Josh Anderson email: anderson.josh.w@gmail.com
Wasilla, AK
State why you wish to serve on the Board of Directors.
I am passionate about the fair! As a child growing up in 4-H, FFA, fair concessions, and as a livestock superintendent and judge, I desire to continue my involvement. The fair has been a huge part of my life. With 2 young children of my own, I want to ensure that the fair traditions, programs, and educational possibilities are concreted for generations to come. I want to extend my “Fair” experience, knowledge and abilities along with my “Business” experience in policy origination and implementation. I want to give back to the fair what it has given to me … success!
Summarize employment experience; include work with budgets and supervisory duties.
For the past 8+ years I have worked for Sportsman’s Warehouse in opening 58 new locations, navigating bankruptcy emerging as a new company under new ownership, and blossoming into a profitable retail entity. While at Sportsman’s Warehouse I have held various positions; Loss Prevention Manager, Corporate Trainer, Director of Loss Prevention and Store Manager.
As the Director of Loss Prevention I oversaw a team of loss prevention investigators and professionals from Fairbanks AK to Tallahassee Florida. I wrote, developed and implemented corporate policy. I created and provided training programs, managed a company wide payroll and regularly completed ROI (Return on Investment) analysis.
Currently as Store Manager for Sportsman’s Warehouse, I manage a $1.3 million dollar payroll, sales, advertising, donation and miscellaneous store expense budgets. Coinciding with store budgets, I maintain visibility of all other aspects of the business including: personnel management, property management, contract negotiations, community relations and hosting events (Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas with Santa, Ladies Night, Fall Festivals etc…)
Prior to working with Sportsman’s Warehouse, I held jobs with other companies including: Target, U.S. Forest Service and as a Ranch Hand.
List any volunteer activities, including board experience.
Currently I am a volunteer Boy Scout Leader. As an Eagle Scout, I have always been active in the scouting world.
I served as a Dairy Goat Superintendent for the Eastern Idaho State Fair for 7 years. 2010 was the last year I served at the Eastern Idaho Fair as I have shifted my efforts to assisting organizations in Alaska.
I have volunteered with a number of wildlife organizations including; NRA, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Alaska Moose Federation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. I have volunteered with these organizations in Idaho, Utah and Alaska. This past summer I volunteered with the Alaska’s Healing Hearts Organization, assisting them in providing wounded veterans the opportunity to hunt spring bear.
Other volunteer services include: Twin Falls ID Police Officer Reserve Youth Coordinator for the Juvenile Justice System (Twin Falls ID), and volunteer for a rural fire department.
How long have you been a member of the Alaska State Fair?
Annual member since November 15, 2011
How have you participated in the Fair in the past?
I have been involved with county and state fairs since childhood. As an avid 4-H’er, I attended county and state fairs from age 8-18. With the 4-H program I was heavily involved with the livestock, market, demonstration contests, judging and more. I had the great opportunity to represent Idaho at the National 4-H Conference and the National 4-H Congress in Washington D.C. Along with the 4-H program, I attended fairs representing the FFA as the Southeast Idaho District FFA President. After graduating high school, I continued my involvement with Idaho county and state fairs as a livestock judge and Dairy Goat Superintendent until Fall of 2010.
Along with the fair livestock programs, I have been heavily involved in the fair concession business. Through family owned food concessions at the Eastern Idaho State Fair, I grew up “hawking” popcorn and soda in the grandstands. As I grew older, my responsibilities and involvement grew. Yearly I have continued to assist my family with a very successful concession business.
I arrived in Alaska just over two years ago taking a new position as Store Manager with Sportsman’s Warehouse. Within my first year as Store Manager, I quickly became involved with the Alaska State Fair, and for the past two years Sportsman’s Warehouse has attended the Alaska State Fair Parade and become a sponsor of the Alaska State Fair Moose Calling Contest. This past year, I attended and supported the 4-H market sale representing Sportsman’s Warehouse for the first time.
Summarize what you value most about the Fair. State your specific areas of interest.
I value the lifelong experiences, education and overall FUN of the fair! I owe a tremendous amount of credit to the fairs I attended through both the 4-H and FFA programs. These opportunities taught me many life experiences that paved the way to the successful adulthood I have come to enjoy. I am thankful that my family brought me up with these fair experiences. These experiences taught me responsibility, financial management, public speaking, leadership, budgeting, and animal husbandry and the value of an honest days’ work.
I value the creativity, networking and pristine joy produced by the staff and leadership of the fair. The accomplishments made year after year and revised year after year are both astonishing and amazing considering the challenges to overcome each year.
I value the opportunities provided by the fair each year to businessmen, family, fairgoers and 4-H’ers alike. Where else could a young child savor the moment when their steer sold for over $17,000.
What is your vision for the Fair, and do you have specific goals?
My vision of the Alaska State Fair is a culture with continued traditions mixing native history, businesses, concessions, entertainment food, fun and agriculture! A fair is not a fair without a strong agricultural emphasis. As a director I would support more agricultural development, integration and focus at the Alaska State Fair.
I envision the Alaska State Fair as a location that maintains Alaska’s historical values. While maintaining such historical values, I envision a board that provides building and technological upgrades to ensure the vitality of the structures for generations. I envision the Alaska State Fair to be the “people’s” fair. As a board member, I will listen to each voice and support policy change, policy implementation, general advancements and improvements based on the overall needs of the fair. I strongly believe in effective decision making through the efforts of a board.
Lastly, as I mentioned before, I envision a fair that will be viable for years to come. I envision a fair that my children can attend for years to come — a fair that teaches education, leadership, lifelong skills, public speaking, and responsibility, and provides opportunities that are available nowhere else. I envision a fair that is fiscally sound, financially safe, and open to ideas, development and growth. I envision a fair that brings joy and laughter to fairgoers year after year.