The Yukon Quest Alaska (YQA) is seeing a change in leadership as they look to replace the roles of executive director and race manager in the near future. Both are expected to play key parts in shaping the race going forward.
Current executive director Lisa Nilson and race manager Cate Alexander are departing for personal endeavors and are in good standing with the organization. Yukon Quest Alaska Board President Lisa Mackey spoke highly of both and their time with YQA.
Interviews have begun to fill the positions, with new hires expected in the coming weeks.
“What the goal is – instead of hiring to have a body there, we’d really like to find the right person and the perfect fit that really has the mind to grow the Yukon Quest Alaska and see it succeed,” Mackey said. “There have been a couple of capable applicants that have shown some serious passion for it. We’re looking within the next two weeks to have somebody hired. By May 1, I would like to have both hired, trained and in their new positions.”
The executive director will oversee sponsorship and fundraising efforts, manage financial and office operations, lead marketing and public relations, handle race logistics and support the board of directors.
The race manager will focus on organizing race logistics, managing finances and collaborating to prepare for the 2026 races.
“Both of those positions [executive director and race manager] are key positions in our race going forward,” Mackey said. “So we definitely have to get those filled, and fortunately we have some time… a couple of them that I have interviewed have tremendous experience, which is very helpful.”
The Yukon Quest Alaska ran three different races in 2025 – the YQA 550, YQA 200 and 80-mile fun run. The 550-mile was the furthest length for the event since the split between the Alaska and Canada sides of the race, which used to run 1,000 miles from Fairbanks to Whitehorse.
It was a welcome change for many familiar with the YQA and teams who were eager for a return to long distance.
“We’re looking forward to 2026, 2025 went off great,” Mackey said of the race going forward. “We had a great team. Our race manager Cate Alexander was phenomenal with all of her team, our vet team was great, Lisa (Nilson) really worked hard, Barbara (Gravelin) as you know always works hard… so this year, we’re really looking forward to the race being successful again and just continuing to grow and bring Fairbanks back together with it and just make it a big part of our city.”
Contact Caleb Jones at (907) 459-7530 or at cjones@newsminer.com.
