Featured Speakers

Going the Distance

Featured Speakers

Willie Hensley Keynote Speaker: Willie Hensley
Willie Hensley served four years in the Alaska House of Representatives and six years in the Alaska State Senate. He was past president of the Alaska Federation of Natives and has worked with the NANA Regional Corporation, the United Bank Alaska, the Alaska Department of Eco-nomic Development, and the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. Mr. Hensley has recently authored Fifty Miles From Tomorrow: a Memoir of Alaska and the Real People
Endnote Speaker: Will Manley
Will Manley recently retired after a 35 year career as a librarian and public administrator.  The author of nine books on the lighter side of librarianship, Manley has published over 500 magazine articles.  He currently writes the “Manley Arts” column in Booklist and the “Will’s World” column in American Libraries.  He has two goals as a retiree: 1) to perfect his golf swing in order to represent the library profession in a respectable way on the golf courses of the San Francisco Bay Area, and 2) to spread good cheer and humor to librarians everywhere.		 Will Manley
Debbie Edwardson Debby Edwardson
Children’s author Debby Edwardson lives in Barrow Alaska. Her book Whale Snow has won recognition from the  International Reading Association, the Independent Publishers Association, National Council of Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council. Her soon to be released second book is titled Blessing’s Bead.
Sven Haakanson
Sven Haakanson received a B.A. from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University. He is the executive director of the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak, Alaska and the former chair of the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Mr. Haakanson has arranged the acquisition and exhibition of Alutiiq masks and other artifacts and has organized first-time, traveling exhibits of antiquities to museums in Alaska. Hailed as “the driving force behind the revitalization of indigenous language, culture and customs in an isolated area of North America”, he is the recipient of a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation “Genius Award.” 		Sven Haakanson
Bill Harmer

Bill Harmer
Bill Harmer is Head of Adult Services for Chelsea District Library in Chelsea, MI.  His library is the winner of Library Journal’s “Best Small Library in America Award” for 2008.  He is a former DJ and self described wannabe musician. Bill has brought innovative music programs to his libraries, and is hoping to change patrons and librarians’ images of what libraries can be.
Nina Malyshev
Nina Malyshev is an organizational and management development consultant who helps libraries, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses. ‘Giving Voice Consulting’ is dedicated to helping organizations create empowered, inclusive, and high-functioning workplaces and to helping individuals achieve greater mastery, engagement, and satisfaction in their working lives.  Nina was formerly Head of Library Development for the Alaska State Library. 		Nina Malyshev
Michael Oleksa  Father Michael Oleksa
Recognized as an "Elder" by the Alaska Federation of Natives, a “Distinguished Public Servant” by the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska, and honored by the Alaska State Legislature and the National Governors Association, Dr. Michael Oleksa is a storyteller who seeks to foster greater understanding across boundaries of race and culture. He has authored many books.
Virginia Lowell
Virginia Lowell is the retired State Librarian for the Hawaii State Public Library System with 40 years of library experience.   Her diverse background includes dealing with the censorship controversies surrounding Madonna’s Sex book and the film The Last Temptation of Christ.		 Virginia Lowell
Jeffery Mittman  Jeffrey Mittman
Jeffrey Mittman is Executive Director for the ACLU of Alaska. He served as the USA PATRIOT Act and Post-9/11 Campaign Coordinator for the Northern California Affiliate of the ACLU.   In addition, he worked with the National Office and Affiliates on the debut season of the ACLU Freedom Files TV show. Jeffrey is a former Airborne Ranger qualified Infantry First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He graduated Yale University, and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he was Symposium Editor for the Constitutional Law Quarterly.
Jim Rettig
An ALA member for more than thirty years, Jim Rettig is ALA’s current President.  In the past he has served ALA and its divisions through various committee assignments and elected positions significantly expanding participation opportunities for its members, positioning ALA publishing for the future and ensuring transparency in governance. 		Jim Rettig
Teri Sloat

Teri Sloat
Teri Sloat is the author and illustrator of over 20 books for young children.  Her books range from concept books, to rhyming and include many based on her life in Alaska. 
Her books have been awarded by the New York Times, Center for Books for Children, American Library Association, American Booksellers, and distributed by First Alaskans.  Her newest book, THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO PAINTED THE SKY will be out this spring.  In addition to authoring award winning children’s books, she worked as an elementary school teacher and textbook illustrator while living in Alaska. Teri has written many books including several based on Yupik Eskimo life and legends
Roland Smith
Featured speaker at the Authors to Alaska Luncheon, Mr. Smith worked as a zookeeper for over twenty years in Oregon and Washington, and came to Alaska in 1989 to help save endangered animals from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.  His books blend action and adventure with scientific detail and have been praised by both critics and young-adult readers.		 Roland Smith
Steve Shields Steve Shields
Steven Shields runs an IT consulting company, Shields Networking, serving small businesses in the Puget Sound region. He has designed and deliv-ered customized curriculum for the Alaska, Oregon, and Washington State Libraries. Prior to beginning his own consulting business, Steven spent four years working in libraries as a computer trainer in the US Library Pro-gram for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.