Scott has been a public policy and planning consultant for nearly two decades, including fourteen years at McDowell Group and four years with the firm of Brody & Weiser in Branford, Connecticut, where he participated in many assignments for the Ford Foundation and other national funders.
Scott leads many of McDowell Group's most challenging projects. He uses research, facilitation, strategic planning, program evaluation, and organizational analysis to help organizations meet the demands of their missions and the marketplace. He enjoys working with multi-disciplinary consulting teams, and his clients include federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies as well as larger nonprofit and for-profit businesses.
Originally from New York City, Scott lives in Juneau, where he enjoys sailing, basketball, woodworking, and writing original music. He holds a Masters of Public and Private Management from Yale University and a BA from Williams College and has been an adjunct professor at the University Of Alaska Southeast School Of Management.
Since joining McDowell Group in 1998, Donna has managed a wide range of projects including education, health and social services, community development, public policy, and economic analyses. She specializes in coordinating projects that involve high-level interviewing, complex survey research components, and diverse stakeholders. Donna enjoys the ability to develop excellent friendships and long-term client relationships through her work. As one of McDowell Group's senior staff members, she manages the firm's Anchorage office.
Before joining McDowell Group, Donna worked extensively on international business development and emerging market issues for the State of Alaska. Before moving to Alaska in the 1980s, she worked for an Ottawa-based international trade and investment consulting firm and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Donna holds a master's degree in International Political Economy from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. Donna lives in Anchorage with her husband and two sons, and enjoys gardening and fly fishing.
Since joining McDowell Group in 1999, Heather has served in a wide variety of roles: project manager, research analyst, survey designer, and survey analyst, among others. Her areas of expertise include tourism, education, transportation, and economic impact studies. She is considered one of Alaska's leading tourism industry analysts, having worked on a wide array of projects for the State of Alaska, large and small communities, and private sector clients.
Heather earned a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University. She received training in facilitation from Morgan Madison & Company and completed online graduate coursework in market research through the University of Georgia. Heather was named a "Top 40 Under 40" by the Alaska Journal of Commerce in 2007.
Heather works out of Bellingham, Washington (after ten years working in the Juneau office). Outside of her work with McDowell Group, she keeps busy with two young boys and a Latin dance instruction company she runs with her husband Antonio.
Bob manages McDowell Group survey projects including telephone, intercept, and online surveys, ensuring high standards of data collection. He also provides project management and analytical support for a wide array of projects including feasibility studies, economic impact reports, and community and economic development. Bob graduated with honors from the University of Alaska Southeast with a B.A. in Business Management.
Prior to joining McDowell Group in 2003, Bob was employed for more than 20 years by the Waterfall Group managing hotel, restaurant, and resort dock operations. He served as a Board Member and Marketing Committee Chair for the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau and the Southeast Alaska Tourism Council. His personal interests include stone sculpture, gardening, fishing, hunting, and travel.
Chris earned his bachelor's degree in Telecommunications and in English from the University of Oregon. He joined McDowell Group in 1997 and is the firm's senior Seafood Industry Analyst. He has managed the Seafood Market Information Service since 1998, providing market and supply research on Alaska's major commercial species under a long-term contract with Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. He is a contributor and advisor for economic, business feasibility, and community planning projects that include the seafood industry
A lifetime Alaskan, Chris has a strong background in commercial fishing. He remains active in seasonal commercial fisheries for salmon, halibut, sablefish and crab. This experience provides him the ability to augment his research and data expertise with real-world experience in the harvest and processing sectors. He also is a founding board member of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association and serves on the board of the United Fishermen of Alaska. Chris and his wife Lisa live in Juneau and have five daughters, all of whom show a keen interest in fishing!
Andy is a research analyst and project manager specializing in market research and economic impact analyses. He is one of the firm's lead seafood industry analysts, with expertise in markets for Alaska seafood.
After spending six years working for the State of Alaska, Andy joined McDowell Group in March 2010. In his three years as an economist with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, he specialized in nonresident hire analysis and created new data sets dealing with employment in Alaska's seafood industry. He worked on the Alaska Fisheries Revitalization Strategy grant program as the Seafood Development Specialist for the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and spent two years working for the Department of Revenue as an Assistant Investment Officer.
Born and raised on a farm in Minnesota, Andy earned two bachelor's degrees in Finance and Economics while studying at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. After college, Andy spent a year working on the trading floor of the Chicago Board of Trade for an options-trading company. In 2003, Andy moved to Juneau with his wife, Tania. Andy enjoys fishing, softball, hiking, crunching large sets of data, and spending time playing outside with his family.
Weather began her career with McDowell Group as an intern in 2006 and was heavily involved with the Alaska Visitor Statistics Program fielding and data entry. She rejoined the firm in fall 2008 after receiving her B.A. in anthropology from Colby College. One of her first tasks was helping to manage a significant aspect of data collection and analysis for the Alaskan Geographical Differential Study. Her professional interests include economic development, tourism and Alaska Native interests.
Weather was born in Cordova, and raised in Juneau. An Alaskan Native, she is a shareholder in Doyon, Limited. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, fishing, swimming, and traveling.
Michelle has worked on a wide range of projects since joining McDowell Group in 2010. Much of Michelle's work includes extensive research and executive interviews. Michelle also manages the Anchorage survey department for McDowell Group which is presently surveying 1,250 travelers exiting Alaska from the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage.
Prior to joining McDowell Group, Michelle spent 28 years in the insurance industry in Alaska including 22 years owning an Allstate Insurance Agency. Michelle has served on many volunteer boards during her professional career. Currently she is on the boards of both Anchorage East Rotary and UJC Alaska.
Michelle holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Santa Clara and is currently completely coursework for her MBA at Alaska Pacific University.
Tasha has managed survey field staff and provided research support to many projects since joining the firm in 2004. She particularly enjoys research projects that support Alaska Native organizations.
Tasha is an aspiring Tlingit speaker and takes courses in the language through the University of Alaska Southeast. She is also working toward a B.A. in economics, with an emphasis in Alaska Native Studies. Outside the office, Tasha likes to sea kayak, volunteer for the Sitka Chamber of Commerce, and is Captain of McDowell Group's Bowl for Kids' Sake team. Other distractions include her two nephews and her dog, Mr. Bob Marley.
Jim joined McDowell Group in March 2005. Jim is responsible for accounting, financial reporting, human resource and many administrative functions within the organization. A 21-year resident of Juneau, Jim's previous job experience included accounting and administrative positions with both non-profit and for-profit enterprises.
As an avid runner, Jim spends his recreation time running the roads and trails of Juneau. Jim's enthusiasm for running compliments his love of cooking and eating fine food. Jim earned a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.S. in Secondary Social Science Education from Oregon State University.