Welcome back to the CIHA/CILC Virtual Water Cooler. A place for us to get connected with each other! Share photos, meet coworkers and learn new things. We'd love your feedback and ideas, so please send your Virtual Water Cooler photos and stories to Public Relations. 

ANDREW KARMUN Senior Administrative Assistant, Finance  Top photo: Potter Marsh Trail gave me this stunning image of two ducks flying over an eagle. Below photos: Flattop Mountain Trail should be renamed Scenic Photo Ops Trail.  This past weekend I took another long drive down south on the Seward Highway and stopped at several scenic spots along the way. The last two photos you see here are at a sightseeing stop near Placer River with Turnagain Arm in the background and at the Potter Marsh boardwalk.

BIRTHDAYS 9/28 - 10/4 We're sending Happy Birthday wishes this week to Renee Royal who celebrates her birthday on Friday, October 1. We asked Renee the following questions:   What is your favorite cake/pie? Simon & Seafort’s Key Lime Pie is my favorite. Favorite birthday memory or gift? Two memorable birthday gifts were the Tlingit bracelets from my sisters last year-- they are engraved with special sentiments.  What do you usually like to do on your birthday? I like to spend my birthday with my family, especially my children Ayla and Rohan. They are all the birthday gifts I need. We also send Happy Birthday wishes this week to: Jeff Cable - September 28 Mary Chouinard - October 1 Kim Burton - October 3 Karena Shugak - October 3

DAVID CHAPA Public Relations Specialist I took some drone footage of the Ch'bala Corners grand opening that took place on September 14. You can view it here.

ALEXIS ANARUK Senior Administrative Assistant, Corporate Affairs Happy 3rd birthday Addisyn! Her birthday was on 9/11, Sunday, football Sunday. We celebrated from dress to jersey. Go Cowboys!

REBEKAH MARTINKA Community Director Supervisor Days of Summer Part II: From Memorial Day to Labor Day, this summer was packed full of love, beauty, necessities and adventures! Good bye summer, see you next year.  Top photo: Visitors at Centennial Village Below photos: Trip to Seward Beautiful hikes Paddleboarding with my buddy

FRANCISCO "CHACO" MENA Maintenance Repairer Please welcome back Chaco Mena to CIHA. Chaco rejoins the Maintenance Department. Before initially coming to CIHA, Chaco was a lead cook for the Alaska Railroad. Originally from California, he has been in Alaska for roughly 11 years. In his free time, Chaco enjoys drawing, reading, working out, tattooing, working on cars, going to car meets and racing cars.

TERRA ROBINSON Housing Services Associate Please welcome Terra Robinson to CIHA. Terra joins us as a Housing Services Associate. Prior to coming to CIHA, Terra worked as a Housing Relief Specialist for Catholic Social Services. Terra is a lifelong Alaskan born and raised in Anchorage. She enjoys reading and cooking in her free time as well as working out on her treadmill and meditating,

JON KING Maintenance Mechanic II Please welcome Jon King to CIHA. Jon joins us as a Maintenance Mechanic II. Jon previously worked in maintenance positions at Trinity Properties and NeighborWorks and was facility director for Prestige Care. Jon has lived in Alaska for 30 years and is originally from Coos Bay, Oregon. In his free time, Jon enjoys fishing, hiking, metal detecting and gold mining.

KRISTEN CARTER Community Director Please welcome Kristen Carter to CIHA. Kristen joins us as a Community Director. Kristen previously worked in property management for NeighborWorks, FPI Management and Volunteers of America. Born in Virginia, Kristen's family is originally from Alaska and she travelled between Washington, D.C and Anchorage while her father was in the Air Force. She moved to Alaska full-time when her father retired in 1991. Kristen has completed many home renovations in the past few years. Just recently, Kristen finished gutting and renovating a new home.

BRENDA CONCEPCION Housing Services Associate Please welcome Brenda Concepcion to CIHA. Brenda joins us as a Housing Services Associate. Prior to joining CIHA, Brenda worked as a Housing Program Specialist II for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. Brenda, who is a lifelong Alaskan, enjoys the outdoors and loves going on walks and taking her son to the park. She also enjoys going to the movies and reading.

SEZY GEROW-HANSON Director, Public & Resident Relations This past Sunday we hiked Sunnyside Flat Top. It was sunny, but so windy! The Sunday before we hiked Ridge Peak. It was chilly at the top, but we were happy it finally wasn’t raining on us.

CASSEY BRADLEY Marketing Coordinator Top photo: Yoga at the Beyond Van Gogh exhibit. Below photos: Hiking Abbott Loop Trail.

JON ST CLAIR Public Relations Specialist My sister wanted to show me her newest family members. They took one quick disinterested look at me and went back to their nap. Totally respect that.

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