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Purpose The Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission is established to research, plan and prepare to celebrate Alaska’s 50th anniversary of admission as the 49th state of the United States of America. Vision Honor our history, celebrate our future Mission Alaska’s 50th Anniversary Celebration will inspire the people of our great state, and across the world, to rejoice in Alaska’s past, present, and future Values The Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission will honor and celebrate: • Alaska’s Native heritage • Alaska’s culture and history • Those instrumental in Statehood • Alaska’s Constitution • Alaska’s achievements and opportunities • Our children and our future Join the Celebration! Events are being organized in communities across Alaska. To help with local celebrations contact: Anchorage – TAC50, Tennys Owens 907-277-7271 Fairbanks – Festival Fairbanks, Michelle Roberts 907-456-1984 Juneau – Capital City Celebrations, Kathy Hildre 907-723-3621 Valdez – Karen Feero, 907-835-4313 Seward – Mary Tougas, 907-224-2056 If you have information about a local celebration not listed on this site, contact Colleen Sullivan-Leonard

Melissa Stepovich, Commission Chair Fairbanks Contact: 451-2920, melissa.stepovich@alaska.gov Biography Melissa Stepovich is the director of the Governor Office in Fairbanks. Prior to returning to Fairbanks, she spent 12 years working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in Fairbanks, Melissa is the daughter of Mike and Matilda Stepovich and the youngest of 13 children. Her father was Alaska’s last territorial Governor and was serving when Alaska became the 49th state. Melissa was asked by Governor Palin to serve as Co-Chair of the Alaska Statehood Celebration, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Alaska Statehood.		Christopher S. Constant, Commission Vice Chair Anchorage Contact: 258-3328, constant@alaska.net Biography Christopher Constant moved to Alaska in 1997 from the Central Coast of California. He worked in social services organizations with duties ranging from the provision of direct support to Alaskan youth to developing training curricula for service providers. Christopher served as the Community Relations Director for a leading provider of services to people with disabilities and mental illnesses. During this time he also began a small home-based fundraising and marketing consulting business with both not-for-profit and for-profit clientèles.
Kate Tesar Juneau Contact: 463-5657, ktesar@aol.com Biography Kate Tesar moved to Alaska in 1975 from Northern Minnesota. She worked as staff in the Alaska State House of Representatives for 11 years before in 1991, began the Alaska Service Group, Inc., an Alaska based firm providing expertise in the areas of government relations and lobbying, community relations and public affairs consulting. Kate has been responsible for planning, producing and executing large-scale special events for many years. In addition to successful concert promotions, she has coordinated tours of Alaska for national corporations and sports organizations, organized totem pole raising ceremonies and ship launchings, and planned many successful charity events. Kate lives in Juneau.		Senator Tom Wagoner Kenai CONTACT INFO NEEDED Biography Thomas Wagoner has been a Kenai resident since 1969. A former Mayor of Kenai, he also served on the Kenai City Council before first being elected to the Alaska Senate in 2002. Previously, Tom has worked as a small businessman, commercial fisherman and saltwater charter captain. He holds a master of arts in Education Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage and has served in a number of positions at Kenai Peninsula Community College. He is a charter member of Kenai Rotary, a former president of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, and a sport fisherman and golfer. Tom and his wife Dorothy have two daughters, Dawn and Denise.
Representative David Guttenberg Fairbanks Contact: 456-8172, representative_david_guttenberg@legis.state.ak.us Biography David Guttenberg came to Alaska from N.Y.C. in 1969 to fight forest fires and quickly discovered Alaska was home. He has explored life in Alaska homesteading, hunting, fishing, skiing, dog mushing and working construction from Fairbanks to the Bering Sea. David served in the Alaska Democratic Party, from local district office to chair of the state party, as well as on the Democratic National Committee. He worked as staff in the Legislature and in 2002 was elected Representative for House District 8. He continues to be involved with the Laborers Union. He has been involved with building affordable housing, fire and road commissions in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. He continues to sculpt and draw, but his principle craft project is his home which is a work in progress.		Representative Mark Neuman Big Lake Contact: 376-2679, representative_mark_neuman@legis.state.ak.us Biography Born and raised in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Mark Neuman moved to the Big Lake area in 1981. He and his wife Adel have two children. As a small business owner, Mark designs and builds custom fine furniture. In 2004, Mark was appointed as a delegate to the Conference of Alaskans. Later that year, he was elected to the House of Representatives for District 15. He has served as chair of the House Special Committee on Education, chair of the Economic Development, International Trade & Tourism Committee, vice chair of the Transportation committee, vice chair of the Labor and Commerce, and as a member of the Community & Regional Affairs committee. Like many Alaskans, Mark enjoys hunting, fishing, cooking, gardening, working on vintage machines and NASCAR.
Leo Rasmussen Nome Contact: 443-2919, leaknome@alaska.com Biography A long-time Alaskan who moved to Nome in 1963, Leo Rasmussen has had a varied career in private industry and government. In 1970 he opened Rasmussen’s Music Mart & Store in Nome. Leo was elected to the Nome City Council in 1971 and 1992, and as Nome Mayor from 1977-1985. Leo has held leadership roles in the All Alaska Sweepstakes Committee, the Iditarod Trail Committee, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, Alaska Municipal League, Alaska Conference of Mayors, Alaska Miner’s Association, Alaska Geographic Society, Alaska Visitors Association, Nome Arts Council, Title VII Indian Education Board, Midnight Sun Parade, Nome Kennel Club, Rotary Club of Nome and American Legion, Post #19. He attended the University of Fairbanks and served in the Alaska Army National Guard. Leo and his wife Erna have two daughters, Amanda and Kristina.		Senator Gary Stevens Kodiak Contact: 486-4925, senator_gary_stevens@legis.state.ak.us Biography Gary Stevens has served in the Alaska Legislature for six years. He is a past mayor of the Kodiak Island Borough, City of Kodiak and President of the School Board. He has been president of the Alaska Historical Society and Governor of Rotary District 501. Gary earned a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon and recently completed the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior State Officials, and the Council on State Governments Toll Fellowship. He retired as a professor from the University of Alaska. He had also served as an Army Intelligence Officer. He and his wife Rita have been married for 32 years and have three children.