Dana Applebee

Adam Elliott Photography

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Double Major in Political Science and Women’s Studies, University of Delaware

Community work: American Cancer Society, Mayor’s Charity Ball, Anchorage’s Promise, Anchorage Petroleum Wives Club, Junior Achievement, Anchorage East Rotary

Family: Husband Josh, dog Wiggles, parents Wendy Naar and Jann Caspersen

Hometown: Fairfax, Va.

Best stress reliever? Cooking and entertaining for friends and family.

Favorite place in Alaska? Auke Bay. Allowed me to unwind and appreciate the beauty of Alaska.

Your most memorable experience that could only have happened in Alaska. I took a fly fishing trip with Pudge Kleinkauf. Flying out to a lodge in the middle of nowhere Alaska and learning to fish with one of the greatest fly fisherwomen alive. I caught my first fish.

Name the person you most respect and why. Mentor Bobbi Olson. Bobbi saw something in me and it helped reinvigorate my passion for giving back to the community. She has always been an inspiration, a resource and confidante. My parents are an inspiration for all that they have provided to me and for their selflessness.

Famous quote to live by: “Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

How did you make your first dollar? Babysitting.

What did your pet or child teach you about business? We too often take our life and work too seriously. When I come home, no matter how the day was, Wiggles is there to greet me happy and full of love. This unconditional love helps me remember what is really important and to not lose sight of it.

Favorite superhero? Rosie the Riveter is a testament to women’s strength, character and ability overcome any challenge. I keep a Rosie bobble-head on my desk as a reminder of the women who came before me and forged the path that I am able to take today.

What is the best moral lesson learned from a character in a book? Life will try to force you to pick one side over another, but it is possible to choose both. The challenge is to become the bridge between these disparate parties and bring people together instead of driving them apart “because it’s always been that way.”

What was your biggest challenge in life and how have you overcome it? Facing cancer. But with my family and close friends, I took on the challenge. Now that I am cancer-free I’m working to give back and raise awareness through fundraising for all cancer treatment and prevention.

What was the least intelligent thing you’ve ever done or seen and what did you learn from it? One summer I took a boating trip down the Chena River without the proper gear. It was a long day hiding under bridges waiting for the rain to slow. In Alaska’s outdoors and while doing business here, it is important to be prepared – for anything. Today’s sunshine can turn into a blowing storm without warning.

Describe something you learned as a child that made a difference in your later years. I moved around as a child because a parent was in the Marine Corps. I learned to adapt to new environments and schools. Kids can be cruel. I learned to be tough and became gregarious and extroverted. It also taught me to learn my community because I didn’t have much time there, which resulted in me now being very passionate about community involvement and giving back as often as I can.