Board Of Directors

Biographies

Max Gruner - Anchorage
Executive Director

Max came to Alaska form New Mexico about ten years ago in search of adventure and curious about the last frontier’s incredible backcountry.  Having grown up in Europe, he started hiking and climbing in the Alps.  Upon moving to the US, Max spent time climbing in the White Mountains in New Hampshire before moving to Santa Fe, NM to pursue an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts and graduate degree in Eastern Studies from St. John’s College.  During his time in school, Max spent much time working in Mountain Search and Rescue, specializing in high angle rescues and backcountry medicine.  Max has spent his professional career in the non-profit arena starting by developing innovative educational programs for middle and high school students and then working as an administrator for a state-wide human service agency.   Max is very motivated to bring his professional experience in program development and management to his work as the executive director of Alaska Trails to enhance our mission and ensure the sustained growth of our efforts to develop great trails throughout Alaska by fostering public engagement and education.

Geoffrey Orth - Fairbanks
President

Geoff currently works as a freelance photographer in Interior Alaska.  He has resided in Alaska for over 30 years and throughout this time has enjoyed Alaska’s backcountry.    He has a graduate degree in anthropology and has worked as a biologist, anthropologist and commercial fisherman;  he was an early member of the Alaska Wilderness Guides Association and has a Vessel Master’s License (100 ton).  Geoff has participated in trail construction and maintenance projects, is very interested in efforts to educate users in trail etiquette, and in promoting the expansion of trails in the state for all user groups.  His favorite pursuits are trail running, mountain biking, x-c skiing and surfing (though not in Alaska).  Geoff is also a member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s Trail Advisory Commission and the chair of the Ester Trail Group.

Jillian Morrissey
Secretary

Jillian Morrissey has a M.S. in Environmental Education from Lesley University and a B.A. in Spanish for Antioch College.  From 1999 to 2005 she served as a trail crew leader and work skills instructor for Student Conservation Association.  From 2006 to 2007 she led SAGA’s Alaska Service Corps and Serve Alaska Youth Corps as their Northern Program Manager and then, Director.  She has also worked as adjunct faculty for Alaska Pacific University’s Graduate Program in Outdoor and Environmental Education.

Malcolm McEwen - Fairbanks
Treasurer

I have lived in Fairbanks Alaska for 22 years. I am married and have two dogs. I received my Bachelor degree in Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1991. I worked for the Institute of Marine Science at UAF throughout the 1990’s on various projects (Invertebrates and Herring) related to the Oil spill in Prince William Sound. I currently work for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a Fishery Biologist managing two chum salmon sonar projects in SW Alaska.

I am an avid outdoors person. I enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking, bicycling and photography. I enjoy cycling year round both road biking and mountain biking. I have been hiking in the interior, south central and south east Alaska on day hikes and multiple overnight trips.

I have been involved with the Fairbanks Cycle Club for the past 10 years, in various aspects. I have helped organize mountain bike races and organize the bike swap, the Cycle Clubs fund raiser. I have served on the board as President and Vice President for four years.

Wayne Biessel - Kodiak
Board Member

Born and raised in Michigan, Wayne knew early on that he wasn't meant for flat land living. He moved to Alaska in 1981 where he finished his BS in Natural Resource Management at UAF. He started working for Alaska State Parks in 1983 as a crew leader for the Alaska Conservation Corps. Working in the Chena River State Recreation Area out of Fairbanks, he lead crews on trail projects and helped re-open some of the old trails in the park for snowmachines and ATV's, and was involved in the establishment of the park's popular public use cabin program. Since then he has worked in Tok, Kenai Peninsula, and Kachemak Bay. While at KB, he managed the new construction of 50+ miles of trails in four years.

Wayne became the Kodiak District Ranger in 1999 and been directly involved with the District's aggressive hiking trails program. He has continued upgrading about five miles of trails at Ft. Abercrombie State Historic Park through grants and a great deal of local community support. He recently wrote a trail plan for Ft. Abercrombie using the basic framework of Sustainable Trails -- the first of its kind in the Division and only the fourth Trails Plan in State Parks.

Wayne was actively involved with Alaska Trails in the sustainable trail training curriculum development, and has helped instruct at all of their statewide workshops. He is currently advocating for statewide trail standards and classifications that will help the Alaskan trails community construct and maintain a stronger and healthier trails system. He is a strong supporter of all types of trail use, and enjoys getting out by
whatever means possible, and especially likes sharing trails with his wife Kathy and 4 boys. He enjoys hunting, but is most passionate about sport fishing in the waters off Kodiak.

Karl Kassel - Fairbanks
Board Member

Outdoor Recreation Coordinator for University of Alaska Fairbanks (6 yrs.)
Parks Superintendent, FNSB (14 yrs.)
Director of Parks and Recreation, FNSB (1 yr.)
Chair, Park Maintenance Section, Alaska Recreation and Park Assoc. (1 yr.)
President-Elect, Alaska Recreation and Park Assoc. (1 yr.)
President, Alaska Recreation and Park Assoc. (current)
President, Goldstream Valley Trail Users Assoc. (5 yrs.)
President, Alaska Dog Mushers' Assoc. (1 yr.)
Vice-President, Alaska Dog Mushers' Assoc. (1 yr.)
Trail Manager, Alaska Dog Mushers' Assoc. (3 yrs.)
Lifetime Member, Alaska Dog Mushers' Assoc. (25 yrs.)
President, Yukon Quest (1 yr.)
Vice-President, Yukon Quest (2 yrs.)
Trail Breaker, Yukon Quest (3 yrs.)
Hiking and Camping Coordinator, Rochester BOLD (Blind Outdoor Leisure
Development) (2 yrs.)
Avid trail user (40 yrs.) hiking, canoeing, dog mushing, skijoring

George Schaaf - Juneau
Board Member

George Schaaf is the executive director of Trail Mix, a nonprofit partnership of local volunteers and government agencies dedicated to improving and expanding Juneau’s world-class trail system.  Schaaf brought to Trail Mix a diverse background in law, journalism, and outdoor recreation.  As a trail crew leader for the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, he supervised the construction and rehabilitation of alpine trails throughout the state.  More recently, Schaaf worked for the Tongass National Forest as a wilderness ranger at Admiralty Island National Monument.  Schaaf also has extensive land use law experience, and served as the executive director of a nonprofit organization serving more than 1,200 families on the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island.  Schaaf has two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Florida before attending Lewis & Clark School of Law in Portland, OR.