Our Board of Directors

Friends of Fish Creek is guided by a volunteer board of directors committed to restoring Fish Creek as a living urban waterway and community resource. Our board brings together people who care deeply about Anchorage’s neighborhoods, waterways, salmon habitat, public spaces, and the long-term work of bringing Fish Creek back to the surface where restoration is possible.

Karen Button

Co-founder / Board President

Karen Button was born on Dena’ina Athabaskan lands and grew up playing and fishing in west Anchorage creeks. She brings her love of place and experience in investigative reporting, community and environmental justice organizing, and managing political campaigns to daylighting Fish Creek.

Tamas Deak

Board Secretary / Treasurer

Tamás Deák brings his experience in landscape architecture, architecture, and community-centered planning to daylighting Fish Creek. He helps connect the big-picture vision for the creek with the practical details of creating a restored urban waterway, public trail corridor, and community resource.

Jay Stange

Co-founder / Board Member

Friends of Fish Creek co-founder Jay Stange grew up in Deep Spenard between the creek and the Alaska Railroad tracks. He brings his experience as a parent, teacher, journalist, and transportation and community development consultant to this project.

Jed Smith

Past Board Vice President

Jedediah Smith has served on the Friends of Fish Creek board since its inception. He is a past president of the Spenard Community Council and has volunteered with the Tanana Valley Watershed Association and the Anchorage Waterways Council. He enjoys the Fish Creek Trail as much as possible.

Matt Jenkins

Board Member

Matthew Jenkins joined Friends of Fish Creek shortly after moving to Anchorage when he learned about the current state of Fish Creek and all of the opportunities that were possible if it was daylit. He seeks to form partnerships with other local organizations and community members to help Fish Creek become an asset we can all love and enjoy.

Laura Oden

Board Member

Laura Oden is an Anchorage-based entrepreneur and community advocate with a background in communications, digital strategy, small business leadership, and civic organizing.