Movers & Shakers 6/10/12

Stoney Wright, manager of the Northern Latitude Plant Materials Center in Palmer, has been selected to receive the Meritorious Service Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Wright is recognized for more than 33 years of service to Alaska and plant material science. A leader in the development of plant species for northern latitudes, he has authored more than 139 technical documents benefiting natural resource conservation in Alaska, including the award-winning “Alaska Coastal Revegetation and Erosion Control Guide.” The Alaska Plant Materials Center provides testing, production, development, and distribution of materials to meet environmental requirements and promote commercial development of native species. The use of native species in revegetation allows Alaskan roadsides, stream banks, landfills and other disturbed areas to be reseeded and planted with the best adapted plant cover.

Keith Radecic recently joined Imaging Associates as its new CEO, bringing more than 21 years of medical practice management experience to the team. Radecic, a former football player for both Penn State University and the St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals, began his business career as billing/financial manager for Medical Management Sciences Inc. and in 1993, he became president and practice manager for Infinity Management Concepts Inc., where he managed two large radiology practices and five satellite Imaging Centers in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Prior to joining Imaging Associates, Radecic served as CEO and chief financial officer for Radiology Alliance, P.C./Infinity Management LLC. He was responsible for the executive and financial management of 54 radiologists and 75 IT, administrative, marketing, technical, billing and collection employees in 11 hospitals and 4 regional diagnostic imaging and business offices, servicing multi-specialty healthcare providers.

Mike Humphrey recently joined The Wilson Agency as senior employee benefits advisor on the Account Advisory Team. His responsibilities include developing strong relationships within the large accounts division, oversight of commercial account lines and developing catered benefit solutions for large corporations. Joining The Wilson Agency from his previous position as Director of Benefits for the University of Alaska, Humphrey has more than 25 experience in all phases of human resource management, benefits administration, classification and compensation, employment services, employee training and development, labor relations, and human resources information systems. He also has presented at a number of national conferences on employer sponsored wellness programs and their impact.

Lorali Simon has been promoted to vice president of external affairs for Usibelli Coal Mine. Simon will be responsible for the company’s government affairs and will work collaboratively on public relations with other members of the Usibelli team. Simon’s family was one of the original colonist families in the Mat-Su Valley, which settled in the area in the 1930s. She grew up in Palmer and graduated from Palmer High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Simon worked for the Alaska State Legislature as a legislative aide from 1997 to 2004. During that time she became knowledgeable on Usibelli Coal Mine and mining issues statewide as the House Resources Committee Aide. Simon went on to serve as the corporate and foundation relations manager for the University of Alaska, and then as the manager of government and corporate communications for Matanuska Electric Association Simon joined Usibelli Coal Mine in the spring of 2010 as the external affairs manager for the Wishbone Hill project. Simon also serves as a Trustee to the University of Alaska Foundation.

Nancy Spink has been selected as the new chief risk officer for the University of Alaska system and will begin her assignment June 20. Spink joins UA from the University of Idaho where she was the risk management officer. She will lead UA’s efforts to create and maintain a university-wide risk management program that utilizes disciplines such as loss prevention, risk financing, claims management and risk information systems. Spink has 30 years of experience in insurance and risk management, with her last nine years working in higher education. She has a bachelor’s degree in English with an associate’s degree in risk management.