Executive Team
ALISON KEAR

ALISON KEAR

Executive Director

Alison moved to Alaska in 1994 and soon after discovered her purpose when she began supporting our at-risk youth at Covenant House Alaska (CHA). Her tenacity, ability to make connections and never take no for an answer propelled her to the position of Executive Director in 2012. Alison’s most notable success was raising enough capital during the 2010 recession to construct a new building and youth center for CHA, during which she inspired people all over the country with her courage, conviction and leadership. She values education and has received schooling from all over, including Florida and Texas, but the best was the 2012 Alaska Pacific University Masters Program.

Alison has dedicated her time and energy to Special Olympics Alaska, Soroptimist International of Cook Inlet, Alzheimer’s Association, Breast Cancer fundraising, and YWCAAK. She also loves to spend time with her best friend and devoted Goldendoodle, Charlie. She inspires her employees by throwing 30-second dance parties for anyone with good news.

JASON HAHN

Heidi Huppert 

Chief Program Officer

Heidi was raised in Anchorage and attended West High School and UAA for social work. She believes in the power of lived experience and ethical storytelling. She founded the Homeless to Heroes group within Covenant House Alaska that provides a community of support for CHA staff who have experienced homelessness. Heidi has been with Covenant House for nearly 20 years and her devotion and passion originates from her personal experiences.

Starting as a Peer Outreach Worker, Heidi witnessed what can happen to young people on the streets of Anchorage without appropriate interventions. Heidi is an FASD and Anti-Trafficking educator who has worked closely with victims of trafficking and law enforcement. Heidi has been a contributor to various works on Leading with Lived Experience and working with young people experiencing homelessness. Heidi loves art and can often be found in her studio painting with one of her giant dogs curled around her feet. With her backpack in tow, Heidi is known to adventure around the world with as little itinerary as possible

JOE HEMPHILL

JOE HEMPHILL

Chief Development & External Affairs Officer

Joseph Hemphill joined Covenant House Alaska as Chief Development Officer in 2017. Before taking this role, Joe spent nearly 20 years providing executive leadership in the health care industry in sales development and marketing, including time with the international pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline. Joe most recently served as a health care business development consultant and consumer protection advocate. Joe’s passion to end youth homelessness first started 22 years ago, when he worked for two years at the original CHA shelter on 6th Street. 

Originally from Arkansas, Joe loves to travel and has trekked through the jungles and Maya ruins of Central America, volunteered on a farm in Hawaii and an animal shelter in Mexico, and taught English to children in Mexico City. He has a BS in Journalism/Communications from Loyola University New Orleans, has studied at La Iberoamericana in Mexico City, and speaks fluent Spanish. Joe enjoys spending time with his children, traveling, playing board games and spending time exploring Alaska. He has a “never say no” approach to life and is happy to meet with donors to discuss how their gift provides the young people at Covenant House an opportunity to grow into the best version of themselves!

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Laura Melbostad

Chief Operating Officer 

Laura joined the Covenant House Alaska team as the Chief Financial Officer in July of 2020 and became the Chief Operating Officer in 2021. A veteran in the financial field, she found early success with Lithia Motors, Inc. as a foundational team member as they started their trajectory toward financial growth. In 1994, Laura moved to Alaska where she enjoyed the freedom of self-employment as she raised her four children. It wasn’t long before Laura would be recruited back into the office where she spent 12 years with RIM Architects – starting as an accounting manager and spending the last seven years as the CFO. The mission at Covenant House Alaska has always aligned with Laura and she is excited to join the team in the fight to end youth homelessness.

Laura enjoys spending time outdoors with her children and grandchildren, and has been known to scuba dive when the opportunity presents itself.

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Kirsten Kolb

Chief Impact & Strategy Officer 

After spending the past twenty years working for healthcare organizations, Kirsten Kolb joined the Covenant House Alaska team as the Chief Impact and Strategy Officer in September 2022. With both a Master’s of Health Administration degree and a Master’s of Science Public Relations degree, she is able to apply the concepts of performance improvement and communication to the practical implementation of the organization’s strategy. While serving in a variety of roles at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Kirsten was closely involved in the implementation and application of the Strategic Plan and scorecard and the development of statewide networks.

Kirsten’s career also includes ten years of military service. She is a mother to two college-going stepchildren and a kindergartner. She is an avid runner and has called Alaska her home since 2005