Melinda Freemon has been in health-related leadership positions in Alaska for over 30 years. She has worked as Executive Director in the behavioral health and health care fields, overseeing comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, programs for women in transition, permanent supportive housing programs, and public health programs with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Ms. Freemon has worked extensively in rural and urban Alaska to address health and social service disparities. Ms. Freemon has served as the Executive Director of the Salvation Army Clitheroe Center, the Director of the Supportive Housing Division for RurAL CAP, and the Director of the Anchorage Health Department. She has served on local task forces and statewide commissions working to improve access to health care for all Alaskans. Ms. Freemon began her position at Anchorage Project Access in August 2018.
Ms. Freemon is a recipient of the 2012 YWCA BP Exploration’s Woman of Achievement Award as well as the 2012 Hard-Won Victory Award by the American Planning Association Alaska Chapter. Ms. Freemon has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and is a licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor.
Gail Schiemann has worked with non-profit and public health organizations in Alaska for over 20 years. Some of her career highlights include Wellness Educator for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Program Manager for the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention Program, Program Director for the American Lung Association, and Education Director for Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska. Gail has served on numerous community wellness coalitions and strategic health planning initiatives locally, nationally, and statewide.
Before moving to Anchorage in 1999, Gail was employed by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Health as a Research Associate and Project Manager for the Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations. Gail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Public Health Practice. Gail joined Anchorage Project Access in 2020.
Kate Love has worked in leadership in various fields for nearly a decade. She has a background in consultation and administration as a Lead Consultant for FedEx Office. Kate is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Kate is also a Certified Application Counselor for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace (ACA) and professionally trained to assist with ACA and Medicaid applications. Kate joined the team at APA in 2022.
Ashley Garver began her professional career with HR & Block, where she worked as a tax preparer and accountant for 10 years. She has a background in consultation, administration, and leadership as a Lead Consultant and Assistant Manager for FedEx Office. Ashley is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Ashley is also a Certified Application Counselor for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace (ACA) and professionally trained to assist with ACA and Medicaid applications. Ashley joined the team at APA in 2023.
Originally from Burkeville, TX, Casey served in the United States Air Force for 10 years as a Flight Operational Medicine Technician and is licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician. Casey has received both his Associate’s in Science Health from the Community College of the Air Force, and his Bachelor of Science from Park University in Interdisciplinary Studies. He has worked at multiple hospital locations both in the United States and Internationally, accumulating years of dedicated service and experience amongst a diverse group of patient populations. The recipient of three Commendation Medals for outstanding service while in the military, Casey is honored to continue his journey in the healthcare industry alongside his fellow colleagues at Anchorage Project Access. Casey joined the team at APA in 2023.
Sarah Randolph began her career in healthcare as a Certified Medical Assistant over 15 years ago. She worked in a variety of different clinical settings and specialties. She received her bachelor’s degree in information technology from Champlain College in 2019. She immediately went back to Champlain College and completed her graduate degree in Health Care Administration in 2021.
Sarah worked in clinical informatics at Northwestern Medical Center, a rural hospital in Vermont. In 2021, she joined Valera Health; a start-up mental health company that offered virtual mental health services and a collaborative care platform. Sarah worked in operations at Valera Health and was promoted to Senior Program Manager that same year. Sarah relocated to Anchorage, Alaska to work in Clinical Quality and Applications for a Tribal Health Organization in 2022.
Sarah began her role at Anchorage Project Access as the Program Manager for the mental health counseling program in December 2023.
Staff
Melinda Freemon, MS, LPC, CCS
Executive Director
Melinda Freemon has been in health-related leadership positions in Alaska for over 30 years. She has worked as Executive Director in the behavioral health and health care fields, overseeing comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, programs for women in transition, permanent supportive housing programs, and public health programs with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Ms. Freemon has worked extensively in rural and urban Alaska to address health and social service disparities. Ms. Freemon has served as the Executive Director of the Salvation Army Clitheroe Center, the Director of the Supportive Housing Division for RurAL CAP, and the Director of the Anchorage Health Department. She has served on local task forces and statewide commissions working to improve access to health care for all Alaskans. Ms. Freemon began her position at Anchorage Project Access in August 2018.
