Leadership Academy
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ACADEMY?
The Alaska Leadership Academy is modeled after the National Association of REALTORS®. In 2021 the Alaska REALTORS® proudly graduated its first class of candidates. The Academy engages the participants in a year-long professional development program through five sessions held across the state. Participants work together in training courses, combining individual study, group session and actual project experience in using leadership skills. Training sessions include identification of leadership skills, team-building exercises, procedures for goal setting, personal profile analysis, network building and improving communication skills.
Class of 2023
Abigail McLagan - ABR
Abigail McLagan is an Alaska REALTOR® with experience selling over 65+ pieces of real estate at auction; from raw land to residential, commercial, foreclosures, and more. She studied the Auction Marketing Management (AMM) and Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE) designations with the National Auctioneers Association in 2021 hot on the heels of two municipal auctions for the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Her zest and zeal, combined with her skills in technology, analysis, online marketing, graphic design, and attention to detail make Abigail an absolute asset to every one of her clients throughout the state of Alaska and beyond.
Brittany Burke - ABR
My name is Brittany Burke and I am a third generation REALTOR® with Century 21 Realty Solutions. After studying economics and playing Division I soccer in South Carolina, I returned home to pursue my career and be around family. Coming from a background with a strong team structure, I love working with others to achieve common goals. With this being my first year in real estate, I have become a major investor for the REALTOR® Political Action Committee, and co-chair for 907 Young Professionals Network. In my free time, I love hanging out with my pit bulls Milo and Rosie, and coaching youth soccer.
Callie Bacon - Member At-Large
Raised in Washington State, Callie moved to Alaska in 2011, drawn by the beauty of Kenai Fjords National Park. Seward turned out to be a perfect fit, and Callie has called the small community home ever since. Licensed since 2014, Callie is an Associate Broker and REALTOR® with Seward Properties. Callie appreciates the unique perspectives and connections that come with working in a small town and looks forward to connecting with other REALTORS® from around the state through the 2023 Leadership Academy.
Callie holds a BA in Elementary Education from University of Oregon with prior work experience focused in the environmental education field. When she’s not in the office you’ll find Callie on one of the local hiking or Nordic ski trails with her toddlers in tow, or tending to her gardens. Callie is passionate about enhancing quality of life and promoting healthy lifestyles in her community; she volunteers with numerous local non-profits.
Caitie Kalilikane - ABR
Caitie began her real estate career with Century 21 Realty Solutions and was awarded the 2021 Rookie of the Year. She empowers people to make great financial decisions in their real estate holdings and loves helping people plan, optimize, and make their dreams of being a homeowner come true.
Caitie has spent the majority of her career in business, sales, and remaining customer focused.
While real estate is her primary job function by day, she also enjoys spending time with her family, outdoors, going on long drives, exploring Alaska and all it has to offer.
Caitie although born in Alaska has lived in Hawaii and Nevada and enjoys traveling and seeing new places. Caitie has a passion for cars, softball, having positive outcomes, and a continuous desire to learn new things. She excited for the experience the Alaska REALTOR® Leadership Academy is going to bring her.
Cindy Wolfe - VBR
Cindy is a transplant from Arizona, having moved to Alaska over 21 years ago with 2 little kids and an 8-week old baby; giving her an extensive understanding in moving with a family, but an intricate and major move across country. Her ex-husband worked construction, so for 7 to 8 months out of the year, she was the main source of planning, logistics and inner workings of their family of 8. After raising six kids and becoming an empty nester, she decided to just go for her dream job, real estate! Cindy loves introducing people to the beautiful state of Alaska and her community. In her free time, she loves to photograph the state, take road trips exploring the beauty of Alaska and getting to know it. She loves the snow! Even though she came from the sun rich state of Arizona, family always comes first, likes to wind down reading books, watching movies, or checking out auctions. But her one true love is Real Estate, and she can’t wait to help you along your real estate journey.
Heather Lambert - GFBR
Writing a bio for a leadership academy feels a little like writing a bio for a dating app. You never really know what to focus on or what the reader may want to know about you. You want to seem humble, but you are also proud of the accomplishments in your life.
My bio is presented in the voice of what the people in my life would say. I am pretty sure my children would say I am annoying, but funny sometimes, and they know I love them tremendously, and most of the time I am pretty cool.
My industry colleagues would say I am to focused on the details and I follow the contract to the letter of the law, and that I can be a little bit scary. They would also say I sometimes get mad, but I almost always apologize and admit when I am wrong.
My friends and my Mom’s would say way too many nice things about me, they would tell you a ton of amazing things you could never even imagine about me, almost like an onion. I am extremely happy, incredibly thankful and almost always a little bit snarky and funny.
My professional accomplishments include: 1992 National Arm Wrestling Title, 2002 GFBR REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliates REALTORS® of the Year awards, Founding Member/Board Chair of the Fairbanks Children’s Museum, Founding Member of 100 Goldenheart Women, 2013 Fairbanks Chamber George Nehrbas Volunteer of the Year Award, and service to a number of nonprofit boards and committees. I am a super proud philanthropic member of the Fairbanks community.
Jayme Harris - ABR
Jayme Harris, Broker at Somers Sotheby’s International Realty, Eagle River
Starting her real estate career in the fall of 2016, Jayme earned her real estate license in 2018 and obtained her broker’s license in 2022. Believing education is crucial to be the best REALTOR® she can be, Jayme holds two designations from the National Association of REALTORS®; Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI), Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), and has a Military Relocation Professional (MPR) certification. Her passion is to provide the best personal service from start to finish. Having a genuine desire to help people, she prides herself in research, negotiation, and understanding the goals and needs of her clients.
