Advocacy Committee

Statewide director of marketing for Subway Development, Inc.

 I am a commercial loan broker & have been in the commercial banking industry for 20 + years & commercial insurance industry for 10 years.  Most of my career was spent with KeyBank in Southeast Alaska and Northrim Bank in Anchorage.  Diploma in Banking & Finance and Commercial Lending. Outside of banking, I served my community for 20 years as a District Fire Captain in Juneau & Asst. Chief in Ketchikan. I was certified as a Firefighter, EMT II, Arson Investigator, and Training Instructor.

 

Dan Newman is a professionally certified auctioneer and founder of Alaska Premier Auctions and Appraisals LLC, having graduated from the Missouri Auction School, the “Harvard” of auction schools. He has over 12 years of broadcast TV and digital media marketing and sales expertise that he uses to help promote his auctions.

Dan is a well-connected, successful sales professional, networker, and consummate community volunteer.  He has received an Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Goldpan Award for his volunteer work and was recognized as an Alaskan “Top 40 Under 40” honoree in 2017 by the Alaska Journal of Commerce.

Dan volunteers his time as a dedicated Rotarian with the Anchorage South Rotary Club.  Dan is bilingual in English and Spanish. He is also the very proud father of two amazing sons, an incredible daughter, and a very lucky husband to his fantastic wife.

Justin Milette is the owner and CEO of Aspire Realty Group a small real estate group dedicated to pushing the Alaska real estate market into the future through technology and service. As someone born and raised in Anchorage and a multi business owner, investor, and developer, Justin knows what it's like to be Alaskan born and raised and the unique challenges running a business in Alaska can create. 

Hello! My name is Quaid Brinker, and I am a Lead Account Manager for Upper 1 Studios. At Upper 1, I manage several high-profile accounts of local businesses and provide SEO support and content management. 

I have a wealth of experience in marketing, management, and graphic design and have managed several successful businesses in the Alaskan cannabis industry. 

Outside work, I spend time with my fiance and three dogs. I enjoy writing music, working on screenplays, drawing, hiking, and participating in a bi-weekly Mario Kart night with my friends that gets very competitive. 

CEO of YWCA Alaska. 
Mission: Eliminate Racism, Empower Women, and Promote Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity for all.
Vision: The vision of the YWCA Alaska is to march bravely into an equitable, diverse, inclusive Alaska. Uplift our community and champion positive change through leadership in tough, behavior, and action. 
Strategic Plan Pillars: Be Unafraid, Thought & Experience Leadership Leader on issues of systemic racism, Youth Empowerment, Organizational Wellness & Sustainability. 

Sarah Kathryn Bryan is an associate attorney at Shortell Law LLC and real estate professional. She has served on the Board of AWAIC since March of 2022; on the Anchorage Board of Platting since January of 2024; and on the AWAIC Foundation Board since August of 2024. 

Josh drives the implementation of the AEDC's Choose Anchorage plan, collaborating with community members and business leaders to help shape Anchorage into a premier destination to live, work, and play.

Originally from Philadelphia, he made Anchorage his home in 2016. Since then, Josh has become a local business owner, real estate investor, and active participant in the city’s vibrant music and arts community. His diverse experiences provide a unique perspective on engaging with Anchorage’s culture and fostering its economic and cultural vitality.

Bridger works as a Training, Research, and Development Specialist at The Center for Human Development at University of Anchorage Alaska. His responsibilities at CHD are assisting staff/facility in developing trainings, and projects ensuring proper representation to those within the disability community. They’re also hoping to be an aspiring author with their first book coming out soon. He also enjoys project management and excels in this task. Finally, Bridger has been hard at work speaking at conferences and other events around their lived experiences and has been enjoying meeting new people along the way.