Meet the leadership team
Local leadership. Shared optimism.
Our officers and directors bring different experiences to one purpose: helping Anchorage members turn care for young people into useful local action.
A locally led club
Different expertise. One responsibility to Anchorage.
The club operates autonomously, electing its own leaders and shaping programs around the needs of local youth and community.
Officers and directors steward the organization, support members, protect continuity, and keep service moving from good intention to real impact.
Let community needs guide priorities.
Give members clear direction and context.
Use time and funds with care.
Create room for others to contribute.
Current club leadership
Meet the people helping optimism move.
Roles and director terms below follow the current public leadership roster. Individual profile pages may contain older titles.
Andre Giacalone
Andre brings experience across business, nonprofit work, photography, marketing, consulting, and web design. Outside work, he volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America across the northwestern United States, advising youth and helping develop future leaders.
Read Andre's full bioNicole Kringstad
An Optimist since 2016, Nicole has served as Club President, Lieutenant Governor, and District Governor. She brings deep experience in club growth, fundraising, and youth-focused service.
Read full bioMatthew Martino
Matthew brings government administration, transportation, safety, event management, and organizational leadership experience. He currently supervises a Municipality of Anchorage transportation network.
Read full bioDaniel Bowen
A lifelong Alaskan and charter club member, Daniel brings local and federal government experience in ethics, incident management, mass communication, and data reporting.
Read full bioSecretary / Treasurer
Leadership has an open seat.
The current public roster lists the combined Secretary/Treasurer role as vacant.
Members interested in helping with club records, communication, financial stewardship, and organizational continuity can contact the board to learn more about the role and current selection process.
Express interestHow leadership serves
The board exists to help members do their best work.
Good governance is less about titles and more about clarity, continuity, accountability, and creating room for service to flourish.
Set direction
Keep the mission visible, organize priorities, and make sure local needs guide club activity.
Support members
Help volunteers connect their interests and skills with useful roles, projects, and leadership opportunities.
Protect continuity
Maintain records, finances, governance, and institutional knowledge so the club can keep growing responsibly.
Leadership questions
Curious about how the club is led?
Contact the board with a governance or leadership question.
Send a questionWho currently leads the club?
The current public roster lists Andre Giacalone as President; Nicole Kringstad, Matthew Martino, and Daniel Bowen as Directors; and the Secretary/Treasurer role as vacant.
Why do some profile pages show different titles?
Individual biography pages may retain titles from an earlier term. This redesigned roster uses the current Our Team page as the source of truth for roles and director terms.
Are director terms staggered?
Yes. The current roster shows overlapping director terms: FY25-FY27, FY26-FY28, and FY27-FY29. Staggering helps preserve continuity as leadership changes.
Can members pursue leadership?
Members can develop and demonstrate leadership through club service. Contact the board to ask about officer, director, committee, or project leadership opportunities.
How can I contact the board?
Email secretary@anchorageoptimists.org with your question or use the site's Contact page. The club is volunteer-run and will respond as soon as possible.
Leadership begins with showing up