Advisory Council
Mahali Santaana
Youth Representative
Andy Shidner
Past President
A lifelong avid outdoor enthusiast, Andy is also an innkeeper and organic gardener at Currant Ridge Lodge in McCarthy.
Thank you so much for your service, Andy!
Jonathan Goold
Past Vice-President
A lifelong resident of Valdez, he grew up playing in the shrinking jungle around new town. He enjoys board sports, rock climbing, hiking, harvesting wild food, burning imported wood in the yard, and spending time with his wife and two children outside in Alaska.
Thank you so much for your service, Jonathan!
Eric Jay Christensen
Former Board of Directors Member
Eric graciously loans his trailer rig for events.
Kory Maillet
Past Climbing Community Liaison
Kory moved to Anchorage about 2009 and Valdez about 2014. He came here “only for the summer” but loved it so much he stayed. Kory has been a climber for almost 20 years. He has climbed in Central America, South America and Africa. He took up ice climbing about 5 years ago. He is also into mountain biking and mountaineering. He says Valdez is an amazing place to live, work and play, with endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Jim Pomplun
Board of Directors Treasurer and Trails Committee Chair 2019-2023
Jim moved to Alaska in 2005 and to Valdez in 2018. He is an outdoor enthusiast and loves getting outdoors for hiking, biking, skiing or paddling. He currently continues volunteer work on trails and events.
Don Bickley
Past Assistant Secretary and IT/Media Support
Don Bickley came to Alaska in 2009 to lead the development of cutting-edge, virtual reality science labs for the University of Alaska. Lately, he is responsible for coordinating and building the Alyeska Pipeline/SERVS Fishing Vessel Training Program for online instruction. He joined the VAA board with the goal of getting a better understanding of how to improve the trail system in the Valdez and Thompson Pass area. These trails are largely volunteer-driven, and Don has done plenty of brush cutting along his hikes. He is also an experienced drone pilot with more than one thousand flights and helps VAA gather information on--and documentation for--trail improvements.
Renee Ernster
Past Assistant Treasurer and Snow Machine Club Liaison
Renee worked in Denali National Park from 1981 through 1994. She was an “accidental tourist” to Valdez when a friend brought her in 1995 and she ended up staying and working on charter and fishing vessels until her son was born in 2000. Renee has worked for Copper Valley Telecom since 2004, and was a board member for the Valdez Museum from 2004-2005. She is a skier, fatbiker, hiker, kayaker, and loves using motorized toys to get to more remote hiking and skiing opportunities. Renee is our Snow Machine Club Liaison.