Randy is responsible for the overall management, strategic direction, and fundraising at ACE. He has served as director since 2000, and has worked for ACE since 1998.
Raised in the ranch country of central Montana, Randy received a Bachelors Degree at the University of Montana before moving to Alaska in the mid-90's in search of an (even more) rugged landscape. Randy and his wife Dee keep busy raising two boys, Ben and Gabe, and enjoying Anchorage's trail system, camping, and traveling.
Eric has been with ACE since December 2004. He is responsible for conserving public lands in Alaska, with a primary focus on Alaska's state-owned lands and the management of motorized recreation. Eric will be working on research and policy analysis of land issues, while coordinating program and campaign plans for ACE.
Eric's interest in public policy developed at Ohio University, were he earned a degree in Political Science, concentrating his studies on environmental policy. After graduation he worked as an Americorp VISTA* with Rural Action, a grassroots community group in Appalachian Ohio. Eric gained valuable knowledge of Alaska's wild places as a natural history guide with a local ecotourism company.
When not at his office in the city, Eric enjoys spending time at his cabin near Chugach State Park.
Butch Allen washed ashore on the ACE doorstep at the beginning of 2005. As ACE’s Ocean Organizer he works to build support for Alaska’s ocean environment through a summer Oceans Festival and a Winter Oceans Film Festival, as well as ongoing marine advocacy work.
Butch grew up in rural south Louisiana and migrated to Alaska 6 years ago to start up a service company. His love of organizing and the outdoors led him and some friends to create the HAMMER, an Alaskan adventure race. After organizing 8 such events, he was ready to organize large events for ACE. Teaching, coaching, and glacier guiding have all helped round out his "road-less-traveled" approach to employment.
Time away from ACE finds him enjoying the Alaska backcountry by foot or by pack raft. He enjoys introducing Alaska's nooks and crannies to fellow friends and the his trips usually lead to preposterous misadventures. When he needs to recuperate between trips he hides out in a small cabin in Chickaloon.
Valerie Connor, Forest Conservation Director
(907) 274-3662 - valerie@akcenter.org
Valerie moved to Alaska in 1982 after receiving a B.S. in Environmental Planning and Management from UC Davis, California. After a brief stint as a “Spit Rat” in Homer she moved across Kachemak Bay to a remote location accessible only by water. There she learned the trade of wooden boat building, ran a water taxi, and refined the art of lifting and carrying heavy objects.
Returning to Homer in 1999, Valerie spent the next several years building a house and becoming a community organizer and activist. This work eventually led her to the Alaska Center for the Environment, where she is happily devoting herself to being an advocate for the environment. As the Chugach Campaign Coordinator, she is responsible for educating and organizing ACE members and the general public in support of protecting the Chugach National Forest and leading a campaign to identify and protect key areas of the Chugach.
Valerie has traveled extensively, loves to hike and view wildlife, is an avid reader, and a supporter of the arts. She currently resides in Anchorage with her husband and dog.
Thomas Burek has been working with ACE since the summer of 1996 as the Trailside Discovery Camp Director. He is responsible for overall management, strategic planning, administration, program development, marketing, and edutainment. During his tenure at TDC, he has worked to expand the program from 250 campers annually to over 1700.
Prior to serving as TDC director, Thomas worked for the Detroit YMCA as the environmental education, summer camp & Tri Gra-Y director. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Park & Recreation Management from Eastern Michigan University, in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Thomas is on the Friends of State Parks, Mat–Su Board, Partners in Homeless Education steering committee, and is the Alaska state representative for the American Camp Association. He is an avid sprint musher and you can find him playing in his 20-dog kennel or mushing out on the Moose Range trail system in Palmer.
Mikayla began working for ACE the summer of 2007 as the public lands intern. Her current position as the Juneau Watchdog entails reporting and updating members on the progress of conservation related bills. Her responsibilities consist of updating the Juneau Watchdog webpage, sending out weekly newsletter throughout the session, holding ‘Find Your Voice’ workshops, Volunteer Nights, and other issue campaign related activities.
She grew up all around state with a significant amount of time spent in rural areas. A graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks she earned a bachelors degree in Political Science in 2006. Mikayla is currently pursuing a Masters in Global Environmental Policy.
When Mikayla isn’t working or studying she enjoys hiking, biking and an occasional game of foosball and horseshoes.
Alan joined the ACE staff as the Geographic Information Systems Analyst in October of 2004. He heads the Conservation GIS Center, which offers mapping services and analysis to the Alaska conservation community.
After graduating from Williams College in Massachusetts, Alan lived in Portland for several years before heading up the Al-Can. After moving north, he spent several years working as a volunteer and consultant at the GIS Center before it merged with ACE. In addition to fulfilling ACE's mapping needs, Alan spends a large amount of his time mapping development on Alaska's North Slope.
Alan lives near skiing trails in east Anchorage with his wife Jenny and two good dogs. He enjoys getting outdoors, playing sports, and aerial wolf hunting.
Jessica Cler, Membership Coordinator
(907) 274-3640 - jessica@akcenter.org
Jessica began working with ACE during its 2006 field canvass and is now the Membership Coordinator. As the Membership Coordinator, Jessica oversees ACE’s direct contact with members through door-to-door and phone outreach, as well as coordinating campaigns between program staff and outreach.
She is originally from Wasilla, AK, but enjoyed stays in Idaho and Nova Scotia while in college. She graduated with a BA in Political Science and minors in Environmental Studies and French from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2006.
When Jessica is not on the phone or in the field Jessica enjoys hiking, biking, gardening, and reading. She also has a passion for Women’s rights issues and has worked with Amnesty International on their Stop Violence Against Women campaign. Always ready on a moment’s notice she loves to travel and eagerly awaits her next adventure.
Damion Brook Kintz, originally from Eugene, Oregon, graduated from Georgetown University, where he majored in Russian studies and geography and was an All-American long-distance runner. He spent a year in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia and studied in Novosibirsk, Russia, before teaching with AmericaCorps in Colorado. He earned a Master's degree in Geography from the University of Texas, with a concentration in Remote Sensing, after conducting research using satellite mapping and onsite study of human impact on vegetation on the edges of Abiseo National Park in the Peruvian Andes.
Brook has been with ACE since September 2005 and is responsible for producing web and print media for ACE. He maintains the ACE website, prepares the ACE eweekly and newletters, and develops education, outreach, and promotional materials for the office. Before joining ACE, Brook worked for the USGS in Austin and Anchorage.
He spends too many hours in the office, but when he finally does take a break, he disappears into the mountains to run, ski, and take photos.
Dwayne is responsible for reporting the financial functions of ACE. He does all of the day to day accounting, processes payroll, and accounts payable. Dwayne works closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to provide financial information, various reports, budgetary information and other projects as assigned by the ED.
Prior to working for ACE, Dwayne worked full time in a CPA office, has taught accounting and business courses full time at Duluth Business University, and part time at four other universities. In addition, Dwayne completed a 28-year career in managing retail stores for a national chain.
Dwayne moved to Alaska from Wisconsin in 2001, has a Bachelor of Accounting degree from the University of Minnesota and passed the CPA examination in 1990. He is also an adjunct professor of accounting at UAA and teaches two to three accounting courses per semester.
Dwayne, his spouse Gwen, and their daughter Melissa live in Eagle River. Dwayne likes to fish, travel the beautiful areas of Alaska, and can be seen about town on his motorcycle when the snow is off the roads. He can also play a mean guitar.
