Jara Haas

Adam Elliott Photography

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Alaska Anchorage

Community work: Alaska Travel Industry Association, Red Cross of Alaska

Family: Husband Steve, daughter Emma, son Logan, black lab Trouble

Hometown: Branson, Mo.

Favorite lunch spot? Snow City Cafe. I love their tomato soup, they must use magical tomatoes.

Favorite place in Alaska? In winter, Alyeska, top of chair 6 with a foot of new snow on the slopes. In summer: Williwaw Campground. Every Memorial Day weekend we make that our maiden camping trip of the summer. The kids are always excited. And by kids, I mean me.

Your most memorable experience that could only have happened in Alaska. In 2004 my grandfather drove to Alaska from Missouri, by himself, at the age of 75. He decided he had to stick his foot in the Arctic Ocean. So one morning, we got up, caught a flight to Fairbanks, caught another flight to Barrow, and stuck our feet in the Arctic Ocean. We were back home in Anchorage in time for dinner.

What is the strangest thing you've ever seen in Alaska? Floating down the Kenai River we watched a bald eagle stalk a group of ducklings trying to cross the river. Every time the eagle swooped down to get one of the ducklings, sea gulls would let out this cry of warning and the ducklings would head back to safety. No lie, this went on for like five minutes.

Name the person you most respect and why. May Melvine Wentling, my grandmother. At 85 years old, she still lives on her own, drives to church three times a week, and helps care for the "old folks" in her small community in Kansas. Married to the same man for over 40 years, she raised three kids, six grandkids, and 17 great-grandkids. She is my idol.

Famous quote to live by: "Ambition is the willingness to kill the things you love and eat them to stay alive." — Jack Donaghy, "30 Rock"

How did you make your first dollar? As an extra in the Passion Play in Branson, Mo. I didn't have a speaking line, but I did get to sit on Jesus's lap for story time.

What did your pet or child teach you about business? Always check to make sure you are wearing matching shoes before you leave the house. So embarrassing during a staff meeting.

What is the best moral lesson learned from a character in a book? Scout Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" – to believe in humanity's great capacity for good.

What was the least intelligent thing you've ever done or seen and what did you learn from it? It took me 13 years and five colleges to finish my degree. Yes … five colleges in four states. I will never regret the adventures I had along the way, but I should have stuck to my guns and finished school a little sooner.

Describe something you learned as a child that made a difference in your later years. My mom has always been an extremely hard worker. She raised three kids and usually worked more than one job at the time to keep a roof over our heads. I think the most important lesson I learned as a child was hard work pays off. My mom is a shining example of that philosophy and I hope to follow in her footsteps.