Mark Begich

Mark Begich is the President and CEO of Northern Compass Group LLC. A businessman since age 14 and a public servant with decades of experience, Begich has built an impressive record of accomplishments on some of the most complicated and important issues such as fisheries, travel & tourism, transportation, resource development, tribal and Alaska Native interests, the Arctic, education, veterans, commerce, housing and more.

During his tenure as U.S. Senator for Alaska, Mark Begich earned the reputation of a hard-working, pragmatic problem-solver who was willing to work across party lines to get things done. Defying party labels and drawing daily on his business background, Begich broke down bureaucratic barriers to get things done.

Quickly rising to leadership positions, Begich chaired both the Steering and Outreach Committee and the Oceans Subcommittee. He also served on other influential committees including Appropriations, Commerce, Veterans, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Armed Services, and Indian Affairs.

In addition, Begich was appointed to the President’s Export Council, the national advisory board to the White House on important export and trade policy. Begich was also named Chair of the bipartisan U.S.-China Inter-parliamentary Group aimed at improving trade relations between the U.S. and China.

Prior to serving in the Senate, Begich was the Mayor of Anchorage for six years and served on the Anchorage Assembly for ten years.

Begich is married to Anchorage businesswoman Deborah Bonito, president and owner of Sourdough Mercantile Inc. and several other small businesses.  Their son, Jacob, currently attends college at Georgetown University.

Schawna Thoma

Schawna Thoma joins Northern Compass Group LLC as Vice President. Most recently, she worked as State Director for U.S. Senator Mark Begich in his Anchorage office.

Schawna worked on policy and legislation in the areas of aviation, transportation infrastructure, travel and tourism, fisheries, public lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Schawna also served under Mayor Mark Begich from 2003-2008 as Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development for the Municipality of Anchorage, where she worked on a variety of major economic development projects including the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, museum expansion and downtown redevelopment.

Schawna spent five years as Chief of Staff for Senator Johnny Ellis in the Alaska State Legislature and has served as campaign manager and field director on many political campaigns.

She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where she earned a B.S. in Public Law & Government and Journalism. Schawna is married to Michael Powell, PhD and lives in Anchorage, AK, where she enjoys skiing and hiking in the Alaskan wilderness.

Schawna can be reached at schawnathoma@northerncompassgroup.com

Rachel Barinbaum

Rachel Barinbaum joins the Northern Compass Group as Vice President for Strategic Communications and Business Development.

Most recently, Rachel served as Communications Director in the Washington, D.C. office for Senator Mark Begich where she managed the Senator’s overall communications strategy both at home in Alaska and in Washington.

In 2013, Rachel served as Senior Communications Advisor for Terry McAuliffe’s successful run for Virginia Governor. The Washington Post later named McAuliffe’s bid for Governor the “Best Campaign of 2013,” citing message discipline as a key contributing factor to success.

In 2012, Rachel was a member of Vice President Biden’s Debate Prep Team in advance of the highly anticipated Vice Presidential Debate between Vice President Biden and Representative Paul Ryan.

Prior to 2012, Rachel served in communications and research positions for U.S. Senator Jon Tester, U.S. Senator Max Baucus, and within the Administration at the Department of Treasury.

Rachel is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lives in Anchorage, Alaska.

Rachel can be reached at Rachel@northerncompassgroup.com

Clare Boersma

Clare Boersma Executive Manager and Project Liaison is at the core of Northern Compass Group operations, working with clients in diverse sectors, managing office functions and making sure the CEO is where he is supposed to be. Known for inventing creative solutions to any obstacle, Clare brings to Northern Compass Group an eye for detail and organization, and a talent for getting to the heart of the matter.

Before joining Northern Compass Group, Clare served in the office of U.S. Senator Mark Begich, where she corralled visiting VIPs, counseled constituents on the realities of federal funding, and managed in-state events ranging from large-scale conferences to community town halls.

Born and raised in Anchorage, Clare is a UAA graduate and a member of Rogers Park Community Council. She enjoys the challenge of baking new and different birthday cakes for her large extended family, knows how to knit a sock, and can dance an Irish jig.

Clare can be reached at Clare@northerncompassgroup.com

Marilyn Alvarenga – Gaxiola

Marilyn Alvarenga is our Marketing Director & Associate Consultant at Northern Compass Group. LLC.

Marilyn provides internal and external support for a company’s communications department. Her focus at NCG is to work with clients deals with graphic design, grow their websites, social media presences, and improve their Search Engine Optimization, content strategies and integrated marketing plans.

She previously served as the Hispanic and Latino Director for Former U.S. Senator Mark Begich’s 2014 U.S. Senate reelection campaign, where she interacted one-on-one with Hispanic Alaskan voters across the state to register and get-out-the-vote.

Outside of the office, Marilyn is heavily involved in the Anchorage community. She was awarded by the Alaska Journal of Commerce 2020 Top 40 Under 40 and was the youngest in her class. President-Elect of Alaska’s American Marketing Association, in addition, chairs the Anchorage Arts Advisory Board, and Alaska Humanities Forum: Leadership Anchorage Advisory Board. She is a proud Alaskan who is an alum of East Anchorage High School, and a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage with a B. A. in International Studies.

Marilyn can be reached at Marilyn@northerncompassgroup.com