Timothy Ledna

I am a caring, conscientious, results-driven, and mission-oriented helping professional with a 20-year record of successful service to non-profit organizations and educational institutions. While I am most proud of being the adoptive father of three boys, I also feel honored to have been an advocate for struggling communities, at-risk college students, the poor, and other under-served populations. Previously, as a Case Manager for Homeless Families with the Grand Junction Housing Authority (2006), or as a Child Abuse Prevention Specialist with the Las Vegas Rape Crisis Center (2008), I assisted vulnerable populations during difficult times. After finishing advanced studies in Nevada, I was hired by Utah State University in 2009 where I served 1st year college students who were transitioning into adulthood.

In 2020 I moved to Alaska where I began service to the Fairbanks Native Association as a Therapist for the Mental Health Trauma Team; I worked with people to build their self-efficacy, facilitate behavior change, improve ability to establish and maintain relationships, enhance coping skills, and encourage personal growth and self-awareness to reach full potential. In 2021, I began work as a Mental Health Clinician for Alaska Behavioral Health serving the Mobile Crisis Team. In 2023 I developed and launched the Mobile Outreach for Children and Families program for the company. 

I hold an Associates of Arts Degree in Spanish from Otero Junior College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Humanities from Loyola University Chicago, a Master of Arts Degree in Systematic Theology from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. I also have a Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate (TEFL/ TESOL) from the University of Arizona.

I was awarded the Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) credential from the National Board of Certified Counselors over a decade ago. The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Division of Behavioral Health designated me a Qualified Addictions Professional (QAP) in 2020.  In 2021 I earned the Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor II (CDC II) credential from The Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification and in 2024 I earned licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) from the State of Alaska Board of Professional Counselors. I am trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from The Medical University of South Carolina and I am a Certified Gatekeeper for suicide prevention from the QPR Institute (Question, Persuade, Refer). I am certified to administer the Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument (CASII). After taking the Critical Incident Stress Management exam offered by University of Maryland, Baltimore County Department of Emergency Health Services through its Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) program, I will receive Certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CCISM). 

Besides my work as a social service professional, I also have served many different institutions of higher education as both a student affairs professional and/or professor. Paving the way for future roles as an educator, I was first selected as a Teaching Assistant for the University of Notre Dame’s Satellite Theology Education Program (STEP) in 2004. Three years later, in 2007, I was awarded affiliate faculty status with Regis University, teaching three different religious studies classes at their satellite campus in Las Vegas. Then, in 2010, I was made an adjunct faculty member for Utah State University’s History Department, teaching in its Religious Studies program; I taught the Introduction to Religious Studies (RELS 1010) class for four semesters. In Spring 2016 I was asked by Radford University to teach in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department. Finally, in 2018, I taught the World Religions class as an adjunct faculty for the ACE (Accelerated College Education) Program through Graceland University. 

Although I enjoyed working within the University milieu, I also felt rewarded teaching younger students. My skills for teaching at the college level were made ready by teaching at the grade school, middle school, and high school levels. I taught Spanish to grade school and middle school children first in 2003 at Corpus Christi Catholic Grade School in South Bend Indiana and then again in 2005 at Holy Family Catholic School in Grand Junction Colorado. In 2021, I was hired by Monroe Catholic High School to teach Spanish I to sophomore students. 

Besides these paid teaching experiences, I also taught religious education as a volunteer catechist at several Catholic Churches throughout the United States for a combined total of 15 years. Aa one example, I taught the 1st communion class at St. Mary’s in East Chicago, Indiana and as a second example, I was a year-long catechist at St. Thomas More in Logan Utah in 2009; I was also selected as the Safe Environment Director from 2009 to 2011 at St. Thomas More. 

I feel very privileged to say that I have traveled extensively throughout my life. I was born in Denver but raised in Chicago. From the Midwest, I went on many family trips including vacations to the Grand Canyon, Daytona Beach, the Smokey Mountains, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, and all parts of Indiana. While in college, I visited the Bronx, New Orleans, Peroria, and Pittsburg with friends. During the same time period, I also broadened my travel and went to Europe three times and Mexico twice. By the age of 25, I had been to 11 different countries, including Italy, France, Belgium, and Spain. Since leaving Chicago , I have lived in Michigan, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, Iowa, Indiana, Alaska, and Tennessee. While living in the Western part of the United States, I visited many fun spots including Park City and Moab Utah, Zion National Park, Jackson Hole Wyoming, Albuquerque New Mexico, Coeur D’Alene and Lava Hot Springs Idaho, not to mention a few trips back to Vegas and Grand Junction Colorado to see friends. Living in the Southeast allowed me to go to such places as Myrtle Beach, Philidelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Chattanooga, Columbia, Charolette, and Nashville. 

Life took a new turn in 2023 when I opened a small business called Gamer’s Lounge & Internet Café. Although I had already formed my first limited liability company a few years back to hold my 16 investment properties, Gamer’s Lounge was my first brick-and-mortar business. I learned a lot from being a landlord for 15+ years and many of the skills I gained helped me further my goals of being an entrepreneur for this new endeavor. The vision of Gamer’s Lounge is to be the most attractive, most entertaining, and most affordable gamer lounge in Northern Alaska. Our mission is to provide Fairbanks with a relatively inexpensive, extraordinarily fun, and noticeably inclusive space for gamers of all ages and skill levels to come together, be entertained, enjoy their hobby, and build community.

As of 2025 the business is being run by competent managers while my youngest son and I are living our best lives in the Southeast United States, close to the Smoky Mountains and kin who live in Nashville. 

When not at work or acting as an entrepreneur, I like to volunteer in my community. As examples, I previously served as a mentor for “Youth and Families with Promise” in Logan, Utah, an assistant for “The Spread” (a free community meal) in Lamoni, Iowa, a tutor for the Children's Literacy Project in La Junta, Colorado, and most recently I served as a volunteer member of the Fairbanks Diversity Council.

Incapacitation and Sucession Planning