Dick Pacific has announced the restructuring of its organization. Jim Ramirez will lead Dick Pacific's Alaska and North Pacific Division as general manager. Ramirez is a 30-year employee of the company and will have his headquarters in Hawaii. The company is constructing the $180 million Bassett Hospital in Fairbanks.

Alfred

Alaska Conservation Foundation recently honored former Gov. Jay Hammond, activist Mark Hickok and community leader Walter Parker with its Alaska Conservationist Lifetime Achievement Award. Hammond, Hickok and Parker were chosen for the honor because of their contributions to the protection of Alaska's wild places, intact ecosystems and sustainable communities. The honorees were all involved in conservation efforts through the 1960s and 1970s and have continued their efforts since that time. The award was presented at a luncheon Aug. 14 in Anchorage.

Van Treeck

Alyeska Resort in Girdwood has promoted Marlene Geils to director of sales. Geils will oversee the sales staff for the hotel and resort. Geils will lead all sales efforts in U.S. and international markets. Melissa Tyler has been promoted to director of marketing. Tyler most recently served as mountain marketing manager. Tyler will oversee the marketing and promotion of the resort which includes the hotel, ski area and golf course. Todd Clark has joined Alyeska Resort as director of mountain marketing and special events. Clark most recently worked for the 2002 Winter Olympics Committee in Utah. The resort has promoted Margaret Strachan to senior conference services manager. Strachan most recently served as conference services manager. Strachan oversees conference and the catering and banquet functions for the hotel and resort. Ethan Tyler has been promoted to tour and wholesale sales manager. Tyler most recently worked as hotel front office manager. Tyler's responsibilities include overseeing group sales for tour and wholesales accounts. Lyric Smith has joined the resort as marketing coordinator. Smith will assist with events, promotions and other marketing efforts.

Hope

Joe Van Treeck, president and chief executive of Matanuska Maid Dairy, has been elected secretary of the national Milk Processor Education Program board of directors. Van Treeck, an Alaska dairy processor, has served as an at-large member since 1997. Van Treeck also served as chairman of the board's promotions committee for four years and has been involved with the organization's "got milk?" campaign.

Parsons

Seven community leaders have been elected to serve on the Alaska Community Foundation's board of directors. New directors are Allan Johnston, regional manager for Wedbush Morgan Securities; David Marquez, retired ARCO Alaska Inc. executive and lawyer; Jo Michalski, owner, Classic Woman and Portfolio; Margaret Price, managing director of investments, Wachovia Securities Inc.; Sharon Richards, executive director of the YWCA of Anchorage; Bernie Ruskin, community volunteer; Michael Sexton, publisher and president of Anchorage Daily News. Current directors include Michael Burns, chairman; David Shaftel, vice chairman; William Bankston, secretary; Glenda Rhodes, treasurer; Bonnie Mehner, Robert Bulmer, Douglas Blattmachr, Steve Butterworth, Barbara Donatelli, Heather Flynn, Joan McCoy, Jon Mills and Sterling Taylor.

Eric Parsons recently joined Peratrovich, Nottingham & Drage Inc. in Anchorage as a staff engineer. Parsons, an engineer in training, is a graduate of Colorado State University in Fort Collins with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Parsons most recently worked as a water resources engineer in Denver for three years.

The Alaska Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has announced that one of its members, Joan Hope, recently earned accreditation from the Universal Accreditation Board. Hope, an information content specialist with the Matanuska Telephone Association, earned the accreditation in public relations. The designation is awarded to public relations professionals who have at least five years of paid, full-time experience in the practice and who successfully complete an examination that measures knowledge, experience and professional judgment.

Forrest Cole has been selected as the forest management director for the Forest Service's Alaska Region in Juneau. Cole has worked in Petersburg as the forest and fire management staff officer for the Tongass National Forest since 1999. Cole spent the last 23 years of his Forest Service career working on the Tongass National Forest. Cole began as a supervisory forester on the Petersburg Ranger District, moved to the Juneau Ranger District, was assigned to the Tongass land management planning team, and then to the Stikine Area of the Tongass Forest. Cole is expected to begin his position Oct. 6.