Our Team

Robert Meinhardt, MA

Robert Meinhardt is the President and Principal Consultant for TNSDS. He has a diverse educational background, including Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master of Arts degree in Historic Preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design. Rob’s founding of TNSDS draws upon his undergraduate and graduate education, as well as his experience as an archaeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Region. With over 20 years of experience working in cultural resources management, he meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards as an architectural historian and archaeologist and is the Principal Investigator providing contract management and oversight on all historic properties and cultural resources projects. Rob has experience consulting with stakeholders of varying interests and geographical locations, and developing historic preservation plans for several types of historic properties throughout Alaska. He has experience assisting federal, state, and local governments, private engineering firms, and tribes throughout the state to meet pre-development and development goals within the legal framework of various historic preservation laws, and facilitating agency consultation and public involvement. Rob is committed to helping communities and tribes throughout Alaska achieve cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability through the preservation of cultural heritage.

Rob’s expertise and interest goes beyond historic properties consulting to the rehabilitation, management, and sale of historic and non-historic real property. He sets himself apart as historic preservation specialist licensed to sell real estate in Alaska and provide consulting services for historic property management and redevelopment. Rob’s professional development and experience paves the path for developers, contractors, and private investors to find niche markets and capture returns on investments from underutilized and neglected properties.

Joan Bayles Burgett, MA, RPA

Joan is the Cultural Resources Manager and Project Archaeologist for TNSDS. Joan has a BS in Sociology from Emporia State University and a MA in Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology from Wichita State University. Joan’s experience includes conducting background research, archaeological survey and testing, and excavation of archaeological sites. She has experience with numerous types of projects that include public outreach and involvement, archaeological training and education, and spatial analysis through ArcGIS. Her area of expertise is stone tool analysis and her graduate thesis provided new evidence based on analysis of ceramic and stone tool assemblages from six protohistoric midwestern sites that provided a better understanding of wide-spread technology in the region. Joan was Crew Chief for the Etzanoa Archaeological Field School for WSU for two years and lead the archaeological excavations and provided support to the students. Joan has been part of the TNSDS team since 2019 and has successfully completed multiple cultural resource investigations across Alaska, including desktop surveys containing cultural resource assessments, predictive models, and synthesis of past investigations and site data; archaeological survey and testing; and archaeological monitoring. As Cultural Resource Manager for TNSDS, Joan provides project scheduling, client coordination, and quality control to each TNSDS project. Joan provides all the TNSDS mapping and GIS spatial needs for each project, conducts background research, coordinates permitting for survey, and provides technical writing support. Joan Bayles Burgett meets the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in archaeology and is a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA).

Walker Burgett, MA

Walker Burgett is the Project Biological Anthropologist with TNSDS. Graduating in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, he attended two field schools during his time as an undergraduate. In 2008, he attended the short-term study abroad program, 'Past Peoples of Scandinavia,' in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden with the University of Alaska, Anchorage. His second in 2012 was the Badia Pozzeveri bio-archaeological field school with the Ohio State University in Italy. In 2014, Walker worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Glenallen, Alaska, and conducted archaeological survey and surface testing in the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District. After a summer with the BLM, Walker enrolled in the graduate program at Wichita State University where he earned a MA in Anthropology. Walker served as a Graduate Research Assistant for Wichita State University while pursuing his graduate degree and played an important role in the Maple Grove Cemetery Analysis Project in which he led a crew of students to document, map, and catalogue historic records of past populations and deceased individuals, with the purpose of creating an accessible online database for local historic research of Maple Grove Cemetery. While at Wichita State, Walker also worked directly with Butler County and Sedgewick County Sheriff Departments to investigate forensic cases by identifying and cataloging human remains. His expertise includes archaeological field methods, skeletal analysis, forensics, and assessing health of past populations. Walker is a lifelong Alaskan who has experience working in remote locations throughout Alaska and has knowledge of contemporary Native Alaskan cultures. Walker joined the TNSDS team in April 2021 and has worked on projects with TNSDS in the Mat-Su Borough, the Municipality of Anchorage, Skagway, and on the Alaska Railroad near Portage, Alaska. As part of the TNSDS team, Walker has developed historic context statements, provided technical writing support, and written archaeological testing and monitoring protocol. Recently, he carried out archaeological survey and testing in Girdwood for the Municipality of Anchorage and archaeological monitoring during the construction of a dormitory in Skagway, Alaska, for the National Park Service. His work in Skagway delineated archaeological features within the Skagway Historic District and his work in Girdwood identified two new sites for inclusion into the AHRS database. Walker is a valued member of the TNSDS team, lending expertise in the biological and forensic fields within anthropology. Walker meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications and Standards in Archaeology.

