On January 18, 2018 our first corporate member was inducted. Christie Gibbs, Director of Business Development at Geneva Woods Pharmacy, was inducted into Rotary International at our January 18 meeting. Two of her colleagues will also be joining our ranks. Following are short bios of two of the three new members.
Christie Gibbs
Job Title: Director of Business Development at Geneva Woods Pharmacy
Christie was born in Batangas City, Philippines. Her family immigrated to the US in 1972 when she was 2 years old. Her father had proudly enlisted as a Filipino national in the US Navy in 1964. Her mother had been a high school history teacher in the Philippines. in the US, Christie's mother worked as a caregiver to the elderly and disabled for many years.
Christie and her mother made the long journey from the Philippines to Jacksonville, FL alone. Christie has two younger siblings who were born in the US in Jacksonville and Pensacola, FL.
The family was transferred to Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia in 1979. In 1980, Christie and her mother achieved US Citizenship.
Christie's family enrolled her in a local after school/weekend Judo school. She excelled in the sport and achieved her black belt during high school.
Christie excelled in school too. She was President of the National Honor Society, achieved Varsity letters in Academics, Debate, and Forensics. She graduated Valedictorian of her high school class and was accepted into the College of William and Mary. She was very proud to be awarded an INTERNATIONAL ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP.
In 1990 she married Trey Gibbs in Virginia Beach. He had been stationed at Norfolk Naval Base, but he had been raised in Anchorage, AK. Upon his Honorable Discharge from the Navy, they returned to Anchorage in 1993 with their first child Samantha. Their other three children, Sabrina, Drew, and Regan, were later born in Anchorage and Soldotna.
Trey and Christie pursued careers in insurance and securities. Christie specialized in Long Term Care Insurance and Medicare supplemental insurance sales. In 2005, the family moved to the Kenai Peninsula.
Christie began working for Geneva Woods in Soldotna that year as a documentation specialist. She was promoted to Education and Resources Representative. In 2007 she was promoted to General Manager of the branch site. In 2014 Christie was promoted to Director of Business Development.
Christie enjoys travel, family church, and community activities. The children's sports and other activities take up most of her time. The family recently celebrated Samantha's UAA graduation, Sabrina is on the Chancellor's list and Honor Society at UAA. Drew was named Alaska's #1 High School Running Back in 2014 and is currently on football scholarship at Northern State University in South Dakota. The youngest one, Regan, attends Soldotna Elementary and dances competitively for Diamond Dance Project in Soldotna. She was recently awarded dance scholarships in a national competition in Los Vegas and a regional scholarship from a regional competition in Anchorage.
Chris Finlay
Born and raised in the Eugene area of Oregon. Moved to Alaska in November of 2011. Started work at Peninsula Community Health Services of Alaska in June of 2012 as an individual Services Provider (ISP) in the Behavioral Health Department. Was promoted to the position of Medical Front Office Manager in May of 2013, then promoted again in June of 2014 to the position of Medical Operations Manager and promoted once a gain in May of 2015 to Director of Operations. In November of 2016, took a job at MediCenter Medical Group as Director of Operations. in January of this year, took position of
Operations Manager of Geneva Woods Healthcare Services in Soldotna.
Chris is also Treasurer of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well as the Board of Directors Liaison for the Kenai Young Professionals Advisory Council. He has two little girls who are three and five years old and enjoys spending time outdoors.