Dr. Tom Williams - Planning Director and Fearless Leader

Born and raised in California, Tom has spent most of his adult life in Southeast Alaska.  The Coast Guard brought Tom to Alaska in 1977 where most of the 20+ career was spent.  Tom left southeast to continue his eduction and relocated in Virginia where he attended Virginia Commonwealth University where he earned a MPA and a PhD.  A long three years in the Florida Keys wraps up Tom's time away from Southeast and Tom and his family are back home.

Tom's planning experience was gained in both Virginia and Florida where he held positions as Director of Planning and Community Development, Senior Planner, Zoning Administrator, and Planner.  While in Florida, Tom tried the private section with an international consulting firm, and then opening his own firm.

But the draw of Alaska kept pulling Tom and his family back where they hope to make Ketchikan the last stop on a rewarding and enriching journey.

Business Card (outlook file)

907-228-6610

Chris French, AICP - Principle Planner

Chris French is the Principle Planner for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Department of Planning and Community Development. His responsibilities are the supervision of planning staff and as project manager for long range planning projects. Prior to joining the Borough, Chris worked as the Planning Coordinator for long range planning, and primary code writer for the Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services Department in Louisville, KY. Notable is his 15 years of experience as a planner with local government in Louisville, KY. Chris’s experience as a planner focused on comprehensive planning, neighborhood planning, code writing, form base design, urban design and land use planning. Chris and the Department have worked since his arrival to assist with development and implementation to support business/property owners such as the recent code amendments for daycares, tri-plexes and float plane facilities. Chris and the Department are currently working on rewrites to the zoning and subdivision codes. These amendments will focus on the simplification of the codes and review procedures through the use of alternative formats and revisions to existing processes.

907-228-6638

Jonathan Lappin, AICP - Associate Planner

When asked where he is from, Jonathan typically responds by saying “The Navy.”  In the mid 1970’s he moved to Seattle from the east coast and found the environment suited him.  After graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in Economics, he moved to Bethel.  Finding little use for his degree but enjoying the climate, he fixed airplanes, drove trucks, and volunteered as an EMT and Fire Fighter for about two years.  From there he traveled to Fort Yukon and Anchorage prior to moving to Ketchikan in 1998. He has worked for the Borough as a Planner ever since. Of all the places he has lived, Southeast Alaska feels the most like home.

907-228-6618

Richard Harney - Associate Planner

~Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Coordinator

~Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) 

Richard lived and grew up in Ketchikan, has finally been able to returned to us in Ketchikan.  He is returning with his wife (also Ketchikanite, Sarah) and children.  Richard graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona with a Bachelors of Science in Planning and University of Alaska, Southeast with a Master in Public Administration.  He is excited to be able to give back to the town that gave so much to him and his family over the years. 

907-228-6634

Alethea Johnson - Planning Clerk

Background to come...

907-228-6636

Cecilia DuPree- Administrative Assistant

          ~Lands Management / Economic Development

Ceci, a native Texan, is the newest member to the Planning Department. The Coast Guard, not choice, brought her to Ketchikan in May 2001. She loved Alaska so much that she followed it up with a 3 year stint in Anchorage. She then returned to Ketchikan in order to be stationed close to her husband. She now calls the first city her permanent home.  She enjoys being “all the way up here” and forcing her family to leave Texas in order to visit the great state of Alaska.  When she is not working, she likes to spend time with other people who share her enjoyment for living and doing outdoor activities in Ketchikan.  She prefers liquid sunshine to the snow.

Background to come...   907-228-6622