Ms. Freemon is a recipient of the 2012 YWCA BP Exploration’s Woman of Achievement Award as well as the 2012 Hard-Won Victory Award by the American Planning Association Alaska Chapter. Ms. Freemon has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and is a licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor.
Direct: (907) 743-6651
Email: mfreemon@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Gail Schiemann, MPH
Program Director
Gail Schiemann has worked with non-profit and public health organizations in Alaska for over 20 years. Some of her career highlights include Wellness Educator for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Program Manager for the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention Program, Program Director for the American Lung Association, and Education Director for Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska. Gail has served on numerous community wellness coalitions and strategic health planning initiatives locally, nationally, and statewide.
Before moving to Anchorage in 1999, Gail was employed by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Health as a Research Associate and Project Manager for the Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations. Gail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Public Health Practice. Gail joined Anchorage Project Access in 2020.
Direct: (907) 743-6650
Email: gschiemann@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Kate Love, CCHW, CAC
Program Coordinator
Kate Love has worked in leadership in various fields for nearly a decade. She has a background in consultation and administration as a Lead Consultant for FedEx Office. Kate is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Kate is also a Certified Application Counselor for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace (ACA) and professionally trained to assist with ACA and Medicaid applications. Kate joined the team at APA in 2022.
Direct: (907) 743-6603
Email: klove@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Ashley Garver, CCHW, CAC
Dental Health Coordinator
Ashley Garver began her professional career with HR & Block, where she worked as a tax preparer and accountant for 10 years. She has a background in consultation, administration, and leadership as a Lead Consultant and Assistant Manager for FedEx Office. Ashley is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Ashley is also a Certified Application Counselor for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace (ACA) and professionally trained to assist with ACA and Medicaid applications. Ashley joined the team at APA in 2023.
Direct: (907) 743-6621
Text: (907) 931-0058
Email: agarver@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Casey Erwin, BS
Medical Care Coordinator
Originally from Burkeville, TX, Casey served in the United States Air Force for 10 years as a Flight Operational Medicine Technician and is licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician. Casey has received both his Associate’s in Science Health from the Community College of the Air Force, and his Bachelor of Science from Park University in Interdisciplinary Studies. He has worked at multiple hospital locations both in the United States and Internationally, accumulating years of dedicated service and experience amongst a diverse group of patient populations. The recipient of three Commendation Medals for outstanding service while in the military, Casey is honored to continue his journey in the healthcare industry alongside his fellow colleagues at Anchorage Project Access.
Casey joined the team at APA in 2023.
Direct: (907) 743-6620
Text: (907) 931-0778
Email: cerwin@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Sarah Randolph, MHA
Counseling Program Manager
Sarah Randolph began her career in healthcare as a Certified Medical Assistant over 15 years ago. She worked in a variety of different clinical settings and specialties. She received her bachelor’s degree in information technology from Champlain College in 2019. She immediately went back to Champlain College and completed her graduate degree in Health Care Administration in 2021.
Sarah worked in clinical informatics at Northwestern Medical Center, a rural hospital in Vermont. In 2021, she joined Valera Health; a start-up mental health company that offered virtual mental health services and a collaborative care platform. Sarah worked in operations at Valera Health and was promoted to Senior Program Manager that same year. Sarah relocated to Anchorage, Alaska to work in Clinical Quality and Applications for a Tribal Health Organization in 2022.
Sarah began her role at Anchorage Project Access as the Program Manager for the mental health counseling program in December 2023.
Direct: (907) 743-6652
Text: (907) 931-0189
Email: srandolph@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Mayerlyn Rojas-Quintero
Eligibility Specialist
COMING SOON!
Direct: (907) 743-6610
Text: (907) 931-0056
Email: mrojas-quintero@anchorageprojectaccess.org