KPEDD Appointee: Kenai
Todd Smith
Todd was born and raised on the Kenai, and manages a local small business. He studied Business and Economics at Eastern Oregon University and also fishes commercially with his family in Cook Inlet.
KPEDD Appointee: Soldotna
Bruce Richards
Bruce was raised on the Kenai Peninsula after moving here in 1969. He began working in the family construction business in high school operating heavy equipment while paving many of the roads we drive on today. He attended Boise State University and transitioned into public service after the passing of his father. Bruce has seined in the lower Cook Inlet, worked in the Alaska State Legislature, Alaska Department of Corrections, Municipality of Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula Borough and has been the External Affairs Director for Central Peninsula Hospital for the past nine years. He has two lovely daughters and lives in Kenai.
Secretary – KPEDD Appointee: KPB At Large
Chris Hough
Chris was born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula. He and his wife, Sarah, are small business owners with offices in Homer and Soldotna. They enjoy spending their time attending community events and exploring the outdoors with their two small children. Chris has a BS from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and an MBA from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.
Treasurer: KPB At Large
Tim Redder
Tim has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in accounting from South Dakota State University. Tim uses his years of experience in the banking industry to help his colleagues, neighbors and friends throughout Alaska. He currently serves as First National Bank Alaska’s Regional Vice President for the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak. Tim also serves on the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula as their Vice President. Tim, his wife Mandy, and their two children enjoy camping, hiking, gardening, skiing, and family movie nights.
City Official: Soldotna
John Czarnezki
John Czarnezki is the Director of Economic Development and Planning for the City of Soldotna. Prior to working for the City, John worked for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the University of Wisconsin-Extension. He has a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management and a master’s degree in urban planning. John joined the KPEDD board in 2018.
City Official: Soldotna
Tyson Cox
Tyson is currently the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Member for District 4, the Soldotna Area and has served on the Soldotna City Council and Board of Equalization. He is a longtime Kenai Peninsula resident who graduated from Soldotna High School and the Kenai Peninsula College (UAA) with a Bachelor of Education, specializing in mathematics. Tyson lives in Soldotna where he and his wife, Stephanie, manage residential housing within their real estate investment business. He, his wife, and three children enjoy spending time playing board games, participating in outdoor sports, and finding as many local events to attend as possible.
City Official: Kenai
Sara Bieber
Sara Bieber has been a resident of the Kenai Peninsula for 39 years.
Sara began her career with the State of Alaska in 1997 with the Alaska State Legislature working as a Page, Assistant and ended her tenure as Legislative Aide in November of 2004. Sara obtained employment as a Career Development Specialist with the Alaska Department of Labor at the Peninsula Job Center, and promoted to the Peninsula Job Center Supervisor position in June of 2019. Her role is to promote job center services and workforce development in the greater Kenai and Soldotna area. This includes promoting Alaska hire, addressing training and development, overcoming workforce barriers to employment, and supporting employers and workers.
Sara, her husband, and their two children enjoy camping, fishing, hunting, community activities and youth sports.
President – KPEDD Appointee: Kenai
Rusty Swan
Rusty was born in Anchorage and raised on the Kenai Peninsula. After spending 17 years working for a grocery chain in warehousing in the midwest, Rusty moved back home in 1989 and spent time commercial fishing with his dad before going to work for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe Housing Program. As a Kenaitze member, Rusty became active in the Tribal community and affairs. In 2005, he was appointed Housing and Facilities Director. In 2008, and was selected to be a Tribal Court Judge. Rusty thoroughly enjoyed going to work every day while working for the Trib and describes it as the most gratifying job of his career. Rusty retired from the Tribe in May, 2018. He and his wife now operate the RustyRavin Plant Ranch in Kenai, a seasonal greenhouse and petting zoo.
Vice-President – Seward Appointee
Liz DeMoss
Liz DeMoss was born in Anchorage, Alaska and has worked in the hospitality industry for 30 years. She and her husband, Sol, own and operate The Seward Alehouse and Fourth Avenue Lodging in Seward, where they have resided for the last 15 years. Liz is a licensed Realtor in the State of Alaska and is currently serving a 3 year term on the Seward City Council. She was a Planning and Zoning Commissioner before taking her seat as a Council Member and also serves as the Planning and Zoning liaison. She enjoys spending time hiking, skiing and gardening with her family and friends in Alaska.
Treasurer – Homer Representative
Karin Marks
Karin Marks has lived on the Kenai Peninsula for 28 years. She joined the KPEDD Board to encourage economic growth and share information from the Homer Economic Development Council. Karin earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master’s Degree in Administration from Troy University.
Seldovia Representative
Jan Yeager
Jan moved to the Kenai Peninsula in 2002, living in Seward and Soldotna before landing in Seldovia in 2012. She is the Finance Officer for the City of Seldovia. Previously, she has worked as a museum curator, a field biologist, in emergency management and in natural resource education. She has an associate’s degree in paramedicine, a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in environmental studies.
KPEDD Appointee
Randi Broyles
Born and raised in Kenai, Randi has come back to her roots to join the City of Kenai as the Assistant to the City Manager. Randi has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders and a Master’s in Human Resources Management. She loves spending time with her family, traveling and chasing her kids around to their many activities.