Our Team

Born and raised in Haines, Alaska, Andrew moved to Sitka 25 years ago and resides here with his wife and two children. He graduated from Carroll College in Helena, MT with a Biology Major and Chemistry Minor, and has been working as a commercial fisherman for 25 years, both trolling and crabbing. Andrew has worked at Mt. Edgecumbe High School for 20 years now, currently serving as Residential and Activities Principal.

Andrew involved himself with Community Schools early on in his time in Sitka, helping with City League Basketball and youth activities. After Community Schools dissolved, he helped conceive the City and Borough of Sitka Parks and Recreation Division through the Sitka Wellness Summit. Once Parks & Rec was established, he then helped create the Sitka Recreation Foundation.

Andrew has always been a huge proponent of healthy activities and getting both youth and adults engaged in the community. He feels that being part of SRF, an organization whose purpose aligns with those values, is a perfect fit for what he believes makes our community healthy and inviting to live in. He wants to continue building and providing opportunities for all Sitkans and hopes to help build a community that his kids and grandkids will want to live in as well.

Barbara was born in Fairbanks and has lived in Sitka since 1990. She loves hiking and jogging local trails and can often be seen jogging along Halibut Point Road.

Barb has a BA in Parks and Recreation and a Masters in Recreation Management with an emphasis in Tourism. An avid supporter of recreation and opportunities for people of all ages in Sitka, she brings with her a wealth of experience successfully managing recreation programs in a variety of settings, including corporate, nonprofit, and public recreation.

Barb is a passionate advocate for improving the quality of life in Sitka by making our outdoor spaces and facilities top-notch and accessible. She enjoys traveling and is always on the lookout for innovative recreation models and ideas to bring home to Sitka. 

Bart, an Alaska resident since 1959, moved to Sitka in 1988 and raised his children here. He loves taking advantage of the range of local recreational opportunities, including hiking, biking, dog walking, swimming, city league sports, and boating, to name a few. 

Bart has been a member of the City and Borough of Sitka Parks and Recreation Committee for 18 years, and has spent that time advocating for local recreational programs. He believes that communities with strong, broad recreation opportunities attract and maintain a healthy and diverse population. 

Bart sees the Sitka Recreation Foundation as a means for community members and others to support Sitka's recreation programs. He is one of the founding members of the Sitka Recreation Foundation.

Ben, a born and raised Sitkan, started his career in natural resources as a crew member for Sitka Trail Works in 2006. He spent some time living in the Lower 48, working for six years at the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, then serving as legislative staff for Senator Cory Booker during a post-Master’s degree policy fellowship. 

In 2020, Ben returned home to Sitka and directed the Sitka Conservation Society’s CARES Act funded transitional employment program, leading out-of-work Sitkans on recreation and restoration projects with lasting community benefit. He has been the executive director of Sitka Trail Works since 2021.