Tommy Wells arrived in Wrangell this week to start his new job as chamber of commerce executive director.
The chamber of commerce board has chosen veteran media entrepreneur Tommy Wells as the organization's new executive director.
"I'm excited about it. I think it's a great opportunity," Wells said in an interview before leaving Texas for Wrangell. He arrived in town on Saturday, Dec. 2.
"He is a publisher and understands media and person-to-person communications," chamber president Bill Burr said in an email on Nov. 21. "He has experience in Alaska and really has a positive attitude to move forward.."
Wells lived in Nome about 20 years ago and also ran a newspaper for Seward about five years ago.
In addition to his experience in communications, Wells' familiarity with the financial side as a businessman was also a plus, Burr said. "Part of (being) executive director is working with the funds. ... His background really gave him a good foot up on that."
Wells said he's formed no specific plans for the chamber's business future. "I don't really know what the issues are just yet."
He replaces Brittani Robbins, who left the position earlier this year.
Wells has worked in the newspaper business for over 40 years. "I've owned 10 or 12 newspapers in my life. I own two newspapers right now in Oklahoma," he said. "I'm comfortable talking to people and I thought it (the chamber job) would be fun."
He has also worked in the radio industry and served five years as sports information director and in public relations for his alma mater Ranger College in northcentral Texas. He was born and raised in Texas.
More than 25 years ago, when he first contemplated a move to Alaska and had several options, he chose Nome in part because of his familiarity with the John Wayne movie "North to Alaska." Arriving in 1998, he lived there for seven years, starting at the Bering Strait Record newspaper which closed in 2000.
He then worked at the Nome Nugget. In 2017, he purchased and operated the Seward Phoenix-Log until he sold it in 2019.
Although he returned to Texas, Wells said he and his wife, Pattie, feel strong ties to Alaska. "We consider Alaska home."
He said he had found housing in Wrangell, and his wife will follow later, as will his 32-year-old son, Tommy J. Wells, who is paralyzed as the result of a 2021 car accident. "He's a fighter. He's the toughest kid I know. Never gives up," his dad said.
Wells said he'll wait and see what's on the ground when he arrives before devising any strategies for the chamber, as he wants to draw up plans that will benefit every business in town.
"I'm kind of a blank slate. Let's write a new story together.".
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