Lisa Maureen Parker has had an exceptional career of over 50 years of public service – guided by her twin passions to help communities grow and protect Alaskan values. Her work has resulted in positive change for the state and a spectrum of Alaska communities.
Born in 1955, Parker began her lifetime public service adventure at a young age.  By listening to conversations around the dinner table and attending conservation meetings with her parents, Walter and Patricia Parker, her interest in public policy issues was piqued.  A fourth generation Alaskan, Parker began her journey at age 14 as a delegate to the national Close-Up Conference which is designed to inspire young people to find their voice and help develop critical skills for tackling the challenges and opportunities. 
In 1971, she was selected to participate in the White House Conference on Youth held in Estes Park, Colorado. President Nixon invited young Americans to address issues like race relations and legal rights. 
In 1972, she caused her first “political stir” in Alaska by testifying before the Anchorage School Board regarding what she believed to be inequities for students.  
Graduating from high school in early 1973, she was hired by Senator Lowell Thomas, Jr. to work in the Alaska State Senate. Parker later served as legislative staff to Representatives Steve Cowper and Sam Cotten. She has since been hired by and worked with all Alaska Governors from Jay Hammond to Bill Walker.
Parker won her first election in 1975, at the age of 19, when she ran for a seat on the 11-member Anchorage Charter Commission as they considered the unification of the Greater Anchorage Area Borough and the City of Anchorage. At that time, she was the youngest person ever to be elected to public office in Anchorage.  (Anchorage is currently celebrating its 50th year of unification.)
Her college years began in 1976 at American University in Washington, D.C. where she majored in political science.  In 1978, she was awarded the Alaska Harry S. Truman scholarship for academic achievement and public service.  Established by Congress, this highly competitive scholarship is awarded to persons demonstrating outstanding potential and who plan to pursue a career in public service. Parker graduated cum laude in 1979.
From 1977-79, Parker worked for the State of Alaska on “D-2” land issues while attending college. Established by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Section 17 (d)(2) called for the withdrawal of up to 80 million acres in Alaska for inclusion in national conservation system units. Ultimately, this led to the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) in December 1980.
From 1982-84, Parker was able to take what she learned while working on the “D-2” land issues and put it to use. She was selected by Governor Hammond and retained by Governor Bill Sheffield to serve as State Coordinator for the Alaska Land Use Council, established under Title XII of ANILCA. The purpose of the Council was for the state and federal government to work cooperatively as the provisions contained in ANILCA were implemented.
Throughout her career, she has successfully engaged stakeholders to carry out responsible economic development in numerous projects around Alaska, most notably in the Northwest Arctic Borough and the Kenai Peninsula. Her work (1984 through 1991) assisting in the development of NANA and Cominco’s Red Dog Mine is particularly meaningful. Parker was responsible for external affairs, government relations, and permitting during development and initial operations. This project remains a role model for how responsible resource development can occur in Alaska.  The benefits Red Dog provides are felt directly and indirectly by every resident of Alaska from jobs to the billions of dollars in shared revenues.  Parker was part of the “core team” at Cominco to take this idea and turn it into a reality.  
In 1991-1994, Parker served as the executive director of the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council which was established following the Exxon Valdez oil spill with the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. In additional to Cook Inlet, the Act also established a Prince William Sound Citizens Advisory Council. Still operating today, these programs are responsible for environmental monitoring of the oil terminal facilities and crude oil tankers operating in these areas.
From 1995 to 1999, Parker served as the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Director. When she was initially appointed by Mayor Don Gilman, she became the first female to hold the position. Former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre worked with Parker over the years.  Says Mike, “She always exercised great discretion, calm demeanor, respect for other options and objectivity when dealing with what were sometimes complex, contentious and tense situations or issues.”  
Besides working in the mining industry, Parker has also had the opportunity to work in the oil and gas industry in Cook Inlet. From 2001-2009, Parker worked for Agrium’s Kenai Nitrogen Operations and from 2011-2015, she worked with Apache Corporation as the company conducted extensive seismic activity and explored for oil and gas in Cook Inlet.
Over her career, Parker has been the first person to be hired to hold key positions including:
First Statewide Coordinator at the Alaska Land Use Council established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980. This Act provided for the designation and conservation of federal public lands in Alaska. 
First Executive Director of Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council.  Established by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Council is responsible for environmental monitoring of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers operating in Cook Inlet.
In 1994, helped establish Alaska Chadux Corporation, the first oil spill cooperative for refined petroleum products in Alaska. Chadux, a leader in the oil spill response industry, serves tank facilities and vessels operating in Western Alaska, Prince William Sound, and Interior Alaska.
