New President and CEO for Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
Alaska Native Village Corporation Association
A telecom manager and concert musician is the new President and CEO of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. The organization’s board hired Kathleen McArdle, a relatively recent transplant to the city.
McArdle has worked as manager of sales operations for Verizon and helped establish the company’s Alaska presence. Her responsibilities include local marketing and managing Verizon’s employee volunteers and grant funding. Since moving to Alaska nearly ten years ago, McArdle has served on the boards of Anchorage Opera and the Anchorage Community Concert Band, where she performs on tenor saxophone.
Ryann Swalling, chair of the Anchorage Chamber board of directors, says McArdle was chosen due to her varied experience in small business, professional services, and corporate landscapes; her personable professionalism; and data-driven idea generation. “Kathleen holds a passion for a thriving Anchorage business community, which is quite evident when she discusses the Chamber and its mission,” Swalling says.
McArdle studied psychology at Texas Tech University and Our Lady of the Lake University, earning a master’s degree and practicing as a licensed counselor with individuals and groups in clinical settings. She then obtained an MBA degree from Grand Canyon University.
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August 2026
In her previous role at Verizon, McArdle was active with the Anchorage Chamber, serving as membership chair of the Young Professionals Group and volunteering for the 2023 Alaska Young Professional Summit. McArdle also follows local legislative developments and looks forward to working more closely with municipal and state governing bodies to advocate for the interests of Anchorage Chamber members.
Since moving to Anchorage from Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two dogs, McArdle has dedicated time to supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs – Alaska, Camp Fire Alaska, and the Anchorage Senior Activity Center.
