Associated General Contractors of Alaska would like to welcome Fairbanks Branch Manager Emily Braniff, who joined the AGC crew this summer. Braniff was born and raised in Fairbanks. She says her father moved to Alaska in 1959 as a young man in the US Air Force. He met her mother in Dawson City in 1974 and the two have since been inseparable. Like many Alaska students, Braniff left Alaska to attend college, but she returned home to be nearer her family. In Alaska, she earned a Certified Municipal Clerk certification while working as Deputy City Clerk II for the City of Fairbanks. Braniff has a son who recently graduated high school and is working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Braniff says she has a hearty respect for the construction industry, is proud to be a part of building Alaska, and is proud her son is working in the industry too. When she’s not working, she loves to garden and spend time with her dog and her family. Braniff says the 42nd Annual AGC of Fairbanks Golf Tournament was a wonderful jump-right-in kind of event for her.

“It was great to see so many familiar faces enjoying the day together,” she says. “I look forward to working with all the members in the future. If you are ever in Fairbanks, please do not hesitate to stop by—I’d love to meet you.”

Cornerstone General Contractors announced in June that Nate Seymour was hired to focus on private-sector business development and projects. Seymour, born and raised in Anchorage, has more than eleven years of construction experience, including working key positions for general contractors, mechanical subcontractors, real estate investing companies and, most recently, owning his own construction and real estate consulting firm. Seymour has a degree in construction management from UAA and is studying to become a certified project management professional. He has previously worked with top brands such as NIKE and developed strong relationships with both private and public commercial corporations. He joins Cornerstone to help foster and maintain client relationships during business development and preconstruction.

Coffman Engineers, Inc., in June announced that structural engineer Matt Stielstra was promoted to Principal and Structural Department Manager in Anchorage. Stielstra joins Will Veelman, a long-time principal, in structural leadership of the Anchorage office. Stielstra, who was raised in Alaska, holds a degree in architectural engineering from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in architectural engineering from Penn State University. He is a licensed civil engineer in Alaska, a licensed structural engineer in both Alaska and Hawaii, and a licensed building systems engineer in Washington. He has worked on projects all over the world. Coffman Engineers, Inc. offers multidiscipline engineering services including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties. The company employs more than 600 employees in 17 offices across the United States. It announced in June that it had a banner year in 2020, with revenue of about $103 million.