active and happy! Their appreciation for adventure and community make for a perfect fit with the Alaska life! When not working, Jacob loves to spend his time playing sports, being outside with his family, traveling, hiking, and camping. He loves Alaska and the amazing opportunity he gets to live in such a beautiful place.
 

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As a fourth-generation Alaskan, Ryann Swalling has held the success of Alaska and its people as a priority since returning home with her architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame. As an architect with KPB Architects, she has been able to focus on the rejuvenation of the built environment of Anchorage and Alaska to support our economy and residents for the past 18 years. A few of her Anchorage projects include: Loussac Place Housing Redevelopment, ANTHC Patient Housing building, the under-construction addition/renovation of Southcentral Foundation's Primary Care Center II and a smorgasbord of projects around the state in support of our US Military. Ryann is a founding member of the Chamber's Young Professionals Group (YPG) and served as Vice‐Chair and Chair. She maintains close ties with YPG by serving as ex‐efficio to the YPG  board and the Summit Planning Committee. Ryann proudly serves on the Chamber's Board of Directors, and its Executive and Finance Committees. Offline you'll likely find Ryann with her fingers in a ball of yarn or fishing line, her nose in a book, and always good tunes in her earbuds.
 

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Jenna Wright is a born-and-raised Alaskan who currently serves as the Vice President of Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) where she's responsible for managing and supporting the successful deployment of strategies, programs and initiatives that promote the growth of the Anchorage economy. Before joining AEDC, Jenna served on the State of Alaska leadership team as the Deputy Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles and prior to that, she was the Director of Business Operations for Microcom, an Alaskan satellite communications company.

Jenna holds bachelor's degrees in Marketing and Investment Finance and a Master's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, all three of which she earned from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Outside of the office, Jenna enjoys cooking, international travel, and above all else, is an avid outdoorswoman. She loves to spend her time mountain running, biking and hiking throughout Alaska with her husband and their three dogs.
 

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