rice Environmental Services Corporation was honored twice in one week with Excellence in Safety awards. On April 9, the company was recognized in Anchorage at the 43rd Annual Governor’s Safety and Health Conference with the 2025 Alaska Governor’s Safety Excellence Award, presented to organizations demonstrating distinction in safety and health of their personnel, the environment, assets, and reputation that demonstrate and promote superior corporate citizenship.
In a LinkedIn post announcing the win, Brice Health, Safety and Environment Training Coordinator Lindsay Smith says, “This award isn’t just about meeting safety standards. It’s about how deeply safety is embedded in our culture. At Brice, safety is not an add-on—it’s who we are and how we operate.”
offman Engineers announced in May that Cynthia Cacy, a corrosion control engineering principal at Coffman, and Zack Wright, a senior engineer at Coffman, successfully earned their Cathodic Protection, or CP, Specialist certification. In March, the company announced Patrick Rider had earned his professional engineering, or PE, license in electrical engineering.
The CP Specialist is the highest level of certification in the field of cathodic protection issued by the Association for Materials Protection and Performance. This accomplishment reflects their dedication, experience, and knowledge in the industry.
“Cynthia and Zack obtaining their CP4 certification is a significant accomplishment. There are only approximately 450 people with an active CP4 certification in the United States. Coffman will now have seven people with CP4 certifications. Congratulations are due to Cynthia and Zack for reaching this difficult milestone,” says Dan Stears, Vice President of Corrosion Control Engineering.
“Patrick’s achievement of the PE license is a reflection of his hard work, technical proficiency, and commitment to professional development. Coffman is proud to have Patrick as part of our team, and we look forward to his continued contributions to our projects and clients,” says Coffman Electrical Principal, Nicholai Smith.
Nordale is being recognized by Junior Achievement Alaska for her outstanding contributions to Alaska’s economic growth, her steadfast support of Junior Achievement’s mission and programs, and her unwavering commitment to the Alaska business community.
Nordale and the other four inductees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a January 2026 ceremony. The other inductees are: Delta Constructors CEO Ed Gohr; Delta Leasing CEO Rudi von Imhof; retired CEO and president of Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Carol Gore; and Dean Weidner, the Seattle-based rental apartment magnate who owns more than 5,000 housing units in Anchorage.
GC of America President Tom Brown on April 10 awarded AGC member company ChemTrack Alaska the 2025 Baldwin Group Build America Merit Award for its Environmental Remediation Debris Services project at the Former Cape Prince of Wales Naval Field Station in Wales.
The awards recognize ChemTrack’s outstanding efforts in remediating, demolishing, and removing abandoned US Navy structures at Cape Price of Wales and the community of Wales, the westernmost point of land in North America. The Naval Field Station was last active in 1978, and its buildings were abandoned in 2000. ChemTrack was the prime subcontractor on the project, which was led by prime contractors Jacobs Engineering and the US Navy.
“Awards like these recognize incredible work by talented people while also reflecting our company’s foundational commitment to environmental responsibility and supporting Alaska communities,” says ChemTrack President Carrie Jokiel. “This was not just about completing a challenging project; it was also about restoring a vital part of that community for its residents and the region. We faced significant logistical hurdles and hazardous materials, yet our incredible team successfully cleaned up the former Naval Field Station and returned the beach to the community.”
“David’s creative mindset and design sensibility help deepen our culture of collaboration,” says Vanairsdale. “We are a legacy firm shaped by shared purpose and a passion for building strong Alaska communities. David brings multi-dimensional design skills and a gift for mentoring. His thoughtful approach will strengthen our company’s leadership and support our mission to create community-centered spaces.”
Popiel holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis. As a project manager and senior architect at Bettisworth North, he has led projects in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, Seward, and other communities in sectors that include hospitality, recreation, healthcare, housing, and childcare.
With Whitfield’s addition to the team as a project manager and technical expert, R&M now offers comprehensive land development services. The firm’s multi-discipline group collaborates with clients to bring land-use visions to life, whether designing and surveying a new subdivision, navigating the regulatory process for a conditional use or rezone, or assisting communities in updating zoning and subdivision regulations.
att Melton, a C-suite professional and operational strategist, joined Republic Services of Alaska in May as its general manager. Melton will oversee the strategy and execution of Republic Services’ Environmental Solutions business in the Alaska area, which includes a network of emergency response personnel, service centers, and hazardous waste facilities.
Melton has more than two decades of leadership across environmental services, emergency management, and strategic business operations. He has led critical initiatives in industries including oil and gas, marine transportation, and government agencies. His operational oversight, compliance leadership, and data-driven strategies have secured long-term contracts, strengthened response capabilities, and delivered measurable results. Melton has held leadership positions on the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, Association of Petroleum Industry Cooperative Managers, and the Alaska Industry Support Alliance.
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the environmental services industry, providing customers with recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste, and field services.