Two appointed to ANGDA board

Gov. Sarah Palin appointed two new members to the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority last fall, Kate Lamal of Fairbanks and Don Benson of Palmer.

As of mid-February there was one vacancy on the board.

Continuing members include Bob Favretto of Kenai, whose term expires in 2009; Scott Heyworth of Anchorage, the current chairman, whose term expires in June; Lorie Hovanec of Anchorage, whose term expires in 2009; and Dan Sullivan of Anchorage, whose term expires in June.

Lamal is vice president of Golden Valley Electric Association, the member-owned power cooperative for the Fairbanks area. In addition to working in power generation and transmission, Lamal has worked in environmental geology and exploration geology in Alaska, and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from the University of Washington.

Benson, project manager and construction superintendent for New Horizons Telecom Inc. — a facility design, construction and project management firm — has experience in managing fuel infrastructure projects across Alaska. Benson previously had a 20-year career in commercial aviation, working as a federally certified aviation mechanic and as a commercial bush pilot delivering fuel and other cargo throughout the state.

Benson, a lifelong Alaskan, is a descendent of original Palmer colonists.

The governor also appointed John Kelsey, a former member of the ANGDA board, to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority board.

—Petroleum News