On Dec. 14, Sally Andersen was brought on as interim director for the Haines Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), stepping into the role after the loss of director David Simmons in the Dec. 2 landslide.
“Sally was already an employee of HEDC, working in conjunction with (the Juneau Economic Development Council) on CARES Act funding and had expressed an interest in assisting as an emergency hire, and we thought it was a great way to tie up all the loose ends that we had for 2020 and give ourselves a bit of breathing room,” HEDC board president Greg Schlachter said. “We are so grateful that Sally was willing to step in.”
Andersen, who has co-owned and operated Fairbanks-based guiding company Arctic Wild since 2007 and holds degrees in ecology and botany, was one of a handful of locals brought on to help process applications earlier this year for the AK CARES Grant Program, the state’s CARES Act-funded nonprofit and small business relief program. The Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC) was hired as a program operator to process applications this summer and outsourced a portion of the grant processing work to HEDC.
Andersen said a lot of the work she’s been doing since she was brought on as interim director has involved helping individuals with funding applications and tying up loose ends related to the CARES Act.
“So far, it’s been good. Obviously, we’re sad. It’s been hard to pick up active conversations that involved David, but I feel like I’m honoring him a bit with the work,” Andersen said.
Simmons took over as HEDC executive director on Aug. 1 during a challenging time for the organization—the Haines Borough Assembly had eliminated HEDC funding for the fiscal year and executive director Margaret Friedenauer had left the position in June. The JEDC collaboration was one of several efforts HEDC took on while Simmons was at the helm. Another involved collaboration with the Haines Chamber of Commerce administering the “Shop Local and Save” program, designed to stimulate local spending during a difficult year for businesses.
“David did just an outstanding job as executive director. We’re absolutely devastated by what happened and kind of at a loss,” Schlachter said. “When he took on projects for our community, he left a David-shaped imprint in the plan with his enthusiasm and drive.”
The HEDC board had begun planning for 2021 prior to Simmons’ death, but the plans are on hold, for now, Schlachter said.
“The night prior to the landslide, we had a board meeting where we brainstormed projects for 2021 and had come up with a number of great things to move forward and advance. With the loss of David, we will need to reevaluate,” he said.
Andersen will continue serving as interim director until the board is able to make a more permanent hire in the coming months, according to a Dec. 15 press release.
HEDC was created in 2017 to facilitate economic development in the borough. The organization’s winter hours are by appointment. Andersen can be reached by email at [email protected], or by phone at 907-766-3130.