September 24, 2021

Best Place to Work in Alaska strengthens award-winning team

First National Bank Alaska’s Board of Directors recently promoted five local experts to new roles at the state’s largest locally owned community bank.

As the bank’s newest Proof Imaging Manager and Assistant Vice President, Matthew Clark oversees and coordinates the proof unit, mail operations unit, and banking services section. Clark has been a part of the First National team for more than ten years, beginning his career at the bank in the Warehouse and Records Unit, eventually growing his career to an executive assistant position. “I love the culture at First National,” Clark said. “I started by taking a job here, but ultimately I found a career.”

A lifelong Alaskan, Melanie Doss-Goodwin was promoted to Mortgage Lending Sales Manager and appointed Assistant Vice President. Doss-Goodwin is equipped with more than 10 years of home loan experience, an associate degree from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is based out of Corporate Headquarters in Anchorage. “Working in mortgage lending all these years has provided me with the tools to help customers purchase their dream homes,” Doss-Goodwin said. “I love helping them make their home-ownership goals a reality.”

Kyle Gray began his First National career as a Management Associate in 2012. He recently rejoined the First National team as Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager, Lending at the Golden Valley Branch in Fairbanks. “More than 10 years of lending experience has taught me the value of high-quality service, and I strive to give that to our customers every day,” Gray said. Gray received his bachelor’s from the University of Arizona in retailing and consumer sciences and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In 2018 he was listed in the Top 40 under Forty by the Alaska Journal of Commerce.

Jane Goetzinger was promoted to Human Resources Manager and appointed Human Resources Officer. Goetzinger spent her first six years in the bank’s Human Resources department as an Education and Training Manager before transitioning to compensation and performance management. “I love working with numbers and math, but I also love working with people and employees,” she said regarding her promotion. “It’s the best of both worlds.” Goetzinger has a bachelor’s in agriculture and managerial economics from University of California, Davis. She also obtained a master’s in business administration from Pepperdine University.

Yana Valinske first joined the bank in 2008 as part of the Mortgage Lending Department. She was recently promoted to Senior Human Resources Manager and appointed Vice President. Valinske is a graduate of West High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Alaska Pacific University. “Our employees are what makes the bank successful,” Valinske says. “Helping them get a valuable and competitive benefits package, as well as ensuring everyone receives a paycheck every two weeks, is how I help First National achieve its goals through a productive and happy workforce.”

Alaskan-owned and -operated since 1922, First National proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and branches in 18 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world. In 2021, Alaska Business readers voted the bank the “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the sixth year in a row, Best Corporate Citizen for a third year, and Best Bank/Credit Union. The previous year, American Banker recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” for the third year in a row, and Anchorage Daily News readers voted the bank one of the state’s top financial institutions in the ADN “Best of Alaska” Awards. First National was also recognized as the most admired company in the state by MSN.com and received the Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year Award from the Alaska Chamber. Visit FNBAlaska.com for more information about Alaska’s largest locally owned bank and access to efficient and secure online banking services. First National Bank Alaska is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

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