Board of Directors/Staff

Shelly has lived in Alaska since May of 1962. Her mother is Tlingit from Pelican Alaska. She spent most of her early winters in the Anchorage area and summers in Pelican. She got her first pair of cross-country skis when she was five and never looked back. She raced in middle and high school and 2 years of college.  

She and her husband were married in 1987 and raised their daughters in Anchorage. Both of her girls are skiers and raced in middle and high school. She started volunteering with the team at Mears Middle School in 2002. After volunteer coaching with Mears and Dimond High School she was then hired on with the ASD as a coach at Dimond up through the 2023 season.  

She has been following Skiku and the work that we do and appreciates that the focus is on the fun aspect of skiing. She currently serves on several nonprofit boards in addition to Skiku and is a welcomed addition to the team.

Shane McHale’s love for Alaska, its people, nature, skiing and passion to share it with others inspired him to join Skiku as Board Secretary and ski coach. Anchorage born and raised Shane’s family originates from Northwest Alaska. His late grandmother and grandfather are from Shishmeraf whom later settled in Teller. Shane has been Nordic skiing for 20 years, learning the passion of skiing from dear friend -James Oksoktaruk, a high school national champion from the small northwest village of White Mountain. Shane’s other enjoyments are moose hunting, fishing, hiking, and boating.

Shane is currently a sightseeing guide who takes guests on tours of scenic landscapes, wildlife, glaciers, along the Seward Highway. Shane has also served as an Executive Director assistant of the Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council, an international indigenous environmental non-profit that represents 73 First Nations and Tribes. Alaska Federation of Natives Conference Planner, which is Alaska’s largest statewide native organization. Shane is excited to be part of the Skiku family and continue to inspire the upcoming generation of kids.

Jaclynne Richards (Qalukisaq) is Iñupiaq from the Native Village of Kiana. She has served the Alaska Tribal Health System for over 11 years in various roles and works as a Senior Program Manager for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s (ANTHC) Behavioral Health Department. In her current role, Jaclynne oversees strategic development for the Alaska Blanket Exercise (ABE) program, a best practice curriculum that is intended to reduce and reconcile the impacts of historical trauma against Alaska Native Peoples. Her previous work includes roles with Hope Community Resources, NANA Corporation, and Maniilaq Association. Jaclynne holds her bachelor’s degree from the University of Alaska, her master’s degree from Alaska Pacific University, and is a graduate from ANTHC’s Leadership Excellence through Advancement and Determination (LEAD) program. She enjoys skiing, lifting weights, hiking, and playing with her dog in her free time.

Dirk Sisson moved to Anchorage with his family in 1966 and has been an avid Nordic skier ever since. A graduate of West Anchorage High School, he returned to Alaska as an engineer in 1983. From 1986-1991, he coached for the Anchorage Junior Nordic League, then served as AJNL’s Director from 1991-1996. As Director, he implemented a coaching curriculum and expanded the program from its original Kincaid Park location to the Hillside. After founding the Anchorage Great Harvest Bread Co. in 1994, he inaugurated AJNL’s annual “Cookie Tour,” which continues to this day. From 1996-1998, he served as president of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage. Over the years, Sisson has been an enthusiastic advocate for trails, parks and open space.

Sisson joined the Skiku board in 2017. He has coached with Skiku in Aniak (2017, 2018), Chuathbaluk (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), Dillingham (2018), Buckland (2018), Manokotak (2019), and Atqasuk (2019). Dirk has found spending time in nature with energetic kids on skis to be joy. Skiku has introduced him to vibrant communities and cultures, fostered enriching friendships, and given him an opportunity to serve Alaska’s youth through a sport that he loves.

Mike was raised in Chevak, a rural Cup’ik village on the western coast of Alaska, where
cultural traditions and values remain strong. Growing up, he spent summers hunting and fishing with his
family, deeply understanding the challenges and resilience required to thrive in rural Alaska. Now based
in Anchorage, Mike stays active year-round, running, biking, skiing, and hiking. An avid runner, he has
competed in numerous mountain and road races, including the 2024 Mount Marathon Race. He has
been skiing for about 10 years and is passionate about sharing the joy and benefits of outdoor activity
with others.

Beyond sports, Mike enjoys reading, playing the piano and guitar (which he has music available on all
music streaming platforms under the artist name “Kituralria”), and being a drummer and singer in his
Cup’ik dance group. He works as the Operations Manager for the Climate Initiatives Department at the
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, partnering with rural communities to develop healthy and
resilient solutions to environmental challenges. With a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an M.S. in
Engineering Management, he brings his leadership skills and dedication to community well-being to
both his professional role and the Skiku Board.

Mike is committed to Skiku’s mission of expanding access to skiing in rural Alaska, empowering youth,
and fostering strong, active communities through the sport.

Farrell Agathluk Stoudt, a proud daughter of the land, was born and raised in Anchorage, AK, where she continues to share her life with her husband, dog, and cat. With roots in the Bering Straits and Calista regions, she spent every summer at her family’s fish camp in Bethel, AK, connecting with her heritage and the rhythms of nature. Nearly a decade ago, she embraced the art of cross-country skiing, initially seeking a way to pass the long winter months. Little did she know that this journey would ignite a passion and become her winter training ground. When summer arrives, you can find her outside, honoring the land through hiking, backpacking, running, or fishing. Since 2014, she has served the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium as a Clinical Applications Specialist, working diligently to ensure that Native communities across Alaska can access their medical records while traveling to Anchorage for care, reinforcing the importance of health and well-being in her community.

Skiku is a community driven organization that is always working to strengthen its role in advocating for fun, healthy, lifelong activity. If you have an interest in joining the Skiku team as we work to fulfill our mission to ski across Alaska, drop a line to info@skiku.com expressing your interest and background.