Michelle Klouda

Owner / Principal,

RIM Architects

Hometown: The World

Current City: Anchorage

Education: Bachelor of Architecture, University of Oregon

Community Work: Early in my career I began to invest time in the Anchorage Post of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). SAME supported me by providing college scholarships, so I figured it was a great place to reciprocate through volunteerism. Eventually I held a seat on SAME’s Board of Directors which I still serve on today. By 2019, I served as President of the Anchorage Post. During my tenure on the Board, I catalyzed volunteer activities, planned SAME’s regional conference and led scholarship fundraising efforts to award $20,000 in scholarships annually. Because of my efforts with the SAME Anchorage Post, I was recently selected to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Benjamin B. Talley Scholarship Endowment Fund, established to provide scholarships to students in the STEM field. Realizing my impact through community service, I expanded my volunteerism to civic engagement. In 2016, I was elected Vice President of the Downtown Community Council and then to the President’s seat in 2017. During my time in this leadership role, I helped create the Marijuana and Alcohol Committee, implemented a communications plan for the Council, and spearheaded how the Council responds and provides input into the Capital Improvement Plan and Capital Improvement Budget for the city. During my work on the Downtown Community Council, I realized a healthy downtown creates a vibrant community. To support a thriving downtown, I joined the Board of Directors for the Anchorage Downtown Partnership (ADP) in 2017, and continue to be an active board member. I am an advocate for Downtown’s vitality, cleanliness and safety through my work on the Board of Directors. I currently serve as the board’s Vice President. As Alaska’s economy continued to develop challenges, I became interested in economic development. In fall 2020, I became a Director on the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation board to help grow a prosperous, sustainable and diverse economy. In the past two years, I have participated in many initiatives that AEDC has catalyzed, specifically representing AEDC on the community efforts of AAA and RVSA – a grassroots, action-oriented group of business owners, industry leaders and nonprofit organizations working to create a vital and safe Anchorage. Outside of work and board duties, I love to give back to the community in other ways. I am part of a group of young women who adopt a family for Christmas each year, working to make Christmas a little more magical for families in need. I also lead an initiative called Ladies Philandering with Philanthropy, which purchases tables at nonprofit events to support and create community. Family: I have a wonderful partner, Nolan Klouda, and we have two beautiful children, Cecilia (2.5) and Winston (9 months). I am the oldest of four children and my siblings, Andrew, Aaron, and Audrey are in Alaska, San Francisco, and Chicago. My parents, Tim and Linda Gallagher also reside in Anchorage.

What is your favorite place in Alaska

and why? I love Trail River campground during the summer. It provides mini weekend vacations all summer with Kenai Lake and hiking trails nearby.

Name the person you respect and why My Opa.

He passed a few years ago, but will always be my guiding light. He embodied patience, gratitude, generosity and humility.

What is your favorite pastime or hobby away from

work? Cycling the trails of Anchorage. I love to get out on the trails, especially in the summer. We’re looking forward to taking the kids out this year and getting our miles in. What was your first job? Unofficially, babysitting. Officially, my first job was in high school at an In and Out Processing Center for the military when my family was stationed in Vilseck, Germany.

What has been your most rewarding community

service? My most rewarding community service was my time as the Downtown Community Council’s president. It was empowering to know I was positively impacting the community, but also a very humbling experience. One must learn to navigate many polarizing opinions, steer the public process, maintain neutrality and guide the council’s direction through consensus. The ownership and vitality that individuals have for their community is inspiring. Cont. on Page 56