Bruce
Bustamante
Fairbanks – Bruce Bustamante, Princess Tours’ Vice President of Community and Public Affairs, has joined the UAF Alaska Sea Grant College Program Advisory Committee.
The 28-person advisory committee – comprised of marine and coastal community leaders, policy makers and stakeholders – guides the program’s statewide mission of marine, coastal and fisheries research, education and Marine Advisory Program extension services.
“Bruce’s participation on our advisory committee allows Alaska Sea Grant and its Marine Advisory Program to engage a major industry in projects and activities that will help coastal Alaskans,” said Paula Cullenberg, interim director of the program.
Bustamante fills the seat left by John Shively, who until earlier this year was the vice president of government and community relations for Holland America Line. Now the executive director of the Pebble Partnership, Shively remains on the advisory committee, representing the Resource Development Council.
Bustamante has been an Alaska resident since 1992, and holds a degree from UAA in business administration and marketing. Prior to joining Princess Tours in 2007, Bustamante spent seven years as head of the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB). He also served 17 years with Alaska Airlines.
While with ACVB, Bustamante won support for raising the city’s hotel tax to pay for a new convention center. The $108 million Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center opened in downtown Anchorage in September 2008.
According to Princess Tours, Bustamante serves on the boards of a number of regional organizations, including the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA), Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
The Alaska Sea Grant College Program is a statewide marine research, education, communication and extension service at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. The program is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the State of Alaska and private industry.