Business Leader of the Year
Overview
Tracy Vanairsdale has been announced the 2024 UAF Business Leader of the Year! Tracy is the president/principal of Bettisworth North Architects and Planners Inc. and manages the Fairbanks office. Vanairsdale received numerous letters of support from employees, colleagues, volunteer partners and past award recipients.
The College of Business and Security Management has been honoring business leaders since 1977. Recipients of the award are selected by a committee of UAF College of Business and Security Management students, faculty, advisory board members and former recipients based on merits of leadership, business accomplishments, community involvement and educational support.
Student Involvement
This event is unique because students play a major role in the planning and attendance. Student committees include: Co-chairs, Decorations, Door Prizes, Raffle Ticket Sales, Marketing, and Volunteer Management.
Meet our BLOY Co-Chairs
Marcelo is a standout student in Business Administration and Accounting. He is a member of student organizations Great Alaskan Accounting People (GAAP) and Native Alaskan Business Leaders (NABL), as well as a student assistant for the CBSM dean's office. In 2024, he traveled with NABL to Las Vegas where they won first place in a pitch contest at American Indigenous Business Leader's (AIBL) National Business and Leadership Student Conference. Marcelo was also hired as an intern for KPMG in Anchorage and selected as a mentee for AIBL's 2024 Mentor Program.
Ivana has been a top student in Homeland Security and Emergency Management as well as Cadet 1st sergeant, Color Guard Captain and Cadet Club president. She is a previous BLOY volunteer and was an emcee for the 2024 UAF Arctic Innovation Competition, a national idea contest hosted by CBSM. Ivana was also inducted into a prestigious honor society, Order of Sword and Shield this spring. After graduating with her bachelor's degree, she is planning to continue through graduate school in the MBA program.
The UAF Business Leader of the Year event is unique because of student like you! Unlike any other event in the state, BLOY offers you a chance to network and CBSM a chance to showcase our students. Please enter your information to attend and volunteer for the 2024 Business Leader of the Year honoring Tracy Vanairsdale, President of Bettisworth North Architects on Sat. Nov. 16. Students needs to arrive dressed and ready at 4:30 p.m. if attending the dinner. Dress is semi-formal.
Tickets for this event are $150 each, however, your ticket cost is sponsored by a business or individual. To earn your seat at the table, we ask that you volunteer a minimum of two hours. The areas where help is needed is setting up day of event and taking down after the event. Often times there is committee work to assist with as well. You will be seated at table and have the opportunity to network with community leaders.
Ticket sales for this event benefit CBSM student organizations and scholarships. You can always make a donation to the College of Business and Security Management.
For questions about tickets, contact Mary Poe at 907-474-6518 or mepoe@alaska.edu. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Tammy Tragis-McCook at 907-474-7042 or tjtragismccook@alaska.edu.