Our Staff

Eric Gurley, Executive Director
Anchorage Office: (907) 248-4777

Eric Gurley is a career non-profit manager and long-term Alaskan. Eric has worked for multiple Alaskan non-profit agencies delivering supports and services for persons experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. Eric’s history includes being employed at Access Alaska, Inc., Fairbanks Resource Agency for three years, Assets, Inc. for 10 years, and Hope Community Resources, Inc. for 25 years. 

During his tenure Eric has led teams delivering independent living services, supported employment services, residential supports, and non-residential habilitative services throughout several communities of Alaska. Eric’s oversight has included responsibilities in Anchorage, Barrow, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan and the Mat-Su. 

Eric received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Eric later earned his Master of Business Administration degree in Management and Strategy from Western Governor’s University in 2013.

Eric has participated on Municipality of Anchorage Boards and Advisory Committees including the Transportation Board, the Mountain View Boys and Girls Recreation Center Advisory Committee, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; and he has been a Board of Director member for Stone Soup Group, Alaskans for a Drug Free Youth – Interior Affiliate, and Fairbanks Crisis Line.

Eric and his wife, Dorian, have lived in Anchorage, AK since 1997. Eric and Dorian have three sons, one daughter and five grandchildren in their family. 

Steve Garritson, Finance Director
Anchorage Office: (907) 248-4777

With more than 38 years of executive financial experience in the education and healthcare industry along with ministry responsibilities intermittently, Steve Garritson brings a compassion for meeting genuine needs , endeavoring to apply his business  management skills to each organization he oversees to provide solvent and abundant  resources to maximize each endeavor of help to serve those needing assistance state-wide with the disabled, elderly, children and adults alike. On a weekly basis Steve sends out messages of compassion and hope across the globe to 99,500 readers endeavoring to encourage and strengthen the hurting and needy. 

EvaJo Henning, Human Resources Director
Anchorage Office: (907) 248-4777

EvaJo Henning is originally from “Big Sky Country”, Montana.  EvaJo moved to Alaska in 1976 with her parents, moving back to Montana in 1977. While in Alaska she met the man to whom she would marry in 1980. EvaJo and her husband have 2 children. EvaJo’s life experience and desire to help others has been demonstrated in her working career. The role of service provider, and human resources (HR) professional has provided EvaJo the opportunity to interact regularly with Consumers and Staff. EvaJo has a strong background working in family-owned businesses both as an employee and as the leader of her own business.

EvaJo‘s work history includes directly supporting seniors and persons experiencing mental health and physical challenges, and those experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities. Eva Jo is also a certified medical Coder/Biller. EvaJo is a Master Floral Designer with experience completing fresh and silk floral design and custom gift baskets for special events. EvaJo’s career in HR includes 18 years of progressive experience.

EvaJo’s role as the Human Resources Director includes oversight of employee related record keeping and file management, recruitment, hire and placement of employees, new hire on-boarding, training and development, compensation and benefits, personnel management and employee engagement, employee satisfaction, health and safety, conflict resolution and mediation, organizational development, strategic planning, contributing Leadership Team Member, HR Compliance-HRIS and COVID-19 Mitigation.

EvaJo has worked at Access Alaska, Inc. since 2015

Deni Monkelien, Compliance & Administration Director
Anchorage Office: (907) 248-4777

Deni has over 25 years’ experience working for various profit and non-profit agencies, 14 of those years working in various aspects of Consumer Directed Personal Care Services (CSDPC) including Billing Specialist, CDPCS Program Associate, CDPCS Program Manager, HR / QA Manager and Operations Manager at Access Alaska and CDPCS Consumer Support Supervisor and CDPCS Program Administrator for AllWays Caring. Deni has extensive knowledge and experience working with the State of Alaska Senior and Disabilities Services. She is very active in Alaska’s major provider associations – Alaska Association for Personal Care Supports (AAPCS) and Alaska Association for Developmental Disabilities (AADD). Deni was also a major player in keeping Access Alaska open and operating while we navigate COVID-19.

Over the next year and a half, she will provide leadership to Access Alaska as we navigate our way through our recertification process with the Council on Accreditation (COA). 

Brigit Barstad, Program Director
Anchorage Office: (907) 248-4777

Brigit relocated to Alaska in 2016 and started working with Access Alaska as soon as she arrived. She was an advocate and program manager with Access Alaska prior to stepping into her current role of Director of Independent Living in 2019. Brigit is responsible for leading Access Alaska’s Independent Living Programs which diligently serve consumers around the state.

Brigit is originally from Minnesota and earned a bachelors degree in Psychology from Saint Cloud State University. Brigit has years of experience in leadership roles in the non-profit sector as well as a professional history in direct support and coordination of services in community and in-home settings while serving individuals who experience various disabilities. Brigit is an advocate first and is passionate about ensuring all individuals have an opportunity for their voices to be heard. 

Outside of work Brigit enjoys reading, photography, and spending time enjoying all the beautiful scenery Alaska has to offer.