Finding a Career Path that Helps Others

Tracy’s career path has been anything but linear.

Today, Tracy is Asset Supervisor I for Glacier View, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s housing assistance location in Seward for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

“We make sure there’s stable and safe housing for some of our more vulnerable residents,” she said. “We help them navigate the process and be knowledgeable about different aspects of living here.”

Working Her Way Back Home

But a career in housing was far from where she started professionally. Tracy initially worked in law enforcement as a police officer for Washington State University and with the Alaska State Troopers. After getting married, the Army moved her new family across the country and she began teaching swim lessons and coaching.

Eventually, she became a pharmacy technician, and after moving back to her hometown of Seward in 2011, she took a pharmacy tech position at a grocery store. Soon, she climbed the ranks until she was named assistant store manager.

Tracy began her career with AHFC in August 2018, after her predecessor approached her and told Tracy that she would soon be retiring and Tracy should apply for the soon-to-be-open position at Alaska Housing.

Tracy worked long hours at the grocery store, usually six days a week. She was a single mom, with a young son who has special needs. The job at AHFC would provide stability, better hours and more time to spend with her son, but it also gave her a chance to do something more.

“It was an opportunity to give back and help the community, help community members,” Tracy said. “That’s basically been the theme for all the jobs I’ve been doing.”

‘I’m Helping Family’

Tracy has been a part of that community for many years. Her family moved there in 1984 when her father became the deputy fire chief in town and she graduated high school before moving away for a few years before she was drawn back.

Now, she’s playing an important role for local residents.

“Being here, it’s not just helping strangers or new acquaintances and getting to know the people,” she said. “I’m helping family, whether it’s chosen family or actual family. I would say my relationship with the residents ranges from good friends to adopted family. My son says he has a lot of grandmas and grandpas, so it’s a tight-knit community.”  

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Interested in a career that makes an impact? View AHFC’s open job positions.