Steve Williams, CEO of Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Resigns After Two Years: A Look at the History and Impact of the Major Landowner in the State

The CEO of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, a major landowner in the state, has announced his resignation effective July 5. Steve Williams has been with the $500 million public corporation for the past two years and has held various roles within the organization since 2005. The trust was established to manage land revenue for the benefit of Alaskans with mental illness and acts as a public corporation that oversees the trust. Its extensive land holdings have made it a significant player in Alaska’s mining and logging industries.

Allison Biastock, the trust’s communications director, will serve as interim CEO while the board conducts a nationwide search for a permanent replacement. During a special meeting where he announced his resignation, Williams expressed gratitude for his time working with trust beneficiaries, staff, trustees, and other partners over nearly two-thirds of the trust’s existence. Although he did not provide a reason for resigning, Williams mentioned that he plans to prioritize spending more time with his family while continuing to make positive impacts for Alaska.

The current version of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority was originally established in 1994 as part of a legal settlement that accused the state of mismanaging a previous mental health trust. Since then, it has been reconstituted with 1 million acres of land and $200 million and its investments have annually supported the state’s standalone mental health budget, which is one of three budgets that the Alaska Legislature drafts each year.