Kotzebue, Juneau Executives Elected To Lead Alaska Workforce Investment Board

Apr. 16, 2004
No. 04-46

ANCHORAGE – A Kotzebue aviation executive has been elected chair of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board, a panel administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development with oversight of state and federally funded job training and vocational education programs in the state.

Andy Baker, senior vice president of Baker Aviation, succeeds Dr. Alice Galvin of BP Exploration Alaska as AWIB chair. Dr. Galvin has chaired the 26-member workforce development policy board for six years.

David Stone, a member of the Juneau Borough Assembly, vice president of Alaska Electric Light and Power and president of AJT Mining Properties, was elected board vice chair.

Baker also serves as president of Baker Leasing and Baker Professional Services. Governor Frank Murkowski appointed Baker and Stone to the board in 2003.

Labor Commissioner Greg O’Claray said Baker brings outstanding entrepreneurial and community service skills to the AWIB chair. The commissioner also serves on the AWIB and added, “Chairman Baker has the qualities we need to serve Alaska well and see that we invest our workforce training dollars wisely.”

Baker told panel members he plans to strengthen the board as a workforce policy-making body. He added, “I want to help build connections to assist industry in hiring trained Alaskans for good-paying jobs. I want to put Alaskans to work.”

The AWIB includes Alaska business and industry leaders. The panel examines employment trends and emerging occupations with a goal of making sure that Alaskans are prepared for high demand, good wage jobs. Public and private sector educators and training providers connect with employers under board oversight to provide a good fit between employment applicants and job descriptions.

Baker previously served as president of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly, as chair of the Arctic Circle Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors of the Alaska Air Carriers Association and the Northwest Arctic Borough’s Economic Development Commission. He is a past chair of the commission’s Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Stone also is a principal in Stone & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in government, community relations and resource development projects in Canada, Russia, Mexico and the Philippines.

Consistent with the board’s focus on connections, accountability and outcomes, the Juneau meeting included release of the first edition of the “Alaska Workforce Investment System Summary,” including material documenting workforce development funding, goals and outcomes of Alaska organizations. The summary is available on the AWIB website at www.awib.alaska.gov.

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News Media Contacts:
Pennelope Goforth, DOLWD Business Partnership Division, 907.269.8158 or
Joe Holbert, Special Assistant/Communications, 907.465.5673

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