Christopher McGee has been promoted to assistant vice president of the Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank. McGee has a two-year history with the bank and is a loan officer specializing in commercial fishing, tourism and resource loans. He has 10 years commercial fishing experience and two years with the tourism industry. McGee holds a BA in Economics from UAA.

Jim Connor has been elected president and chief executive of Ketchikan-based Sealaska Timber Corp. Before moving to Sealaska, Conner had a 29-year career with the British Columbia firm MacMillian Bloedel Ltd, most recently serving as vice president of re-engineering-solid wood. His replaces Rick Harris who was recently promoted to executive vice president of Sealaska Corp., the parent company of Sealaska Timber Corp.

STC also recently announced the promotions of Doug Morris, who has been with the company since 1995, to vice president and Chief Financial Officer, and Ross Stevens, a team member since 1988, to senior vice president of marketing. Todd Antioquia is the new director of communications for Sealaska Corp.

Three veteran members of Sen. Ted Stevens' staff have been selected to assist the senator in his efforts as President pro tempore. Jennifer Mies, a member of Stevens' scheduling office since January 2000, is the new director of the Office of President pro tempore Affairs. Mies will manage the duties of the President pro tempore, including ensuring that legislation is signed before it is sent to the White House. Mies has a Bachelor's degree in International Politics from Pennsylvania State University. Lisa Sutherland, who serves as Stevens' deputy staff director on the Senate Appropriations Committee, will assist the Office of the President pro tempore as a senior advisor. Sutherland will maintain her committee duties while acting as a liaison to the Senate Leadership. Sutherland has served as the senator's chief of staff, legislative director, legislative assistant and summer intern over the course of nearly 26 years. Sutherland has a degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and a degree from the University of Washington School of Law. James Hayes, a staffer on the Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, will move to the Office of the President pro tempore as an adviser. Hayes will assist Sutherland in her liaison responsibilities, while maintaining his duties to the subcommittee. Hayes, a professional staff member since 1999, holds a degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is currently enrolled in his second year at the American University's Washington School of Law.

Junior Achievement Alaska has named Gov. Bill Sheffield, David Rose, Peter Leathard, and Richard Wien to their Alaska Business Hall of Fame. Sheffield has been a railman, a businessman and a statesman: having served as the head of Sheffield Enterprises, of the Alaska Railroad, and of the state's executive office. Rose is hailed as the founder of the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. Leathard, the president of Alaska-based VECO Corp., is accredited for turning the once-struggling company into an internationally-recognized engineering firm. Wien, a life-long pilot, was a founder of Merric Inc. and vice president of Era Aviation until 1981. He is now the co-owner and chief executive of Florcraft Inc. Laureates are selected based on their impact on the Alaska economy and their efforts to promote the growth of Alaska businesses throughout their careers.

Sianna Garrod of Palmer and Raina Hammel of Girdwood have been selected as the Alaska delegates to the 41st Annual United States Senate Youth program in Washington D.C. Garrod, the senior body president at Colony High School, is first in her class. She has served as the student body president, treasurer and captain of the Alaska State Olympic Development Team. She is the founder of a school-wide tutoring service, and she coaches an elementary soccer team. Hammel, the student body president at A.J. Dimond High School, is a member of the National Honor Society, has earned the President's Student Service Award for Outstanding Community Service, and has been a varsity member of her school's cross-country, track and ski teams. Garrod and Hammel will each receive a $5,000 scholarship from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, and will attend a week of intensive government study in March.