Alaska Resource Review, Summer 2025

LOOKING BACK: RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR ALASKA THROUGH THE PAST 50 YEARS

VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 3 | SUMMER 2025

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

“It was truly an honor for me to work with such outstanding Alaskans. RDC is a unique and successful association that has made a difference for Alaska and our nation." — Carl Portman

hours to grow the organization and get us through the boom-and-bust years of the 1980s. She built the foundation of RDC and got us involved in a wide range of federal and state issues. She created unique fundraisers, including the annual Roaring Twenties Jazz Express Train to Seward which featured musical groups, casino games, dancing and an outra- geous baseball game followed by a commu- nity barbecue. The event attracted as many as 600 passengers. Paula also organized the first Alaska Coal Conference in 1982 which grew into an annual event and later evolved into the Alaska Resources Conference. During Paula’s tenure, the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) formed an alliance with RDC to work on private property rights and Endangered Species Act issues in Alaska. PLF’s Jim Burling worked out of the RDC of- fice in the 1980s and his firm has since won Supreme Court decisions on ESA and prop- erty rights issues. Jim is still part of the PLF team. Becky Gay ascended to executive director in 1986. Like Paula, Becky brought a rural perspective to RDC. Paula had lived in the village of Stony River while Becky previous- ly worked at the Naval Arctic Research Lab near Point Barrow. They both worked to bring rural communities and their elected officials into the RDC fold to help create local economies and jobs. Case in point: Red Dog Mine and its vast benefits to the Northwest Alaska region. Ken Freeman was appointed executive director in 1997 and has since advanced to high level positions at ExxonMobil. Other executive directors included Debbie Rein- wand, Tadd Owens, Jason Brune, Rick Rog- ers, and Marleanna Hall, followed by Leila Kimbrell after Marleanna retired. Jason put in a strong 12 years at RDC and was known for being “everywhere.” He expanded RDC’s outreach efforts across various fronts, including media relations. Marleanna put in 14 years at RDC, rising from projects coordinator to executive di- rector. She also has strong rural roots, born and raised in Nome. During her tenure, she walked through the halls of Congress and navigated RDC through the most challeng- ing COVID era. The key to RDC’s success has been an ac- tive and diversified board of directors. When I first joined RDC, Tom Fink was president

of the board. He was preceded by founding fathers Robert Penney and Robert Fleming, followed by Lee Fisher and Bud Dye. Succeeding Fink were Chuck Herbert, Charles Webber, Boyd Brownfield, Joe Henri, Shelby Stastny, Ethel “Pete” Nelson, William Schneider, John Rense, Paul Glavinovich, Jim Cloud, David Parish, Elizabeth Rench, Scott Thorson, Allen Bingham, Jim Branch, Rob- ert Stiles, Charles Johnson, John Shively, Rick Rogers, Wendy Lindskoog, Tom Maloney, Phil Cochrane, Ralph Samuels, Eric Fjelstad, Jeanine St. John, Lori Nelson, followed by Lance Miller and Scott Habberstad. While the list of past presidents is long, they all deserve recognition. As a collective,

along with our dedicated teams, they pro- pelled RDC to the strong statewide organi- zation it is today. Of particular note, John Shively served a record five consecutive terms as president. David Parish rose from RDC intern in the mid-'80s to president of the board during his tenure with ExxonMobil. As I look back at my career at RDC span- ning four decades, I am filled with gratitude. It was truly an honor for me to work with such outstanding Alaskans. It was time well spent. RDC is a unique and successful associ- ation that has made a difference for Alaska and our nation. It will continue to do so.

CARL PORTMAN SERVED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS AT RDC, INCLUDING DEPUTY DIRECTOR. HIS FAVORITE PROJECTS WERE SERVING AS LEAD ON AGENDA AND SPONSORSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ANNUAL ALASKA RESOURCES CONFERENCE, ITINERARY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ANNUAL BOARD COMMUNITY OUTREACH TRIP, AND PUB- LISHER AND LEAD WRITER FOR THE RESOURCE REVIEW NEWSLETTER FROM 1981-2000. Carl Portman has lived a truly extraordinary life serving Alaska's resource industries.

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ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW SUMMER 2025

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