About Us

Our mission is to deliver exceptional customer service, support and training; provide timely reimbursement processing; and ensure compliance with UA policy, IRS and sponsor regulations.

Guiding Principles
  • Travelers are expected and believed to be exercising good stewardship of University of Alaska funds.
  • Travel is necessary to enhance and support the University of Alaska mission. 
  • Travel reimbursements are limited to business related expenses only. Additional expenses incurred for personal preference or convenience must be personally paid.
  • Budget Authorities are responsible for appropriate use of university resources. Departments are free to create policies that are more restrictive (but not less restrictive) than university-wide policies.
  • University processes related to travel should not be burdensome so as to negatively affect travelers.
  • Travel reimbursement processes should be concise, consistent, transparent, convenient, efficient and compliant.
Values

Expert Resources: We seek to listen and understand your objectives to best help you. We leverage expert connections and resources to enable progress. 

Service Minded: We strive to deliver thoughtful, high quality, equitable and timely service.

Accountable: We promote safe practices related to business travel. We are committed to responsible stewardship of University resources. Ensure travel compliance information is communicated and understood.


Meet Our Team

Amanda Lash

Amanda Lash

Travel Director

Denise Irish

Denise Irish

Associate Director

Glenn Balanza

Travel Coordinator

Spencer Bedard

Spencer Bedard

Travel Coordinator

Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, Spencer has visited Alaska numerous times to take in the natural wonders of the Inside Passage and Central Alaska while visiting friends. Spencer's passion has been traveling the world taking jobs in Taiwan, England, and Israel. As a former Delta Air Lines employee, he used his travel benefits to explore the world visiting over 100 countries.

 
Spencer is new to UAF. He looks forward to assisting the University community in their travel endeavors.

Carolynn Blankenship

Carolynn Blankenship

Travel Coordinator

Travis Brinzow

Travis Brinzow

Travel Coordinator

Lacey Guffey

Lacey Guffey

Travel Coordinator

Born and raised in Delta Junction, Lacey has spent most of her life in Alaska (except for a brief stint in Houston, TX, but we won’t hold it against her). When she’s not enjoying the summer sun and exploring our great state, you’ll find her curled up with a good book. She is grateful the university promotes a nice work-life balance that allows her to spend time with her spouse, four children, dog and bearded dragon.

Before joining UAF in 2019, Lacey wore many hats from travel representative to bookkeeper. Now that she’s here, she’s hooked on expanding her knowledge through UAF courses. She especially enjoys learning about all the amazing places our travelers go which inspire her own vacation ideas.

Dana Hubb

Dana Hubb

Travel Coordinator

Dana has spent her entire life happily calling Alaska home. She enjoys the small town perks of life in Fairbanks as well as the boundless outdoor activities.

Dana has several years of experience both at UAF and UAA. Since joining the university, she has gifted us with her skills as an administrative assistant, human resources technician and travel coordinator.

Kim LaJiness

Travel Coordinator

Serena Likar

Serena Likar

Travel Coordinator

Serena has spent her entire life in Alaska. She has three vivacious daughters and is the proud “Grammy” to three beautiful grandchildren. When she’s not busy spoiling her grandchildren and fur-babies, she enjoys taking advantage of Alaska’s long summer days. From gardening and bike rides to floating the river and BBQs, she loves that midnight sun.

Serena began her career path at UAF in 2005. She brought with her a wealth of knowledge from the travel industry. She’s put that knowledge to good use working primarily as a travel coordinator for our campus community. She loves helping travelers and hearing about their adventures in supporting UAF’s mission.

Alyssa Perez

Alyssa Perez

Travel Coordinator

Joy Snodgrass

Joy Snodgrass

Travel Coordinator

Michael Szidloski

Michael Szidloski

Travel Processor

As a military brat, Michael spent his early days growing up in several different places but has called Alaska home since 1991. He is a happy husband and a loving fur-dad to a dog and three cats. When not enjoying the scenic views and abounding beauty of Alaska, he is reading, gaming and rocking out on Rock Band.

Michael joined UAF 12 years ago and spent the majority of his time at OFA. Now he's a proud member of the TCSO! He enjoys helping departments problem solve and using his wealth of knowledge to impart a better understanding of UA processes.

Rachel Webb

Travel Coordinator

Wendy Wood

Travel Processor & Procurement Specialist