Jayme and her family moved to Alaska in 2008. They couldn’t have picked a better place to raise their children. Before her real estate career, she spent her spare time working part-time for a non-profit, fundraising and volunteering. Raising their daughter, Sam, and son, Jeffrey, has been her most treasured accomplishment. Jayme grew up in Littleton, Colorado, and earned her degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado.
Now that her kids have left the nest, Jayme looks forward to giving back to the career she loves by serving her local board of REALTORS®.
Lisa Roberts - KPAR
I have lived in Alaska most of my life. I am the mother of three grown men and one of them has blessed me with a fantastic daughter in law and three grandchildren. All three of my Grands play hockey so I stay busy at the rink, when I can. I currently live with my dad (who turns 96 in February), that had a stroke 3 years ago and then lost his second wife. The family felt it would be best to have family stay with him rather than to put him in a home. I am blessed to still have him and a close relationship with him.
I am a results driven individual dedicated to customer service and results for my clients, and I always have a positive attitude. In my past life I worked in banking and most recently title, with some experience in the insurance industry. I had a small space in time with a nonprofit, where I was the Executive Director for United Way. Nonprofit interested me as I had been on several boards in all capacities, examples are the Food Bank, Hospice, Junior Achievement, the Soldotna Chamber and Rotary. I have been involved in my community in several capacities over the last 20 years helping out with many entities.
Melissa Daugherty - KPAR
Growing up in a family of 8 on the family homestead on the Kenai Peninsula, Melissa’s parents taught her that family, hard work, and doing your part are the things that really matter.
Melissa has been married for 30 years to Mick and together they have raised two amazing boys in Sterling. Their oldest son is a doctor in New York and the youngest is an electrician on the North Slope.
Melissa’s work history is diverse, taking on many leadership roles. She owned Polar Gymnastic Academy, managed many rentals, was the director of Sterling Head Start, and now is the current associate broker in charge at the Soldotna’s Century 21 Realty Solutions office.
Volunteering is a huge part of who Melissa is. She currently is the president of the Sterling Community Center, she is on the local Kenai Peninsula Association of REALTORS board, and co-chairs the community involvement committee. In 2021 she was president for the local REALTORS association, volunteered and deployed for Red Cross, and was on the Soldotna Little League board.
When Melissa is not working or volunteering, she loves to travel, spend time with her family, and go on adventures!
McKenzie Burgess - GFBR
Born and raised in Fairbanks, McKenzie graduated from Hutchison High School where she learned all things welding, autobody, and digital design.
After graduating she became a licensed REALTOR® in 2014. As life happened, she pursued other dreams until landing in the medical field, where she is currently a licensed CNA and pursuing her bachelor’s in science of Nursing. McKenzie returned to real estate as her passion for helping others continues to grow. McKenzie brings creativity, organization, and thoughtfulness to the home buying and selling experience.
Outside of work and school, you will find McKenzie outdoors with her family and beloved dog. Whether it be hunting, fishing, snow machining, or riding ATVs, she will find something fun to do outside for each season of the year.
McKenzie looks forward to furthering her career in real estate helping others find, sell, and invest in their dream Alaskan properties.
Teresa Winter - KPAR
I was born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. I started my career in the oilfield both in North Kenai and on the North Slope. I worked for NOAA doing climate change research in Barrow and the South Pole. My husband and I got “gold fever” on our honeymoon and now own several hundred acres of gold mining properties. We’ve lived all over the state from Barrow to the Valley, but my heart belongs to the Kenai Peninsula.
Rylieh Bodyfelt - GFBR
Rylieh is an Alaskan REALTOR® whose career is driven by her commitment to help the community she lives in. She strongly believes in the importance of supporting and promoting local business as they are the back bone of her thriving community in Interior Alaska and part of what makes it so unique.
Her career started at a young age with a goal to become one of the best by surrounding herself with amazing mentors with decades of experience. She became a licensed agent in 2020 and joined Somers Sothebys International Realty on Angie Tallant’s team at the age of 23. She has since left the team and is a lead agent at Somers.
Rylieh actively participates in her local board of REALTORS® and the local Realtor Political Action Committee. She is currently serving as president-elect for the Greater Fairbanks Board of REALTORS®. Rylieh is a proud military spouse and is happily married to her husband Luc. She has an in depth understanding of the military lifestyle and is always honored to help those PCSing to Alaska navigate the process of relocation. She will never turn down the opportunity to tell you about the area or show you around town.
Outside of real estate she is just another Alaskan sourdough who enjoys commercial fishing in Southwest Alaska with her family, skiing, hiking, camping and exploring the last frontier.
When it comes to Alaska’s real estate Rylieh admires how the wilderness seamlessly meets civilization. While not many have the luxury of experiencing life in Alaska, she wishes to help those who have the desire.
A United Voice
The Alaska REALTORS® is the voice for real estate in Alaska. Our programs and efforts strengthen the real estate industry and give all Alaskans the opportunity to realize the American dream of property ownership.
A Source for Continuing Education
We provide ongoing and continuing education programs to members. These range from online or correspondence courses done in spare time to classes, seminars, conventions or other forms of hands-on education.
A Legislative Action Committee
Following the direction of our Board of Directors and general membership, AR maintains a political network to exert effectively a combined influence upon matters affecting Alaska real estate.
A Benchmark for Ethical Standards
We hold our industry in great regard and encourage feedback from the community and industry in order to elevate the ethical standards of the real estate business and the professional conduct of persons engaged in real estate in Alaska.