ANGIE (Fraize) Salvato is a police officer with Anchorage Police Department currently assigned to Background and Recruiting. 2021 marks her 20th year in law enforcement! FOCUS has been in Angie’s life since 2009, when Gianna was born with Down syndrome. Gianna is currently in 7th grade at Gruening Junior High School.
Angie is passionate about community volunteerism, humanizing police officers and advocating for children and families who experience different abilities.
Matt Coates grew up in Tampa, and moved to Alaska after graduating from USF in 2009. Matt spent his first 2 years in Alaska working as an auditor, traversing the state performing audits of local governments and not-for-profits. He then joined NSEDC, where he currently works as the company’s Controller.
Matt has been married to his wife Jenah for 9 years; they have a 6 year old daughter Maddie and two dogs. Maddie has a rare genetic disorder causing Global Developmental Delay, and she regularly takes part in PT, OT and speech. Matt enjoys exercising and going on walks/hikes.
Lizette Stiehr came to FOCUS as the Executive Director in 1999 for 7 years, and then returned to overseeing the Infant Learning Program for another 6 years. In 2014 she became the first Executive Director of AADD (Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities) and served in that capacity for 7+ years. Her heart has always been in services for individuals who experience disabilities. Her credo is “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Lizette is the super proud mother of three children, two sons and Magayr Knox who recently left the FOCUS board. She is the grateful grandmother of 8 grandchildren all of whom live close enough to celebrate GranmaZette night every Friday night. She is so proud of her long association with FOCUS.
Joshua Arvidson is the Director of the Alaska Child Trauma Center and Early Childhood Services at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, Alaska’s first child trauma treatment and training center. Joshua is a Lead Technical Assistant and Trainer for the Complex Trauma Treatment Network, a SAMHSA-funded national trauma training center.
He manages two statewide trauma training and technical assistance programs, one focused on traumainformed behavioral health and one focused on early childhood mental health. Joshua served on the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Steering Committee and numerous work groups. Trained as a therapist and clinician, Joshua has over 15 years’ experience working with children and families impacted by trauma.
Dr. Gianelloni is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician with the USAF stationed at JBER hospital. She grew up in western Washington and has lived all over the world with the Air Force.
She did her general pediatrics training at LSU in New Orleans, LA and her developmental and behavioral training with Brown University in Providence, RI. She arrived last summer with her family and is eager to explore Alaska!
Aurora Agee was born and raised in Anchorage. I’ve had the pleasure to have lived all over the state of Alaska, including Anchorage, Soldotna, Healy, and Juneau. In March of 2020 I moved to Eagle River.
I have volunteered with organizations assisting individuals and families experiencing different abilities for 25 years, I am honored to serve on the FOCUS Board and see the impact that FOCUS resources and services have on our community