Tiffany Ann Curtis, MA

Tiffany is a Project Archaeologist with TNSDS with a BA in Anthropology from UCLA in 2006 and a MA in Anthropology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, in 2013, with an emphasis in archaeology and dendrochronology. Following graduation of undergraduate degree, she attended her archaeological field school in Iquique, Chile. While learning field methods in archaeology, she and her fellow students were instrumental in recovering and preserving pre-contact human remains that were washing out of the bank of the course of a changing river. Her MA was initially in prehistoric, stone-tool technology, but she took a job with the US Fish and Wildlife Service using dendrochronology (tree-ring data) to date historic structures across the Kenai Peninsula. This experience prompted her to change her focus to historic archaeology and presented several papers on her work in dendrochronology work and co-chaired a Student Research Symposia. Conducting dendrochronology classes for kids during Archaeology Day each year was also a highlight for her. Her first post-graduation project was a dendro-archaeology project for the US Bureau of Land Management, which consisted of finding and dating historic structures throughout the Forty-Mile River basin of Eastern Interior Alaska otherwise known as Klondike Gold Rush country. Since then, she has had the privilege of participating in cultural resource management in various capacities throughout the states of Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and New Mexico. She has also taught classes at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, on the Rise of Civilization. She monitored the installation of the GCI fiber optic cable in Nome, Alaska, and the removal of hazardous materials from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. She has led back-country field crews, conducted desk-top and windshield surveys, and is experienced in pedestrian survey, site detection, testing, excavation, and recording. She meets the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in Archaeology and is a Navajo Nations-approved archaeologist and a State of Oregon-qualified archaeologist.

Jonathan Coffey, MA, RPA

Jonathan is a Project Archaeologist for TNSDS with a B.S. in Earth Science with a minor in Anthropology from Emporia State University and a M.A. in Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology from Wichita State University. He has experience in conducting cultural resource management for a wide variety of projects. While at Emporia State, he worked alongside the Delaware Tribe’s Historic Preservation Officer to correspond with private and public institutions regarding construction projects of interest to the tribe. His undergraduate capstone project involved geospatially illustrating 19th century land allotments for the Delaware Tribe in Kansas. His graduate project at Wichita State involved discovering and recording a protohistoric hunting/trading trail through archival research, geospatial analysis, and field surveys. Following graduate school, Jonathan taught as an adjunct professor in cultural anthropology at two Kansas institutions until 2019. Since 2019, he has worked as an archaeologist across several states in the Plains, Midwest, Mountain, and Southeast regions of the United States. This work entailed authoring cultural resource assessments, conducting and leading Phase I, II, and III archaeological surveys, and archaeological monitoring. Jonathan meets the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in archaeology and is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists and abides by all ethical standards set forth for professional archaeologists.

Mark Rusk, BA

Mark is a Project Archaeologist for TNSDS with nearly 30 years of Alaskan experience including: ground/aerial survey; ethnographic/subsistence field work; data recovery; mapping; museum curation and has served in numerous leadership roles. The majority of his experience is from the Pacific Northwest, Aleutians Islands, and the Interior. Mark has helped document settlement patterns along all the major riverine and lacustrine ecosystems on Kodiak Island as part of the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository archaeological research program. Mark has participated in and supervised excavations conducted as part of the Alutiiq Museum Community Archaeology Program. Mark co-lead excavations with Dr. Richard Knecht which was part of a Spirit Camp organized by Tangirnaq Native Village. In the laboratory setting, Mark has analyzed and cataloged numerous historic and prehistoric collections for the Alutiiq Museum, TNSDS, and academic institutions. Mark attended the University of California at Berkeley where he earned a BA in History. He continued to complete his graduate coursework at Brown University and is a SOI qualified Historian. Mark lives in California with his extended family and has been a stalwart for Alaskan archaeology season after season.

