Arctic Entries

Growing up with four brothers, Janel learned three important survival skills: talk fast, tell captivating stories, and if all else fails, cry! With these skills, she successfully avoided ever being grounded while growing up, and later in life it helped to deflect all but one speeding ticket. Hopefully, you will only get to experience one of these skills for yourself tonight, but which one will be a surprise to you and her both!

Rion is a sophomore at West Anchorage High School. She has a passion for 70’s classic rock, indie movies, and is a rabid Francophile. Her future plans include interning at Saturday Night Live, screenwriting, and eventually directing motion pictures and documentaries.

Susie is a transplanted mid-westerner who never thought she would stay in Alaska, and as a result had her bags packed for the first ten years. Many years later, she’s still here. Over the years she has had various jobs and volunteer opportunities but the best of them have been in this building, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Having worked six years in the PAC’s business office and volunteering as an usher for 23 years in the Ushering in the Arts program, the PAC just seems like home.

Laura is a lifelong Alaskan who spent the highlight of her upbringing on the shores and mountainsides of Lake Clark National Park. Her latest venture has been creating an artisan ice cream and popsicle truck called The Mint Chip. Be sure to say hi when you see her around the parks and streets of Spenard this summer!

Martin moved to Alaska in 1975 when his parents gave him a one way ticket to Anchorage from California. Upon landing in town, Martin decided that it wasn’t exciting enough and headed for the seaport of Seward. In 1986, he got lucky and convinced his wife to marry him and produced two sons: David and Mark. He retired from the National Park Service last year and runs the Wooden Ski Classic—if we ever get snow—and coaches Junior Nordic.

29. Hopeless romantic to her own detriment. Likes long walks on the beach, champagne with her pizza. Must love dogs.

Barbara grew up in California and stayed in college as long as she could because she was really good at it. After two degrees and a teaching credential, she was forced to get a job to pay off student loans. Barbara spent four years teaching the hormonal crazies and then moved to Alaska for a brief stint caretaking a gold mine, followed by working at a remote fishing lodge. She has spent 24 years in the pipeline industry and wants to be retired when she grows up.

Erik is excited to tell a story at Arctic Entries, and sad he can tell only one! Born and raised in Alaska, he went to college in Washington before moving back and finding work as an environmental engineer. In his spare time, he constantly attempts to eliminate blank space on his calendar with as many hobbies as possible. He currently performs with Scared Scriptless and Urban Yeti Improv, and just wrapped up a run of A Christmas Carol with Perseverance Theatre; he does not miss the mutton chops.

Elizabeth is a sophomore at Dimond High School. She plays with the local youth symphony and volunteers with her school’s Key Club.

Debbie is an author and a musher, a lover of wilderness trails and the dogs who go there. The 28 huskies who live in the Moderows’ Denali Park backyard are a continuing source of her inspiration, adventure, and good humor. Her leaders Sharp Cheddar and Brie have been looking forward to tonight’s show. They are very tired of hearing Debbie practice her Arctic Entries story while mushing down the trail.

Nelson is originally from Mountain Village, on the Lower Yukon, and grew up in Fairbanks. He works at Alyeska Pipeline as a business analyst and loves spending time in the outdoors with family and friends. And he loves to take naps... Lots of naps.

Marty has been in Alaska for over 30 years and enjoys all of the beauty and recreation it has to offer. He has travelled to many parts of the state and enjoys meeting all sorts of people. Next spring he will be going to Attu Island, and one day hopes to see Southeast Alaska on a boat.

While living in an old trapper’s cabin, Christy woke up to a bear on her porch and another bear on the roof; while running on a single-track trail by Chester Creek, she was kicked by a charging Mama, as she dove out from under its front hooves—but neither experience scared her as much as parenthood. To survive life with two wild children, and to make meaning out of mayhem, Christy attempts to write at: followingelias.com.

David has five children ages 8 through 19. He loves scuba diving and bike touring, and spends his time between Alaska and Hawaii.

John-Henry house-sits for two cats, subsists predominantly off cans of Amy’s lentil soup, and works at the Boardroom. Aspiring to the core competencies of adulthood, his mother tells him he’s pretty close.

Originally from Emmonak, Alaska, Emily (Yup’ik/Iñupiaq) is the Director of Sustainability of First Alaskans Institute, a statewide Alaska Native non-profit dedicated to the advancement of the Alaska Native community. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Communications from the University of Alaska Anchorage and an Executive Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership from Alaska Pacific University. Emily's Yup’ik name is Keneggnarkayaaggaq, meaning a person with a beautiful persona, spirit, aura and friend. She is the proud mother of Anya Tyrrell, an ANCCS fourth grader who loves to read, laugh and cook breakfast.

Britta’s family moved to Anchorage from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan in 2008. She fell in love with Alaska.

Lucy grew up in a huge Eastern Catholic family on the outskirts of Chicago. As the youngest of seven, she struggled to have her voice heard and was determined to do things her own way. Traveling gave her that independence; in Alaska, nothing holds her back.

Lynn Paulson grew up in San Francisco and State College, Pennsylvania. Dr. Paulson has spent most of her professional life at the front of a college classroom, teaching interpersonal communication, public speaking, writing and cultural studies, first at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and then at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, where she moved in 1993. In 2010, she left university teaching and launched her life coaching and motivational speaking business, Flying Heart Industries. Lynn publishes as a free-lance writer and has just completed a self help cartoon book for women, Be Her Now.

Steve first came to Alaska by bike from Minnesota in 1998. He and his wife have a son named Liam and enjoy spending time outside. Steve has worked for several non-profits and as a stay-at-home dad. He is passionate about biking and didn’t buy his first (half) car until age 33.