Board of Directors


Robert Shields, President

Robert is a life-long advocate for sustainable business, environmental advocacy, and civic engagement. Robert has an AA in Natural Resource Management with 10 years experience in Portland, Oregon as an advocate, entrepreneur, and community organizer. His passion is service and helping other find their “light” and encouraging it to shine as the most effective means of advancing the conscious evolution of the human species. Robert serves on several community groups and is actively building a small homestead working towards living a permaculture lifestyle. ARK is proud to have his courage and vision leading our efforts to transition our community towards generational prosperity.


Christy Lungaro, Treasurer

Originally from Louisiana, Christy has known and overcome a lifetime of adversity to become the awesome peaceful warrior she is today. Supermom of two boys, she has been a long-time advocate of health, nutrition, permaculture and holistic living. A recent business management graduate of UAF school of business she is a business owner of the local cleaning service, Mothers’ Helper and actively supports her boys in scouts and sports activities as she nurtures them to grow into strong men. ARK is blessed to have her insight and input on important business activities.


Kasha Lee Jackson, Secretary

Kasha is a free spirit who sees the various aspects of life and sends out positive energy into the living universe and seeks to spread knowledge about self and connections with everyone she meets. Kasha is a superhero raising two strong, kind, and intelligent boys in a chaotic world. She makes the effort every day to be rise to her true authentic self and cares for the planet as much as she does about her own family. ARK is thankful to have her guiding light in our humble organization.


Chris Hunter, Technology Development 

Born in Alaska, Chris is a true pioneer, entrepreneur, and active member of building a better future for us all. From his humble home on Haystack, Chris, along with his wide and service dog is actively researching, through his company Aurora Energy Technologies, ways for us to move beyond the age of fossil fuels. Two-time winner of the Arctic Innovation Competition, ARK is fortunate to have Chris heading up the research of inspiring technologies that can meet the needs of those living in the changing Arctic.

Eric Friend & Riley

Eric Friend, Hemp Industry Specialist

True to his name, Eric is a friend to Earth, humans and critter alike with plans to dive into dog rescue next. As a life-long-Alaska, He re-started and chaired the Chugiak High School Recycling Committee 1990-1993. Eric Friend has a variety of skills and talents, including dial up internet technology and older 32 bit Apple® Macintosh® computers. However, his focus and interest is in mainstreaming the hemp industry. Smoking is the only thing you should not do with hemp, Beyond that all things are possible and as the owner of Greener Side, organizer of the Greener Side Hemp Museum, located inside Tip Anchorage 233E. 5th Ave. and staple member of the ALASKA HEMPFEST® & organizing committee since 2016, Eric lives proudly for what he believes in. ARK is inspired by having Eric guiding our path.

Planting the seeds of a sustainable tomorrow