Management Biography

Executive Director. Ted Leonard was appointed Executive Director of AIDEA May 19, 2008. He was most recently the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. In the Deputy Commissioner capacity, he oversaw the regulatory divisions of the department which included the Division of Insurance, the Division of Banking and Securities, and the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. He served as the Commissioner's designee on the boards of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, and the Alaska Community Service Commission.

Ted has worked for the last 19 years in both the government and private sector in the areas of finance and accounting in Alaska including the Mat-Su and Lower Kuskokwim School Districts as well as the city of Dillingham. He also served as the Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the City of Wasilla.

He received his undergraduate degree from the College of Idaho and holds a Masters of Management from Willamette University. He is a Certified Management Accountant and Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Deputy Director-Finance. Ms. Walker was appointed to this position in 1987. Her responsibilities include accounting, budgeting, investments, purchasing, personnel and data processing. Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Walker was employed in the finance division of an Alaskan commercial bank for five years and for an international certified public accounting firm for seven years. Ms. Walker is a Certified Public Accountant and received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Deputy Director-Credit. Ms. Anderson was appointed to this position in May 2006.  Ms. Anderson will be in charge of AIDEA’s credit department and general business development.  In that capacity, Chris will head AIDEA’s Credit Committee, as well as its financing programs which include loan participations, business and export assistance, conduit revenue bonds and development finance efforts.  A former banker, Chris held the position of Vice President and Manager of the Real Estate Construction and Income Property Department, as well as serving as the Appraisal Review Officer during her 19-year career at Key Bank.  Chris holds a BS in Occupational Education with an emphasis in Business Administration.  She has taken the state test for general certified appraisers and is an income property financier.  Chris’ public service record includes President of the International Right of Way Association, where she obtained her Senior Right-of-Way Agent (SR/WA) certification, serving on the Municipality of Anchorage’s Board of Equalization and also serving on the Board of the American Red Cross, Southcentral Chapter.  Most recently, Chris came to AIDEA from the Alaska Railroad Corporation where she was Program Manager for Land and Right of Way, responsible for acquiring land for all of the Railroad’s capital projects.

Deputy Director-Operations. Sara Fisher-Goad, Deputy Director–Operations.  Ms. Fisher-Goad was appointed to this position in October 2006.  Her responsibilities include coordinating the Authority’s governmental affairs and information systems services; in addition, she serves as the Authority’s personnel officer.  Ms. Fisher-Goad has been employed with the Authority since November 2000; in her previous position as financial analyst for the Authority Ms. Fisher-Goad acted as legislative liaison and coordinated annual budget submissions to the Legislature.  Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Fisher-Goad worked as a project manager for Springsted Incorporated, an independent financial advisory firm in St. Paul, Minnesota.  At Springsted, Ms. Fisher-Goad structured bond issues for municipal clients.  Ms. Fisher-Goad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from University of Alaska Fairbanks; she is completing degree requirements for a Master of Business Administration at University of Alaska Anchorage.

Deputy Director-Development. James Hemsath has thirty years experience in the energy fields, including managing research projects in the development of Arctic energy.  Beginning with fuel cell research as an undergraduate, Hemsath spent over 25 years working in the oil industry as a project manager and consultant with special expertise in Management of Change, Technical and Mechanical Integrity, and the application of management systems. He has additional experience as a faculty member of the Engineering and Science Management Department of a regional university; teaching classes in quality management, project and engineering management, as well as knowledge management and operations research. In 2003 was awarded a NASA Faculty Fellowship and developed a dynamic simulation model to assist in the staffing projections at Kennedy Space Center.

Most recently he was with the Department of Energy’s Arctic Energy Office managing research projects at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  He developed and led an International Polar Year project on Arctic Energy culminating in an international Arctic Energy Technology Conference in October 2007.

Hemsath has an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan; and Master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management.  He is currently working on a PhD in energy management.  Hemsath is a licensed Professional Engineer and a certified Project Management Professional.