Tanguy Libbrecht arrived at the Red Cross of Alaska in 2012, following a career in hospitality, primarily in hotel sales and marketing and as a restaurant and bakery manager and owner. Over the years, he has served in leadership positions on various nonprofit boards such as the Anchorage Sister Cities Commission, Boys and Girls clubs of Alaska, The Alaska Multiple Sclerosis Center, the Robert Burns Appreciation Society, the Alaska Youth Orchestras, FBI Citizen’s academy and others. Tanguy is currently a commissioner for Historic Preservation with the City of Seward, Alaska, and is a Board member of the Petroleum Club of Anchorage.
Tanguy received his Master of Hospitality Management from the University of Houston Conrad Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.
He holds both U.S. and Belgian citizenship and speaks fluent French and Spanish. Tanguy is honored to be an adopted Tlingit Tribal member. He is Eagle Moiety, from the Gooch Hit (Wolf) House of the Kaagwaantaan clan in Southeast Alaska, his adopted name is “Gooch Waak” (Wolf eyes), and he shares great love for our state’s diverse communities.
His personal passion is his family especially his wife of 30+ years, Marcella, his four children and his parents.
In the summer of 2020 Jara joined the Red Cross of Alaska as the Chief Development Officer, leading the fundraising team across the state. Her focus is on strategic growth and sustainability, as well as being a valued member of the senior leadership team. Prior to Red Cross, Jara worked for over 15 years in the travel and tourism industry, both in the for-profit and non-profit sector. Her first experience with the Red Cross was as a volunteer in 2009, helping organize the state’s largest fundraising event. Jara was born in Missouri, is a graduate of University of Alaska Anchorage, and resides in Anchorage with her family.
Taylar joined the American Red Cross of Alaska as the regional director of communications in January of 2021. Taylar’s goal is to share amazing stores within the Red Cross to community’s statewide. Prior to working with the Red Cross, Taylar had a career in journalism working as a reporter and producer at Alaska’s News Source and Black Hills FOX News in Rapid City, South Dakota. Taylar also has a passion for volunteering and has volunteered with several other non-profit organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Boy Scouts of America, and Alaska Dog and Puppy rescue. Taylar has a Bachelor of Science in communications and a minor in Spanish from Black Hills State University. She is originally from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and lives in Alaska with her husband, son, and three dogs.
Jackie Evans serves as the Regional Director of Business Operations for the American Red Cross of Alaska. She joined the Red Cross team in October 2016. She especially enjoys collaborating with all departments and working together with staff and volunteers to accomplish the vital mission.
Previously she spent nine years as the program Director of a faith-based nonprofit organization. Prior to this she has worked in insurance, medical billing, office management, and owned and operated a small business. Her greatest role has been that of mom to her two (adult) children. Jackie has lived in Anchorage, Alaska for 39 years.
Paton has been a member of the Red Cross of Alaska team for almost 15 years. Paton’s work involves directing and overseeing the work needed in the volunteer cycle for volunteers and staff. He also builds relationships with volunteers, staff, and external partners, and finds this to be the best part of working in Volunteer Services. Along with work, Paton enjoys time at home with his family playing games and watching movies. They are planning trips to explore Alaska. He enjoys spending time on the soccer field as a referee for many leagues and high school.
Jay joined the American Red Cross of Alaska in March of 2024 as the Regional Disaster Officer. In his role, Jay leads the region’s Disaster Cycle Services team of volunteers and paid staff to provide preparedness, response, and recovery services across the state of Alaska. From small house fires to multi-state disasters, the Red Cross goes wherever needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter, and hot meals when they need them most.
Jay has worked for the Red Cross for more than four years and has more than a decade of experience in disaster management and disaster data analytics. Jay has deployed on more than sixty disaster relief operations, serving on Incident Management Teams, and leading and mentoring teams in the field with both the Red Cross and Team Rubicon. Prior to his disaster response work, Jay founded, built, and operated a technology consulting firm for more than two decades.
On a personal level, Jay is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is a single father of three grown children. He earned a degree in information technology management, served in the US Air Force, is a veteran of the Gulf War, a passionate instructor, life-long learner, and loves traveling and the outdoors.
Melody joined the Red Cross of Alaska team in July 2021 as the Service to the Armed Forces and International Services Regional Program Manager. Based out of the Interior office, her focus is to ensure successful program delivery to support Alaska’s military and veteran communities as well as provide services and education that enhance the public’s knowledge of International Humanitarian Law. Prior to joining the Alaska Region Red Cross team, Melody spent the last 10 years working with two other national military and veteran non-profit organizations. She has a B.S. in Healthcare Management from Minnesota School of Business and an M.S. in Human Resource Management from Southern New Hampshire University.