Roger is President of Hames Corporation in Sitka, Alaska. The company is a third generation family owned business, begun by his grandparents back in 1949 and consists of two grocery stores and two convenience centers in Sitka. They also own a retail liquor store in Ketchikan. Hames grew up in the family business and knew that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps since the 5th grade.

Hames was born and raised in Sitka and after attending their public schools, graduated Sitka High School. He attended Oregon State University, then returned to Sitka and began his carrier in the family business. During this time he unexpectedly met Mary Whiteley while in southern California when he was bowling with his grandparents. Shortly thereafter, they married and raised three sons; Andrew, Roger and Brian. They now enjoy spoiling two grandchildren, Justin and Morgan.

He is extensively involved in the Sitka community and has served as President of the Sitka Chamber of Commerce in addition to the Sheldon Jackson College board where he invested many years with each. He currently holds a Sitka seat on the Southeast Alaska Advisory Board for Alaska Airlines, is the Sitka Cemetery Association President, along with serving on the Raptor Center board. His passion is the overall health of the Sitka business community where he serves on the Sitka Economic Development Association board that he helped founded in 1997, and was its President the first twelve years.

Hames was asked to serve on the Raptor Center board after an ambitious and relentless pursuit by its Chair, Paula Scott!
Love for the outdoors that includes the beauty and wildlife that surrounds him in the community he lives and his strong belief in giving back to the community both with his time and resources, are strong and compelling reasons why he serves on the Alaska Raptor Center board.

Diana Fowler is a native New Yorker who has lived in Washington State since 1992. She lives there with husband, John, and three cats. An animal lover all her life, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Alaska Raptor Center when she visited Sitka on a cruise to Alaska in 1993. She was immediately engaged by the people at the Center and the wonderful work she learned that they do. So, she became a volunteer, and has since become a bird handler. She feels privileged to work with the resident birds “on the glove”. She also has the joy of cleaning up bird poop and cutting up fish for diets!

Diana and her husband also enjoy travelling in their motorhome and playing golf. She has been a Board member since 1999 and is currently a Board Member.

Education

Master of Business Administration, University of British Columbia
Marketing, Finance
Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia
Accounting Management Information Systems, Human Resources

Business Experience

Knightly Tours, President 2003 – Present
Developed FIT program for agents to sell cruise and tour or land only vacations in Alaska and Western Canada

Uniworld Global Vice President Marketing & Strategic Development 2002 – 2003
Developed self-insurance program, which increased cash flow and reduced costs to guests.
Developed strategy to sell company products in Canada complying with all Canadian laws.

Travel Services International President Air and Packaging Division 2000 – 2001
Managed two businesses that retailed travel to consumers.
Managed three businesses that wholesaled travel products through travel agents.
Created a new company to retail package vacations, as a brand extension

Holland America Line, Vice President Marketing 1995 – 2000
Designed strategic and tactical programs, and subsequent communications to achieve revenue targets.
Planned, implemented and managed $40 million annual marketing budget.
Developed and implemented programs to introduce three new ships.

Princess Cruises, Vice President Marketing and Sales Princess Tours 1986 -1995
Designed and implemented sales and marketing programs that moved Princess Tours from the number two market position in Alaska to the number one market share position.

Sundance Cruises, Vice President Tours 1984 – 1986
Designed and implemented the onboard shore excursions sales program.
Developed inventory system to maximize revenue for car deck sales
Designed and implemented tour program to fill ship beds, in both Alaska and Mexico.

Holland America Line, Director South Central Operations 1978 – 1984
Director of South-Central Alaska Operations
Division Manager Anchorage, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Directed all guest logistics in Whitehorse and then Anchorage.
Developed Gray Line of Alaska brand identity and marketing program to sell under utilized company assets.
Develop marketing plan to develop brand awareness of new product and tactical

Professional Association

1984 – 2013
Alaska Travel Industry Association
Board Positions Marketing Council Positions
President Chair
Vice Chair Planning Chair
Finance Chair Advertising Chair
Government Relations Chair Research Chair

Born and raised in Petersburg, Alaska, Mr. Kito graduated from Petersburg High School in 1955. He attended Western Washington State College and served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. He received technical and management training at the RCA Institute in New York and worked with them in several capacities from 1962-1971.
…more on SAM KITO, JR.
Mr. Kito then turned his attention to Native issues, becoming Executive Director of the Fairbanks Native Association, Executive Director of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, and Executive Vice-President of Doyon, Ltd. He left Doyon in 1975 to become the President of the Alaska Federation of Natives. In 1982 he was elected as Chairman of the Board of AFN and served in that capacity for two elected terms.

