Board of Directors
The UAA Alumni Association is led by a 13-member board of directors, which is comprised of a diverse and dedicated group of UAA graduates who volunteer their time and talents to help lead the Association.
- UAA Alumni Association Board of Directors
- UAA Alumni Association Board of Directors
Lori Davey, President
Lori Davey is a life long Alaskan. She was raised in Tok and started her UA classes via tele-conference through UAF. Upon graduation from high school, she moved to Anchorage to attend UAA full-time. She graduated in 1991 with a Bachelors in Business with a major in Marketing. Her degreee landed her a job in pharmaceutical sales where she enjoyed 6 years of success in the Alaska market. She went back in 1994 and earned her MBA in 1997, then moved over to Xerox in the Business Services marketing role.
Lori now owns and operates Motznik Information Services, an Alaska data solutions company since 1974. She enjoys serving on many boards, including UAA Alumni. Board work allows Lori to continue her learning in a way that helps others. Lori is married to Trent Davey and they have a son, Grayson. For fun, she enjoys exploring the Alaska back country with her family by foot, raft, plane, and bicycle.
James Hemsath, Vice President
Jim Hemsath is the Deputy Director for Development at the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). Jim has thirty years’ experience managing the development of large projects, predominately in the oil and gas fields. As a member of the U.S. Department
of Energy’s Arctic Energy Office he managed research projects at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As a Senior Fellow at the Institute of the North he developed and led an International Polar Year project on Arctic Energy. Additionally, he is a faculty (adjunct) member of the Engineering and Science Management Department at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he was the recipient of a NASA Faculty Fellowship to Kennedy Space Center.
Hemsath has an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Cleveland State University and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from UAA. Hemsath is a licensed Professional Engineer and a certified Project Management Professional.
A UAA College of Fellows supporter, Jim was elected to the UAA Alumni Board in 2009, and in 2010 developed the inaugural Green and Gold Gala, a scholarship fundraising event, in 2010 that raised nearly $30,000 in scholarship funds.
Scott A. Markle, Treasurer
Scott Markle was born and raised in Anchorage. He graduated from East Anchorage High School in 2001. He interned for Senator Ted Stevens in Washington, D.C. in 2001. Scott earned his BBA in Economics and Marketing from UAA in 2006.
After graduating, he began working in his present position as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. He is currently working towards his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, and intends to return to UAA for a Master’s Degree in either Economics or Public Administration in 2011.
In his spare time, Scott enjoys multiple activities around the state, including long distance running with his two retrievers, snowmachining and four wheeling at the cabin on the weekends, and hiking Flattop in the summer. He is also involved in multiple sporting events year round.
Ben Grenn, Secretary
Ben Grenn says he considers it a privilege and an honor to again be a part of the UAA Alumni board, serving his alma mater and giving back to the University by volunteering to work on this fun, challenging, and rewarding organization.
Not only did Ben graduate from UAA (B.Ed. ‘72), but he was also employed at the University as an Assistant Sports Information Director and previously served on the UAAAA’s board of directors in the early 90’s. He has continued to support the university’s goals and athletic events.
Ben and his wife, Selinda, are 40+-year Alaska residents, with three-grown children, Carrie, Skyler and Jason and one grandchild, Craig, all of whom reside in the Anchorage area. Their daughter-in-law, Jana is also a UAA grad (‘07). Much of Ben’s professional career has been spent working with the Alaska State Legislature as a legislative aide, and he currently works for the State of Alaska in the Department of Health and Social Services in downtown Anchorage. Ben says he is available and willing to commit to whatever time and energy is needed to fulfill the goals of the board, and is re-committing his time and experience in serving another term on the UAAAA board.
Ben also works as a free-lance writer, and enjoys reading, family outings, all sports and traveling.
Directors, in alphabetical order:
Laurie Bruce
Laurie Bruce is the General Sales Manager of KTVA, Anchorage’s CBS television affiliate. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing Emphasis from UAA in 1981.
She is a life-long Anchorage resident who has enjoyed a progressive career in marketing ever since graduating from UAA, with the past 22 years concentrated in television sales and station management. At home she enjoys an empty nest with husband Kevin, as their adult children are happily pursuing their own family lives. Her personal interests include gourmet cooking, amateur tomato farming, travel, and what is possibly the world’s most spoiled dog.
Laurie was elected to the UAA Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2008, and serves as Chair of the Communications Committee in addition to participating on the Marketing and Membership Committee.
Kristi Stuller Davis
Kristi Davis was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Management & Marketing from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. After graduating Kristi returned to Alaska to begin her career. She is currently working as a Communication & Development Coordinator for DOWL HKM. Shortly after returning to Alaska Kristi attended UAA for her Masters of Business Administration, which she completed in the fall of 2009.
