Board Members
My name is Andy Conway. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, I was transferred to Kodiak back in 2016 while serving in the United States Coast Guard. I am now the director of Special Friends, a local Christian program that provides a safe community for people with special needs and teaches them about Jesus. I have really enjoyed getting to know our special friends, and I have developed incredible friendships with the families in the special needs community. In 2020, I took on the guardianship of a young guy with Downs Syndrome when he came to live with me, and my life has been incredibly blessed by having him as part of my family. Eric and I love going to church together, attending Special Friends youth group, and participating in local Special Olympics sports.
Hannah is a Kodiak-grown kid who grew up on the island, left after high school to get her bachelor’s degree in Business Accounting, and returned in 2018 after spending some time on the mission field. She is currently the accountant for Golden Alaska Excavating and a youth leader at the Kodiak Bible Chapel. Her joys in life are discipling students, working at Camp Woody in the summers, and wandering Kodiak’s beaches with her dogs!
Beth Koehler is the owner of Grand Slam Toys and Games along with her husband, Zach. With a background in business, she brings years of retail experience and a passion for small business. She became involved with the Special Friends ministry when Andy first started it at their church and built a personal connection with students in the program. When Andy approached Beth about his idea for a store to help fund the ministry as well as to support and employ differently abled adults in Kodiak, she was very excited and immediately jumped on board to help. “I’m excited to see how God uses this organization to reach our community, support our employees by providing a healthy and stable working environment as well as meeting their needs within their abilities, and showing our community the beauty of diversity when we include special needs/differently abled friends.” Beth spends her free time reading and hanging out with her husband, two teenagers, and doodle.
Hi, I’m Bob Fish. Kodiak has been my home for many years for my family and I. I’m happy to serve on this board as Vice President to give back to the wonderful Kodiak community.
Melissa Griffin has called Kodiak her home for the past 20 years. She works for the Kodiak Island Borough School District as an Elementary teacher and has most recently assumed a leadership role. Her favorite thing about Kodiak is the sense of community that becomes a family and the assurance that no matter what someone has your back. She looks forward to seeing how Special Finds can serve the community.
Hello! I’m Stacey Parker. I am so grateful to call Kodiak my home. I met and married my husband of 27 years and raised both of my children in this fantastic community.
Mark grew up on a haystack in South Dakota and during a big westerly blow in the middle Reagan years ended up in Alaska. He found love in Anchorage and married Andria before moving to Seward then family of 5 to Kodiak for the past 20 + years. He regularly participates in community service and non-profit experiments to balance out for profit endeavors.
Ray was born and raised in Kentucky. After college, he accidentally found a job in Kodiak. Now, he and his wife, Kate, spend their days hiking, camping, and exploring new adventures. Ray has helped with Special Friends for a year and wants to see this store be successful.
Officers: Bob Fish (Vice President, Melissa Griffin (Secretary), Hannah Fish (Treasurer), and Beth Koehler (President)