Twenty-five years ago this year, the Council released its first study on the threat of marine invasive species to Prince William Sound. The researchers determined that the biggest source of risk was the ballast water discharged from the oil tankers arriving in Prince William Sound.
Volunteer Spotlight: Skye Steritz
Skye Steritz’ passion for a clean environment started at an early age, during a childhood spent outdoors in Texas.
“I was raised with environmentalist values and became an advocate, especially for water, as I got older.”
You can hear the smile in her voice when she’s asked why she first moved to Alaska.
“My love of water,” she replies. “It’s critical to thriving of life on earth.”
Her father was a geophysicist for Exxon for 30 years; conversations with him gave her a well-rounded perspective and a deep respect for oil workers.
“He recognizes the threats of transporting oil, from drilling to pipelines to tankers,” she explains. “My conversations with him prepped me to be able to communicate with people from all backgrounds.”
She pursued these ideas after high school, racking up three Masters degrees: water resources policy and management; water management and governance; and water cooperation and diplomacy. Her studies took her to Ghana, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, California, and Oregon.
“I was in water management classes with students from all over the world,” Steritz mentions. “In the Netherlands, I was one of two from the U.S. out of about 200 students.”
Natalie Novik, administrative assistant for the Anchorage office, passed away in October 2021, after a two-year battle with cancer. Natalie joined Council staff in June 2014.
Born and educated in Paris, Natalie was proud of her Breton and Russian roots. She dedicated much of her life to oil spill prevention and response in Alaska and internationally.
She volunteered to help clean up after multiple oil spills that plagued Brittany starting in the 1970s. When the Exxon Valdez spill occurred, Natalie was teaching in New York and already planning to move to Alaska.
In Alaska, Natalie spent 13 years with Northern Forum, a nonprofit group created to improve communications and cooperation in northern regions. In that role she supported providing ongoing know-how and assistance related to the 1994 pipeline spill in the Komi Republic in Russia. As part of Northern Forum’s program on disaster management in the North and the Arctic, Natalie was in charge of relations with the Arctic Council.
Years before joining the Council’s staff, she provided translation and interpretation between the Council and Sydicat Mixte Vigipol, a citizen governance group created after the Amoco Cadiz ran aground in 1978 on the Brittany coast. Natalie also worked two years for Ecoshelf on Sakhalin Island in Russia, translating contracts and documents related to oil spill prevention, monitoring, and response.
Natalie was an advocate for residents of northern regions and cross-cultural engagement in many ways. She worked for the Alaska Native Science Commission’s community self-reliance project from 2012-2013, and the World Trade Centers Association immediately before joining the Council’s staff. From 2009-2014, she served as Honorary Consul of France in Alaska. She was a devoted volunteer for the Celtic Community of Alaska, where she was still serving as president until she passed.
Natalie was very proud of her work with the Council and was a true believer in our mission. She provided vast contributions to the Council’s robust archives, directly supporting the success of many projects that rely on historical knowledge. She firmly believed in the value of gathering and connecting in person, and poured attention into every detail for the annual Science Night event, volunteer workshop, and holiday party.
Natalie left behind her beloved cat Sashka (who has been adopted by a friend), many friends and colleagues, and memories of her sense of humor, caring, creativity, and passion. When Natalie applied for her position at the Council, she summed up her career thusly: “curious and creative individuals will go through life learning new skills and enriching their potential.”
KJ Crawford joined staff as the new director of administration in December 2021, and has been able to focus on training with Walt Wrede ahead of his retirement.
Crawford holds a Master’s degree in organizational management and Bachelor’s in journalism and public communications. She previously served as the programs director for the Alaska Safety Alliance, where she oversaw the North Slope Training Cooperative and other health, safety, and environmental trainings for high hazard industries across Alaska. Before that, KJ held various positions with the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education. She also volunteers with the Alaska Postsecondary Access and Completion Network.
Ashlee Hamilton joined the Council in October, filling the new position of bookkeeper/office coordinator. In December, Hamilton was promoted to financial manager. Gregory Dixon, who has been the Council’s financial manager for the past 20 years, plans to retire later this year.
Hamilton was raised in southeast Alaska on Prince of Wales Island. She attended the University of Alaska and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She was previously employed as a branch manager for a credit union, as a staff accountant at a CPA firm, and as a bookkeeper for a restaurant chain in Juneau.
Jaina Willahan is the Council’s new administrative assistant. A life-long Anchorage resident, Willahan holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She came to the organization with eight years of customer service experience. She spends most of her free time playing board games, crafting, and hanging out with her dog, Jack.
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