Board of Directors
Dar Walden
President
With over 25 years in real estate, Dar Walden is a highly accomplished professional leading Alaska's #1 Real Estate team. Today, she leads a team of experts with a proven track record, consistently ranking in the top 1% of REALTORS® in the United States. Notably, Dar and her team hold the esteemed #1 Real Estate team title in Alaska and have achieved an impressive ranking of #1 for units sold and #3 in volume sold in the Northwest Region for Keller Williams International, showcasing their expertise and success.
Beyond her real estate success, Dar is a compassionate philanthropist and the force behind the Christopher Walden Foundation of Hope. Under her guidance, the foundation hosts impactful events, including the annual Christopher Walden House of Hope Gala and the 5k Mountain Marathon, contributing 100% of proceeds towards recovery homes, scholarships, and treatment programs. The foundation's first facility, opened in 2022 in Wasilla, Alaska, stands as a tribute to Dar's late son, Christopher Walden.
Dar's commitment to the foundation's mission is deeply personal, reflecting a journey fueled by love, loss, and compassion.
Ed Walden
Director
Ed Walden and his wife Dar are co-owners of top-producing real estate teams; the Dar Walden Team in Anchorage and the Madden Real Estate in Fairbanks, both of Keller Williams Realty-Alaska Group. They’re also co-owners of Keller Williams brokerages in Reno and Sparks, Nevada, as well as a Business Center in Elko, Nevada. Ed is the heartbeat of the Madden Real Estate Team offering over 20 years of Real Estate experience. The Madden Team is consistently ranked in the Top 1% of Real Estate Professionals in the Nation and the #1 Real Estate Team in Alaska! Ed retired in 2003 from the US Air Force working Air Transportation and Combat Readiness and Resources at Kadena AB, Japan, Ramstein AB, Germany, and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Most of Ed’s day is spent working with investors, developers, coaching, working with other real estate professionals, and leading the company to the next level of success.
Sasha Walden
Director
Sasha Walden is Christopher Walden’s wife and a real estate business owner on The Dar Walden Team with Keller Williams Realty focusing on helping homebuyers achieve their goals.
Sasha also graduated from UAA school of Nursing, RN in 2020, and is currently pursuing certification as a substance abuse RN to work in treatment centers. Sasha has been clean and sober since 2013 and is in active recovery.
Shana Ackles
Vice President
Shana is on a mission to leave an impact on others and that has pushed her to grow as an entrepreneur and leader. She started her career as an administrative assistant and has done virtually every job in real estate. Most recently, she was an interim team leader and helped grow the brokerage from roughly 200 to more than 400 agents. She stepped out of that position to focus on her passion and build a coaching and consulting company Growthward Consulting, with a focus on Business and Personal Growth. It is Shana's firm belief that a business and all goals will grow to the extent that you do. On average, her consulting clients have seen year-over-year business growth of 30%. More importantly, they have found deep satisfaction in their careers because of the balance that Shana has helped them introduce into their lives. Shana has enjoyed all that Alaska has to offer for over 40 years, has raised a family here, and is a lover of the outdoors.
Katie Halvorson
Director
A transplant to Alaska over 30 years ago, Katie grew up mostly in Anchorage and spent her younger years on the Kenai Peninsula. Coming from a 10-year career in Hotel Management, Katie effortlessly transferred her management and marketing experience into the Team Leader position for the Nationally Renowned, highly successful, Dar Walden Team. For over 15 years Katie has assisted the team’s ranking as the top team for client satisfaction and customer care. Consistently placing in the Top 1% of Real Estate Professionals in the United States and ranking #1 Real Estate Team in Alaska.
Justin Harris
Secretary, Treasurer
Justin is a lifelong Alaskan...well, almost. He was born on the big island of Hawaii and moved to Alaska at the age of four. Justin entered the mortgage business in 2001, and is a co-owner of First Rate Financial, a local Mortgage Brokerage. He has helped thousands of families purchase their first home and achieve the dream of homeownership and now leads a team of Mortgage professionals to do the same. Justin loves raising his three beautiful daughters in Alaska, sharing with them all that he enjoyed as a child. Today you will find him downhill skiing riding his fat-tire bike during the winter months and in the summer, competing in triathlon and bicycle races, camping, hiking, and remote rafting adventures