Meet The Staff

Cali was born in Fairbanks and raised right here on the Tonglen Lake property. She spent her childhood making play houses in the forest and dressing sled dog puppies up in doll clothes. Cali went to school K-12 at Tri-Valley School in Healy, where she did a “work study” her senior year to complete the Iditarod alongside her father. She left the state to attend university at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon where she met her husband Matt. Together they have spent the last 10+ years living and working overseas and are happy to be back to share the Alaskan summer with their kids Wilder and Hayes.

Jake McGlew grew up in New Jersey, and worked for years in his local Italian market before moving to Philadelphia for school. While earning his degree in media production, he learned from some amazing chefs in the city and was part of opening several restaurants along the East Coast. After a brief visit to Alaska while working for the summer at Sitka Fine Arts Camp, the mountains continued to call him back. Jake then spent a few years working in Anchorage, but has since become a part of the team at Tonglen Lake Lodge, and hasn’t looked back since.

Dana is originally from South Carolina but has lived in Alaska for over 23 years. She has admired the beauty of the Tonglen Lodge and its property since the lodge was built – when she was offered a job in the kitchen, she couldn’t pass it up! She enjoys cooking and having a nice kitchen and fresh ingredients to create delicious dishes for our guests. She lives in Cantwell (the community just south of the lodge) year round. She enjoys cross country skiing, camping, hiking, berry picking and spending time with her two teenagers. She also likes to travel as much as possible!