As a maintenance technician in CIRI's real estate department, Saundra Volkheimer helps keep the eight CIRI-owned commercial buildings in Anchorage neat and presentable. Volkheimer, who often works outside as part of her job, is tuned into the changing seasons of Anchorage.

During the summer, she carefully helps tend colorful flowerbeds, supervises summer interns, mows lawns, trims hedges and helps to keep grounds watered. When autumn arrives, she's raking leaves. Once the first snow falls, she gets out her shovel. When winter finally melts away into spring, she rakes, seeds, fertilizes and looks forward to the long days of summer. Additionally, throughout the year, she assists the maintenance staff by handling assorted plumbing, heating and electrical problems that may arise at each of the buildings.

Volkheimer has worked at CIRI for three years. Originally, she started out in property management as a summer grounds-keeping intern and was asked to stay because of her hard work and enthusiasm for her job. "I really enjoy my job and love working outside. The people I work with are great," says Volkheimer.

Maintenance Technician ­ Saundra Volkheimer

A CIRI shareholder of Athabascan heritage, Volkheimer was born in Anchorage and raised by her grandmother Angeline Evans, who originally came from Koyukuk. She describes her grandmother as a very sharing person who was committed to raising her children well. She learned from her grandmother how to sew and to can berries and salmon. She also has many fond memories of her grandfather Carl Noble who came from Tanana.

A newlywed, she married Charles Volkheimer III at an outdoor ceremony in June. Away from work, Volkheimer likes to spend much of her time fishing and camping. She and her husband just bought pontoon rafts so they can fish down river. In fact, she looks forward to smoking and canning the red salmon they've caught dipnetting. She claims to have the best recipe in the world for smoking and canning salmon. It's