We are thrilled to announce our new Chief Financial Officer, Kris Palmatier! Kris has joined the team at CSS, and brings with him nearly 20 years of cross-sector accounting and finance experience.
Kris was born in Palmer, Alaska, grew up in Anchorage, and graduated from West Anchorage High School. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Finance at Alaska Pacific University and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governor’s University. Additionally, Kris completed the Leadership Anchorage program with the Alaska Humanities Forum, Catalyst for Non-Profit Excellence with Foraker Group, and received an Alaska Top 40 Under 40 award from the Alaska Business Journal in 2022.
Kris’s professional background is unique in that he began his career in finance by opening a dance studio after he graduated high school. His business partner served as the artistic director and Kris took on the business side of the company. He went on to serve in accounting roles with the State of Alaska, Cornerstone General Contractors, Kimura and Associates Certified Public Accountants, and Rasmuson Foundation, where he served as the Director of Finance from 2016-2022. Kris has also owned and operated four small businesses over the course of his career.
True to his roots, dance and the arts are an integral part of his life. He has been a guest choreographer at DanceWest since he graduated in 2004 and currently serves on the board of directors for Momentum Dance Collective, the DanceWest Booster Club, and committees for the Trend Alaska Fashion Show and Pride Foundation. He resides in Anchorage with his husband, Joe, a fearless corgi-mix Toby, and ragdoll cat, Yuna.
He looks forward to serving the community in his new role as Chief Financial Officer at CSS. He shared he always looks for ways to support people that are making an impact in the community and looks forward to playing a part in creating thriving communities for all.