Executive Team


Robert Scanlon, MBA, Chief Executive Officer 

Bob Scanlon is Chief Executive Officer of Blood Bank of Alaska.  Mr. Scanlon and his family moved to Anchorage in 2012 from Boise, Idaho. There, he served as Executive Director of St. Luke’s Humphrey’s Diabetes Center, St. Luke’s Health System as well as serving on the St. Luke's Health System-Internal Review Board/Research. Bob was active in the community serving as an appointed Planning and Zoning Commissioner, Canyon County, Idaho. Bob was also appointed to the Idaho State Service Council Legislative Committee where he was a resource for members of the legislature on healthcare issues.

Prior to this, he was the Western Area Director of Manufacturing and Technical Operations for American Red Cross’ Biomedical (Blood) Services in Meridian, Idaho, where he was responsible for the manufacturing and technical operations of the Western United States. Bob worked for Red Cross Biomedical services for eleven years.

Mr. Scanlon has served on the National Board of Directors for America’s Blood Centers (ABC); and he is a member of American College of Healthcare Administrators.  Additionally, he is a member of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, District Appeal Board Member of the State of Alaska, Selective Service System, Member of the Spenard Lions Club, American Legion, La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux, (40/8), and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Bob is a former United States Marine Corps Infantry Officer. He earned his MBA in Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, Idaho, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. He received his Master’s Certificate in project management from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

 


Megan Ritter, M.D., Chief Medical Director

Joining Blood Bank of Alaska in 2014, Dr. Ritter has an extensive background in clinical and anatomical pathology.  She has served in Medical Director and Anatomic Pathology Services Chief roles with the USAF, including directing an FDA licensed and CAP accredited Donor center, Blood Bank and Transfusion Service, and as Medical Director of Las Vegas Community Surgery Center, Immunohistochemistry Laboratory Medical Director Sunrise Medical Center & Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas, Client Services Medical Director  & Surgical Pathology Medical Director with Providence Hospital, and Laboratory Medical Director at the Seward Providence Medical and Care Center.  In addition she is currently on staff with Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Alaska Regional Hospital.

As the Foundation Associate Director, Alaska WWAMI School of Medical Education and Assistant Clinical Professor of Pathology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, she is actively involved in the development and teaching of the medical school curriculum to Alaska WWAMI medical students.

Her expertise is critical to the management and safety of Blood Bank of Alaska’s collection and processing protocols.


 

Melissa Nerad, MLT / HT (ASCP), Quality Assurance Director

Melissa Nerad joined Blood Bank of Alaska in 2008 and currently is the Director of the Quality Assurance Department. She previously worked in the clinical and pathology laboratories at Alaska Regional Hospital and came to the blood bank from Providence Medical Center as the technical specialist for the histology department.

Melissa is a Medical Laboratory and Histology Technician and maintains certifications as an MLT and HT, is a member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).

She is originally from Milwaukee, WI, but settled in Anchorage in 1990 after living across the country as a Coast Guard family and fell in love with the beautiful state of Alaska immediately upon arrival and knew this was where she wanted to settle. Volunteering at Anchorage Animal Care and Control, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Brother Francis Shelter, and Anchorage school district are a few ways Melissa has given back to the community.

As a proud member of Blood Bank of Alaska’s Quality Assurance team she strives to ensure the Alaskan community receives the safest, most potent, and pure blood products by following U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and AABB standards.


Ashere Chait, MBA, Director of Marketing and Communications  (Contractor)

Ashere joined BBA in 2012 to handle marketing, media, public relations, website management and overall branding.  Prior to moving to Alaska she was a Media Director at several ad agencies in both South Carolina and Texas.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing at the University of South Carolina and completed a Master’s of Business Administration/Marketing at Strayer University.  During her time at the blood bank and at previous agencies she led several award winning marketing campaigns.  Working at Blood Bank of Alaska fulfilled a life long dream to participate in a mission that gives back directly to the community that it serves.

Ashere spends her free time gardening, running and taking care of her family, which includes three children.

A. Chait Consulting Co.


Janice Bruchhauser, MBA, Director of Finance and Purchasing

Janice Bruchhauser, MBA, Director of Finance and Purchasing joined the Blood Bank of Alaska in 2014.  She received her MBA from AIU in 2015 and her undergraduate in Accounting from UAF in 1991.  Prior to joining BBAK, Janice completed a MA in Ministry in 2005 and began her career in the non-profit field with Alaskan businesses such as Providence Hospital, was the Finance Controller for The Salvation Army for seven years and has worked for other Anchorage businesses such as First National Bank, GCI, and Deloitte & Touché in the accounting field.

