ABOUT US
Meet Alaska WorkSource
Alaska WorkSource exists because Alaska's worksites, offices, and decks need skilled people, and plenty of Alaskans need a real way in. We stand in that gap: hands-on vocational training, work-ethic coaching, and wraparound support that turn readiness into employment — and employment into stability.
Who This Is For
Our Story
Many of our participants arrive with a history of homelessness, incarceration, or addiction. That history doesn't disqualify you here — it's the reason we exist. Modeled after the nation's leading transitional work programs, Alaska WorkSource combines job training, paid transitional work, and one-on-one mentorship to help people leave those cycles behind for good.
Have a felony record? We can still train you and support you, and we'll work with you to open the doors that are available. The program moves at your pace — there's no fixed clock, and participants who don't need treatment services often reach employment faster.
Participants don't pay for the program. Costs are billed to a referring agency or sponsor — organizations like Catholic Social Services, VocRehab, Wellness Court, and CITC.
Hands-on training
Construction and housing fundamentals, administration and office readiness, and maritime prep for tug and barge work.
Clear next steps
Assessment, then a plan, then cohort training with real equipment, then ongoing coaching — every stage known in advance.
Life & work skills
Communication, teamwork, time management, and the work ethic that makes the rest count.
Wraparound support
Case management and wellness resources that keep participants on track when life pushes back.
Community alignment
Programs shaped with local employers and partners, so training matches the jobs that actually exist here.
AT A GLANCE
What We Offer
Everything Alaska WorkSource offers falls into five parts, and none of them works alone. The training gives people a trade, the plan gives the training direction, the life skills make it stick, the support keeps it on track, and the community connections give it somewhere to lead. Take one away and the others get harder — together, they're how a participant becomes an employee.
WHAT DRIVES US
Mission & Vision
Our mission is to empower individuals with the resources and guidance needed to make meaningful changes in their lives. The vision behind it: communities across Alaska where Alaskans overcome barriers and realize their potential — building brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Everything we do gets measured against those two sentences — and the values beside this are how we hold ourselves to them.
WORK ETHIC
ACCOUNTABILITY
EDUCATION
INTEGRITY
RESPONSIBILITY
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PROGRAM
Our Board & Team
Our board brings the exact mix the mission demands: decades of Alaska construction and rural contracting, nationally certified behavioral health leadership rooted in Tlingit culture and rural recovery work, and public health program-building across Tribal organizations. They're not overseeing this work from a distance — they've each spent a career doing it.
Darryl Waters
President
Darryl Waters is a seasoned general contractor with more than 23 years in the construction industry. As the leader of E&D Contracting LLC, operating in Anchorage and coastal villages across Alaska, he has completed projects totaling over $40 million — much of it rural construction, where crews must be equipped for some of the state's most challenging environments. That experience is the blueprint for Alaska WorkSource: with an operational base across Alaska and logistics support in Anchorage, Darryl is dedicated to advancing local employment through deliberate workforce development.
Eydie Flygare
VICE-President
Eydie Flygare is a Tlingit business owner and behavioral health professional with over 26 years of experience serving Alaska's rural communities. As founder of Tután Consulting Services, she provides behavioral health program development, training, and support across the state; her past work includes leading culturally based recovery camps as Regional Addictions Coordinator for Chugachmiut. She is a National Certified Addictions Counselor, a State of Alaska Behavioral Health Administrator, and a Behavioral Health Aide, recognized with ANTHC's Rising Star Award in 2020. Eydie is dedicated to expanding culturally rooted recovery services and strengthening hope in underserved communities.
Richelle Blake
TREASURER
As Treasurer, Richelle Blake oversees Alaska WorkSource's financial stewardship — budgeting, reporting, and the accountability that funders and partners depend on. Her role keeps every dollar pointed at the mission: Alaskans moving into steady work.
Samantha Dziatkiewicz
Program Developer
Samantha Dziatkiewicz is the Program Developer for Alaska WorkSource, with a degree in Public Health and a career built on program implementation for Tribal organizations. Her experience as a Director of Victim Services and her work across Indian Country nationwide reflect a commitment to advocacy and a talent for turning hard community challenges into programs that work. She is deeply passionate about making a difference in Alaska through public health and program development.
