Board of Directors

Mr. Haagenson has extensive utility experience, being a previous President and CEO of Golden Valley Electric Association, and also holding previous positions at GVEA as an electrical engineer, an interim Manager of Operations, the Manager of Engineering Services, and the Vice President for Transmission and Distribution. Mr. Haagenson has also served as Statewide Energy Coordinator and Executive Director for the Alaska Energy Authority, and is a present member of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority.

Bert Bell was born, raised and educated in Fairbanks. He received a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. In 1985, he became a State of Alaska registered professional Civil Engineer. He began a forty plus year construction career in 1976, when he went to work for GHEMM Co, a long established general contractor. He became President of GHEMM in 1991 and he retired in 2016. He is currently the President and owner of Bell Development. He is a Past President of the Alaska Society of Professional Engineers, Fairbanks Branch, past President of Associated General Contractors of Alaska, and past Chairman of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. He currently is a Board member and Treasurer of the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, and a Board member and Grants Committee Chairman for the Golden Heart Community Foundation.

Luke Hopkins came to Fairbanks in 1966 to enroll at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF) as an undergraduate. He continued his involvement with the campus for an additional thirty-five years in various planning and operational capacities, completing his career as Superintendent of Maintenance at UAF with its five regional campuses. Hopkins served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Planning Commission for nine years, and then as a Borough Assembly member for five more years followed by two terms as FNSB Mayor totaling nineteen continuous years serving our FNSB community. His efforts helped secure major borough economic benefits at Eielson Air Force base and acquiring Borough gas utility powers that led to the public ownership of the Interior Alaska Gas Utility (IGU). Hopkins served on the State of Alaska Municipal Advisory Gas Project Review Board; the Alaska Gasline Port Authority Board (AGPA); and on the Board of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC). He also was a member of Governor Palin’s Climate Advisory Group, and on Governor Walker’s Climate Advisory Team.

Mike Miller was born in Fairbanks and is a lifelong Alaskan, married to wife, Susan, for 44 years, with children and their spouses; Teffonie and Phillip (5 children), and Carissa and Paul (3 children).

His political experience includes: Senate President (1997-1998), Commissioner of Administration with the State of Alaska (2003-2004), City of North Pole Council (1976-1980), Alaska State House (1982-1992), & Alaska State Senate (1992-2000).

Community Activity includes: Original Board Member of Project 714 (STARS), Drug Intervention and Prevention Program for Secondary Schools; Past Board Member of Crisis Pregnancy Outpost for North Pole/Fairbanks area; Member of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

Mike’s background includes attending Monroe Catholic High School, & University of Alaska at Fairbanks. His current occupation (1966-present) is President/Owner of Santa Claus House, North Pole, Alaska. Mike’s history includes Alaska Commissioner of Administration (2003-2004); Alaska State Legislator (1982-2000); & Warehouseman, Trans Alaska Pipeline (1974-1978); & military service in the Alaska Air National Guard (1971-1974).

Mike’s hobbies include coin collecting, history, antiquing, family gatherings, & grandchildren.

Mary Nordale is a lifelong Alaskan that has served our community with integrity and skill for decades. She is an expert in finances and serves as a local attorney. Mary was born in Fairbanks and attended elementary school in Fairbanks and then Juneau, where she graduated from Juneau High School.

Mary attended The University of Vienna in Austria from 1955-1956. She returned to the US to attend Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where she graduated in 1957 with a B.A. In 1959 Mary worked as an Assistant Clerk of the House. Then from 1959 to 1960 she worked for Governor William A. Egan. From 1960-1968 she worked for Senator Bob Bartlett. While working for Senator Bartlett she attended law school at George Washington University earning her juris doctorate in 1966. Mary has been a member of the Alaska Bar Association since 1969.

Mary was an assistant US attorney from 1968-1969 then an assistant District Attorney from 1969-1970. From 1970 – 1972 she worked for the Small Business Administration. From 1972 to the present-day Mary has been a private practice attorney serving the Fairbanks area. In 1984 she was the Alaska State Commissioner of Revenue.

Community Involvement:
1970-1977 BOD President for the Fairbanks Rehabilitation Assoc.
1973-1975 Alaska Retarded Children’s Association
1973 Central District Democratic Committee
1983 Vice Chair of The Alaska Reapportionment Board

Director Throop has lived in Alaska since 1975. She has been self-employed since 1980. During that time, she created two real-estate companies, a construction company and a development company. Her primary career has been in commercial real estate and business sales, industrial and commercial construction and development. She has served as a Director on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, Thrive Alaska, Interior Center for Nonviolent Living, Alaska Association of Realtors, Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors, ReMax Brokers Council, and Alaska Housing Market Council. Her interest in IGU is to create an affordable safe place for future generations to live long productive lives.

Gary Wilken is a 62-year resident of Fairbanks. He is married to Sue and they have four grown children, all residing in Fairbanks. He graduated from Lathrop High School (1964) and then earned a B.S. degree in Business and Technology (minor – Petroleum Geology) and an M.B.A. from Oregon State University in 1968 and 1970. Gary’s a retired small businessman, having owned, for 30 years, Fairbanks Distributors, Great Alaskan Food Co. and Husky Food Products, all wholesale distributors. Gary proudly served the City of Fairbanks and Ft. Wainwright for 12 years as a state senator serving on Senate Finance ten years, four as co-chair. He retired in 2008. Gary has served on numerous community and statewide boards of directors. Those relating to IGU would be the Fairbanks Municipal Utility System for 13 years and 8 years on the state of Alaska sovereign debt development corporation known as AIDEA.