R&M Expands Planning Department to Juneau and Fairbanks
R&M Consultants expanded its planning capabilities by adding new Planners at the Juneau and Fairbanks offices. Beth McKibben joins R&M as a Senior Planner in Juneau, and Bryant Wright is a Planner in Fairbanks.
McKibben is a certified professional planner with more than thirty years of experience in all aspects of community planning, permitting, rezoning, code revisions, grant applications, and program development. McKibben has worked for several rural, urban, small and mid-sized Alaska communities. Most recently, she was a planner for the City & Borough of Juneau, where she led development of the Blueprint Downtown Juneau Area Plan and Douglas/West Juneau Area Plan.
“R&M offers me the opportunity to ‘walk the talk’ and make a difference in Alaskan communities with rewarding and challenging work,” McKibben says. “I’m looking forward to working for a company that encourages a collaborative environment, supports its employees, and has a mission and values I can stand behind.”
McKibben earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Washington State University and is a member of the American Planning Association. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and gardening in the summer and cross-country skiing and reading in the winter. She also recently started agility training with her dog.
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Wright has ten years of experience in natural resources planning, agency coordination, and public outreach in Alaska. He previously worked for Fairbanks North Star Borough as trails coordinator, where he was responsible for parks and trails planning, project management, programming, rights-of-way research, and code compliance. He brings to R&M a strong background in recreation, meeting facilitation, and survey research.
“I jumped at the chance to join R&M because of its community-minded culture, team-oriented work environment, and desire for excellence,” says Wright. “R&M’s project list and experience are vast. I’m excited that I’ll get to work for communities across the state, to learn their needs and goals, and lend my skills to help them achieve their best. It’s a great fit.”
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Wright has a master’s degree in natural resources management from UAF and a bachelor’s degree in art history and studio art from Trinity University. He is a certified Parks & Recreation Specialist through the National Recreation & Park Association, a Leave No Trace Master Educator, and educated in Sustainable Trail Layout and Design. When he’s not on outdoor adventures somewhere new in the state, he can be found running or skiing, depending on the season, taking the kids outside, or working on house projects. In addition, Wright owns and operates Northern Alaska Packrafts in Fairbanks.
McKibben and Wright both support planning and community engagement efforts for a variety of facilities and infrastructure projects. “I did not hesitate at the opportunity to add Beth and Bryant to R&M’s Planning team. They really understood why we plan and how planners help improve livability in communities across Alaska,” says Van Le, R&M’s planning department manager. “I’m grateful for the work we do every day. Beth and Bryant bring additional depth to our team and embody the core values that makes R&M a great place to thrive.”
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We’re honored again this year to celebrate our partnership with Junior Achievement of Alaska, a nonprofit that educates local youth about enterprise, business, money, and financial literacy. In the special section, three Junior Achievement of Alaska students weigh in on their experience with the exceptional volunteers and teachers involved with the program.
And in Industry Support, we explore the range of varied services that industry in Alaska requires, from mancamps to spill response to off-grid energy solutions.
Outside the special sections, make sure to check out the 2026 Economic forecast, where Alaska leaders share their insights on what may lie ahead in the coming year. Enjoy!