Janelle Keller started with Alyeska Title Guaranty when she was just 18 and just last year she helped open a branch office for the company, which has grown from a staff of 3 to a staff of 50 since she started there 5 years ago.

“Janelle learned every job possible in the title department,” said nominator Beth Knight, title manager for Alyeska. “She was the title department! I have been in the field for 25 years and only have seen one other such talented title officer so young. She can handle any complex commercial order, section land order and is our highest producer in title. Janelle has the work ethic, drive, integrity and skill level of a person much older and wiser. She is one of the foundations of customer service and success that this company rose up from.

“Janelle hails from Nome, Alaska and is an Alaskan Native. Her industrious nature and her pioneer spirit make our company shine and she proves young people today bring promise to our field. The title industry talent in Alaska is a limited pool and Janelle Keller is a wonderful young lady who brings excellence beyond compare to our community, state and industry.”

To be honest, I was 18 and needed a job. Pat Lamb (the Vice President of Alyeska Title) was opening up a new title company in Anchorage and needed someone to help get the operation up and running. My friend worked for his partner’s company and mentioned that I should send in my resume. I went to meet with Pat, told him that I had no experience, but that I was a fast learner, and he hired me on the spot.

The first day I started Pat said to me, “Hopefully in 5 to 10 years Attorney’s Title (now Alyeska Title) will capture 2nd or 3rd in the marketplace.” We reached 1st in little over two years. Knowing that I was, and still am, part of that success, gives me great satisfaction about coming to work everyday.

At this moment, I would have to say that it is moving out of Alaska. I’ve been in this state my whole life, and I have finally taken the initiative to spread my wings. I’m planning on moving to Seattle in August, which I’m terrified of doing, but also very anxious and excited.

People are generated to make mistakes. They are life’s greatest lessons.

I received the “Employee of the Year” award in 2004. Also, being a finalist for this.

The company asked me to help start the Wasilla branch of Alyeska Title. I was the only person in the title department for a couple months, so the task was quite challenging, to say the least. Adjusting to the environment, as well as the methods of searching out there, was a bit unusual, but I made it through and am now back in Anchorage.



Pat Lamb. He may have an unorthodox method of teaching, but I credit everything I know and the experience I have obtained to him.



I have complete loyalty and compassion for the company that I work for. We started from rock bottom and have risen straight to the top and I intend to help keep it that way.



That would be my father. He passed away when I was 7. There’s so much about him I would like to get to know. I guess I also have hopes that maybe he would help me better understand some more about myself and where I came from.



When I was 10, I won a trip to Australia through a raffle at our local grocery store. Other than that, I’m an open book.



INCUBUS! I’m completely obsessed with that band. Actually, I just went to San Diego in January to see my best friend and go to one of their shows.



Do I ever relax?



I used to be the President of KEY Club (Kiwanis Education Youth) in high school. It was a community service club, in which I organized blood drives, canned food drives, trash pick-up days, “Senior Proms” at assisted living homes, as well as serving holiday meals to the homeless and helping with the Special Olympics when it was hosted in Anchorage. Just knowing that you could help someone in need or just merely put a smile on their face, was the greatest satisfaction I got from participating in KEY Club.


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