Perspectives from APFC Staff
People Behind the Fund
The Alaska Permanent Fund was created for all generations of Alaskans, and it takes a committed team to keep that promise year after year. The People Behind the Fund video series introduces the staff: their backgrounds, roles, and perspective on what it means to work for an institution that has served Alaska for 50 years.
Executive Director & CEO
Deven Mitchell
Deven Mitchell, APFC Executive Director & CEO, leads the organization responsible for investing and managing the state’s most valuable financial assets. A longtime Juneau resident, Deven oversees the operations that keep APFC running smoothly: from organizational strategy and financial stewardship to building strong partnerships that support the Fund’s long-term success.
Chief Investment Officer
Marcus Frampton
Marcus Frampton serves as APFC’s Chief Investment Officer, helping lead the investment strategy for one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the United States. In this role, Marcus oversees the teams and strategies that invest the Alaska Permanent Fund across public and private markets, guided by APFC’s long-term mandate to maximize risk-adjusted returns for the benefit of current and future generations of Alaskans.
Chief Risk & Compliance Officer
Sebastian Vadakumcherry
Sebastian Vadakumcherry serves as APFC’s Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, where he works to strengthen the team's decision-making by bringing an independent risk perspective to APFC’s investment and operational work. With 25 years of experience, his role is to challenge assumptions, look at investments from a different angle, and uncover potential blind spots before they become problems.
Chief Financial Officer
Valerie Mertz
Valerie Mertz, APFC’s Chief Financial Officer, works to ensure the Alaska Permanent Fund’s financial reporting, accounting, and operations are accurate, transparent, and accountable - her "dream job." She oversees a dedicated seven-person finance team managing over 40,000 investments across 800 bank accounts.
General Counsel
Chris Poag
Chris Poag serves as APFC’s General Counsel, providing legal guidance that supports the Corporation’s fiduciary responsibilities, governance practices, and investment management of the Alaska Permanent Fund. In this role, Chris navigates the intricate legal risks of global investments and ensures that APFC’s staff and board remain compliant with state, federal, and international laws.
Deputy CIO - Public Markets & Director of Fixed Income
Jim Parise
Jim Parise is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer for Public Markets and Director of Fixed Income, where he leads an eight-person team that manages the in-house Fixed Income portfolio. He describes their strategy as a "repeatable, consistent process".
Director of IT
Scott Balovich
Scott Balovich, Director of IT at APFC, ensures that the systems supporting the Fund are secure, reliable, and optimized to help the Corporation carry out its mission in order to safeguard the technology and data that power the Corporation. From network operations to trade management systems, he focuses on keeping data accurate, accessible, and protected.
Senior Portfolio Manager - Private Income
Ross Alexander
Ross Alexander oversees the Private Income portfolio as the Senior Portfolio Manager. In his role, Ross focuses on opportunities within private income, infrastructure, and debt. His approach emphasizes consistency over outsized wins, with a focus on inflation protection, capital preservation, and a repeatable investment process.
Summer 2025 Investments Intern
Andre Periovi
Andre Periovi was APFC's 2025 Investment Intern. He worked primarily with the Fixed Income team. Growing up in Juneau, Andre knew about the Corporation but never imagined working at APFC. That changed in college, when he discovered the opportunity to intern back home.
Stewardship for Generations
Celebrating 50 Years of the Alaska Permanent Fund
The Alaska Permanent Fund was created by Alaskans, for Alaskans, to transform a finite natural resource into lasting, renewable value for generations to come. By investing a portion of Alaska’s oil revenues, the Fund helps secure long-term financial stability for the state, supports public services, and protects the future of Alaska’s economy, ensuring today’s resource wealth continues to benefit Alaskans well beyond the present.