Janice was born in Anchorage when it was a territory and has lived a diverse Alaskan life, surviving the 1964 earthquake, spending 20-years in Fairbanks where she worked as a Pipefitter on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in Prudhoe Bay for fifteen-years, and later attending UAF to complete her BA in Accounting.  Her background also includes being a financial broker with Waddell & Reed, all preparing her for the Director of Finance and Purchasing with the Blood Bank of Alaska.

In her spare time, Janice as has finished 15 MT. Marathon races in Seward; is an 18 year member of Dimond Talkers Toastmasters holding various club and Area District Officer roles. She is a 10 year member of the Anchorage Elks Lodge #2868 and is currently President of the Board of Directors as well as a Past Exalted Ruler since 2017.  Always on the go, Janice is fast becoming a world traveler to the following places: Germany, Austria, Greece, Rome, London, Paris, Denmark, Turkey, Ireland, Norway, Sidney Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Mexico, and the Bahamas.




Shannon Billings, MS, MLS (ACSP)cm, Director, Laboratory Services

Shannon Billings found her true passion in the UAA Medical Laboratory Science program.  She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Medical Technology in 2010.  She accepted a job for the Providence Alaska Medical Center blood bank department, and spent the next few years working there.

She served as the state president for Clinical Laboratory Scientists of Alaska (CLSA), a constituent society for the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) from 2011-2012. In 2013 and 2014 she served as the conference chair for the state conference of CLSA, which brings networking and continuing education to laboratory personnel from across the state. In 2014 she was elected to the National Board of Directors for ASCLS, and served as the Region IX director for 3 years, representing the interests of laboratory professionals from Alaska, Oregon, and Washington to the National Board. In 2014, she was awarded “National New Professional of the Year,” from ASCLS, their highest honor awarded to laboratory professionals in their first five years of practice, honoring service excellence.

Shannon graduated from Rush University in early 2015 with a Master’s of Science in Medical Laboratory Management.  Shortly after that, she accepted a position at Alaska Regional Hospital, serving in lab management there, overseeing preanalytical and postanalytical work flows, quality assurance, and other areas.

In June of 2017 she accepted a job as the Laboratory Manager for Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She worked there for a year and a half before accepting a job as Chemistry Manager for Davita Laboratories in Deland, Florida, the largest automated laboratory in the western hemisphere.  After spending some time there she decided to return to Alaska and moved to Bethel, AK, where she served as the Quality Assurance Specialist for the hospital laboratory. After that, she moved back home to Anchorage to become the Director of Laboratory Services for the Blood Bank of Alaska.



Wes Dahlgren, Director of Collections & Recruitment

Westley joined the Blood Bank of Alaska in 2009. Raised locally in Anchorage, he attended The University of Wyoming & The Carl Von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (Germany). The call of Alaska was too great though and he returned after graduation. Upon his return he rediscovered a passion for the outdoors and is an annual finisher of Mt Marathon.

Managing the daily operations of the Collections Department he ensures that patients have a continuous blood supply at local area hospitals.  He and his staff take pride in serving the state of Alaska. 



Michael Hayward, Director of Information Services & Facilities

Michael moved to Anchorage in 1990 from Brockton, Massachusetts, but  considers Alaska to be home. Prior to his time with the American Red Cross, Mike served as an active duty Marine stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University and also holds certificates in Project Management and Human Resources along with a multitude  of IT industry certifications.

 

Michael also serves as a local American Legion Post commander and on the American Legion National Security Council. He is an active volunteer with Boy Scouts of America and many other organizations in the local community.



Tracie Kingsland, Director of Human Resources

Tracie Kingsland joined the Blood Bank of Alaska (BBAK) in August 2014 as the Director of Human Resources, the organizations Safety Officer and leads Training and Development.  Tracie has over 30 years of Human Resources experience.  Prior to joining the team at BBAK she worked with Hope Community Resources, Alaska Psychiatric Institute and the Alaska Native Health Consortium. Tracie has in depth knowledge of Human Resource laws/ regulations/ policies and procedures, Employee Relations, OSHA regulations and much more. 

Originally from Columbus, Georgia she moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1987 due to her father being stationed at Fort Richardson Army base which is now part of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER).  Tracie received her Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1994.  Currently she is a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and has her Professional in Human Resources Certification (PHR).  Tracie is a member of the Anchorage Society of Human Resource Management (ASHRM) and recently served as their Workforce Readiness Director for 2019.