Scott has been an organizational, public policy, and planning consultant for 15 years, including a decade at McDowell Group and four years with the firm of Brody & Weiser in Branford, Connecticut. He holds a master's degree in Public and Private Management from Yale University and a B.A. from Williams College.
Scott leads many of McDowell Group's most challenging projects. He uses research, facilitation, strategic planning and program evaluation skills to help organizations match their staffing, systems and financial assets to the demands of their missions and the marketplace.
He enjoys working with multi-disciplinary consulting teams and social ventures and agencies of all sorts. Originally from New York City, Scott has lived and worked in Alaska since the mid-1970s, primarily in Juneau where he enjoys sailing, basketball, woodworking, and writing and recording original music.
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.
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 four daughters, all of whom show a keen interest in fishing!
Heather has managed projects and conducted research on numerous assignments since joining the firm nearly 10 years ago. 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. She has also worked extensively on complex survey projects, education-related projects, economic impact studies, and feasibility studies.
Outside of her work with McDowell Group, Heather runs a Latin dance instruction school. In 2006, she founded a four-day annual dance festival (Juneau DanceFest). She is a former Board President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Alaska.
Heather is currently working from Lima, Peru, but will re-join the Juneau office in 2009. Heather earned a B.A. from Harvard University and has completed online graduate coursework in market research. Heather was named a "Top 40 Under 40" by the Alaska Journal of Commerce in 2007.
Bob manages McDowell Group's survey department, ensuring high standards of data collection. He also provides project management and analytical support for a wide array of McDowell Group projects including community and economic development. Bob graduated with honors from the University of Alaska Southeast with a B.A. in Business Management. He recently completed a professional advancement course with the Burke Institute on effective survey design techniques.
Prior to joining McDowell Group in 2003, Bob was employed for more than 20 years by the Waterfall Group. 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 gardening, fishing, hunting, and travel.
Toby joined McDowell Group in 2007 after completing an interdisciplinary master's degree in environmental economics from Simon Fraser University in Canada. He previously worked for the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He has studied Alaska fisheries, tourism, resource development and the socioeconomics of rural Alaska communities. Originally from Germany, Toby is passionate about Alaska and finding solutions for sustainable economic development.
In his free time, Toby enjoys the trails, waters, and slopes of the Alaska backcountry. He is an avid photographer, likes to visit his family in Germany, and enjoys teaching others how to become better skiers and runners. Before coming to Alaska in 2000, Toby competed on the German National Team for cross country skiing. His athletic career continued at UAA where he received All America Honors in skiing and cross country running. Toby is a previous winner of the Tour of Anchorage ski marathon, the Mount Marathon Race, and the Crow Pass Crossing.
A lifelong Alaskan, Meilani has nearly 20 years of professional and academic focus on Alaska's economic and natural resource issues. Since joining McDowell Group in 2006, Meilani has contributed her research and data analysis skills to many assignments including economic and socio-economic analyses, employee surveys, and transportation projects.
Previously, Meilani was the Executive Director of Southeast Conference. Meilani has also worked for Alaska Legislative Research and served as a staffer to the US Legislative Minority Leader. She holds a master's degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Oregon and a B.A. from Colby College. While she has lived in or traveled to more than 50 countries, Meilani now uses her spare energy to chase after her two small sons.
Ashleigh contributes her research and project management skills to wide range of assignments including rural development, community planning, economic impact analyses, and public opinion surveys. Since joining McDowell Group in 2006, Ashleigh has enjoyed the incredible variety of her day-to-day tasks. Ashleigh brings five years of program coordination experience to the firm, having worked at a state international trade agency and an international peace-building organization. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Wellesley College and is continuing her studies in economics.
Passionate about travel, Ashleigh tries to incorporate it into her work and studies whenever possible. Upon moving to Alaska, she traveled extensively throughout the state. Ashleigh lived in Switzerland for three years, and spent time in Northern Ireland and South Africa.
Jim joined McDowell Group in March 2005. Jim is responsible for accounting, financial reporting, human resource and many administrative functions within the organization. An 18-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 and serves as the Treasurer of Juneau's local running club. 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.
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.
Fran has worked for McDowell Group since 1999, primarily providing management and technical support for the survey department. In 2001, she worked full-time with the firm on Alaska Travelers Survey, a statewide visitor industry project. At the end of the project, she continued in a part-time capacity, ever broadening the scope of her knowledge and responsibilities.
Fran recently retired from the City and Borough of Juneau, where she was the Executive Secretary to the Deputy Manager. She recently resumed full-time employment as a Statewide Field Manager for the ongoing visitor industry survey and will continue to participate in a wide variety of other projects. In her "spare time," she loves to ski, bike and garden. She and her husband hike with their 2 dogs and escape to their remote cabin whenever possible. She also loves to give sage advice to her two almost adult daughters via email.