Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY OPERATIONS BOARD

 

Members

Ayers, Wanetta

  • Public/Restricted/Speaker
    Anchorage
  • Current Term: 11/16/2021 to 07/01/2025
    Original Appointment: 11/16/2021

Wanetta Ayers is the executive director of Commonwealth North (CWN), a nonpartisan public policy forum focused on exploring and resolving Alaska's most critical issues. Ayers' prior experience spans the nonprofit sector, public service, and private enterprise. She's led state economic and workforce development agencies, regional and community economic development organizations, trade associations, and business development programs. Ayers received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Washington and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has also received graduate certificates in economic development and social media marketing. Previous gubernatorial appointments include the Alaska Tourism Marketing Council, the Marine Transportation Advisory Board, and the Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Working Group. Originally from Anchorage, where four generations of her family live, Ayers has lived and worked throughout Alaska, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, Kodiak, and Utqiagvik.

Carson, Larry "Norm"

  • Public/Restricted/Governor
    Pelican
  • Current Term: 11/04/2021 to 07/01/2023
    Original Appointment: 11/04/2021

Living three miles south of Pelican, Norm is an Alaska State Trooper, retired 1990, then Commander of Trooper operations in Southeast Alaska. He commercially fished from 1990 to 1994. He was Chief of Security at the Alaska State Legislature, 1993-97. Then owner and operator of Pelican Charters 1994 - present, he is a licensed USCG Captain. Norm has been and is a member of many relevant boards, including the Marine Transportation Advisory Board, Pelican Fish & Game Advisory board, US Forest Service RAC, and Pelican Chamber of Commerce. On a personal note, Norm has been married for over 50 years to Linda (Hildre) Carson. They have two sons, both Alaska State Troopers, and six grandchildren. He is a published author, active in research and writing.

Hillard, Keith L

  • Union - Current AMHS Captain
    Juneau
  • Current Term: 1/26/2022 to 07/01/2027

Captain Keith Hillard graduated from California Maritime Academy in 1993 and began his seagoing career working on a tug and barge hauling fuels in SE Asia. Since 1995, he has worked with the Guemes Island Ferry System, Washington State Ferries, and the Alaska Marine Highway System. He has 27 years of experience moving people, goods, and vehicles in Washington and Alaska. Captain Hillard is currently one of the two permanent captains on the M/V Matanuska. His goals are to create a reliable ferry service the people of Alaska can count on.

Horchover, Bob

  • Public/Restricted/Governor
    Kodiak
  • Current Term: 7/01/2023 to 07/01/2029
    Original Appointment: 7/01/2023

I was born and raised in Juneau. Got my first license in 1980. One of the youngest in the state at the time. I have worked in many disciplines (see resume)since. Towing (line haul, pushing, rescue, salvage, tanker escort) Fishing (commercial and sport) Hover craft. Dynamic positioning, Advanced propulsion systems Including 5 years overseas + 5 years in the GOM and Arctic In Oil and Gas. I currently own a small maritime consulting company and work part time. Active in several fraternal organizations. I currently reside in Juneau.

Johnsen, Paul

  • Public/Restricted/Senate President
    Petersburg
  • Current Term: 12/07/2021 to 07/01/2027

Paul Johnsen graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy in 1971 with a dual degree (deck and engine). He worked aboard AMHS vessels in 1974-1979 as a third, second, and first engineer. Between 1979 and 1997, Paul worked for multiple maritime companies (both US flag and foreign flag ocean-going ships) as a shipboard chief engineer and a member of shoreside management teams. He was stationed in Taiwan, Florida, Georgia, the Philippines, and Seattle during this period. In 1997, he returned to AMHS as a senior port engineer and later chief engineer until retirement in 2007. Between 2008 and 2010, he implemented and managed the Ocean Ranger Program for Crowley Marine Services under contract with the State of Alaska. Paul lives in Petersburg and has lived in Alaska since 1997. He enjoys boating and hiking, and he is active in the Five Finger Lighthouse Society. Paul is ready to devote his efforts to rebuild a robust marine highway system that will serve the people of coastal Alaska.

Keith, Katherine

  • Deputy Commissioner/DOT
    Anchorage
  • Current Term: TBD

Katherine Keith is the Deputy Commissioner for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Previously Ms. Keith served as the Change Manager Director for Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. Ms. Keith is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Agile Practitioner (PMI-ACP). Katherine works with cross-functional interdisciplinary teams on initiatives such as the Sustainable Transportation and Energy Program, Agile Project Delivery in Multi-modal Transportation, Charting the Course; Reimagining AMHS (Alaska Marine Highway System), and New Ways of Working in dynamic environments. She has previously worked on projects in energy storage and distribution, transportation, ferry electrification, and strategic planning. Ms. Keith earned a BS interdisciplinary degree in Renewable Energy Engineering from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She is an author, dog musher, and endurance athlete.

Lindoff, Anthony

  • Alaska Native organization
  • Current Term: TBD

Marquardt, Shirley (Chair)

  • Public/Restricted/Speaker
    Anchorage
  • Current Term: 11/16/2021 to 07/01/2025

Shirley Marquardt is the Executive Director of the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference since January 2020. Mrs. Marquardt served as the Executive Director for the Alaska Marine Highway System for approximately one year after serving as the Executive Director for Boards and Commissions, State of Alaska. Prior to this, she was the Mayor of the City of Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor for 16 years.

Page, Edward (Vice Chair)

  • Public/Restricted/Senate President - USCG (Retired)
    Juneau
  • Current Term: 07/18/2022 to 07/01/2027

Ed Page's maritime career began in 1968 when he entered the Coast Guard has spanned 54 years of which 33 years have been in Alaska. He first arrived in Alaska on the Coast Guard cutter BOUTWELL in 1973 when the vessel sailed from Boston to Alaska to conduct patrols in the Bering Sea. He later had Coast Guard assignments in Marine Safety and vessel operations in Anchorage, Ketchikan and Juneau as well as in California and Japan until retiring in 2001 after 33 years of service. He subsequently established the Marine Exchange of Alaska and served as the Executive Director for 21 years. During his maritime career he sailed on and inspected hundreds of Coast Guard and commercial vessels and his last assignment was as the Chief of Marine Safety and Environmental Protection for the 17th Coast Guard district. He has sailed on ferries in over 20 countries as well as on most AMHS vessels and hopeful he can contribute to enhancing Alaska's ferry system. Ed is an avid kayaker and sailor and currently lives in Juneau.

DOT&PF - Staff Support

Kim Griffith