Hello Chapter 49 Members,

It is time for another update from your Executive Board of Directors and Strategic Planning Committee.

RECOGNITION AND HONOR OF ONE OF US, IS RECOGNITION AND HONOR OF ALL OF US.

I encourage our members take the time needed to nominate the member professionals, employers, and projects that demonstrate outstanding contributions to the IRWA profession, organization, and the public.  As a Chapter 49 member, I appreciate seeing such tremendous dedication by our members in elevating the ethics, learning, and standard of excellence in the Alaska infrastructure right of way community.  I am asking that you think about those members, employers, and projects that personify the standards of excellence in our profession and to take the time to nominate them for our annual awards.

Winners at the local level will be nominated to the regional level and those winners nominated to the international level.

Winners to be announced at our NEW!! Awards Gala event after the first of the year.

NEW!! Sourdough Chapter 49 is issuing our own member pins. Let's get our name out there, be sure to come to our next lunch & learn or special event and see Claire Mueller for your beautiful member pin. Be sure to display it proudly.

Don't forget our annual "Engagement Drawing" for a free membership. All you have to do is engage by showing up and signing in.

Our Education and Professional Development Chairs (PDC) have been working hard to bring members a steady and wide ranging course selection to include a NEW!! Live course for our Fairbanks folks. They are also working on courses required for the RWA, RWP, & SR/WA designations. If you are interested in completing course work for the above designations, please reach out to your PDC chair.

Our Chapter has inspired 89 members to join or renew their membership. This is news to celebrate. Woohoo & well done members.

To top that, our increase in membership has earned our chapter "10 chips" from the NEW Chapter Incentive Program offered by IRWA International. These can be used for a variety of perks. Please see the CHIP Program for more detail.

Don't forget to renew your membership. A 90% Member renewal for 2025 earns our Chapter an additional "5 Chips".

Speaking of IRWA International, they have announced a membership fee increase of $10 over each of the next two years.

As always, in order to keep our chapter strong and resilient, we are looking for dynamic IRWA Member ROW professionals to serve as executive board officers, committee chairs, and/or strategic planning members.

Come talk to one of us, you might be surprised how little free time it takes to make a HUGE impact on your chapter or how much more you can get out of it than what you put in.

We still need a Chairperson for the Nominations & Elections Committee, the Young Professionals Committee, the Programs Committee, and the Communication & Outreach Committee. Please talk to any of us (see leadership page) if you are interested in any of the great opportunities above.

Thank you to all of our amazingly dedicated and talented member volunteers, without whom we could not sustain the awesome momentum we are enjoying.

General Members are always welcome to attend and participate in board or committee meetings as we love to hear from those we serve.

Keep an eye on the calendar and check back regularly for updates, job announcements, ROW resources, and more.

Feel free to contact mychael.alfaro@alaska.gov with website issues, feedback, ideas, etc.

From the nominations submitted, your Chapter 49 Nominations & Elections chair and select board members reviewed each application and chose the following winners:

2022-2023 Employer of the Year - DOWL Engineering; Finalist for upcoming International awards. GO DOWL!!!

2022-2023 Project of the Year - N/A

2022-2023 Professional of the Year, Mychael Alfaro, SR/WA

2021-2022 Employer of the Year, ENSTAR.

2021-2022 Project of the Year, DOT&PF, Knik-Goose Bay Road Reconstruction Phase I – Fairview Loop to Centaur Avenue

2021-2022 Professional of the Year, Claire Mueller, SR/WA

Brought to you by your Programs Chair

Our Lunch and Learn Program presentation follows the Monthly Members update.

Typically presented the 3rd Wednesday of each month (excepting June, July, and December). On occasion, due to scheduling conflicts, we may have to offer an alternate day. Please check our “Schedule of Events” calendar to confirm upcoming dates and times.

The cost for lunch is $20 and must be preordered via emailed RSVP lunch invitation.

If you did not receive an invitation, please email your Chapter President.

Lunch begins at 11:45AM.

Member update and program presentation is always FREE and runs from 12:00PM to 1:00PM

We welcome suggestions for future right of way speakers and topics.

