Host Lance Simons, whose story spans over 30 years of dedication to improving the lives of others, was born and raised in rural Pacific Northwest. Lance’s adventure took a life-changing turn when, at 21, he moved to the Arctic Native community of Kotzebue, Alaska. There, he worked as a high school aide, substitute teacher, and basketball coach, leading the girls’ team to a regional championship and a state 5th-place finish.
During this time, he married Sandra Ivanoff, an Alaska Native, and later returned to Washington, where he earned a degree from The Evergreen State College. But Alaska called him back. After graduating, Lance, Sandra, and their 4 children returned to the North, where he accepted a role as a planner for the Northwest Arctic Borough, working closely with the region’s 12 Native villages on emergency preparedness, environmental planning, and much more.
Lance’s career continued to evolve, taking him from Idaho, where he worked for Green Giant conducting nationwide quality control audits, back to Alaska, where he helped tribal members access affordable housing and energy assistance with the Ketchikan Indian Community Housing Authority. He was later promoted to HR Director and founded Tribalcareers.com during this time.
In 2016, he became the Housing Director for the Big Valley Rancheria, followed by a move to the Swinomish Housing Authority as Executive Director in 2018. Now, in September 2024, Lance has taken on a new role with the Bellingham/Whatcom County Housing Authorities.
In 2023, Lance authored a book that is available on Amazon (here). He discusses the 15 things in life that he believes will bring a more fulfilled and rewarding existence.
Through it all, Lance has remained committed to helping people and strengthening communities. His journey is one of service, leadership, and a deep dedication to making life better for others. Stay tuned as we explore more about his incredible path and the lessons learned along the way!
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