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.

View Meeting Packets

Current IGU Board of Directors

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 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 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, and is a present member of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority.

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 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.

Luke HopkinsAt-Large Seat C, Term Expires Oct. 29, 2023

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.

Bert BellAt-Large Seat D, Term Expires Oct 29, 2023

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.