Her public service activities over the course of over 50 years are extensive. In 1990, Parker was appointed by Governor Steve Cowper as Vice-Chair of the Alaska Reapportionment Board which adjusted legislative district boundaries based on changes in population. She was later selected to participate in the 2004 Conference of Alaskans which started the discussion about how to best appropriate money from Alaska’s Permanent Fund using a “POMV” (Percent of Market Value) formula to offset State decline in revenues. In 2015, dealing with revenue shortfalls, Governor Bill Walker asked Parker to participate as a delegate to the Governor’s Sustainability Conference.
That same year Governor Walker appointed Parker to serve on the University of Alaska Board of Regents. As a result of drastic cuts to the University of Alaska budget, her eight-year tenure on the Board was one of the most contentious times in the University’s history.  As was noted in the Board’s Resolution of Appreciation, “her presence on the board added an element of calm and compassion during difficult times….”   Parker was known to be highly supportive of shared governance, and knew that including the voices of students, faculty, staff and community members was essential.  She was also a fierce advocate for the needs of rural campuses and community campuses and a strong advocate of the university’s community college mission.
Parker has been and is very active in the Kenai Peninsula area where she lives. Parker was first selected to fill a vacancy on the Soldotna City Council in 2002 and today serves on the City Council and as Vice Mayor. Parker understands what the city has been able to give back to not only city residents but to the surrounding community.  A few of the projects Parker has supported and participated in include the development of Soldotna Community Memorial Park, Soldotna Creek Park, Soldotna Field House and the Riverfront Development project along the majestic Kenai River.  She has introduced and gotten adopted ordinances such as banning smoking in eating establishments, prohibiting the use of disposable plastic bags, and a lodging tax with the funds going directly to parks and recreational activities.  
Today, with members of the Kenaitze Tribe, she is working to add the Dena’ina name to some of Soldotna’s community parks and facilities.  She also helped organize “Friends of Soldotna Field House.”
The adage “if you need something done, ask a busy person” applies to Parker.  She is always willing to pick up the gauntlet and go forth with energy and enthusiasm to support organizations she believes in.  Her involvement includes work with a distinctive list of boards and commissions. A partial list includes:
Resource Development Council Board of Directors 2004 – Present. Parker is active in the full range of RDC activities, including Women in Resources, an annual event.
Alaska Municipal League, President (December 2024–December 2025). Parker has also served as Vice President and on the Board of Directors of this 165 member statewide local government organization since 2017.

Alaska Humanities Forum Board of Directors 2023 – Present.
Alaska Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2009–2018. Parker served as the district member for the Kenai-Soldotna area.
Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Board of Directors 2013–2015. Besides serving on the Board, in 2009/2010 Parker was a member of the Capital Campaign Committee raising over $1.4 million to upgrade and expand the facility.
Blood Bank of Alaska, Board of Directors 2000-2002. Parker has been a major blood donor with 8 gallons donated. She served on the 2016 Capital Campaign committee which raised over $6 million for the new building.
Kenai Watershed Forum Board of Directors 1999-2002. Parker realizes that to have a healthy community you need a healthy watershed.  She served on the initial board that established the organization.
Kenai Peninsula Community Care Center, Board of Directors, 1992-January 2007. The mission of this organization was to promote positive family living in our community through treatment, shelter and education for adolescents with behavioral and emotional challenges.
Throughout her career, Parker has kept family and friends as a touchstone. She maintains a close relationship with her siblings and reaches out to old and new friends to embark on personal or professional adventures. Parker has been afforded the opportunity to work outside of Alaska. However, when considering this it was Alaska and Alaskans that came first. Alaska is embedded deep in her heart and soul. Parker has said that she will never give up working on behalf of individuals, communities or the state.
Parker, in her free time, likes to walk, play golf, fly fish, and travel with her husband of 45 years, Steve Horn. She and her husband have one son, Nicholas Horn.
Honors/Awards Received
University of Alaska Resolution of Appreciation, 2022
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education Resolution of Appreciation, 2023
Alaska Legislature Citation, 2023
Blood Bank of Alaska Distinguished Service, Capital Campaign Cabinet, 2016
US Coast Guard Public Service Commendation, 1992
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Gene Guess Award, 1975
Document Information (Reference books, periodicals)
The Yearbook of Polar Law, Volume 22, 2016. “Responsible Resource Development in Alaska: A Developer’s Perspective on the Red Dog Mine.”
Marine Fisheries Review, MFR 77(2), 2015. “Socio-sexual and Probable Mating Behavior of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, Delphinapterus leucas, Observed from an Aircraft.”

Lisa Parker Article