By Melinda Munson

Long-time resident Jaime Bricker is set to be Skagway’s official ambassador. She was approved as tourism director at the Nov. 4 assembly meeting.

Skagway Traditional Council president and school board member, Bricker has worked at White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad for nearly fifteen years. She left a previous job and started at WP&YR in accounts payable to have less responsibility and more time being a mom. She’s leaving the railroad as director of public relations.

Bricker has a degree in human resource management with a recent certification in cultural heritage tourism.

“There are so many ideas floating around in my head, I can’t wait to share with the board,” she said.

Bricker admits her salary with the borough will be “a little bit” less than her current employment. She thinks the opportunity for growth and the “notion of being able to do the things I love as my job” make up for any financial losses.

“I feel like the job is so well suited for me,” she said.

Bricker brings her “knowledge of the way the port has run historically” along with an energy for “dealing with a whole new port” when the borough takes its harbor operations back from WP&YR in March of 2023. 

Bricker is looking forward to working with Cody Jennings, former tourism director and Skagway’s first port director. 

“We work very well together,” Bricker said. (The two are sister-in-laws.)

Bricker expects to work with the community to develop a marketing plan, to increase tourism during the shoulder season and to incorporate more Native Alaskan culture into the fabric of Skagway.

“I hope to make Skagway very proud in this new position,” she said.

Mayor Andrew Cremata, Assemblymember Sam Bass, Borough Manager Brad Ryan and Skagway Visitor and Convention Bureau Chair Beth Smith were on the hiring committee.

According to Ryan, five applications were reviewed and two applicants were interviewed.

“The hiring committee unanimously recommended that Jaime Bricker be appointed to the tourism director position. All of the applicants were exemplary, but Ms. Bricker stood out and I believe she will be an asset to the municipality and community,” he said.