Lance Johnson

Executive Director

Prior to Arriving in Nome in February 2005, Lance worked as a Program Director for two 4-H Centers in Virginia. In this role, Lance provided a variety of unique educational and recreational activities for youth including: challenge course events, cave expeditions, mandolin making workshops, backpacking adventures, week-long youth residential camps, environmental education activities and Native American Arts and Traditions programs.

When he’s not directing the Community Center, Lance enjoys falling off his snow machine, torturing himself (and others) by trying to play guitar, allowing salmon to swim past poorly-baited hooks, and pretending he will one day write the next great American novel. The Color of Money is his favorite film and he is a big John Prine fan, prompting most people to inquire, “That’s a movie?” and “Who’s Don Pine?”

            Fawn White

Youth Leadership Development

            & Youth Court Coordinator

Serving as a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church through the US-2 Program, Lily Fawn White is working with the Nome Community Center, Inc. in Nome, Alaska.

Fawn is NCC’s the Youth Leadership Development Coordinator and also as the Youth Court Coordinator.  This full-time position involves providing coordination for a variety of youth skills-building activities including after-school events, adventure trips, and computer-applied education.  She will work closely with Nome Public Schools, Nome Boys and Girls Club, and Nome Youth Facility.  This position also coordinates the Nome Youth Court. She will work closely with the Nome Public Schools, Juvenile Probation and the Alaska Court System.  This position will also work with a legal advisor for Youth Court guidance and support.  She will also be working with the Nome United Methodist Church in whatever capacities they need her to fulfill.

Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Fawn is a full blood Native American from the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and Ponca Nations. She is a recent graduate of Northeastern State University with a degree in Developmental Psychology. She is a member and youth coordinator of D.D. Etchieson Memorial United Methodist Church. She also claims White Eagle Mission UMC as her one of her home churches.  Drawn to work with Native populations, Fawn proclaims her calling to be inspiring and encourage Native youth to reach their potential.

David Elmore

     Community Service

        Coordinator

            David Elmore is the first

            Community Service

           Coordinator for the Nome

         Community Center. David

       works to develop community

   service opportunities for young persons who are diverted to the

Nome Youth Court from the traditional criminal justice system. It is David’s job to search for skill-building community service opportunities which fit the youth’s strengths and interests.

In addition, David markets this program to local schools and others as a clearinghouse for providing

community service. It is his goal to teach the proper respect and skills through community service so youth offenders may continue their lives as productive, successful citizens.

Before coming to the Community Center, David worked for 14 years as a civil engineer including a six-month period in Baghdad, Iraq managing water and sewer reconstruction. He moved on from this career to respond to God’s call to ministry and attended Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. While there, he served as a student pastor of two rural churches and is current co-paster of Nome’s Community United Methodist Church with his wife Julie.

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Julie Yoder Elmore

Administrative & Financial Assistant

Now living in Nome for the secod times, Julie Yoder Elmore is the part-time Office Manager for Nome Community, in addition to being co-pastor of Nome’s United Methodist Church with her husband David.

Julie first came to Nome in 2001 as a US-2 Young Adult Missionary through the United Methodist Church and served at NCC. She resided in Nome until 2005 when she moved to Kansas City to attend seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology, where she graduated in May of 2008.

In her free time, Julie can be found reading, swimming, watching movies, being creative in the kitchen, of visiting with family and friends in person and through phone, e-mail, Facebook, and web camera. Julie and David have two dogs, Serendipity and Gracie, who bring much joy to their lives. She is enjoying her return to Nome, serving and living in the community again.

Nate Hobbs

Life Skills Coordinator

Nathan is 36 years young and has resided in Nome with his family for over four years. Nathaniel and his wonder wife Carleen have four cute kids who are five years old and under.

Says Nathan:

“To know me is to know to many people who have invented in my life over the years. I’m a product of my parents careful and prayerful upbringings, as well as many mentors, teachers and friends. My goal is to share a little bit of their wisdom for living a for living a full and purposeful life with youth. I desire to be a source of blessing to others, motivated in all I do by love and kindness.”

Mariann Gumaer

XYZ Senior Center

Mariann Gumaer was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, raised

in North Pole and moved to Barrow where she resided for 10 years, beginning her teaching/counseling career. Later, after traveling with mission to the Philippines and Thailand, Mariann married an experienced gold miner from her hometown in 1993. Together, they have a 13-year-old daughter who loves living the wilderness lifestyle during the summer months with her dad at their mining camp 150 miles north of Nome.

Mariann says through the years she has become truly passionate in teaching and writing skills since 1990 through locally owned and operated Literacy Advocates. “Some time ago I had heard the saying ‘Literacy is the gateway to education’ and I truly believe that everyone should be given the tools to take advantage of educational opportunities.” Mariann states.

In her spare time, Mariann enjoys teaching, gardening, reading, fishing, and seeing her family outside of Nome.

I have found that my favorite aspects of Nome are its tight-knit community, subsistence activities, beautiful fall colors, and rich culture.

I am a 2008 high school graduate of Galena Public School’s IDEA Program and am planning to attend college this fall. My interests are numerous: government, history, education, law, and photography. As I’ve found schools and majors to be incredibly diverse, I am still in the process of finalizing my plans.

I have worked here at the Nome Community Center since October of 2008 and still love every day of it. My job consists of answering phones, booking travel arrangements, recording invoices, sorting mail, filing paperwork, ordering supplies, and other administrative work. I consider myself blessed not only to be a small part of the community services that the Nome Community Center provides but also to spend every day working alongside many amazing and caring people.”

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Chris Vandergraph

Family Services Specialist

Originally from southern Illinois, Chris has been living in Nome for seven years.

As Family Services Specialist for NCC, Chris says after receiving a referral from the State of Alaska, it is his job to reunite families who have been separated by the state authorities. Or, “If they are about to be separated, it is my job to try to keep them together.”

Chris digs golfing, a challenging sport to enjoy in bush Alaska. He also likes to walk, hike and drive to experience tundra wildlife.

Norma Niclas

Munaqsri Senior Services

Norma Niclas has been the

Director of the XZY Senior

Center since September 1998.

Prior to her return to Nome

that year, she was living in

Florida taking care of her parents.

While in Florida, she was elected to serve on the Board of Directors as Vice President for the Condominium Association, the retirement community where they lived. Norma worked closely with her neighbors, assisting them with shopping, doctor visits, etc. In 1986 Norma traveled to Nome to watch the Iditarod and visit family. It was during this visit that she realized Nome was where she wanted her home to be. Norma returned in July of 1986, and shortly thereafter, she and her sister Laverne opened “The Toy Chest” in the Old Federal Building.

Norma says, “I love this position at the center, the folks I work with. The elders who take advantage of all the XYZ has to offer are terrific! There is sadness that comes with the job, but unfortunately, that is also a part of life.”

Not available: Mark Johnson;

  Barb Nichols