Founded in 1997, Leadership Anchorage (LA) is the premier leadership development program for established and emerging Alaskans seeking to expand their impact in the community.
LA is designed to develop the skills, knowledge, perspective, and networks needed to be an effective and compassionate changemaker for our city, and our state. Each year, a diverse cohort of leaders is selected to participate in this 9-month program consisting of monthly Saturday sessions, enhanced by group projects, individual mentorships, readings, resources, and guest speakers from the community.
Register for a virtual 30 minute Info Session and the in-person Open House!
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Why LA?
Transform Your Leadership
LA participants practice and strengthen essential 21st-century leadership competencies including facilitation, coaching, collaboration, and team-building.
Through assessments and interactive activities, you will develop an understanding of how you show up in the world and tap into your vision, mission, and purpose.
Amplify and Diversify Your Networks
LA is a unique opportunity to become a part of a powerful community of diverse leaders from a wide range of industries, backgrounds, ages, and experiences.
Throughout the program, participants are introduced to new organizations, individuals, venues, and connection points across the city. You will build close, supportive relationships within your cohort and across our powerful network of over 400 LA alumni and mentors.
Activate Ideas Into Action
If you aspire to make a real difference in your community or organization, your LA Community Project provides the perfect opportunity to step boldly into that vision as you tackle real, immediate needs within the Anchorage community.
Apply To Leadership Anchorage
Each year, a diverse cohort of up to 20 is selected to participate in the program with sessions starting in September. Get details about the program and apply.
Leadership Anchorage Alumni
LA has over 400 alumni across Anchorage, and Alaska. An Alumni Advisory Board hosts a range of activities and events for networking and continued learning.
Community Projects
A core element of the LA experience is the team projects that connect participants with partner organizations to address real, immediate community needs.
Amanda Ashton
Account Manager | GCI
Colleen Andrews
Social Connections Coordinator | Mat-Su Health Foundation
Corrine Cross
Programs Manager | AWAIC - Abused Women's Aid in Crisis
David Bell
Mechanical Engineering Group Manager | CRW Engineering
Elizabeth Dickinson
Senior Grant Development Manager | Catholic Social Services
Elizabeth Pantaleone
School Based Mental Health Clinician | VOA Alaska
Jordan Finney
Brownfields Coordinator | Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
Karden Kelly
Special Agent | US Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General
Kendalyn Mckisick
Director of Marketing & Communications | Camp Fire Alaska
Lindsey Hickey
Assistant Administrative Director, Clinical Psychologist | Norton Sound Health Corporation
Martha Anelon
Shareholder Development Training Manager | Bristol Bay Native Corporation
Marvin Johnson
ANSEP Director | University of Alaska Anchorage
Mere Suaava
Information Management | Repsol
Michael Thomas
Superintendent of Recruiting and Retention | Alaska Air National Guard
Paul Paasaa McDonogh
Director of Education | Chugachmiut
Payton Augafa
Juvenile Justice Counselor | Mclaughlin Youth Center
Peri Qancuk Sanders
Coordinator, Caleb Scholars Program | Kawerak Inc
Tuan Graziano
Donor Relations Manager | ACLU of Alaska
Victoria "Tory" Shanklin
Executive Director | Violent Crimes Compensation Board
Thank you to LA 28 Mentors for investing in our Cohort! Mentors are community members who volunteer their time to meet with LA participants and serve as a trusted partner for advice, guidance, and inspiration. Mentors can be anyone in the community and are selected by the participants themselves - with recommendations and support from Leadership Anchorage - and participants take on the initiative to reach out and establish a relationship.
LA 28 MENTORS
Charisse Arce, Senior Attorney at EarthJustice
Chellie Skoog, Vice President of Programs at Foraker Group
Cindy Bailey, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs at Santos
Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent at Alaska Conference, Covenant Church
Jackie Schaeffer, Director of Climate Initiatives at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Jasmine Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at RurAL CAP
Jessica Graham, Executive VP, Chief Risk Officer & General Counsel at Global Federal Credit Union
Joelle Hall, President at AFL-CIO
Kris Palmatier, Chief Financial Officer at Catholic Social Services
Lael Bach, Training and Development Specialist at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Lee Post, Chief of Juvenile Probation (retired) & Professional Artist at State of Alaska & PostMarks
Michelle Egan, Chief Communications Officer at Alyeska Pipeline
Polly Carr, Vice-President of Programs at Alaska Humanities Forum
Regan Brooks, Founder, Story Works Alaska
Ryan Buchholdt, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services at University of Alaska Anchorage
Theresa Lyons, Healthy & Equitable Communities Grant Administrator, Alaska Black Caucus
Alaska Humanities Forum
The Alaska Humanities Forum is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that designs and facilitates experiences to bridge distance and difference – programming that shares and preserves the stories of people and places across our vast state, and explores what it means to be Alaskan.
Gather Round: The AKHF Blog
- “I Want the Program to Keep Evolving”: Reflections from Story Works Alaska Co-Founder Regan Brooks
February 4, 2025 • Eiden Pospisil
- "Alaska is only a good fit if I’m here for the kids!"
January 27, 2025 • Amanda Cox
- "This Can Be the Most Powerful Part of the Entire Program": Mentorship in Leadership Anchorage
January 15, 2025 • Amanda Dale
