Jyotsna "Jo" Heckman was appointed in 2011 by Governor Parnell. Ms. Heckman earned a bachelor's and master's degrees in Business from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and has also attended graduate school for financial studies at Georgetown University and Southern Methodist University. Jo retired as the President & CEO of Denali State bank in December 2011 after twenty six years of service with the bank. She currently serves as a director on the bank's board. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is active in various community and civic organizations including the United Way, Foraker Group, Alaska Community Foundation, Rotary and the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. She is the recipient of the UAF Alumni Association's William Cashen Service Award and the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Farthest North Girl Scouts Council's Woman of Distinction Award, and was selected as the Business Leader of the Year by the UAF Associated Students
of Business.