After studying government at the College of William and Mary and earning a law degree from Penn State University, Gabe returned to Alaska to begin his career in community development. After spending several years as an advocate for Alaskan elders, Gabe joined Cook Inlet Housing Authority in 2007. In the years since, Gabe has served CIHA in a variety of roles, including as General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Vice President. As the President of Cook Inlet Lending Center, CIHA’s affiliated Community Development Financial Institution, Gabe helped launch a nonprofit business lending enterprise serving emerging entrepreneurs. He has served as legal counsel to tribes during negotiated rulemaking for the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act and represented CIHA at the local, state, and federal levels, advocating for policy changes that empower housing and community development organizations to make strategic investments in the people and communities they serve.

In 2023, CIHA’s Board of Commissioners selected Gabe to succeed CIHA’s longest serving President/CEO, Carol Gore. Gabe and Carol have worked together closely for more than a decade and a half, making CIHA’s leadership transition a natural evolution of the organization.

“We build our lives around the places we call home, and the quality and affordability of our housing has a tremendous impact on our physical, social, and emotional wellbeing,” Gabe said. I’ve dedicated my career to expanding opportunities for affordable housing in the Cook Inlet region, focusing on the importance of advocacy, the power of strategic partnerships, and the potential of smart, tenacious people who care about their communities. The team at Cook Inlet Housing inspire me every day with their compassion, commitment, and humor, making it an absolute privilege to support their work to create housing opportunities that empower our people and build strong, vibrant communities.