New Executive Director for Discover Kodiak
Discover Kodiak
A new boss is in charge at Discover Kodiak just in time for the busy summer season. Brock Simmons has taken over as Executive Director of the visitor’s bureau.
His own background is in law enforcement, working in Kodiak first as a corrections officer and then with the Kodiak Police Department and as an Alaska State Trooper. However, his in-laws operate a bear viewing company that runs boats to the Katmai coast. He worked as a bear viewing guide at Karluk Lake after retiring from the Troopers.
As the head of Discover Kodiak, Simmons says he wants to expand the visitor bureau’s connection with hunters.
Across the hall from Discover Kodiak, the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce also has a new executive director for the summer: Ellen Simeonoff, previously the general manager of KVOK radio. She and Simmons take on their new roles just as cruise ships return to Kodiak for the largest season since 2019.
Current Issue
September 2026
What happens when a city with fewer than 300 residents becomes a major freight and tourism hub, despite being accessible only by boat, plane, or a one-lane highway/railroad tunnel managed on a strict schedule?
If you’re in the City of Whittier, you get busy. The city has two separate transportation planning efforts underway, including a safety action plan under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative, which focuses on improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and emergency responders. The second is Whittier Moves, the city’s transportation master plan, which serves as the long-term roadmap for growth.