Wasilla Area Seniors CEO announces retirement

WASILLA — Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. CEO Chuck Foster recently announced his plans to retire this year.

“So, I am already retired from the Air Force, but 2021 is my year to retire-retire,” Foster said. “I fully understand when people talk about retirement to spend more time with their families, because that’s been the issue with my family, and now is the time for me to do that.”

According to Foster, the decision to retire has nothing to do with the pandemic or any other circumstances outside his intent to spend more time with his family. He said that he would have been retiring around this time regardless of COVID-19.

“It’s a difficult decision to make, but it’s the right decision to make... I knew this wasn’t gonna be a 20 year job,” Foster said.

Foster started working with WASI as an assistant to the previous CEO Ingrid Ling in 2013. He ultimately stepped into her role after she died from cancer. Ling was not only a dear friend of Foster, but one of the main reasons he joined WASI in the first place. He said that she was his classmate at the Alaska Pacific University, and she encouraged him to pursue nonprofit work when he graduated, believing it was his “calling.”

“I really didn’t want to be CEO. I certainly didn’t want to be CEO that way, but that’s how it turned out. I do believe that there’s God’s hand in this, and bringing me into WASI at a time that I would be able to kinda continue the work Ingrid has begun,” Foster said. “I owed it to her to look into it because I found that I really trusted her judgement… I found that she was absolutely right.”

In a recent press release, Foster was credited for helping shape WASI and expanding nearly all facets of the organization. He was also declared an integral part of expanding the Valley’s system of senior care, serving on the Mat-Su Council on Aging, the Board of Directors of the Homesteaders Community Center in Houston, and as the Chair of the Coalition of Mat-Su Senior Centers.

“We are excited for Chuck at the same time we hate to see him go. He is looking forward to more time with his family, and he’s certainly earned that,” President of the WASI Board of Directors John Weaver stated in the press release. “We will miss his leadership, strength, and vision and we’re grateful that he’s left an excellent foundation for us to build upon.”

Foster said that he’s accumulated countless memories and relationships through WASI over the last seven years. Looking forward, he said that he’s going to spend a lot of time traveling with his wife, but there’s always going to be a place in his heart for WASI. He’ll eventually return to support the organization he wholeheartedly believes in as a volunteer.

“The work we do is awesome. Our mission is to keep seniors as independent as possible and for as long as possible has real meaning to thousands of older Alaskans every day,” Foster said. “I know my heart is gonna keep me connected to WASI.”

Foster said that he will continue to operate as the CEO until a replacement is found. WASI is currently seeking applications for the position.

For more information, call 907-376-3104 or visit wasillaseniors.com.

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