Business people

Karen Demichelis has joined the firm of Waddell & Reed as a financial adviser. Demichelis was previously the regional controller for Acuren USA. Demichelis will help develop customized financial plans, recommend investment strategies and counsel clients throughout the area. Demichelis earned both a bachelor's degree and an MBA from the University of Santa Clara. Demichelis is a certified management accountant.

Sentec Surveying and Engineering LLC, a division of Enterprise Engineering, Inc., recently hired John Shuller, PLS to the position of party chief. Shuller is a registered land surveyor in the states of Alaska, Arizona, and California. He has 22 years of experience as a land surveyor and has worked for 18 years as a party chief managing and performing surveys.

Timothy Gibson has joined Business Insurance Associates Inc. to service the company's commercial construction accounts. He has more than 10 years commercial insurance experience, most recently at Parker, Smith & Feek. He's a licensed broker with the State of Alaska, a CIC (certified insurance counselor) and a CISR (certified insurance service representative).

Rod Young has joined the Anchorage office of WHPacific, Inc., as associate director for furniture. Rod has worked in furniture sales and management for more than 17 years. Most recently, he was with another leading furniture dealership in Anchorage. Rod is especially familiar with the Knoll product line, WHPacific's preferred furniture manufacturer. Rod will be responsible for furniture division sales, marketing and operations.

Crystal Bell was promoted to marketing manager with Blood Bank of Alaska. She has served the agency as public relations coordinator and donor recruitment manager. Prior to moving to Alaska, Bell worked as a phlebotomist at Bloomington Hospital in Indiana. Bell graduated from Lighthouse Christian Academy in 2003. She is currently attending UAA for a bachelor's degree in journalism and public communications.

Tracey Stanley and Jennifer Stringer were named business relationship managers for Wells Fargo. Stanley is based at the Northern Lights and C Street building, and Stringer will serve South Anchorage business customers from the Huffman Road location. They are recent graduates of Wells Fargo's Alaska Business Banking Forward Hire training program. Stanley has been with Wells Fargo for more than three years, serving as a credit manager. Stringer, an Anchorage native, joined Wells Fargo in August 2007 as a business associate. She has five years of previous financial services experience.

Alex Hills, Ph.D., was elevated to the position of fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. A renowned electrical engineering educator, Hills was recognized for leadership in the development of wireless technology and delivery of telecommunication services to rural and remote areas. IEEE Fellow status is granted to persons with an extraordinary record of accomplishment to the electrical engineering profession.

Anneleise Loescher, associate AIA with Bettisworth North Architects and Planners, earned her LEED Accredited Professional designation. The national, non-profit organization of United States Green Building Council developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program to quantify and rate green building practices. Richard A. Wyckoff II, AIA, recently completed his professional registration exams and is now a licensed architect in the state of Alaska and member of The American Institute of Architects.

The board of directors of the Anchorage Economic Development Corp. elected officers at the group's recent annual meeting, selecting Dennis Mitchell to chair the executive committee and lead the organization in 2009. The board also elected Lon Wilson of the Wilson Agency as vice chair and Suzanne Cherot of Birch, Horton, Bittner & Cherot to the position of secretary/treasurer. Mitchell is the vice president of Lynden International. The 52-member AEDC board of directors is responsible for establishing overall policy for the organization, providing oversight for all agency programs and establishing fiscal parameters for agency and marketing functions.

Alaska USA Trust Co. hired Leanna D. Dreher as a trust officer. Dreher's responsibilities include interacting with attorneys, financial planners, insurance agents and other professionals involved in establishing personal trusts as well as the administration of all types of trusts. Dreher received her law degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law in California. She has more than 10 years of experience in business and estate planning.