- OWNERS -
Rainer Zahnen
I am originally from Germany, and the founder and owner of Alaska-Wildlife-Guide LLC. I am a true outdoors person who enjoys sharing Alaska’s fascinating beauty with all our guests from around the world.
My passions are canoeing, hunting, fishing, hiking and snow machining. However, despite preferring the outdoors, my main job is managing the Tour company.
Jutta Zahnen
When I visited Alaska for the first time I fell in love with this incredible nature. After we settled in North Pole, and set up my husband’s company, we were asked so many times: “Where can we stay overnight?” We came up with the idea to build a cabin and rent it out, the customers just love it. I am responsible for all the good stuff that our customers receive on our tours like homemade stew, sandwiches, coffee and punch as well as the personalized lunch bags for each tour guest. You find me in the back but I am always there.
- OUR TOUR GUIDES -
We are so lucky to have found guides who believe in the ideas and goals of our business philosophy. We are very proud to have very knowledgeable, high motivated, extremely active and flexible people who live in Alaska not just for a short time, but year round. They know Alaska and the life in “The Last Frontier” and guide you through our special and interesting tours. Most of our guides are multilingual what helps to connect to our guests very well.
Jessica
I’m originally from a small town in Northern Michigan. After a couple of years of college, I decided to join the Army Reserves and met my husband. We lived in Maine for a while before being sent to Alaska in 2011. I fell in love with the natural wonders of this place. After three years in the lower 48, we were ready to come back and make it our home. When I’m not busy taking care of my family I enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking, rockhounding and wildlife photography during the summer and aurora photography in the winter.
Jean
I grew up cruising Alaskan waters and the coastline from Seward Alaska to La Paz Mexico from the ages of 3 to 15 years old. At 15 I moved to Tennessee. I went to University in Kentucky for Nursing. My family and I moved back to Alaska in 2009. Alaska is where we want to stay. We enjoy camping, fishing, snow machines, and other ATVs. After 20 years in health care I decided I love Alaska so much I want to show it to others. That is what led me to being a Tour Guide with this exceptional company.
Kathy
I was born and raised in Port Orchard, Washington. I first came to Alaska in 1987 to work at a salmon cannery. I began living in Fairbanks permanently 1989, after working in Denali National Park and falling in love with interior Alaska. I graduated from UAF in 1992 and began my teaching career in August of that year. I returned to UAF for a Master’s Degree in School Counseling which I completed in 2005. I worked for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District until I retired in May of 2023. A guiding position sounded like a fun change and a good way to stay active, and I really enjoy being a guide for Alaska Wildlife Guide. In my spare time I am an avid hockey player, and I love all things outdoor-related. I have two grown children, and two sweet granddaughters. I also really enjoy traveling throughout the US and internationally.
Pete
I was raised in Maryland but nurtured an Alaska dream until I finally moved to Fairbanks in 1996, a couple of years after graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in civil engineering, cum laude. I am wrapping up a 30-year career as a structural engineer designing primarily building structures, primarily throughout Alaska. Guiding tours in Interior Alaska is an ideal career shift that I am enjoying part time until I retire from my day job in April of 2025, when I plan to do it more. I love meeting new people and sharing this amazing place and my experiences living here. I’ve been married since 1997. My wife, Brandy, and I have three dogs (Brittanies) and a wonderful cat. When not engineering, I enjoy reading, North American travel (I’ve been in all 50 US states and every Canadian province except Prince Edward Island), exploring Alaska by foot and road (a great part-time job, as well!), photography, and hunting grouse and ptarmigan with our Brittanies.
Gavin
I was born and raised in Fairbanks but my dad’s side of the family is from a small Alaskan Native village called Beaver. I’ve been showing off this beautiful state for the last 6 years, everything from guided hunting and fishing charters, chasing northern lights and cultural tours. I’m currently working on getting my pilot licenses so I go out and explore Alaska from the skies.
Jodi
Jodi grew up on Martha’s Vineyard. She went on to study Theater and Anthropology at Emory University. While there she wrote a proposal that got funded to study storytelling with Athabaskan elders in Fairbanks. The moment she landed in Fairbanks, Jodi says, “I knew I had found my home.” She moved to Fairbanks the day after she graduated in 1991. Jodi spent over a decade working for the College of Indigenous Studies the rural branch of University of Alaska Fairbanks. There she had the opportunity to travel to many of the Interior rural villages. It was a wonderful opportunity for her to learn more about the culture and history of Native Alaskans and to experience village life. While working for UAF, Jodi and her husband Dan bought property in Chatanika, north of Fairbanks, and built Dew Claw Kennel a competitive long distance dog kennel. In 2012, Jodi left the University to pursue dog mushing full time. She has competed in many long-distance races, including the Iditarod, which she has finished 6 times. In addition to dog mushing, Jodi enjoys paddle boarding, gardening, cooking, yoga, and creating multimedia art.
Kevin
Kevin grew up in Montana near Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness, but moved to Alaska in 2008 to seek bigger mountains and to study at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He enjoys hiking, fishing, rafting, and hunting in Alaska’s wild and wonderful locations. The Brooks Range and the Arctic coastal plain are his favorite adventure destinations.
