Face to Face
Janie Leask
Community Relations Manager

Janie Leask is a lifelong Alaskan who grew up in Anchorage and the Tsimshian community of Metlakatla, just south of Ketchikan. She graduated from East Anchorage High School and has worked in community relations for almost four decades. She joined Alyeska’s Corporate Communications team in 1999.

Janie is an avid hockey player who plays on a team with her 25-year-old son, David. She also enjoys yoga, traveling and organizing networking events for her friends.

Q: Why are corporate community relations important?

In any business it’s important for people in the community to understand your company and know that it’s a good corporate citizen. We use a variety of techniques to achieve this goal, including public presentations, participation on boards and making contributions to nonprofit community organizations.

Q: How do you help Alyeska interact with community groups?

I try to nurture a variety of community relationships and help decide which nonprofits should receive our support. I manage the donations budget. Our focus is on promoting activities, organizations and causes that empower children to be responsible, caring, respectful and productive citizens. I also work with David Wight’s President’s Community Panel - a group of thirteen people who reflect a broad cross-section of Alaska communities and industries. The Panel provides a quarterly forum that helps familiarize Alaskans with Alyeska. Panel members learn about TAPS initiatives and provide feedback to our president and senior management team. I also help coordinate community breakfasts and dinners for the president, serve as an advisor on Alaska Native issues and work directly with Native organizations. In addition, I represent Alyeska at events, assist senior managers in placement on community boards and helped to start Alyeska’s Corporate Women’s Networking Group and the Generation X Networking Group.

Q: What community projects have you worked on recently?

I coordinated the TAPS United Way campaign. I also help with Day of Caring, Blue Jeans Clean-Up Day and organize company tables at various community events including the Boys & Girls Club Gala, KNBA Alaska Native Art Auction, Bean & Jeans and the Catholic Social Services Ball.

Q: What are your goals for TAPS?

My goals are to be as open as possible with people about Alyeska and to build good relationships and networks with state and community leaders in an effort to help them understand Alyeska’s critical changes and challenges.