Our members work hard to gain and maintain their IRWA credentialing through continuing education to provide exceptional on-the-job working knowledge and ethical standards.

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate their efforts in supporting our Chapter, our Alaska ROW family, and the neighborhoods in which we all live.

WELL DONE ALL!

SR/WA Re-Certifications

Fred Mortimer, SR/WA

Lee Ault, SR/WA

Marjorie Bellringer, SR/WA

Kathryn Schreckenghost, SR/WA, R/W-RAC

Josh Resnick, SR/WA

Karen Keesecker, SR/WA

Pete Nagel, SR/WA

Sheila Armstrong, SR/WA

SR/WA Candidates

Chelsey Okonek

Owen Dicks

Manny Lopez

Sterling Lopez

New SR/WA-EU Credential

Cynthia Coughlin, SR/WA-EU

New RWP-GN Credentials

Elizabeth Silvernale, RWP-GN

New RWA Credentials

Michelle Olsen, RWA (October 2023)

Scott Huff, RWA

Mark Whisenhunt, RWA

Samuel Philips, RWA

Holly Sparrow, RWA-GN

Chapter 49’s member count has grown to 89 members.

Please welcome the newest additions to our Right of Way community…

Kevin Kelly, University of Alaska

Cindy Landreth, DOT&PF

Jason Ortiz, Mat-Su Borough

Peter Burton, Mat-Su Borough

Suzanne Reilly, Mat-Su Borough

Ana Rodriguez, DOT&PF

Jeenean Ferkinhoff, DOT&PF

Sarah Sommer, DOT&PF

Katrina Kline, Mat-Su Borough

Krista King, Mat-Su Borough

Joseph Lujan, Lounsbury and Associates

Alma Elia, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Pete Mueller, AK Mental Health Trust Land Office

Kiley Fish, Matanuska Telecom Association

Amy Orange-Posma, SOA DNR MLW-Realty Survey

Steven Ray, Matanuska Electric Association

New Member Application

If you know anyone who would benefit from joining our chapter, please refer them to our Membership Chair, Paula Brault, SR/WA at pbrault@dowl.com.

Members who engage in Chapter 49 events and activities are included in our Member Engagement drawing via each events sign-in list.

Our Member Engagement drawing for a free membership will take place during our first monthly member meeting and Lunch and Learn of each new year, or annually in August.

DRAWING WINNERS!

2023 Jimmy Christopher

2022 Postponed to 2023

2021 Marjorie Bellringer

Chapter 49 needs the valuable assistance a course coordinator provides in order to offer such great course experiences for our participants.

Members may become certified course coordinators and Chapter 49 will pay tuition for that coordinator to attend the same course as our appreciation for managing the class needs.

Ever wondered what your local Chapter 49 is all about without committing to serve as an officer or chairperson and thought, If only I could be a one-time volunteer and see how it goes…

Here is your chance! We are looking for one-time volunteers that we could call on to help with various events.

Click below to express your interest via a quick email to our Chapter 49 President, Manny Lopez.

Monthly meeting of your Chapter 49 Executive Board of Director (EBOD).

Your EBOD meets the second Tuesday of each month from 4:30pm - 6:30pm.

Members are always welcome to attend and participate in discussions on how we improve service to our members and our ROW community.

Check our “Schedule of Events” calendar to confirm the location of our regularly scheduled meeting. Barring a scheduling conflict, most EBOD meetings are held at DOWL, 5015 Business Park Blvd., #4000, Anchorage.

Monthly meeting of your Strategic Planning Committee (SPC).

Your SPC meets the second Thursday of each month from 4:30pm - 6:30pm.

Members are always welcome to attend and share their ideas for improving our chapter’s reach in the community and member benefits.

Check our “Schedule of Events” calendar to confirm the location of our regularly scheduled meeting. Barring a scheduling conflict, most SPC meetings are held at DOWL, 5015 Business Park Blvd., #4000, Anchorage.

IRWA Calendar of Events

Region 7 Events

If you are interested in sponsorship / support opportunities with your local IRWA Alaska Sourdough Chapter 49, please see our sponsorship invitation on our “Community Sponsor” page.