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Jack Wilbur has been the president of Design Alaska since 1995. A fourth generation Alaskan resident, he was born and raised in Fairbanks. Jack believes there is no better place to live and raise a family than in Alaska, and that a strong engineering community is essential to the growth of the Alaskan economy.

Jack is a Member of the Fairbanks Downtown Rotary, United Way of the Tanana Valley, and the Fairbanks Youth Orchestra Council. He has coached the North Star Little League and served on the Executive Committee of the Midnight Sun Council of Boy Scouts of America. Jack was elected as Engineer of the Year in 2002, and awarded Business Leader of the Year in 2007.

When Jack is not at work, you can usually find him skiing, camping, fishing, or canoeing the local rivers.

Chris Miller was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a resident Alaskan currently living in a log home in Fairbanks with his wife Angie. Chris followed Angie to Fairbanks where she earned her Degree in Wildlife Biology. Chris stuck to his principles, believing it would be easier to find a good job in Fairbanks than a good wife anywhere else.

Chris is responsible for overall supervision of design of mechanical systems including HVAC, fire protection, plumbing, water supply and distribution, and sewage disposal systems. Projects range from small assignments under indefinite delivery agreements to large building complexes and include new construction, additions, renovation, remodeling and repair. His willingness to be involved in our community has allowed him to be a member of the FNSB Planning Commission since 2003.

Chris enjoys the steel drums, archery, camping, hiking, and visiting Alaska’s wilderness.

James Bartlett has been a resident of Alaska since 1981. He graduated from Montana State University in 1995, and shortly after returned to Alaska with his Bachelors of Architecture. James has been with Design Alaska since 1996, and is highly involved with the company and with the local AIA branch.

In his spare time James is a member of the Fairbanks Curling Club. Along with curling, he also enjoys spending time with his significant other Jennifer, snowboarding, and getting outside as much as possible.

Bob Gras graduated in 1972 from Montana State University with his Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering, and moved to Alaska shortly thereafter. In 1985, while living in Anchorage, Bob met his wife Karen and they soon moved to Fairbanks. The two of them have been living in Fairbanks for 28 years, and Bob’s career with Design Alaska began in 1986.

Bob is involved with, IEEE, the American Society for Professional Engineers (ASPE), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI).

In his spare time Bob is an avid Scuba diver, and noted that, “Alaska is the only place he has ever seen a mountain goat while scuba diving…” He also enjoys sailing, river boating, canoeing, skiing, and most things outdoors.

Mike Dean graduated in 1969 from Oregon State with his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. He moved to Alaska on two days notice to take a Structural job in Anchorage, and has lived in Alaska ever since. He and his wife, Penny, moved to Fairbanks about ten years ago and love the small town feel. Since living in Fairbanks, Mike has gone on to receive his Masters in Engineering and Science Management and is currently completing his Masters of Civil Engineering, both from the University of Alaska. Mike holds his professional registration in four states, including Alaska. In their spare time, Mike and Penny enjoy working around the house, and taking advantage of all that Alaska has to offer.

“There are no problems that are too severe that wearing a nicely colored tie can’t solve… the more severe the problem, the more colorful my ties become.”
- Mike Dean

Linda Taylor graduated with a Masters of Environmental Engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She began her engineering career working for the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology in Little Rock, Arkansas. She and her family moved to Alaska in 1982 when she accepted a job with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). She retired from ADEC and began working for Design Alaska the next week.

Linda’s husband is always telling her that she does things backwards, especially when she went back to school to get her Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks after she retired from ADEC. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and participates in MATHCOUNTS.

A good space opera or hand embroidering items fills her spare time between work and family. “I also love ‘Huck Finn’ fishing when I am at my mother-in-law’s farm. I supply enough fish to have a great fish fry during my visit.”

Eric Gabrielson moved to Alaska in 1992 after obtaining his AAS degree in Surveying and Mapping from Paul Smith’s College in upstate NY. Graduating from the University of Alaska Anchorage with his BS degree in Surveying in 1994, he moved to Fairbanks with his wife, Suzanne, to begin his career with Design Alaska. He started surveying while in high school, and has stayed abreast with current technologies. Eric is a member of the Geomatics Advisory Board for the University of Alaska, and is a past president of the Fairbanks Chapter of the Alaska Society of Professional Land Surveyors (ASPLS.)

When he isn’t pondering all things surveying, Eric will be planning his next trip, improvements around the house, or a culinary creation in the kitchen. Alaska is a way of life, and he rarely misses an opportunity to explore the trails and rivers of the state. Eric feels fortunate to have a career in something that he loves to do, in such a beautiful location, with such a great company.

Jeff Putnam graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Immediately after graduation Jeff came to Alaska and met his wife Sunni. With the exception of two years in South Carolina working for the Air Force, they have been in Fairbanks since they were married. Jeff became a PE in 2002 and a PMP in 2009. Jeff completed a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management in 2010 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Jeff is the current Vice President of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Polaris Post, the President of the American Society of Professional Engineers (ASPE) Fairbanks Chapter, and a member of the Project Management Institute – Alaska Chapter. Jeff is in his second year of helping SAME conduct a balsa wood bridge breaking contest at a local high school.

Jeff enjoys tying flies and fly fishing. He also makes treks to fish for kings and silvers each year. Together with his family they do lots of camping, riding ATVs, river boating, and enjoying the outdoors.

Kym Pihlaja graduated from the University of Alaska in 2000 with a degree in Office management and technology, and is currently a Certified Administrative Professional. She has been an Alaskan resident for over 30 years, and claims that she wouldn’t live anywhere else. She enjoys getting out to her cabin at Birch Lake to canoe, play on Sea Doos, and generally just relax. If she is not at the lake, Kym can be found enjoying time with her family that consists of her husband Keith, her son, daughter, two puppies and her 13 year old macaw. Kym is highly involved with the International Association for Administrative Professionals (IAAP.) This involvement ensures that Design Alaska’s administrative staff continues to be at the top of their field technologically, and educationally.

Kym is Design Alaska’s, Office manager, H.R. manager, and supervisor of our admin staff.