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Office of the Mayor Announces Two Executive Appointments

EconomicMembersGovernmentPress Release

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance on Thursday announced two new executive appointments to her administration, selecting Shanna Gamble as Director of Parks and Recreation and Mike Abbott as Interim Director of the Don Young Port of Alaska.
 
Shanna Gamble has been leading Parks and Recreation as acting director since April, and Mayor LaFrance appointed Gamble to permanently lead the department. Gamble’s appointment is scheduled for confirmation at the next Assembly meeting.
 
Gamble joined the Municipality in 2020 and has since been a key leader in the Parks and Recreation Department. In her previous position, she managed the department's operational and capital budgets, as well as the Administration, Recreation, and Aquatic Divisions. Gamble has more than 20 years of experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets and leading large teams.
 
She is also deeply involved in the community, serving as an executive board member for Abbott O Rabbit Little League, Alaska's largest Little League organization, and is a founding executive board member of Junior Sockeyes Baseball.
 
Mike Abbott will serve as the Interim Director of the Don Young Port of Alaska until a permanent director is found. Longtime Port Director Steve Ribuffo retired last month. Abbott will start later this month.
 
His extensive leadership experience includes previously working as Municipal Manager in the administrations of two former mayors, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and Mayor Mark Begich. In that role, Abbott supervised the Port Director.
 
Abbott also held leadership roles in the Anchorage School District, served as chief executive of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and previously led United Way of Anchorage in an interim capacity.

“Both Shanna and Mike have proven their expertise and ability to lead in these critical roles. I am grateful for their willingness to serve and am excited to work alongside them to continue moving our community forward,” said Mayor LaFrance.

Office of the Mayor Announces Two Executive Appointments

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