In her personal time Kristi enjoys cooking, hiking, fishing, camping and traveling, both in and out of Alaska. Kristi currently lives in Anchorage with her husband Mike and their two dogs Bear & Duke.
Kristi was appointed as a Director by the Board in January 2010 and is active on the Marketing & Membership Committee and the Communications Committee.
Natalia Manfredi Lau
Natalia Lau received her undergraduate degree from UAA in 2006 in Anthropology, with a minor in Communications. In 2010 she received her Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Policy Analysis.
Natalia is a lifelong Alaskan who has lived in Sitka, Kodiak, and Anchorage. After completing her undergraduate degree she went to work for the State of Alaska doing health care research, she continued to work for the State throughout her graduate studies. In the spring of 2010 she took a job in the oil & gas industry as an environmental professional. Natalia professes a passion for UAA and the growth it has been experiencing over the course of her seven years here as a student. As such she has a strong connection to the UAA community and desire to strengthen that connection through public service.
Sara Randall Paul
Sara Paul completed her undergraduate studies at UAA in 2005, with a double major in Business Marketing and Business Management, and in 2009 completed her Masters of Business Administration. During her four undergraduate years at the University, Sara was a scholarship member of the Seawolf Women’s Gymnastics Team. Her relationship with the University continued after graduation when she began working at the Nerland Agency and was involved in various advertising campaigns for UAA and different departments of the UA Statewide System. From there, Sara accepted a position with Alaska USA Federal Credit Union as the marketing Liaison Officer for Retail Financial Services, where her passion for Marketing and desire to learn are constantly engaged. In her personal life, Sara is married to Russell, a life-long Alaska, who works in construction engineering and quality assurance. They share their south Anchorage home with their amazing dog, Duke, and, in the summers, with her stepdaughter, Nadia.
Jeffrey T. Roe
Jeff Roe is Vice President of Commercial Business Development at GCI. He received a Master of Business Administration in 1984 from University of Alaska, Anchorage, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Michigan.
Jeff has been involved in the telecommunications industry for over 30 years, including the start-up and development of several successful telecommunications companies. Jeff has worked in a wide variety of corporate environments in Alaska and the lower 48. His experience spans large corporations such as Motorola and AT&T, and he has also held executive positions in smaller corporations, such as GCI and GST Telecommunications.
As an active UAA College of Fellows supporter for a number of years, Jeff was elected to the UAA Alumni Board in 2007, and also serves on UAA’s Development Cabinet. In addition to his UAA involvement, Jeff is active with Challenge Alaska, providing recreational opportunities for people with disabilities, and Anchorage Downtown Rotary.
Lorali Simon
As a third-generation Alaskan, Lorali Simon is proud of her family’s history as one of the original colonist families in the Mat-Su Valley. Her uncle was the first baby boy born in the colony of Matanuska, and her great grandfather was the town’s first mayor.
Lorali grew up in Palmer and graduated from Palmer High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science (1997) and master’s degree in public administration (2007) from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Lorali is the External Affairs Manager for the Wishbone Hill project at Usibelli Coal Mine.
George Skladal
George Wayne Skladal is an Attorney and Counselor at Law, who’s licensed before United States Supreme Court and has lived in Anchorage more than 41 years. He is also trained as a civil engineer, petroleum manager, and public administrator. George was an Army airborne ranger for 20 years, and led 1000 soldiers in Vietnam.
George’s community involvement experience is extensive: he’s served as executive director of Alaska Pipeline Commission, deputy director of Alaska Division of Energy and Power Development, led the Tudor Area Community Council, the Anchorage Inn of Court, and was a member of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring Committee over 20 years. The Anchorage World Affairs Council and Defense Transportation Association invited George to speak on the impact of the Arab oil embargo on world petroleum supplies.
George’s service to UAA includes 13 years as a member and 2 years as chair of the UAA Chancellor’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee. He has participated as a board member of the UAAAA for 18 years. He was recognized in 1984 by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce with an award for contribution to quality higher education.
Eric Tuott – bio unpublished
Norman J. Wilder, MD, MBA
Dr. Wilder is the Chief Medical Officer at Alaska Regional Hospital, a position he took almost 7 years ago after 25 years of practice in Anchorage in Pulmonary and Critical Care medicine. He is also involved in teaching in the WWAMI programs for the first year (UAA) and third year (U. Washington) medical students. He obtained his MD from Oregon Health and Sciences University and subsequently did Internal Medicine residency at the University of California, Davis and Pulmonary-Critical Care at Washington University-USAF Medical Center Scott. He is certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, and Sleep Medicine.
Norm has lived in Alaska for more than 30 years in Anchorage and 2 years in Fairbanks. Despite a life devoted to medicine, he is very proud of his MBA degree that he received in 2002 from UAA. Though he maintains a small, hospital-based practice of Sleep Medicine, his professional life is currently devoted to hospital administration and teaching medical students.