BOARD NOMINEE
Tracy Steere
I am excited to be considered for a position on the Denali Arts Council Board of
Directors. I have lived in Talkeetna for over 10 years with my husband, Mike Steere, and five years ago, we welcomed our son, August. We now own and operate Chinook Wind Cabins in downtown Talkeetna.
For the past eight years, I have served as the secretary of the Talkeetna Bachelor
Society board, where I developed skills in fundraising, leadership, and financial
management. During this time, I’ve helped expand the event and the Society’s positive
impact on the community. This past year, I volunteered on the Talkeetna Historical
Society Fundraising Committee, creating new opportunities for artists to express
themselves, particularly through the Salmon Run Art Auction, which successfully
raised funds for the Historical Society.
I am deeply committed to advancing the goals of the Denali Arts Council and fostering
community enrichment. With a background in art education, I understand the vital role art plays within our community and schools, and I look forward to supporting the council’s efforts to promote the arts. Thank you for your consideration and support. I am eager for the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of the Denali Arts Council.
BOARD NOMINEE
Katie Pankow
Katie Pankow has a Master’s of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Florida. She currently works with Denali Education Center, managing their Road Scholar learning vacation itineraries. She and her husband, Joel Stigliano, have called Talkeetna home since 2021. For the last two winters, she and Joel have developed, taught and produced “Made for the Stage,” a free weekly theatre camp for kids in grades 3 -12 at the Denali Arts Council. Katie has extensive non-profit experience, and strongly believes that every child should have access and exposure to visual and performing arts, and every community deserves a thriving arts scene.
BOARD NOMINEE
Hannah Whitley
I have 27 years as a program analyst for the USDA and as a muralist and artist. I have experience in business planning, risk assessment, strategic planning and
process improvement. I specialize in both private and commercial projects and have successfully volunteered with Denali Arts Council on set design and the Talkeetna Historical Society with fundraising. I am well organized and am dedicated to helping this organization make an impactful contribution. Being on the Denali Arts Council’s Board of electives will allow me to give back to the community I love.
BOARD NOMINEE
Paul Button
My name is Paul Button. I’ve been a patron of the arts in Talkeetna since 1995 and the
Sheldon Arts Hangar since it opened, and since Corinne Smith and I have made
Talkeetna our full-time home in 2015, DAC has become an ever increasing part of our
lives: We go to most of the shows and I’ve become a regular volunteer for quite a few
years now, including building the DAC bar and the outside fencing among many other
tasks. In addition to my carpentry skills, I have over 30 years as a professional engineer
and manager, and have served on numerous boards including KTNA, Anchorage
Community Theatre, and stints as president/acting chair of the Upper Susitna Food
Pantry and the Talkeetna Community Council. Denali Arts Council is doing great things
for our community and is poised for even better things in the future. I’m a huge fan of
what DAC gives to us all and I’d be honored to step up my involvement by bringing the
full range of my expertise to bear as a member of the DAC Board of Directors.
BOARD NOMINEE
Maria Beck
Maria has been a resident of Talkeetna for 3 years, but we’ve owned our land for 14
years and visited yearly prior to her move. She is originally from SC, but also lived in
other countries and states. Professionally she is a project manager working remotely
for AutoDesk, an American multi-national software corporation and has14 years of
experience in the software industry. Her passion is to share her skills to benefit the
community. Her previous Non-Profit experience includes current Talkeetna Historical
Society Board Member, 6 years board experience with Toastmasters, Girl Scouts Grant
Writer, United Way fundraising and working with multiple community theaters.
Maria would love the opportunity to work with the DAC to enrich the lives of the
Talkeetna residents.
BOARD NOMINEE
Dave Bredin
I’m Dave Bredin and I’m running for the Denali Arts Council Board. I’d like your vote. I
am a frequent attendee at the many DAC events, and I like what I see. I was first
introduced to the DAC by Mike Sterling about 15 years ago. (Mike created the copper
tree upstairs beside Michelle’s office). Since that first event, I have considered the
DAC/Sheldon Community Arts Hangar Talkeetna’s “crown jewel”. I am amazed at the
variety, quality and quantity of events put on at the Hanger. I want to see that
continue. I am artistically challenged, I don’t sing, dance, paint, act, play an instrument
or do pottery. I consider myself an avid consumer and supporter of the arts. I want to
help Michelle Crow sell out at each and every event. I worked in the natural gas utility
Engineering and Operations field for 40 years. My past board experience is with
Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts of America, and Rotary. My wife Jayne and I are full
time Alaskans spending most of our October-May time in the Talkeetna area. We
spend a lot of our summertime on the Kenai but do get back to Talkeetna for as many
Fridays night, Live at 5:00 concerts as possible. I’m here to help the Denali Arts
Council. That said, I draw the line at posing as a nude model…. Thanks for your vote
and get out and support the Arts!
BOARD NOMINEE
Karl Swanson
My appreciation for the arts came from my mother. Growing up in Anchorage, she had
tickets to the opera, the symphony, the theater and more. As my father was not as into
the arts as my mother, she would take me or one of my brothers; I loved it. I want to
help foster the arts in Talkeetna and feel that my love of the arts and my background
as a Certified Public Accountant would make me a valuable asset on the Denali Arts
Council board.