• The National Indian Health Board honored Southcentral Foundation Vice President Kevin Gottlieb, D.D.S., with the National Impact Award. The award was presented at this week's annual National Indian Health Board Consumer Conference in Washington, D.C. Awarded to only six individuals or organizations nationally, it recognizes individuals having an impact on American Indian and Alaska Native health care on a national level. Gottlieb spearheaded comprehensive training programs to develop health care leaders from within the Native community. To ensure professional development of Alaska Native and American Indian people, he instituted mentoring, formal education support, individual development plans and career ladders. Today, 96 percent of SCF's dental assistants are SCF-trained members of the Native community.

• The board of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce has elected Caroline Higgins of Totem Ocean Trailer Express in Anchorage to a second term as chairwoman. Other executive committee members elected are Kip Knudson of Tesoro Alaska Co. in Anchorage as chairman-elect, Tadd Owens of Pioneer Natural Resources in Anchorage vice chairman, and Skip Reierson of Petro Marine Services as secretary/treasurer. Other committee members are Wendy Lindskoog of the Alaska Railroad Corp. as the past chairwoman, Mary Ann Pease of MAP Consulting in Anchorage, Margaret Russell of Seekins Ford Lincoln Mercury in Fairbanks, Allen Hippler of First National Bank Alaska in Bethel, Phil Cochrane of BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. in Anchorage and Heidi Franklin of The Pebble Partnership in Anchorage.

Elected to three-year at-large terms on the board during the chamber's recent annual meeting were Portia Babcock and Brian Wenzel of Conoco Phillips in Anchorage, James W. Mendenhall of NANA Development Corp. in Anchorage and Kris Norosz of Icicle Seafoods in Petersburg.

Elected to three-year terms representing regions of Alaska were Higgins of Totem in Anchorage, Franklin of the Pebble Partnership in Anchorage, Stan Hooley of the Iditarod Trail Committee in Wasilla, Lisa Parker of Parker Horn Co. in Soldotna, Renee Schofield of Tongass Substance Screening in Ketchikan, Jeff Cook of Flint Hills Resources in North Pole, and Brad Osborne of NANA Development in Anchorage (representing the Bering Straits and Arctic regions).

Appointed to two-year terms were Joe Everhart of Wells Fargo Bank Alaska, Dan Sterley of CH2M Hill, Don Habeger, Jeff Lentfer of Midas Alaska, Richard Romer of The Boeing Co., and Cochrane of BP.

• Olya Semiryazhko has joined Webb's Consulting & Management Services as marketing and promotion manager for their markets and shows, as well as administrative director of the Made In Alaska Program. Semiryazhko brings more than years of marketing and promotions experience to her new position. She is a 2008 University of Alaska Anchorage graduate with a degree in marketing. She was previously the assistant manager of the University of Alaska Anchorage Student Union.