Board of Directors

Meet the Leadership

Board meetings of the Interior Gas Utility are held regularly In Person and on Zoom. All meetings are open to the public. Board Meetings are held on the first Tuesday, Work Sessions (only as needed) are held on the third Tuesday, and Finance Committee meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each Month.  Meeting packets are available on the website or outside the door of the IGU office located at 2525 Phillips Field Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709.

The FNSB Assembly created and approved IGU as a public corporation, wholly-owned subsidiary of the FNSB. The IGU Board of Directors is authorized to manage and operate the utility in accordance with prevailing industry practices and general standards common to utilities providing the same service.

Four seats are elected positions voted by residents of the FNSB. The first election was held on October 7, 2014. Three board members are appointed by the Mayors of the City of North Pole, the City of Fairbanks, and the FNSB.

Current IGU Board of Directors

Gary Wilken
Gary WilkenChair, City of Fairbanks Appointed Seat, Term Expires Dec. 31, 2025
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.
Bob Shefchik
Bob ShefchikVice Chair, At-Large Seat B, Term Expires Oct. 29, 2024
Bob Shefchik was born and raised in Fairbanks. He graduated from Lathrop High School (1975) and Cornell University (1979). Bob and his wife Barbara have four children who all attended and graduated from the Fairbanks Public School system. Shefchik served as the Assistant Superintendent for Finance at the FBSB School District, Assistant Director for Finance at the UAF Geophysical Institute, the Chief of Staff for the FNSB, and Executive Officer at UAF. He retired after 30+ years of service to these Fairbanks entities, with his primary focus being Finance and Administration throughout his career. Shefchik’s background in utilities and energy generation stems from his efforts during the formation of IGU, his work on the original IGU Board, his work on the Interior Energy Project, and his work at UAF on the Combined Heat and Power Plant project.
Steve Haagenson
Steve HaagensonFNSB Appointed Seat, Term Expires Dec. 31, 2025
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.
Mike Miller
Mike MillerCity of North Pole Appointed Seat, Term Expires Dec. 31, 2025
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.

Jack Wilbur
Jack WilburAt-Large Seat A, Term Expires Oct. 29, 2024
Mr. Wilbur is a fourth generation Fairbanks resident. He is proud of his pioneer heritage and believes that there is no better place to live and raise a family than Fairbanks, Alaska. Jack received BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. After graduation he served in the US Army’s Arctic Test Center at Fort Greely. He then returned home to Fairbanks where he started as a mechanical engineer-in-training with Design Alaska in 1975. In 1995 he became its President and served in this capacity until January 2014; he is now serving as Design Alaska’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Wilbur is currently a member of the Alaska Chamber Board of Directors. Past leadership roles include Board Chair for Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, Board Chair for the Greater Fairbanks Chamber Commerce, President of the Rotary Club of Fairbanks, and Board Chair for United Way of the Tanana Valley.
Jim Dodson
Jim DodsonAt-Large Seat C, Term Expires Oct. 29, 2026
Jim Dodson was born and raised in Fairbanks and is a graduate of UAF School of Management. Jim is married to Kathi Dodson, they have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. Jim retired in 2021 after serving 15 years as President/CEO of Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation.

Prev. Military Groups: Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Civilian Advisory Board, Member Alaska Command Commander’s Civilian Board.

Military: U.S. Army Vietnam 5th Special Forces Group

University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor’s Advisory Board. (Past)
Member FNSB Planning and Zoning Commission. (Past)
President of Alaska Air Carriers Association. (Past)
President of Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. (Past)

Jim served as the President/CEO of Denali Group, a trucking transportation business employing 200 with gross sales of approximately $200 million.

From 1973 to 1979, Jim was an owner and CEO of Frontier Flying Service, a scheduled and charter company that owned 34 aircraft and employed 70 personnel.

Pete Kelly
Pete KellyAt-Large Seat D, Term Expires Oct 29, 2026
Pete was born and raised in Fairbanks as was his wife Perri. Pete and Perri have 3 children, all of whom live in Fairbanks. They have been married for 42 years and they both received their bachelor’s degrees while raising their kids and working. Pete graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Business Management. Pete spent ten years in the State Senate, he was elected by his peers as chair of the Senate Finance Committee 3 times and as Senate President in 2017. Pete also served in the House of Representatives for four years all of which were on the
Finance Committee. Most of his time has been in the private sector, he spent 6
years as the Director of State Relations at the University of Alaska. Pete Kelly is currently the CEO of the Fairbanks Rescue Mission.