GCI’s Heather Handyside honored as a 2023 ATHENA Society inductee
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – GCI Chief Communications Officer Heather Handyside was inducted on Monday, March 20 into the Anchorage ATHENA Society class of 2023. Handyside and nine others were recognized as some of the top women business leaders who also give their time and talent to mentor other women and support the community.
Handyside was nominated for the honor by GCI Chief Marketing Officer and 2017 Anchorage ATHENA Society inductee Kate Slyker and 2002 ATHENA Society inductee Jewel Jones.
“Heather is an unstoppable force in Anchorage’s business and nonprofit community – a powerhouse leader with bold, creative and inspiring ideas,” said Slyker. “As GCI’s chief communications officer, Heather serves as a leader and inspiration to many other professional women and exemplifies what the ATHENA Society is all about. We’re incredibly proud that she’s a part of the Anchorage ATHENA Society.”
Handyside joined GCI in 2015 and has served as chief communications officer since 2021. Through her leadership, the company has developed and implemented comprehensive, community-wide communications plans and found new and innovative ways to deliver GCI’s key corporate messages. Prior working for GCI, Handyside served as Anchorage’s Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Manager, Deputy Municipal Manager, Deputy Director of the Alaska Conservation Foundation, and Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Mark Begich. She has served on the boards of Girl Scouts of Alaska, Volunteers of America Alaska and currently serves on the Anchorage Park Foundation board.
"Heather’s capacity to give back to our community is inspiring,” said Megan Webb, Director of GCI Corporate Communications. “Despite serving on several nonprofit boards in the community, managing a full staff and running external and internal GCI communications, Heather always makes the time for mentorship. She uplifts every member of her staff and pushes us to the next milestone. No ask is too small for Heather to get involved and help with and she is always putting others around her first.”
“When I began working at GCI, I was not initially on Heather’s team, but I gravitated toward her and she saw my talents and built a place for me on her team,” said Jen Nelson, GCI Rural Affairs Director and chair of The Aleut Corporation. “She makes it her priority that her colleagues are recognized for the work that we do and that we are elevated. She wants to elevate people and is intentional in the way she lifts up other women with her.”
“I’m grateful to have been nominated by Kate and Jewel and endorsed by so many other women who I admire,” said Handyside. “To be recognized in front of family, friends and colleagues who I adore made the experience that much more meaningful.”
The Anchorage ATHENA Society induction ceremony took place during the organization’s annual luncheon on March 20, 2023 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. More information can be found at https://athenaanchorage.org/.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation’s northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.