Kami Fitch, Robert Buchanan and Teresa Wilkeson have joined the staff of the custom software development firm Resource Data Inc. Fitch, a business analyst, will concentrate on evaluating business processes for client organizations and recommending solutions to improve efficiency, organization and communication. She holds a bachelor's degree in technical writing and business administration and a master's degree in professional communication. Buchanan, a programmer/analyst, concentrates on assessment and requirements analysis, database modeling and development, and Web development in the firm's Anchorage and Juneau offices. Buchanan holds bachelor's degrees in computer science/mathematics and chemistry. Wilkeson, also a programmer/analyst, concentrates on assessment and requirement analysis, database development, custom software programming, GIS development and training. She holds a bachelor's degree in computer science and has more than six years of programming experience.

Residential Mortgage LLC recently hired Kristin Robson as a loan officer. Robson, a longtime Alaska resident, has worked in the financial lending industry since 1998. Residential Mortgage is an Alaskan-owned mortgage company established in 1998 with eight offices statewide. The firm provides home loan and multi-family housing financing.

Five creative visitor industry entrepreneurs, including Yukon Quest dog mushing champion Vern Halter of Willow, have won international scholarships to be used for promoting their products in new markets. Halter operates a working dog-mushing kennel that offers tours and workshops on mushing. Other winners of the Alaska Travel Industry Association's 2006 competition include Clifford Adams of Beaver Lodge Tours, Carol Rushmore, economic development director for the city of Wrangell, hotel manager Adriana Cameron of the McCarthy Lodge, and Sharon Crisp of the Valdez Convention and Visitors Bureau. The scholarships may be used to attend one of ATIA's international sales missions to German-speaking Europe and the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan or to attend Travel Industry America's annual event held in Orlando, Fla. The five winners became eligible for the scholarships when they attended international tourism marketing workshops this fall. The workshops, made possible by a grant from the Western States Tourism Policy Council, were an opportunity for small-and medium-sized tourism businesses to learn how Alaska is marketed to overseas visitors. The United Kingdom, Germany and Japan are the specific markets the workshops addressed.

Karen Forsland has been appointed as the Small Business Administration's district director for the state of Alaska. Forsland previously served as Alaska's acting district director and deputy district director. As acting director in the Alaska district office since June 2005, Forsland was responsible for the delivery of SBA's programs and services throughout the state. She served as the deputy district director of Alaska from 1996 to June 2005, and was the 8(a) business development director for SBA's Government Contracting Assistance Program. Forsland has been with SBA since 1985.

Former Alaska Division of Mining director Bob Loeffler has joined Jade North LLC, a consulting firm working on natural resource development projects. Loeffler, a veteran former state land manager, will assist clients with development and transportation projects as well as relations with government and private landowners, such as Alaska Native corporations, according to Patty Bielawski, Jade North managing member.

Mark Liland recently joined Northern Air Cargo to complement their statewide sales and marketing team. Liland has worked in the transportation industry in sales and marketing in Anchorage for 16 years. Liland will be responsible for account management in a variety of NAC's rural Alaska cargo hub destinations throughout Southwest Alaska. He will also handle sales and marketing with government and commercial fishing clientele.

Barbara Cash has received registration as a Professional Interior Designer in the state of Louisiana. Nationally, 21 states require interior design registration. Cash brings this professional registration to her clients and practice in Alaska in her commitment to offer the best qualifications and best practices. Cash is president, chief executive officer and founder of the local interior design firm RIM Design, which has provided Alaska with award-winning space analysis, planning and interior design services since 1978.