ANCHORAGE – Governor Bill Walker today appointed a new member to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation’s Board of Directors. A.J. “Joey” Merrick II of Eagle River will join AGDC’s governing body, which oversees efforts to develop liquefied natural gas in Alaska.
“I am pleased to welcome Joey Merrick to the AGDC team,” said Governor Walker. “Joey’s experience in the construction and pipeline industries, combined with his statewide business experience, will make him an outstanding addition to AGDC’s governing body.”
Joey Merrick has a long history with Laborers’ Local 341, beginning as a laborer apprentice in 1989. Since then, he has served as a general foreman, business agent and president, and now the union organization’s secretary-treasurer. He has over 15 years of experience as a foreman in construction specific to Alaska’s pipeline industry. He is also involved with several community organizations, including the Alaska Military Youth Academy, Resource Development Council for Alaska, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Alaska Support Industry Alliance and Commonwealth North. He previously served on the Alaska Workforce Investment Board of Directors, and is known in many circles to be a highly ethical and effective negotiator.
Governor Walker also re-appointed Dave Cruz of Palmer to the AGDC board. Mr. Cruz is the President of Cruz Companies, which specializes in oil field services, heavy civil construction, remote camp construction, tug and barge operations, and a variety of other construction support activities. He has served on a number of boards and commissions, including the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Port Commission, the Resource Development Council for Alaska, and Associated General Contractors of Alaska.
“Dave Cruz brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the construction industry, and I am honored to re-appoint him to the AGDC board,” said Governor Walker. “His work on the North Slope and first-hand knowledge of cold weather construction are essential to moving a gasline project forward in Alaska.”
AGDC is governed by a seven-member board of directors, which includes five public members and two commissioners. Mr. Merrick will join AGDC board members John Burns of Fairbanks, Dave Cruz of Palmer, Rick Halford of Dillingham, Hugh Short of Girdwood, Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Heidi Drygas, and Department of Commerce Community and Economic Development Commissioner Chris Hladick.
Source : State of Alaska
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