tosha Jean swan

37 manager of programs & communIcatIon, AnChoRAge ChAMbeR of CoMMeRCe; dIrector, young pRofessionAls gRoup

TOSHA JEAN SWAN

educatIon: Bachelor’s degree, Journalism and Public Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising, University of Alaska Anchorage (2007); Bachelor’s degree, Graphic Design, Full Sail University (2019)

communIty work: Currently, I’m the Vice President of AIGA Alaska, the professional association for design. I’ve been serving on the board since 2016. I’ve also been a member of advisory committees at the UAA Department of Journalism and Public Communications, and the Anchorage School District’s Career Technical Education program.

famIly: 10-year-old daughter LilyAnn (my little mini me), and boyfriend Carlos Pereira Jr (local artist), and old-man dog Monty (he’s 15!). My grandmother is Clare Swan who received an AFN President’s Award for Elder of the Year in 2009, and the CITC Early Learning Center is named after her. She’s an amazing woman who has done a lot for the Kenai Peninsula and our state.

hometown: I was born in Valparaiso, Indiana. Lived in Illinois until I was six before moving to Kenai in 1989 and graduated from Kenai Central High School in 2001. My dad grew up in Alaska and lived in Seward during the ’64 earthquake.

current cIty: Anchorage

what Is your most memorable

alaska experIence? I’m a late bloomer when it comes to hiking and in 2019 my boyfriend, Carlos, led me on my first overnight pack hike to Upper Reed Lake. There was sunshine, rain, and boisterous thunder at the top of the mountain (so cool!). It was an amazing experience and since then we have hiked many trails. We plan to hike Kesugi this summer.

name the person you most

respect and why. My late mother-inlaw (former, now divorced), Vicky Kelly. Vicky had her first fight with cancer back in 1994. She survived and spent the following years living an active and healthy lifestyle, while throwing and attending parties, and traveling. She was always living life to the fullest. In 2007, her cancer returned. She and her husband moved to Colorado to escape the dark winters and to be near long-time friends and yet again, she beat cancer.

Her final fight with cancer started in late 2015. Over the months she tried all kinds of procedures and drugs. She never let any of that slow her down. But finally, she decided no more… her quality of life was more important. She had let go of the drugs and treatments and was going to go as long as her body allowed her to. Sadly, it ended up being much quicker than we all expected. Even in her final days she was cracking jokes and making everyone laugh.

While in hospice care at Providence, she allowed her family to post funny videos of her half-awake trying to floss her teeth. During her sponge baths she allowed her kids to make funny hairstyles. She even started a Facebook group called “Vicky’s Long Walk” calling it her “Wake while she’s awake” and invited all of her family and friends to post photos and share memories. It’s really heartwarming to see the number of people that Vicky touched in her lifetime.

She was everyone’s biggest cheerleader. She taught me that no matter what is going on in your life, you can still enjoy yourself and choose to be happy. Don’t wait for that special occasion to take that vacation, have that fancy dinner, or buy the expensive shoes. The special occasion is being alive. None of us know how much time we have. Vicky was not only my mother-in-law for over 10 years, she was my mentor and friend.

what Is your favorIte pastIme or hobby

away from work? TRAVEL. I love to get out and see the world. I’ve been to Spain, London, Australia, and to every state west of the Mississippi. We just took my daughter to Hawaii back in February, and I’ll be traveling back to Illinois this month, and Texas next month. My bucket list consists of Italy, Greece, New Zealand, Fiji and more!

favorIte quote: “Life is 10 percent what happens to and 90 percent how you respond to it.”

what has been your most rewardIng communIty servIce, and what Is your pItch when you are seekIng others to get Involved In a cause?

So far, my favorite community service experience was when our Young Professionals Group adopted a precinct for the 2020 election last fall. It was actually really fun and heartwarming to meet people from various walks of life. From the little ones who couldn’t wait to get mom or dad’s sticker, the 18-year-olds getting to vote for the first time, the families coming in to vote together, to the sweetest seniors thanking us for volunteering. I look forward to doing that again (minus the pandemic). Shout out to the YPG Vice-Chair,

Tana Skye Nevada, and Community Service Chair, Katie Cole. They both put in 16+ hour days for both the primary and general elections.

In your professIonal lIfe, what has been a project or achIevement you have found

to be the most fulfIllIng? The most fulfilling achievement for me came while working at Alaska Life

Publishing, the publishers of the Alaska Bride & Groom,

ALASKA HOME, and Alaska Parent magazines. After graduating at UAA, and after my summer internship at the Red Cross of Alaska, I started as an editorial assistant in 2007. It was fast-paced and introduced me to a lot of Anchorage business owners. Over the nearly 9 years I worked there I gained experi-

See SWAN, Page 50