Business people

Coffman Engineers announces that Soo Choi and Logan Haines have both earned their Professional Electrical Engineer License. Choi started with Coffman in 2006. She is involved with Coffman's oil/gas, cathodic protection and commercial building projects. Haines has been with Coffman for six years and specializes in the design of electrical and instrumentation controls.

First National Bank Alaska Board of Directors recently appointed and promoted several employees to officer positions. Paul Hansmeyer, a mortgage loan originator in Anchorage, was named loan officer. Hansmeyer has 20 years banking experience. Cash Management Services Specialist Scott Bleeker was recently named business development officer. Bleeker has more than four years experience at First National. Appointments in bank operations were also made. Eagle River Operations Supervisor Debra Price was named assistant vice president. Dimond Branch Operations Supervisor Rhoda Frei now holds the assistant cashier position. The assistant cashier, as an officer of the bank, works with the branch manager to meet the monetary needs of their local community.

First Alaskans Institute names Gary "Coby" Hanson, Inupiaq, as Policy and Research Coordinator for the Alaska Native Policy Center. Coby will help to build, coordinate and implement the Policy Center strategic plan; create and conduct thorough research, analyzing and critiquing research, policy and issues relevant to the Alaska Native community; develop, write, produce and disseminate key information in support of the Policy Center -- a Native "think tank," research information center and catalyst of public dialogue. Coby received his BA in history from the University of Alaska Anchorage and will complete his MS in human services from Capella University in March.

William Lucht, MD, local provider who is Board Certified in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, was recently named a "Patients' Choice" physician, thanks to the multitude of affirmative reviews submitted by his patients online during the last year. Dr. Lucht works at the Lung and Sleep Clinic of Alaska, located at Alaska Regional Hospital. MDx Medical, Inc. collects and tabulates hundreds of thousands of patient opinions every year, but only physicians with near-perfect scores are voted "Patients' Choice."

Chuck Clement has been named chief operating officer with Southcentral Foundation. He initially joined SCF as a special assistant and as director of information technology services before accepting the vice president of operations position in 2004. In this new role, he will spend considerable time working directly with president/CEO Katherine Gottlieb. Clement's advancement is an example of SCF's commitment to mentoring and developing Alaska Native leaders.

Wetaviq Ltd. named Brad Angasan business manager. Angasan is an experienced program manager in both for-profit and nonprofit business sectors. He was initially hired by Wetaviq, LTD as project manager in December 2006 to propose and manage contract acquisitions, supervise employees, develop marketing and to research business development opportunities.

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