GCI’s Jenifer Nelson honored by Anchorage ATHENA Society
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – In recognition of her remarkable professional impact and deep-rooted commitment to rural Alaska communities, GCI Senior Director of Rural Affairs Jenifer Nelson has been named to the Anchorage ATHENA Society class of 2025. Each year the Society recognizes women who have demonstrated excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, provided valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community, and actively assisted women in realizing their full leadership potential.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized alongside so many other incredible women leaders,” said Nelson. “Reading through the words submitted on my behalf for this recognition and listening to others talk about the impact I’ve made at work, in the community and on a personal level is humbling and a little overwhelming. So many of us don’t take the time to recognize all we do and all we’ve accomplished and it means a lot to me that my friends and colleagues are here to help with that from time to time.”
As a member of GCI’s Rural Affairs Committee and Arctic Working Group, Nelson has been at the forefront of efforts to bring high-speed internet to Alaska’s most remote areas, spearheading community engagement and outreach efforts to build out three major rural fiber projects.
“Jen has a not-so-secret superpower — she is able to simultaneously know all the people in a room while at the same time making each of them feel, genuinely, that she cares about them and has time to spend with them,” said GCI Senior Vice President of Corporate Development Billy Wailand. “Also, Jen sought out and found a career where she is instrumental in the effort to reliably connect unserved rural communities — a merging of public and private passion. In doing this work, Jen leverages her unparalleled understanding of the complex dynamics of rural Alaska and is an internal advocate at GCI for bringing digital equity to more locations in Alaska.”
Nelson’s expertise and advocacy have earned her positions on national and international boards and committees focused on Arctic connectivity and development. She has served on the Arctic Council’s Task Force on Telecommunications in the Arctic under the U.S. chairmanship and the Task Force to Improve Connectivity in the Arctic under the Finnish chairmanship. Nelson also represents the Aleut International Association on the Arctic Economic Council.
“Jen is a cultural steward, a mentor, a tireless advocate for equity and opportunity, and she does it all while being an incredible mother to twin girls,” said GCI Senior Director of Corporate Communications Megan Webb. “Her work reflects a deep commitment to the values of community, resilience, and inclusivity. Jen is not driven by titles or accolades but by a genuine desire to make a difference. Whether advocating for rural communities, mentoring young women, or shaping national policies, her legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of community. She is a true leader who embodies the spirit of the ATHENA Award.”
Nelson also serves as the chairwoman of the Aleut Corporation Board of Directors and the Alaska Native Heritage Center Board of Directors and has been a dedicated member of the American Cancer Society Alaska and Camp Fire Alaska boards since 2018.
Jenifer Nelson is among 14 women honored this year by the organization. The Anchorage ATHENA Society is a program of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, celebrating the professional excellence, commitment to community and encouragement of leadership potential of women.
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 $4.7 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 45 years. Through a combination of ambitious network initiatives, GCI continues to expand and strengthen its statewide network infrastructure to deliver the best possible connectivity to its customers and close the digital divide in Alaska. 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.