2026 Inductees

Dr. Zink is an emergency medicine physician in Palmer, Alaska, a Senior Fellow at the Yale School of Public Health, and co-founder of PopHIVE.org—a nimble platform built at Yale that integrates de-identified health data to strengthen trust, improve situational awareness, and make actionable insights available to the people who need them most. At Yale, Dr. Zink serves on national committees focused on rebuilding trust in public health and is deeply engaged as an educator and mentor, helping develop the next generation of leaders prepared to navigate real-world complexity.

Dr. Zink previously served as Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer from 2019–2024, leading the state through the COVID-19 pandemic and driving reforms to make government work better for people. Her work included restructuring the health department, strengthening mental and behavioral health systems, advancing chronic disease initiatives, and—most importantly—regularly listening to communities and creating space for honest, robust dialogue.

Jessica is Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, and Chief Legal Officer of Global Credit Union, a $13 billion institution serving members across five states and Italy. A seasoned C-suite executive, she leads enterprise risk, legal, compliance, corporate strategy, technology, and government affairs. Throughout her career, Jessica has established legal departments, guided complex transactions, strengthened corporate governance systems, and led organizations through transformational growth. She previously held senior leadership roles with two Alaska Native corporations overseeing legal, compliance, risk, human resources, and information technology functions.

Jessica serves as Vice Chair of the Alaska Community Foundation and is a past president of the Alaska Bar Association. She served on the board of the Girl Scouts of Alaska and the Anchorage Association of Women Lawyers. She is a graduate of the Duke University School of Law. She and her husband, Jason, are proud parents of three amazing children—Jada, Jolie, and Jersey.

During her career, Gretchen has served Alaska across public and private sectors, including roles with the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development, the State of Alaska’s Division of Economic Development, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office, and now as Director of Special Programs and Strategy at UAA’s Alaska SBDC.

Over the years, Gretchen organized statewide summits, launched impactful programs, and designed systems that reduce barriers for entrepreneurs. She is pursuing a graduate degree at UAF and researching Arctic entrepreneurship. Her leadership has earned multiple Awards of Excellence in economic development, and she was named an Alaska Journal of Commerce Top Forty Under 40.

Gretchen chaired the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Launch Alaska, and the Library Advisory Boards. Through it all, she works to expand opportunity for women and believes “we are stronger than the sum of our parts,” while embodying “Freudenfreud,” the joy found in another person’s success.

Katherine is a builder of businesses, communities, and people. At 28, she co-founded The Boardroom, Alaska’s first co-working space, growing it into a home for hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses. She co-founded Launch Alaska, a nationally recognized energy innovation accelerator, and spent three years as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Alaska, mentoring more than 100 founders, the majority of them women. 

For more than a decade Katherine has poured equal energy into her work and her community, mentoring young entrepreneurs, leading nonprofit and civic organizations, launching economic development initiatives, and supporting policies and people that help Alaska grow and thrive. Most recently, she was elected to the Chugach Electric Association Board of Directors in May of 2025. Katherine is a Leadership Anchorage alumna, a Top Forty Under 40 honoree, and holds a Masters of Public Administration from UAA, and a BA from the University of Washington.

Alexandra is President and CEO of The Alaska Community Foundation, leading one of the state’s largest philanthropic institutions in partnership with communities across Alaska. A lifelong Alaskan and graduate of East Anchorage High School, Alexandra brings more than 30 years of experience supporting children, families, and communities. She often jokes that growing up in Alaska teaches you resilience early—if you can handle winter, you can handle just about anything. That steady optimism has shaped a career grounded in the belief that the strongest solutions are led by those closest to the challenges.

 After national leadership roles at Casey Family Programs, Alexandra returned home to Alaska to focus on community-informed philanthropy. Her work has advanced fairness and accountability, strengthened arts and culture, and mobilized resources in times of crisis. Known for her collaborative style, she leads by asking thoughtful questions, sharing responsibility, and reminds her team that good ideas can come from anywhere—even over coffee.

Kikkan is an Olympic Champion and five-time Olympian in cross-country skiing; a World Champion; and was a trailblazer for the U.S. Ski Team. She says her most important role is as a mom—the wellspring of her strength, kindness, and resilience— qualities she brings to leadership, mentorship, and community outreach.

In her fifth season as executive director of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, Kikkan champions healthy living and the growth of cross-country skiing with mom-powered energy, optimism, and a focus on family and community. She also serves on the US Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors and is a former member of the International Olympic Committee. A cancer survivor, Kikkan rounds out her work as a sports commentator and motivational speaker, sharing stories of perseverance, collaboration, and empowerment.