By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Thousands of tourist tips, meeting setups, fundraisers and performances of all types have played a part in the career of Don Kluting, attendant and manager at Harrigan Centennial Hall for the last 38 years.
And now Kluting is handing over the reins to building supervisor Tony Rosas, who at the end of the month will take over building management for the 1,500 events held there every year.
“As I’m approaching this last day - there is certainly this element of sadness that comes along with that, but also excitement,” said Kluting, 54. “We’re proud of what we’ve done. ... There’s a sense of satisfaction when you’re able to help people. As I transition into this retirement, I keep thinking about that social aspect, interacting with literally hundreds of people every day from all over the world, putting Sitka’s best foot forward, having this place looking presentable and our staff being professional and helpful and courteous. This is that image we want for Sitka, and I’m certainly proud of that.”
Harrigan Centennial Hall's Don Kluting, left, and Tony Rosas. (Sentinel Photo)
Kluting was born and raised in Sitka, and took an after-school job at the Centennial Building – as it was called then – at age 16 to earn money for a motorcycle.
After graduating from Sitka High in 1984, he took a few other jobs while continuing his work in the building. He was attending Sheldon Jackson College, studying fisheries, when a full-time job came open in 1986.
“Thinking I’d be able to retire at an early age, after working for 30 years,” he said. “Here I am, 34 years later.”
He was promoted to building manager in 1991.
Kluting said he’s changed a lot over the years, from a shy 16-year-old to a more outgoing person who’s built a lot of friendships through his work in Centennial Hall. He’s learned from working with a variety of administrators, as well as clients and volunteers.
“When I go to the grocery store with my kid Logan, he’s like, ‘Oh my god, dad, you talk to everybody,’” Kluting said. “Back in high school, I was so shy I didn’t talk to anyone.”
He said his happiest days over the years have been the busiest, including the days where the New Archangel Dancers would perform two shows in the morning, staff and Sitka Tours would help turn over the building for Frankie Haag’s salmon bake for tourists, then rearrange the building back for more dance shows. In June, the day might end with a Sitka Summer Music Festival concert.
“It was so exciting to be part of that energy, that team of people coming together to make that happen for the visitors to our community, just fun times,” Kluting said.
Other busy times have included working with Mary Lou Vilandre and Alice Harrigan on Alaska Day Festival events, including housing the military in the building. The building also for a time served as headquarters for the Sitka search and rescue team, with Kluting serving as director.
Centennial Hall staff cover most responsibilities in the building, including maintenance as well as the customer service – everything from accommodating convention needs to preparing for Assembly and committee meetings every week.
In recent years the building has become the drop-off point for cruise ship visitors arriving by bus from the Halibut Point dock. During a usual summer, Kluting and his staff would host thousands of visitors using the building facilities and internet connection, while also coordinating the traffic and parking for the buses, tours and charter trips that leave from there.
Kluting said the staff is always happy when they’re busy.
Reflecting on this summer, with the cancellation of all cruises into Sitka due to COVID-19 restrictions, Kluting said he gets sad thinking about the lack of activity in the building. But he said staff members continue their dedication to make sure it’s well-maintained and ready when business picks up again.
Milestones for Kluting during his tenure as manager included the celebration to honor Alice Harrigan and name the building after her, the 40th birthday celebration of the building, and the $16 million renovation which increased the building size from 18,000 to 30,000 square feet. The renovation, completed in 2016, was funded by the state and the cruise ship passenger excise tax.
“It’s nice and bright – we receive a lot of comments on it,” Kluting said.
Kluting said a number of volunteers have also helped make the building a success, including volunteers who served on the policy review committee in the early 1990s, or helped raise funds for new chairs in 2007.
Speaking of the original building, built in 1967 as an Alaska Centennial Year project, as well as its current version, Kluting said, “I think the building has served the community. I think it will continue to serve the community.”
Even without the cruise ship visitors this year, the staff has stayed busy, Kluting said, because of the increased responsibilities related to COVID.
Kluting said he’s been fortunate to have had administrators and mentors he respected, and also for a dedicated staff, among them Dave Patt, Donna “Cricket” Roles and Kent Gibson, each of whom worked in the building for at least 17 years.
Although in some ways he’s sad to be leaving, he knows he’s leaving the building in good hands, with Rosas, the building supervisor for the past four years, and a dedicated staff.
“Tony certainly sees the value of providing good customer service, and quality workmanship,” Kluting said. “The community will be well-served. That certainly helped my make my decision to retire easier.”
Rosas was born and raised in central California, and served two tours in the Coast Guard here, 2004-07 and 2010-2016, before retiring.
He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 1991. He’s worked at Harrigan Centennial Hall since retiring from the Coast Guard, and is looking forward to stepping into his new job.
Rosas said one of the biggest challenges he faced when he joined the building staff four years ago was dealing with the sheer numbers of people coming through the building during the summer.
“Just so many people,” he said. “Trying to adjust to being around that many people, all the time. But I had a good boss and he was patient with me and taught me everything I need to know. I learned how to be around people. Don has built up the reputation of Harrigan Centennial Hall, and it’s a good reputation. It’s community service – you go out there and try to help people, being user friendly for the community.”
Rosas said he has appreciated Kluting’s “honesty and character,” as well as his customer service skills.
“I pass that on as building manager, that philosophy of ‘public first’ and being welcoming to the public,” Rosas said. “I want to keep what I learned from Don and do my best to keep it open for the community. I’m excited about that. I’m excited about this next year.”
City Administrator John Leach said he has appreciated Kluting’s dedication to whatever role he has had in the city.
“He’s always been very passionate about his job, he’s always been very passionate about serving citizens,” Leach said. “He’ll be able to ride off into the sunset in a place that he loves.”
Leach and Rosas served in the Coast Guard at the same time, both in Sitka and Clearwater, Florida, and flew on missions together.
“We go back to early 2000, in Clearwater,” Leach said. “We’ve been on SAR missions together, and deployments. I know his work, I know what he’s capable of. To have that confirmed by Don in his work with him, it was an easy decision for me to hire (Rosas).”
