Kevin Kastner, 40, has lived in Alaska since 1996 and worked at GCI until 2005 as an Internet content manager. He was cofounder and vice president of Alaska HDTV until January and worked briefly for Starbucks as a new media and Web development manager.
Kastner topped more than a dozen candidates, according to Jim Wilke, vice president of the board.
"He brings a unique set of qualifications," Wilke said. "The trend is toward more and more new media, and that's what we're going to try and do. You can't keep doing the same old thing.
"The days of a TV network coming up here and writing you a big check to cover your event are likely gone forever."
Despite that, Kastner predicts race growth.
"Iron Dog has the potential to be a high-profile event with international appeal," Kastner said. "My vision for the Iron Dog is to develop the brand, the event and its image to become the foremost extreme winter racing sport event on the planet."
Kastner replaces Laura Bedard, who in four years boosted race revenues by more than $500,000 before being fired. That included a record $184,500 purse this year, with $50,000 going to the winning team of Tyler Huntington of Galena and Chris Olds of Eagle River.
Among Kastner's goals for the Iron Dog:
• Boost national media exposure, with some television coverage and more video from the trail. Alaska's most popular sporting event, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, in 2006 began offering Iditarod Insider, a video subscription service for individuals and schools that's grown in popularity.
• Increase the size of the pro class field to 50 teams; in February, 29 teams started and just 12 crossed the Fairbanks finish line.
• Double the size of the purse within three years.
• Lure more racers from the Lower 48 and other countries.
• Publicize racer personalities.
But perhaps Kastner's first order of business will be attempting to convince the Army National Guard to renew its $250,000 sponsorship.
"I would put them in a very-likely category as one of the sponsors I think we can bring back," Kastner said. "Most (race sponsors) really want more exposure. They say, 'We'd love to support this, but I need to get more exposure.'
"Getting our sponsors back on board is key. It's definitely not all doom and gloom, but a mixed bag."
Among the promotional prospects Kastner will investigate is video from several trail locations, a redesigned Web site, podcasting and using helmet-cams to bring the experience closer to viewers.
"We don't have any doubt we can get fans from the Lower 48 if the content is there," Wilke said. "You just have to be very careful what you can really do, what you promise and what you can deliver."
Bedard, who in 1997 formed the first all-woman Iron Dog race team with Lisa Luther, delivered a record purse in her final year -- even after long-time title sponsor Tesoro dramatically cut back its commitment just months before the race.
"The board voted to terminate my employment in a closed-door meeting four days after the 2010 race," Bedard said. "Two days later I was told of the decision. I was in shock and disbelief."
Race revenue jumped from $392,610 two years ago to $602,573 this year, according to Bedard, while participation in the Iron Dog's recreational class nearly tripled this year.
Some racers noticed.
"I think last year's race was the best in the history," said Anchorage Arctic Cat racer Doug Dixon. "It had the most prize money.
"I don't know how they can make it any better."
For his part, Dixon delivered one of the top rookie performances in Iron Dog history, teaming with Stephen Spence of Wasilla to finish second.
But other racers were angered by a new and poorly publicized rule that restricted the number of checkpoints where racers could stop, disrupting some race strategies. Seventeen of the 29 teams that started last February's race scratched.
The board expects to have any rule changes in place by August.
Kastner is not a racer but uses a snowmobile to access a remote cabin outside of Talkeetna. But he is a pilot -- and a member of the U.S. Polo Association.
Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.
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