Justin Morgan Hays, MA, RPA

Justin is a Project Archaeologist for TNSDS and is a well-experienced archaeologist who began working in Alaska shortly after graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 1998. He went on to earn his master’s degree at the University of Alaska, Anchorage while working on various projects throughout all of Alaska’s nine ecosystems and connected ecotones. Justin is experienced in every aspect of cultural resource projects and planning from initial inception and project management to field work and excavation. With that drive, he has a talent for bringing projects in on time and under budget. He has completed additional training in paleopathology, zooarchaeology, osteology, taphonomy as well as HAZWOPER/First responder, remote sensing and first aid/CPR. Justin has won the University of Alaska Anchorage Development award twice in 2004 and 2005, was the Alutiiq Museum Volunteer of the Year also in 2004 and won the USFS Certificate of Excellence award in 2002 just to name a few. Justin is a published writer who spends whatever free time he has left volunteering in his community.

Gianna Kersch, MA

Gianna is a historian and architectural historian for TNSDS. She is a public historian with a wide variety of skillsets across disciplines, though she would describe her expertise as threefold in history, preservation, and public engagement. As a historian, she excels in conducting historical research and has conducted background research for various museum exhibits, landmark nominations, and cultural resources reviews across libraries, archives, museums, and online repositories. She then has a skill for interpreting the historical record through various modes of production, from technical reports to podcasting and exhibit label copy. With a background in both archaeology and history, her knowledge of archaeological methods and theory makes her an excellent resource for projects involving both archaeological and historic resources. Her preservation expertise includes not only the identification and documentation of historic properties but also the maintenance and care of historic spaces. Finally, throughout a decade of various professional and educational experiences, Gianna has honed a professional skillset for engaging the public through education and public partnerships. She furthermore has experience working with Alaskan Native governments and organizations and coordinating projects, including coordinating with organizations and creating and maintaining partnerships. Ultimately, she integrates her skillsets to provide comprehensive services of historical production, preservation practice, and public engagement to each project. 

PJ Robertson

PJ Robertson is the Transaction Coordinator for TNRES, and the Office Manager and Logistics Coordinator for TNSDS. PJ has been an Alaskan resident for 45 years and has over 35 years of experience in all aspects of real estate and lending. She is responsible for providing administrative support to the CEO and Principal Consultant, including invoicing and payment processing, employee payroll, and travel logistics. PJ is also responsible for transaction coordination on all real estate transactions, providing support to the licensees on the TNRES real estate team. She also provides administrative support for both TNMS and TNIS. PJ’s role with True North is crucial for carrying out the day-to-day operations of the company.

Bethany Mitchell

Bethany Mitchell is a real estate consultant for TNRES. Bethany is a Veteran and the founder/owner of the furniture restoration company Rusty Bee and her upcoming project Borealis Bison Cabins. Her Alaskan roots date back to 1935 where her great grandparents took part in the colonization project and were allotted what is now the reindeer farm! She has two amazing children, and her passions include decorating, home design, remodeling, and staging. Bethany’s enthusiasm, along with her many talents in interior design and knowledge of the real estate market is a contribution to the TNRES team. She prides herself on quality customer care to her buyers and sellers!

Rob Tingstrom

Rob Tingstrom is a Real Estate Consultant for TNRES and a Technician for TNSDS. Rob is an Alaskan-born resident and has over 15 years of construction experience for various contractors throughout Alaska. His primary role with True North is to assist with residential and commercial real estate sales. Rob also provides technical support to TNSDS staff and clients, including construction and architectural reviews for historic structures surveys, historic structure reports, and rehabilitation of historic properties.

Josh Geary

Josh Geary is a real estate consultant with True North Real Estate Solutions assisting buyers and sellers with both residential and commercial sales. Josh was born and raised in Alaska, and recently relocated to Anchorage from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Josh’s real estate experience stems from his educational and professional background in health and human services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Business Administration from Alaska Pacific University. Josh offers TNRES clients the highest quality of customer care and knowledge in Southcentral Alaska’s real estate market.

Tylin Sedeno

Tylin works as an executive administrative assistant and media coordinator where she provides support to both teams in creating advertising and marketing campaigns across various channels. She also handles event coordination and assists the office manager with clerical tasks. Tylin is passionate about her work always keeping up with the latest trends and developments to provide our clients with up-to-date listings, tips, updates, and more! Her dedication and passion for her work make her a valuable asset to the True North team.