Mr. Kito has also been extensively involved in educational issues in Alaska. He was elected to the Fairbanks School Board, and served one year as the Board President. Later, Mr. Kito was appointed to serve on the Alaska State Board of Education, the Commission on Post-Secondary Education, the Vocational Education Advisory Board, and the University of Alaska Board of Regents. He also served as Founding Director of Alaska Pacific University’s Alaska Native Institute and on the Development Committee for the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. He currently serves on the Board of the First Alaskans Institute.

Since 1977 Mr. Kito has been President of Kito, Inc., a lobbying firm representing clients in Juneau and in Washington, D.C. He is the proud father of five children and four grandchildren.

Linda Huston is the Director of Seabourn Shore Excursions based in Seattle, Washington.  Linda lived seasonally in the Yukon Territory and Southeast Alaska for fifteen years working with various cruise lines before settling in Seattle full-time in 2006.  Originally from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, she has always loved living near the ocean and close to all the indigenous wildlife that is a highlight of living in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Linda is a huge sports and music fan and working for the cruise lines has also allowed her to explore the world as often as she can, including the beautiful State of Alaska.

Jamey Cagle’s career in the visitor industry began over 30 years ago when he became a deckhand for Allen Marine Tours, a company founded by his grandparents in Sitka. After graduating from Mt. Edgecumbe High School, he received his captain’s license and continued his career with the company.

Jamey played an integral role in Allen Marine’s growth from a small organization with just a few vessels, to a company that employs over 500 individuals seasonally and operates over 70 vessels. His responsibilities also include executive management of Allen Marine Inc., the company’s shipyard, and Alaskan Dream Cruises, a small ship cruise line. He now serves as President/CEO of the company.

With Tlingit heritage and strong roots in Alaska, he cares deeply for the future of our great state and visitor industry.

Noah Rogers joined the Alaska Raptor Center board of directors in January 2025, bringing a wealth of experience, a rich background in the Alaskan tourism industry, and a deep commitment to community engagement. Since 2023, Noah served as the Port Manager for Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska in Sitka.

Originally from New Hampshire, Noah first moved to Juneau for a brief three-month stint during the summer of 2014, a transition between his academic studies at Virginia Tech and AmeriCorps service. The allure of Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes and vibrant tourism industry captured his heart, leading him to extend his stay. After several summer seasons, Noah decided to permanently relocate to Sitka in 2018 and has held various roles with Princess and Alaskan Dream Cruises. Outside of work, Noah treasures the small-town charm of Sitka, where he resides with his wife, Ingrid and son Nicco. 

John Hix is the CEO and Owner of JH Enterprises a Consulting business specializing in Quality Systems Research and Method Development based in Enumclaw Washington.   John is a life-long resident of Washington State where he still lives with his wife Judy.  

John and Judy took a cruise for their honeymoon to Alaska and fell in love with the picturesque landscape and raw beauty and have been coming back every year since.  It was no accident that John found the Raptor Center, with a BS degree in Wildlife Biology and a passion for animals he was drawn to the Center’s magnetism.

Alessandra Frichtl is the Senior Community Relations Specialist for Alaska Airlines. She is responsible for corporate giving and managing relationships with nonprofit organizations in the state of Alaska. In 2022, Alessandra was appointed secretary of the Alaska Airlines Foundation.

Alessandra has a bachelor’s degree in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management from Columbia College. She is currently on the board of ambassadors for the American Cancer Society. A long time Oregonian, Alessandra moved to Alaska in 2013 seeking an adventure. While working for the Alaskan Ace’s hockey team, Alessandra met her wonderful husband Cody. In 2022, they welcomed a new baby girl.

Director of Business and Commercial Development, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.