CEO and Executive Director since 2023

No stranger to the public eye, John served as a professional musician for many years before becoming an advocate for mental health and substance use, regularly speaking on the intersection of art with recovery and mental health. John moved to Kotzebue from the lower 48 in July of 2019, most recently serving as Director of Behavioral Health for Maniilaq Association. In this role he oversaw behavioral health care in the Northwest Arctic Region, as well as state advocacy on effective policy, including recent advancements using telehealth to increase access to behavioral health care.

John is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a degree from Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.

COO since 2023

As an Alaskan resident, a former Administrative Director of Behavioral Health Services for Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, and the Tribal Liaison for Optum Alaska, Lance has worked with multiple partners over the course of the last 18 years, forging strong professional relationships with them, including the State of Alaska’s Division of Behavioral Health, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and many members of the State of Alaska Legislature. As past Chair of the Tribal Behavioral Health Directors and former member of the Executive Committee of ABHA, Lance intimately understands the needs of the tribal and non-tribal behavioral health providers and, as importantly, the inherent strengths and unique challenges of the tribal and non-tribal healthcare systems.

Chief Learning Officer since 2024

Dr. Victoria Kildal was born and raised in Glennallen, Alaska. She earned both her graduate degrees from Alaska Pacific University: her Master’s in Counseling Psychology in 2007 and her Doctorate of Counseling Psychology in 2019. She has worked many years in the Behavioral Health field as a direct service provider, clinical supervisor, program developer, trainer, and administrator. She has also previously served as adjunct faculty in both the Alaska Pacific University and University of Alaska systems. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-approved supervisor and holds a number of other related certifications. Victoria lives in Kodiak, Alaska with her fur babies and is passionate about program design, advocacy, strategy, and systems work.