Right Moves
The Eyak Corporation
A headshot photograph of Thomas Mack smiling
Mack

Eyak, the Alaska Native village corporation for Cordova, is replacing their outgoing longtime CEO with one plucked from a Native regional corporation. Thomas Mack is the new CEO of The Eyak Corporation, upon Rod Worl’s retirement after seventeen years as CEO. Mack previously worked with The Aleut Corporation, first as president and the last four years as CEO. Mack was raised in King Cove and earned a master of business administration degree from Alaska Pacific University.

Colville, Inc.
A headshot photograph of Kelly Droop smiling
Droop

Oil and gas logistics firm Colville, Inc. has a new Chief Operating Officer. Kelly Droop takes over day-to-day management of the company’s statewide facilities and tanker truck fleet. Colville operates year-round hauling and storing fuel, provides industrial supply and retail automotive parts through its Brooks Range Supply and NAPA stores, and owns and operates Brooks Camp in Deadhorse, all primarily for oil and gas industry customers. Droop comes to the company from Worley, where she was vice president of Alaska field services. She is also the current president of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance.

Bristol Wave Seafoods
A headshot photograph of Joel Peterson smiling
Peterson

Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) and Bristol Bay Alaska Seafoods (BBAS) appointed Joel Peterson to serve as President of Bristol Wave Seafoods, a subsidiary of BBAS. Bristol Wave manages the sales and operations of BBAS’s nine-vessel fleet, which was formed in 2019 when Clipper Seafoods and Blue North Fisheries merged their operations and BBNC acquired a majority interest in the combined company. Peterson started his new role on January 11, 2022, working alongside David Little, who serves as CEO. Little, founder of Clipper Seafoods, has served as president of the operating companies since the 2019 merger. Peterson graduated with an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business. He fished on Clipper Seafoods vessels for more than ten years and has been working in sales since 2015.

Tlingit & Haida
The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska brings in two new managers, one of them in a newly formed department.
A headshot photograph of Anthony Lindoff smiling
Lindoff

Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Operations division welcomed Anthony Lindoff as the new Food Security Manager. One of the department’s efforts is to get Southeast Alaska Native foods into a tribe-wide distribution program. Lindoff’s Tlingit name is Khaakhootee and he is Kaagwaantaan (Eagle Wolf) from the Gooch Hit (Wolf House of Klukwan). Lindoff earned a degree in international business from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado in 2008, and he owns and operates Kaawu Shellfish Co., an oyster farm near Hoonah. Since 2013, Lindoff has been a member of the Huna Totem Corporation board of directors.

A headshot photograph of Jamie "JC" Cowan smiling
Cowan

Jamie “JC” Cowan comes aboard as Business & Economic Development Manager with the Tribal Development division. Cowan’s responsibilities include collaborating to bring in grant funding, coordinating on the initiation of capital projects, and developing entrepreneurship programs in tribal communities. Cowan was born in Oakland, California and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She holds a bachelor of science degree in applied management from Grand Canyon University. Cowan recently worked for Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium as a senior-level executive assistant and provider recruitment coordinator.

Fidelity Title Agency
A headshot photograph of Barbara Clements smiling
Clements

Fidelity Title Agency of Alaska brought in Barbara Clements as Senior Title Officer. Clements was previously at Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency as chief title officer. With more than thirty-five years in the title industry, Clements is experienced in all aspects of examining property titles throughout the state for both residential and commercial customers.

Mt. McKinley Bank
A headshot photograph of Jenny Mahlen smiling
Mahlen

Mt. McKinley Bank in Fairbanks promoted Jenny Mahlen to Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending. Mahlen joined Mt. McKinley Bank two years ago but has been a fixture in the banking community in Interior Alaska for thirty years. In addition to her vast experience in the financial industry, she is a UAF graduate and completed the Pacific Coast Banking School graduate program. Her understanding of the local market, positive relationships with her customers, and exceptional work ethic have quickly made her a critical part of the team.

Alaska USA Federal Credit Union
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union selected one new executive and promoted five current executives.
A headshot photograph of Dan Byron smiling
Byron

Dan Byron is the new Vice President, Payment Technologies. Byron joins Alaska USA Federal Credit Union with more than twelve years of experience in the payment and card technologies industry and holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Metropolitan State University.

A headshot photograph of Clinton Hess smiling
Hess

Clinton Hess has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence. Hess has been with Alaska USA for more than fourteen years, most recently as vice president, Financial Analysis. Hess holds a bachelor’s degree from UAA, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Alaska Pacific University.

A headshot photograph of David Vanzant
Vanzant

David Vanzant has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Enterprise Security. Vanzant has been with Alaska USA for more than five years, most recently as vice president, Enterprise Security. Vanzant holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Eastern New Mexico University and a master’s degree in homeland security/strategic studies from Marine Corps University.

A headshot photograph of Julie Moore smiling
Moore

Julie Moore has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Mortgage Operations. Moore has been with Alaska USA for more than twelve years, most recently as vice president, Mortgage Administration and Compliance. Moore holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting and a master’s degree from Eastern Washington University.

A headshot photograph of Leisa DeYarmon smiling
DeYarmon

Leisa DeYarmon has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Special Credits. DeYarmon has been with Alaska USA for more than eight years, most recently as vice president, Special Credits Collections.

A headshot photograph of Athar Nazir smiling
Nazir
Athar Nazir has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Consumer Lending Operations. Nazir has been with Alaska USA for more than nine years, most recently as vice president, Special Credits Operations. Nazir holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in finance.
ARM Creative
A headshot photograph of George Meyer smiling
Meyer

Anchorage-based marketing agency ARM Creative has a new Creative Director. George Meyer brings decades of experience, renowned for his award-winning print, television, and radio spots. A lifelong Alaskan, Meyer has a degree from the Art Institute of Seattle. He worked with just about every major ad agency in the state, and he’s designed some of the most recognizable logos in town (including ARM’s).

Alyeska Resort
A headshot photograph of Sacha Jurva smiling
Jurva

Sacha Jurva brings decades of international hospitality management experience to his new role as General Manager for Alyeska Resort. Most recently, he oversaw a $20 million refurbishment of the Warwick Hotel in Denver, an experience that will benefit Alyeska as it opens a 50,000-square-foot Nordic Spa and other resort renovations. “Alaska already feels like home to my family,” says Jurva. “It’s remarkably similar to my hometown in Finland, with the cold winters and beautiful outdoors year-round.”

Anchorage Police Department
A headshot photograph of Michael Kerle smiling
Kerle

A veteran of the Anchorage Police Department (APD) is its new Chief. The Anchorage Assembly confirmed Mayor Dave Bronson’s choice of Michael Kerle to lead APD. Kerle’s law enforcement career started at APD as a recruit in 1996. He has worked in the department’s Patrol Division, Special Operations, and Crime Suppression. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief in February 2020. Kerle completed the Police Executive Leadership Graduate Program at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville.

RIGHT MOVES IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NORTHERN AIR CARGO
RIGHT MOVES IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NORTHERN AIR CARGO