Leo Bustad has been an Alaska resident for 29 years. He is a practicing cardiologist who was educated at Washington State University and the University of Washington Medical School. He was also an intern, medical resident and medical fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Bustad serves as a clinical professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina and as an adjunct faculty member in the capacity of team physician to the athletic department at UAA.
He is married to Jeanne Davis Bustad, is a member of the UAA College of Fellows, and is on the Board of Trustee at the Washington State University Foundation.
Morgan Christen: Superior Court Judge, State of Alaska
Judge Morgan Christen was appointed to the superior court in Anchorage in 2001. In 2005, she was appointed Presiding Judge for the Third Judicial District.
Judge Christen currently co-chairs the Child in Need of Aid Rules Committee, the Judicial Education Committee, and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska Community Foundation.
Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Christen was a litigation partner at the law firm of Preston, Gates & Ellis from1992-2001. She worked as an associate attorney at Preston from 1987-1992. Judge Christen clerked for the Honorable Brian Shortell after she graduated from the Golden Gate University School of Law and received her undergraduate degree in international studies from the University of Washington. Judge Christen's previous professional experience includes service as a Lawyer Representative for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, service on the Alaska Bar Association Disciplinary Committee, and as President of the Anchorage Association of Women Lawyers.
Judge Christen has been a member of the Anchorage Rotary Club since 1994 and is a former member of the Board of Directors for Big/Brothers/Big Sisters of Alaska. In 2004, Judge Christen was awarded the Light of Hope award for work on behalf of Alaska's children and the Chamber of Commerce Athena Society Award.
Her special interests include family, hiking, traveling in Alaska, reading and cooking.
Rosey Fletcher: 3 Time Olympian
Fletcher started her sports career in cross-country and alpine skiing as a youngster in Girdwood. It was at age 16 that Rosey made the transition from two skis to one, as she found her passion in snowboarding. From that point forward, Rosey dedicated her life to becoming one of the world's best snowboard racers.
Her accomplishments include 10 World Cup victories, 20 World Cup podiums, 3 World Championship podiums, and 3 Olympic Teams. Notably in 1998 being the first US snowboarder to be named to an Olympic snowboard Team and in 2006 winning the bronze medal. In the final national race of her career, she captured her eighth and final U.S. national title. Two weeks later Rosey set the course record at the Arctic Man competition in Paxton, AK to end her career with style; a victory in her home state.
She was born in Anchorage and raised in Girdwood and has continued to be active in the community through inspirational speaking, school visits, Healthy Futures, and sitting on the Mayor’s Task Force for Obesity.
Patrick Gamble: President & CEO Alaska Railroad Corporation
Pat Gamble is President and Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Railroad Corporation, $130 million dollar freight, passenger, and land management business. He retired as a four star General from the United States Air Force after a career as a fighter pilot, including a combat tour during Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller (FAC). He has 15 years of executive level leadership in business and government service.
Gamble served as the top Air Force commander in the Pacific region and was responsible for operations, planning, and budgeting of fourteen military installations with 41,000 employees and 400 aircraft.
Joining the Alaska Railroad in 2001, he made safety, employee quality of life, and business excellence his chief priorities.
Gamble has participated on community boards such as United Way, local and state Chamber of Commerce, and has worked extensively with secondary and university education boards both in and out of state.
A member of the Corps of Cadets and a graduate of Texas A&M University in mathematics, Gamble earned his MBA at Auburn University.
Gamble and his wife Ailese plan to continue the Alaska Railroad’s strong commitment to neighborhoods and communities throughout Alaska.
Diane Kaplan: President & CEO Rasmuson Foundation
Diane Kaplan became president and chief executive officer of the Rasmuson Foundation, a private grant-making institution based in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2001. She has served as administrator of the Foundation since 1995.
From 1994-2001 Kaplan’s consulting company provided management and government relations services to philanthropic organizations, Native corporations and tribes, and non-profit organizations. She was previously president and chief executive officer of Alaska’s 28-station public radio network.
Kaplan earned a degree in communications and women’s studies from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She attended executive management programs at the Wharton School, Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the University of California at Berkeley.
Kaplan serves as a member of the board of directors of the Council on Foundations (COF), the Alaska Children’s Trust, US Artists, and the Foraker Group. She serves on the COF Governance and Finance & Investment Committees, Alaska Railroad Corporation Community Advisory Board and the Governor’s Housing Trust Steering Committee. She is a member of the Anchorage Rotary Club.
Kaplan married Mel Sather in 1987. Their family includes three grown sons and four grandchildren.