The burning passion of Jana Powell

PALMER— Jana Powell is fired up about her community, the Mat-Su Valley. She’s had a lot of fun and put in a lot of work, not worried about rolling up her sleeves and getting dirty for either.

“I am very community backed and community oriented,” Powell said.

Powell is a mother, business owner, firefighter, an educator and this year’s Mrs. Alaska International. She carries a burning passion to fill the community’s needs, wearing many hats, helmets and tiaras.

“Everybody has a passion and they’re just too afraid to show it, even if it’s a burning passion. Once you show your passion and you just glow,” Powell said.

Powell has lived in the Valley for 27 years. She owns Shear Fire Design and the Masters of Iron gym in downtown Palmer.

“The day I moved here, I instantly loved it,” Powell said.

Powell said that her favorite aspect of the Valley is the people, particularly in her beloved Palmer community. The population is still booming but that small town feeling isn’t gone.

“Everyone’s willing to be happy and kind… You know you’ll always be taken care of in the Valley,” Powell said.

She opened Shear Fire Design in 2004, adding a beauty school 2007. Nestled in downtown Palmer at the edge of the business district, her salon/academy is quaint but spacious inside. The interior design is very colorful, welcoming and all together fiery, like Powell and that signature bright red streak in her hair.

There’s several little firetrucks and other toys in baskets near the back. Powell said that her store certainly isn’t a daycare but it’s a very family friendly environment and very welcoming and to mothers and their children.

“So many moms… they always have the kids with them. They still need their own time. They need to be able to get pretty and they need to know it’s okay to take their kids in here while they get more beautiful,” Powell said.

You can usually find Powell in her Palmer salon/academy. She keeps up with her regulars like relatives, knowing their style, preferences and stories by heart.

Powell added a Wasilla location in 2012. Her colleagues include three stylists renting booths, two stylists in Wasilla and 12 students total.

Powell decided to fulfill her longtime dream after she left the Perfect Look franchise. When she worked for them, she opened all the Perfect Look salons in Alaska. She said that her mom encouraged her to start her own beauty school.

“There was a terrible, terrible need,” Powell said.

She said the ultimate goal was always the beauty school. She had to have an established salon before she could get certified.

“I love to teach- doesn’t matter if I’m teaching firefighting, if I’m teaching beauty. It doesn’t matter what I’m teaching,” Powell said.

Powell became a fire fighter with the Palmer Fire Department 18 years ago, after meeting former Fire Chief Dan Contini. He retired in 2008 and the city’s station is named for him. Powell said that he’ as kind as he is inspiring.

“He’s the best. That man is just amazing,” Powell said.

Contini invited Powel to come to that evening’s meeting.

“Day one they had me climbing a 10 foot ladder, knocking a hole in a wall and I thought, ‘this is the greatest moment of my life!’ and I’ve been addicted to it ever since,” Powell said.

Powell achieved historic milestones for the Palmer Fire Department. She was the first female Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, certified Firefighter Instructor and certified Firefighter Officer. She said that she instantly fell in love with the firefighting lifestyle.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie and I really thrive in chaos,” Powell said.

Powell said that she’s taught over 3,000 Alaskans how to use fire extinguishers. She’s traveled much of the state, visiting over 30 villages to train locals. She said that a true fire fighter is all about education.

In 2015, she opened the Masters of Iron gym with her husband Wesley Powell right around the corner from her salon in Palmer. She said she and Wesley saw yet another need that needed to be filled, this time in the body building community. She said that’s more than enough to keep her busy.

“I have no intention of opening up anything else,” Powell said with a laugh.

Powell continues to teach firefighting for the fire Marshall’s office and fire safety across the community. As the 2019 Mrs. Alaska International, her platform is all about fire safety.

She pushes the public to make sure they have functioning smoke alarms, the first line of defense against structural fires. She said that many tragic fires with fatalities could have easily been prevented with a smoke alarm.

“It really only takes five minutes a year to make sure your family is safe,” Powell said.

Powell said that she started pageantry six years ago but this is the first time she won based on her merits, not just for being a “beauty queen.”

“I like getting dirty,” Powell said with a laugh.

Powell said that she likes to camp at places like King River, Mat-Su River Park and Montana Creek. Due to her busy schedule, her camping trips typically involve her staying the night outdoors, heading back to work the next day then back to camping.

She said that she wouldn’t be a Mrs. without her Mr. and sung her husband’s praises. She said that he’s been very supportive over the years and encouraged her to be a better person. They’ve been married for almost 13 years now.

“He’s amazing. He’s my rock,” Powell said.

Powell is leaving the state soon to compete for the international pageant. She is focusing hard to spread her fire safety platform across the state with plenty of local events and fundraisers to host and participate in along the way.

Powell has a core philosophy: no matter who gets in the chair for their haircut, or eyebrow wax, or polish, no matter what, she wants them to feel welcome and to feel beautiful.

“Every person needs to believe that they are beautiful, because they are. They just gotta’ embrace it. My catchphrase and my slogan for myself and my salons is: ‘Live the fire and beauty inside you.’ It speaks to me on so many levels,” Powell said.

After many years helping shape her community, Powell indicated she’s enjoyed the ride and she’s ready to keep going.

“It’s been super fun… It’s been a great journey actually,” Powell said.

The Shear Fire Design academy is open all year and students work at their own pace. For more information, call: 907-746-4264

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com