• Solstice Advertising LLC has hired Elias Rojas as director of client services. Rojas has an extensive background in campaign management, philanthropy and strategic planning. He is experienced in the development of e-marketing and social media initiatives, messaging architecture, online advocacy and special event planning, and has worked with nonprofits and political candidates in Alaska, California and New York City. Rojas will help develop communication strategies and supervise key accounts.

• Thompson & Co. Public Relations has hired Tim Thompson, Sophie Shafter and Ariel Walsh. Tara Stevens, who has been with Thompson & Co. for more than three years, has been promoted to an account executive.

As a partner in Thompson & Co., Tim Thompson brings a wide range of experience in crisis communications and corporate, community and media relations. Previously, Thompson served as the director of external affairs and corporate spokesman for the Alaska Railroad Corp. Thompson will be responsible for working with clients, new business development and human resources.

Shafter comes from the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau. At Thompson & Co., Shafter will take the lead on social media marketing for clients.

Walsh joins the company in a dual account coordinator/office manager capacity. While assisting with media requests and research tasks, Walsh will coordinate the accounting and clerical needs of the agency.

Stevens was promoted to account executive, and her primary responsibilities include assisting travel writers, fact-checking and photo requests, planning travel itineraries and escorting media around the state.

Thompson & Co. is the new name of the agency formerly known as Bernholz & Graham, Inc. Agency President Jennifer Thompson bought Bernholz & Graham in April 2009 and renamed it in June.

• Alaska Heart Institute has announced that Brent Fisher, MBA, FACHE, FACMPE, has been appointed its new chief executive officer.

Fisher brings with him extensive experience in leadership positions in a variety of healthcare organizations. Board Certified in both hospital and medical group management, he has served on the board of directors of several healthcare associations.

He holds a clinical faculty appointment at Loma Linda University School of Public Health. He received his MBA at the University of Texas at Austin.

• Tati Broadcasting LLC announces the promotion of Steve Franklin as program director of KMVV, MOVIN 104.9 FM. Franklin has served as assistant program director for the past year as well as co-hosting the Corinna & Steve show weekday mornings. Prior to working for Tati Broadcasting, Steve worked as an on-air personality for many Anchorage stations over the past 20 years.

• Heather Hudson, Ph.D., is the new director for the UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research. The UAA College of Business and Public Policy has also appointed Hudson as professor of public policy. Hudson comes to UAA following her work as Fulbright Visiting Policy Research Chair at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and previously, as professor and director of the Communications Technology Management and Policy Program at the University of San Francisco.

• The Alaska Air Carriers Association will present the AACA Community Service Award to Christine Klein, deputy commissioner of aviation and airports with the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Wednesday at the Hotel Captain Cook. The AACA Community Service Award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding service to the community through improvements to cargo, mail or passenger service to a specific site or a region. The award recognizes service performed in a consistently outstanding manner.

• Doyon Foundation has appointed Doris Miller as the foundation's new executive director. Miller, who has served as the foundation's interim executive director for more than a year, assumed the post on Feb. 16.

Miller originally joined the foundation in 2007 as scholarship program manager. Prior to Doyon Foundation, Miller worked at an interior Native nonprofit organization for 17 years, serving in various programs including community health services, mental health and alcohol programs, quality management and administration.

• Credit Union 1 has announced that Scott Butterworth, former vice president of lending, has been promoted to senior vice president of lending at Credit Union 1. Butterworth has 27 years of lending experience at Alaska financial institutions. As senior vice president of lending, Butterworth is responsible for all consumer lending, real estate lending, and collections at Credit Union 1.

• Dee Buchanon has joined Alaska Native-owned and -operated CIRI Alaska Tourism as director of marketing. She brings more than 20 years of Alaskan experience in marketing, public relations and advertising to the company.

Formerly the director of sales & marketing for Hawaiian Vacations, Buchanon provides strategic oversight and marketing support for all CATC entities, including Alaska Heritage Tours, Kenai Fjords Tours, Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, Mariah Tours, Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises and others.

• Anne Wasielewski, with Angelic Touch and a nationally Certified Massage Therapist, has completed her Certification for Rolfing from the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration in Boulder, Colo. Wasielewski is also a member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.

• The Alaska Club East tennis director, Colin Gillam, was named the Professional Tennis Registry's Member of the Year for Alaska. Collin became a member in 2004. He has served as the Academy Director and Head Tennis Pro for Weston Tennis Center in Westin, Fla., as well as Hillsboro Parks and Recreation in Hilsboro, Ore., and The Alaska Club. He recently received Etcheberry Experience certification in February 2010.

• Burr, Pease & Kurtz, an Anchorage law firm since 1957, has announced that Nelson G. Page, an expert in construction litigation, general litigation and alternative dispute resolution, was selected for inclusion in the Fall 2009 edition of "Washington Law and Politics: Alaska Superlawyers" in the field of construction law.

Page has been representing clients of Burr, Pease & Kurtz since 1979.

The firm also announces that Thomas P. Owens III, a specialist in employment litigation and human resource counseling, has been re-selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America in the area of employment law.

Owens is the managing shareholder of Burr, Pease & Kurtz and has been practicing with the firm since 1990.

• William "Bill" Gee has joined the staff at NeighborWorks Anchorage as its real estate broker.

Gee recently retired from Hickel Investment Co. and was able to transfer his involvement in NeighborWorks Anchorage from the board to active daily participation.

Gee has a degree in accounting and is also a Certified Property Manager.

Jim Fredrick is the new acquisition and development manager. He will be responsible for identifying land for acquisition and development for new affordable housing. Fredrick comes most recently from Habitat for Humanity Anchorage, where he was construction manager and executive director. He is on the board of the Anchorage Homebuilders Association and sits on the Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission

Debbie Rinckey has joined NeighborWorks as its new director of resource development and marketing. She is a board member for the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and a trustee for the Chugiak-Eagle River Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Top Forty Under Forty award through the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.

• First National Bank Alaska's board of directors recently appointed and promoted several employees to officer positions.

Chris Longacre, a lifelong Alaskan, was appointed assistant vice president and Loan Officer II in Wasilla. Longacre has five years of banking experience at First National.

Jaime Vinette, a cash management services specialist in Anchorage, was recently named business development officer. Vinette has more than 10 years of experience in the banking industry.

Hank Wiedle was appointed assistant personnel officer in First National's Human Resources Department in Anchorage. Wiedle brings more than 26 years of human resource experience to his new title.