Holmlund named to Alaska's Top 40 Under 40

Katie Holmlund didn't quite believe it at first.

"When they called about this 40 Under 40 thing, I was like, that seems like a trick," she said with a laugh, recalling a piece of junk mail she'd received months earlier promising similar honors. "I'm like, this isn't real."

But it was. Holmlund, Petersburg Medical Center's Youth Programs Development and Advocacy Coordinator, has been named to the Alaska Journal of Commerce's 2026 Top Forty Under 40, a statewide honor recognizing professionals under 40 who have demonstrated excellence in their field and a commitment to their communities. She will be recognized alongside the Class of 2026 in a commemorative magazine and at an awards gala in Anchorage in April.

Even accepting the honor, Holmlund was quick to redirect the credit.

"This recognition feels less like an individual achievement and more like a reflection of the extraordinary community I have the privilege to work alongside every day," she said. "Showing up for kids and investing in our community should be the expectation, not the exception."

Holmlund is the co-founder and leader of the Kinder Skog outdoor youth program, which she launched in 2018 and has grown steadily since. After transitioning the program to PMC in 2022, she led her team in more than doubling its capacity while also developing a second initiative, ORCA Camps - Outdoor, Recreation, Creation, and Adventure - a suite of specialized day camps for older youth focused on athletics, arts, and outdoor skills. Together, the two programs served more than half of Petersburg's elementary students last year, along with a growing number of middle and high schoolers.

"She is an exceptional leader whose vision, integrity and impact extend well beyond Petersburg," PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter said. "The innovative youth programs she leads promote youth mental health, physical wellness, social-emotional development, family stability, and so much more."

Holmlund also volunteers in the community, coaching softball and serving on local boards. She was recently recognized by the American Camps Association with a Golden Lens honorable mention award for excellence in capturing the camp experience through photography.

She said she hopes the recognition shines a light on something bigger than herself.

"The youth we serve, our Skoggies, are the ones who inspire this work," she said. "Their resilience, curiosity, humor, and growth are what drive our programs forward. If this award represents anything, I hope it highlights the importance of investing in kids and the power of a community that chooses to show up for them."