The Observer, May 2008

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Comings and goings shuffle council staff

After a series of resignations and hires over the past few months, the council staff is returning to full strength.

In the Anchorage office, Susan Sommer, who ran the council’s website, resigned in early March to take a similar job with Tatitlek Corporation, one of the council’s member entities. She has been replaced by Emily Polley, who had been working as a project manager assistant for the council.

Polley, however, will be leaving the staff in mid-July because of her husband’s transfer by the U.S. Army. She will be replaced by Kyle von Bose, the editor of the Bristol Bay Times and graduate of the journalism program at the University of Alaska Anchorage. von Bose’s start date was April 28.

The project manager assistant position, meantime, is being filled by Amanda Beck Johnson, who had worked previously in the Municipality of Anchorage’s Parks and Recreation Department. Her start date was also April 28.

And Anita Daniels has replaced Mary Schonberger on the Anchorage office front desk. Daniels, who started April 7, has a background in administration and bookkeeping. Schonberger left in mid-February for a job with the Alaska Power Association.

In the Valdez office, meantime, Administrative Assistant Denise Schanbeck will be leaving May 15 because of her husband’s transfer by the U.S. Coast Guard. She is being replaced by Venessa Dawson, who started Feb. 27.

Dawson, who worked at a local medical clinic before joining the council staff, lives in Valdez with her partner and their three children, ages nine months through 11 years. She’s been a resident of the community since shortly after her first birthday.

Anita Daniels	Venessa Dawson