For all media inquiries please contact Caitlin Higgins at (907) 258-6175. For all other inquiries, please contact the appropriate staff person listed below. If you are unsure about who to contact, please call (907) 258-6171 to reach our main line.
Caitlin Higgins, Executive Director | Susanna Orr, Political and Outreach Director | Russell Stigall, Legislative and Communications Manager | Alora Preuss, Development Director | Andy Keller, Climate Change Coordinator | Elizabeth Outten, Statewide Energy Coordinator | Kiel Renick, Alliance Legislative Liaison | Dwayne Lee, Finance Director
Caitlin moved to Alaska in January 2005 to join Alaska Conservation Alliance (ACA). She is a Green Corps graduate and has worked on environmental campaigns across the country, ranging from cruise ship pollution to mercury contamination and nuclear waste storage in Yucca Mountain. Prior to joining ACA, Caitlin worked on the November 2004 elections with MoveOn PAC in Iowa. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2003 with a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies. Caitlin completed her Masters in Public Administration at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
Email: caitlin@akvoice.org
Susanna has lived in Alaska for nearly twenty years and is a 2005 graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage where she studied English, U.S. History, and Women’s Studies. Since 2002 she has been actively involved in elective and legislative politics across the state including municipal, legislative, gubernatorial, and initiative campaigns and a stint at a legislative aide. Susanna is currently enrolled in the Masters of Public Administration program through the University of Alaska Southeast. She is a runner, a fair weather bike commuter, and lives in Anchorage with her four year old daughter, husband, and dog.
Email: susanna@akvoice.org
Russell
Stigall moved to Alaska with his family at the age of 10. After graduating from William H. Seward High School Russell
studied writing and computer science at Pittsburg State University in
Kansas and at the University of Alaska Anchorage, earning a Bachelors
in English from Pittsburg State. Russell returned to Alaska in 2005
to work as a reporter for the Seward Phoenix LOG and, later, the
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. The state of Alaska
commissioned Russell to write a feature article for Alaska's 50th
anniversary publication, “Alaska 50”. Russell got his start at ACA during a
Clean Energy Legislative Organizer internship. When not promoting clean energy and conservation issues for
ACA, Russell runs on the roads and trails around Juneau.
Email: russell@akvoice.org
Elizabeth moved to Alaska in August 2007 to experience the adventures of living in the state. Since moving to Alaska, she has worked as a legislative aide and political staffer. Prior to work in Alaska, she worked as a coalition and grassroots organizer in the health policy arena in North Carolina. She joined ACA in July 2009 to work on renewable energy and energy efficiency issues. She graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2005 with a BA in Sociology and Social and Economic Justice. When not working to move renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and policies forward, Elizabeth enjoys spending time outdoors cycling, camping, traveling, and generally enjoying our impressively scenic state.
Email: elizabeth@akvoice.org
Alora has a great love of nature and is passionate about protecting the environment. She moved to Alaska in the summer 2009 and joined the Alaska Conservation Alliance (ACA) in August 2009. Prior to joining ACA, Alora worked for various community causes in the Bay Area of California, including fund-raising for St. Jude’s Hospital, and the American Cancer Society. She also worked the California State Department of Rehabilitation and served as Development Director for NAVH, the National Association for the Visually Handicapped. Alora attended the College of Marin and the University of California at Berkeley.
Email: alora@akvoice.org
Andy earned a B.S in Biology from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and an M.A. in Northern Studies and Environmental Politics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Andy's first job in Alaska was in 1979 and his experiences include serving as a wilderness guide, park ranger, biological researcher, environmental educator, grassroots organizer and director of government relations.
Andy received the Alaska Conservation Foundation's Celia Hunter Award for his work to safeguard Alaska's Wilderness. He has worked on a variety of land conservation issues and also climate change and energy policy. Andy lives in Fairbanks and enjoys cultural activities with his wife, Magali, in addition to camping, hiking, skiing, and the many tremendous opportunities available in the great outdoors.
Email: andy@akvoice.org
Ever searching for natural beauty and wide open spaces, Kiel arrived in Alaska in the fall of 2009 eager for adventure and opportunity. Born in Buffalo, NY, his journey brought him to Juneau along a broad, varied road of public service and outdoor leadership. Kiel received his B.A. in History and International Relations from Stanford University in 2004. He began his political career as a congressional intern in 2001, and has since done public service in California, Belize, Ecuador, and China. He has spent the last three years as a skier and whitewater rafting guide in Jackson, WY and brings to ACA a passion for the environment built on many joyful years spent outdoors with hopes for many more.
Email: kiel@akvoice.org
Betty Jo came to Alaska in the summer of 2009 with her husband and two boys. Betty Jo's husband is active duty army and that was the impetus behind their move. Though this is her first non-profit position, Betty Jo has years of office management/administration and volunteer management experience. Before comeing to the Alliance, Betty Jo had been in the financial services industry for 6 years and was looking for a career change. "I'm excited about this job and having the opportunity to be part of such a positive organization." Betty Jo lives in Eagle River with her family.
Email: bettyjo@akvoice.org
Dwayne joined Alaska Conservation Alliance (ACA) in 2005. Dwayne moved to Alaska from Wisconsin in 2001, he has a Bachelor of Accounting Degree from the University of Minnesota, and passed the CPA examination in 1990. Prior to working for ACA, Dwayne worked full time in a CPA office, taught accounting and business courses and completed a 28-year career in managing retail stores for a national chain. In addition to working for ACA Dwayne continues to work as the Finance Director for the Alaska Center for the Environment and as an adjunct professor of accounting at the University of Alaska. Dwayne, his spouse Gwen, and their daughter Melissa live in Eagle River, AK.
Email: dwayne@akvoice.org
