Board of Directors
Frank Bergstrom – President
Having lived 30 years in Juneau, Frank has been the permitting manager for the AJ and Kensington Gold Mines. He is the owner/operator of Amerikanuak Alaska, LLC. mine services company and has been a Senior Land Manager with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office. Frank holds an M.S. in Geological Sciences, volunteered as a Big Brother, and is a ballroom dance instructor.
Jason Palmer – Vice President
Mr. Palmer’s vocational history is in the broadcasting and marketing/advertising industry. An experienced On Air Personality, Broadcast Programming, Operations, Media Sales, Marketing, Management, Production, and Digital background. R.A.B. RMP, CRMC, CDMC, CRSM certifications. Mesa College, San Diego and the University of Alaska Anchorage, Medical background, U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Captain, Broadcast Programming, Operations, Sales, and Corporate Management.
Neil MacKinnon – Secretary
Neil graduated from Juneau–Douglas High School in 1967 and from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1972 with a degree in Mining Engineering. Neil has been general manager and president of the family business, Alaska Laundry and Cleaners, since 1979. He is president of Hyak Mining Company and is the managing partner of MacKinco, the family partnership that leases commercial property in Juneau. Neil has been a director and officer of both the state and local miners’ associations, Alaska Light and Power, Alaska Energy and Resources Co., and Douglas Volunteer Fire Department. He is married and has three grown children.
Wayne Coogan – Treasurer
Wayne Coogan grew up around his father’s construction business in Juneau and began his trade apprenticeship in 1968. After becoming a journeyman in 1974, he continued working in the trades, gaining field experience on projects in Alaska and Washington state. Mr. Coogan graduated from the University of Washington (BS-1979) as a mechanical and residential administrator.
Since 1979, Mr. Coogan has been co-owner/general manager of a regional construction company, Coogan Construction, based in Juneau. During that time, he was responsible for bidding, management, and completion of over $350 million in public works and infrastructure projects with over $100 million in payroll throughout Southeast Alaska.
Mr. Coogan also co-owned and managed local gravel pits. He co-founded and manages a real estate investment firm that now owns and manages over 270 residential and commercial rental units.
His pastimes are hunting, traveling, art, history, and striving to enable others to have a fulfilling life in Juneau.
Roger Calloway – Director
Roger owned and operated the Reliable Transfer Corporation for many decades. Now retired, Roger and his wife continue to make Juneau home.
Denny DeWitt – Director
Denny DeWitt has been active in government relations from outside and inside government for over 40 years. He came to Alaska in 1980 to head the state hospital and nursing home association. He has served in the Hickel, Murkowski and Palin administrations as well as 8 years as senior staff to the Alaska State Legislature. DeWitt has also done a stint in Washington, DC serving in the Reagan administration and as an employee benefit consultant. DeWitt is the owner of DeWitt & DeWitt, LLC, a government relations consulting firm. First Things First is one of his several clients. DeWitt is a graduate of California State University at Sacramento with a degree in State and Local Government and a minor in Economics. DeWitt is married and has five children, all married.
Joe Kahklen – Director
Joe is a Tlingit member of the Raven Moiety Dog Salmon Clan. He grew up in Angoon, attended high school at Sheldon Jackson in Sitka, and in Snoquomish, Washington. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1962. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Goldbelt, Inc., where he was been a director for over 15 years. Joe is a retired Alaska Liaison Officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He has two sons, Keith and Craig. He enjoys fishing and skiing.
Mac Meiners – Director
Mac worked in the commercial fishing and construction industries and is a small business owner. He graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1970. In the early years of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Mac was a Teamster for Local 959. Mac and his wife have three sons.
JoAnn Wallace – Director
JoAnn was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and has lived in Juneau since 1982. She retired from Alaska Airlines after 33 years. JoAnn works as a Realtor in the Juneau market, having been with Re/Max of Juneau for 17 years. She and her husband have two grown children each, and we share ten grandchildren. We love to travel and can be seen walking or riding bikes around the Juneau community.
Don Habeger – Executive Director
Don Habeger has lived and worked in Juneau, Alaska, for more than forty years. His career includes executive management roles in small businesses, corporations, and state government. Habeger owns RiverRock Alaska, LLC, a government and community relations service company; First Things First Alaska Foundation is one of his several clients. Habeger is developing a start-up company, Appanage Fishing, bringing to the sports fishing market a new lure called Scent StrikerÒ. Habeger has a B.A. degree in Behavioral Science from North Central University in Minnesota.
Rosemary Hagevig and John Sandor – Directors Emeritus
Rosemary and John are past board members and are honored for their tireless work in making Juneau and Southeast Alaska a better place to live and raise families. The First Things First Alaska Foundation honors them with the Director Emeritus status in perpetuity.