Ryan
I grew up in Colorado but always felt a strong pull toward Alaska. After graduating from high school, I spent my first two summers commercial fishing—first in Cordova, then in Bristol Bay. After that second summer, I made a promise to myself: the next time I came to Alaska, it would be to stay. When I decided to pursue a college education, I chose the University of Alaska Fairbanks so I could truly become a part of the Alaskan community. I’m currently working toward a degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, with two years left in my program. Over the summers, I work as a field technician for Alaska Fish and Game, gaining hands-on experience and deepening my understanding of the state’s ecosystems. This guiding job allows me to share what I’ve learned—from both my education and fieldwork—with others. It’s truly a gift to introduce people to the beauty and wildness that makes Alaska so special.
Gina
I’m Gina, an Alaskan transplant originally from Germany, and I’m thrilled to call Alaska home. As a dental assistant and passionate local guide, I love showcasing the unique beauty and culture of this stunning state to visitors. Having moved many times due to my military upbringing, I’m grateful to have found a place that has captured my heart, as well as that of my two kids. I’m excited to share my enthusiasm with you and explore the wonders of Alaska together!
Roger
I grew up between Ecuador and New York, I moved to Alaska a few years ago and I don’t think I’ll ever leave. I speak Spanish fluently, and spent much of my time exploring the wild side of life. I’m a tour guide with a passion for high-altitude mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, and all things outdoors. My love for climbing and adventure has taken me to some pretty incredible spots. I’ve had the privilege of guiding and climbing in places like the Andes all the way up to the Alaska Range. When I’m not guiding, you’ll likely find me fishing, hunting, or enjoying the winter landscapes. I’m also studying aerospace engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and want to start working toward my pilot’s license, which is another exciting challenge I’m tackling. What excites me most about being a guide is sharing the unique beauty of Alaska with visitors from all over the world. There’s so much to learn and experience here. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention…I’m a huge dog lover, and Alaska looks absolutely stunning from the top of Denali!
- OFFICE EMPLOYEES -
Bryan
(General Manager)
This relatively new Alaskan was born in Honolulu and raised in San Francisco. I came here on a cruise over thirty years ago and fell in love with Alaska right away. Even though it took almost three decades, I made it back here eventually. Alaska has been the best decision I have ever made, and it brought me my amazing wife and daughter. I love all things outdoors, and I spend any free time I can find getting to know this amazing land.
Jessica
(Assistant Manager)
In Oct 2014, I visited some old Army friends at JBER in Anchorage, and I fell in absolute love with Alaska. So in Feb 2017, I packed up my 2 young kids and our dog and we made the long drive to North Pole, smack in the middle of winter, with only what we could fit in my car. As luck would have it, I met my husband and a couple years later we had to move away for the military, but I always knew we would be back! Summer of 2023 we made the trek back and are here to stay! We love everything outdoors and what the great state of Alaska has to offer our adventurous family.
Ashley
(Office Assistant & Social Media Manager)
Howdy! Originally hailing from the Midwest, I moved to Alaska in 2019 to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I am an avid adventurer, who spends any free time backpacking through America’s National Parks [to achieve my goal of visiting all of them: I’m currently halfway there!]. From getting stuck in a blizzard on a volcano in Hawaii, to snorkeling with sea turtles in the Virgin Islands; to dog mushing in Alaska & summiting Angel’s Landing in Utah, I have had my share of exciting experiences. Lucky for me, the Last Frontier never fails to offer something wonderful with each new day.
- WORKSHOP STAFF -
Steven
(Van Detailer)
Hi, I’m Steven, and I serve as the Van Detailer here at AWG. I make it my mission to ensure every vehicle is spotless, fresh, and ready to give our guests the best first impression of their Alaskan adventure. Cleanliness, comfort, and attention to detail aren’t just part of the job—they’re part of the experience we offer. I was born and raised in the Interior of Alaska, with strong roots in Fort Yukon, where I spent much of my childhood learning the Alaska Native subsistence lifestyle. That upbringing gave me a deep respect for the land, a strong work ethic, and a love for doing things right the first time. I now live in Circle, AK, with my partner Eva and our young daughter. We also raise a team of sled dogs and have spent years involved in competitive sprint sled-dog racing across the state—including in Fairbanks, North Pole, Chugiak, Tok, Minto, and Circle. Outside of work, I love being outdoors—hiking, boating, and discovering new places with my family. Fall is my favorite season, when I take to the river in my boat for moose hunting, continuing a tradition that’s been passed down through generations.
Jason
(Mechanic)
Hi, I’m Jason, and I’m the mechanic here at AWG. Originally from Kentucky, I recently retired after proudly serving 20 years in the U.S. Army. Throughout my military career, I had the opportunity to live and work across the country, but it was during our final posting in Alaska that my family and I truly found our home. We fell in love with the North Pole and Fairbanks communities—and decided to make it permanent. After retirement, I came across this opportunity, and stepping into this role has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I bring a deep commitment to precision, reliability, and teamwork—values shaped by two decades of military service—and I’m proud to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. Outside of work, my life revolves around family and adventure. My wife and I are raising four incredible kids who share our love for sports, travel, and outdoor fun—especially on ATVs and snowmobiles. We’re also passionate about history and have had the amazing opportunity to explore places like London, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland together.