Still a few years away from producing first oil, the Willow project on the North Slope has a dedicated executive in charge. ConocoPhillips Alaska added Mo Chahal to its leadership team as Vice President, Willow, overseeing all aspects of development planning, operational readiness, and capital project management for Willow. Chahal previously had multiple assignments in Houston, Texas, including co-leading the integration of Marathon Oil Corporation, which ConocoPhillips acquired last fall. Chahal earned a master’s degree with honors in chemical engineering from Imperial College London and has held oil and gas leadership positions ranging from subsurface development and operations to asset management and corporate strategy.

Last October, GCI reorganized certain functions—including technology strategy, product, planning and engineering, construction and project management, operations, application technology, and data and analytics—such that they would report to a Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The first person hired to fill that position is Troy Goldie, most recently an executive at Louisiana-based Lumen Technologies. GCI says adding a CTO to company leadership will advance efforts to modernize its network and systems, provide innovative services to Alaskans, and enhance the company’s overall effectiveness and efficiency. Goldie, who also carries the title of Senior Vice President at GCI, studied at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School and earned a master’s degree in telecommunications systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

HC Contractors, a heavy civil construction company and subsidiary of UIC Commercial Services, promoted Travis Malin to the position of General Manager, overseeing strategic direction and the adoption of new technologies to improve productivity and efficiency. Malin has more than thirty-five years of experience in the field, including fifteen years at HC Contractors. His career began as a teenager, clearing and right-of-way projects before transitioning into heavy civil construction. He has led dozens of large-scale road, highway and bridge construction, and rehabilitation projects, representing more than $475 million in infrastructure improvements in Alaska.

Esther Pitts succeeds Elizabeth Ripley as President and CEO of Mat-Su Health Foundation. The board of the nonprofit co-owner of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center promoted Pitts, previously the foundation’s chief community impact officer, after a nationwide search. Pitts is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than twenty years of leadership experience in healthcare, nonprofit governance, government contracting, and small business management. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Capella University and is a Certified Professional Healthcare Risk Manager. Having lived in Alaska since 1991 and in Wasilla since 2015, Pitts has a deep personal connection to the community and a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of its residents. Pitts also supports her community through board service with Alaska Psychiatric Institute, All Alaska Pediatric Partnership, Best Beginnings, and Mat-Su College Advisory Council.

Although the former CEO of Cook Inlet Region Incorporated, Carl Marrs, retired in December after fifteen years leading Old Harbor Native Corporation (OHNC), he is remaining with the corporation for the Kodiak Island village, advising the board and management and serving on subsidiary boards. A successor for Marrs as OHNC CEO has been on deck since last summer, and starting this year Kristina Woolston officially took over. Woolston was hired as executive vice president in July 2024, working alongside Marrs. In her new position as CEO, Woolston manages day-to-day operations and is responsible for achieving board and corporate goals, with a focus on maximizing opportunities for approximately 500 shareholders. Prior to joining OHNC, Woolston spent five years leading external affairs at Donlin Gold. She also spent ten years on the leadership team at Chenega Corporation and four years managing external affairs at offshore fiber company Quintillion. She recently served as senior fellow at Rasmuson Foundation working on statewide broadband issues.

Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) shored up its Shareholder Development department with a recent promotion and internal transfer.

Mandeline “Mandy” Clark is promoted to Recruiter, responsible for developing strategies to attract qualified shareholder candidates for opportunities across BBNC’s enterprise of companies. Clark, a BBNC shareholder herself, manages job listings, assists with applications and résumés, and ensures compliance with the Shareholder Hire Preference policy. Clark also supports employee development, recommends improvements to outreach and placement programs, and connects candidates with hiring managers. Additionally, she tracks recruitment efforts, responds to inquiries, and represents BBNC at job fairs and industry conferences.

BBNC shareholder Tianna Carlson is transferring from the Finance department to Shareholder Development as a Financial and Operational Specialist. Carlson oversees key financial and operational functions, including financial reporting, vendor relations, and corporate credit card program coordination. She also organizes meetings, events, and shareholder travel while ensuring clear communication, maintaining accurate records, and supporting departmental initiatives to enhance overall efficiency.

A project manager at the Rasmuson Foundation, Sydney Copley is promoted to the new position of Partnership Manager. In this new role for the seventy-year-old philanthropic organization, Copley supports strategic relationships to advance the foundation’s mission of empowering Alaskans to help each other. A lifetime Alaskan from North Pole, Copley has been with the foundation for more than six years. Prior to joining the Rasmuson Foundation, she was a board member of the Fairbanks Montessori School and worked under three administrations at the Office of the Governor. She is also a board member of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.