Anchorage Daily News

Denali Kemppel was appointed vice president, general counsel, of Arctic Slope Regional Corp. Originally from Anchorage, she worked as a legislative aide for Sen. Ted Stevens between earning her undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and her law degree from Duke University. Kemppel returns to Alaska from Boston, where she worked as an associate in the corporate department for Ropes & Gray, LLP.

Karen Casanovas has joined the Older Persons Action Group Inc. as development director. She will be responsible for initiating, planning and directing fundraising activities with a focus on increasing membership and special event revenues. Casanovas, former Executive Director for the Alaska Air Carriers Association, is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the American Society of Association Executives and holds certification in Non-Profit Management from the University of Alaska.

Bethel Native Corporation has named Tom Kennedy chief operating officer of the corporation and John Dittrich Jr., general manager/CFO for Bethel Services Inc. and BNCI. Kennedy joins BNC from Ukpeaqvik Inupiat Corp., where he served in various management positions for the past 18 years. Most recently he was president/general manager of Harpoon Construction Group. At BNC, Kennedy will oversee day-to-day activities of the corporation and its five subsidiaries. Dittrich joins the company with a range of management and financial background. Most recently he was general manager of Arctic Modular Inc. and was chief financial officer of UIC Construction for three years. Graduating from the University of Michigan School of Business, Dittrich is a life-long Alaskan.

Allison Biastock, an experienced legislative aide, was appointed meth education coordinator with the Tri-Borough Commission, the regional governments of Anchorage, the Mat-Su Borough and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Biastock will coordinate a federal grant that will be used to help prevent young Alaskans from using the deadly drug methamphetamine. Biastock was recently a legislative aide to state Sen. Hollis French. The Alaska Meth Education program was launched two years ago by the commission.

-- Anchorage Daily News

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