Author: Michael Levshakof

Chugach Employees Take On PWS Volunteer Opportunity

On August 18, 2023, Chugach’s Mission and Core Behaviors came together in unison as a group of Chugach employees set sail from Whittier on a United State s Forest Service (USFS) marine vessel to participate in a volunteer opportunity in Prince William Sound (PWS).

This year, Chugach started the Employee Volunteer Program, which allows our employees to work a half day at charities and non-profits, or on projects that benefit the community. “Under this program, our Lands, Community, and Culture departments decided to select a project in our region that would strengthen our ties to our lands” said Jack Blackwell, Chugach’s Vice President of Land and Resources.

Jack continued, “I knew that the Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation (PWSSF) coordinated volunteer and stewardship opportunities in the PWS, so I approached them about a potential project that Chugach employees could take part in. They directed us to the USFS which was seeking volunteers to help make improvements and upgrades to the 17-Mile Campsite.”

This recreational site is named after its 17-mile proximity to Whittier. Blackstone Glacier is at the head of Blackstone Bay and is one of the primary destinations in west PWS. People camp at 17-Mile while recreating in the area. To ensure accessibility, it requires annual maintenance and upkeep, as well as improvements that allow visitors to enjoy all that the site has to offer.

“17-Mile encompasses three camping areas and an interlocking trail system that connects these sites. There are multiple campsites in each of the three areas,” Jack shared. “We spent the day installing signs along the beach to identify the trails that lead to the campsites and worked to clear the trails. Vegetation grows quickly in this environment, so it’s necessary to clear the trees and brush on yearly basis that, if left untended, will encroach on the trails and make them impassable.”

Chugach President Josie Hickel was amongst the group of Chugach volunteers and wanted to thank those who took part. “It was a beautiful, sunny day on the water to and from 17-Mile, and the reward of giving back to the region further added to the day’s enjoyment,” Josie said. “I want to thank Jack for organizing this effort, and I want to thank Diana Brinkman and Anastasia Buretta from our Finance team who joined the effort along with Matthew Ellis who works in our Lands department and Tatianna Turner who works for Chugach’s Cultural Resources for doing their part to build community and better the 17-Mile Campsite.”

Jack Blackwell extended his gratitude as well. “I want to thank my fellow Chugach employees for volunteering at 17-Mile, and I would also like to acknowledge Charla Hughes, PWSSF Executive Director; Chris Stewart, USFS Glacier District Ranger; Tim Lydon, USFS Area Manager; and Barbara Lydon, USFS Wilderness Ranger, for coordinating this project on our behalf. Their dedication and commitment to protecting the land and waters of Prince William Sound is greatly appreciated.”

Chugach’s 12 Months of Giving campaign donates $1,000 to USO Alaska

“My family and I have long supported the USO with our personal contributions for almost 25 years,” Brian said. “So I want to thank Chugach for selecting such a wonderful organization to support financially and for recognizing its important work for our men and women, and their families, who serve in the armed forces.”

For Brian and his family, the credo of the USO is probably the greatest factor that has garnered their support over the last quarter of a century: To Be Always By Their Side. Now, representing Chugach in our nation’s capital, support for the USO has taken on an even greater resonance. “This sounds so much like Chugach and everything that we do for the Armed Forces. I think of the many ways that Chugach stands by the side of our U.S. Military, with our extensive Federal contracts and the many veterans who work for our company throughout the world, and consequently, I’ve gained a deeper respect for the company I have the privilege to represent.”

Speaking on a more personal level, Brian stated how Chugach’s contribution to the USO will help to make a difference. “Here in Washington, D.C., I have friends and colleagues who work for the National USO organization, so I have learned from them that Chugach’s generous contribution at the state level will be valued and appreciated.”

Brian Knapp with Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola.

Brian’s primary responsibility in Washington is to regularly meet with Alaska’s delegation, and other members of Congress and administration officials to ensure that the interests of Chugach and our subsidiaries are advanced to the benefit of our employees and shareholders. Chugach’s charitable contributions has allowed Brian to perform this duty with pride. “I feel fortunate to work for a company that recognizes the importance of giving to others who can benefit from our financial success,” Brian expressed. “And I thank Chugach so much for helping the Alaska chapter of the USO.”

To learn more about the Alaska USO’s mission and to make a donation to this incredible organization, go to https://alaska.uso.org/. Every month, Chugach makes a $1,000 donation to similar organizations based on the nominations of our employees; to nominate your favorite organization or charity, go 12months.chugach.com.

Team Tammy Soars To $24,000

For eight years, Chugach employees, families and friends who make up our team have taken home first-place awards in these two categories. Over the life of the AKRFW, our generous team-member donations to the annual event have surpassed more than $140,000.

The run was held on Saturday, June 10th, with Chugach team members adorned in pink superhero capes in honor of long-time Chugach employee Tammy Morton-Bilak, who passed away in February 2023 after a battle with breast cancer.

“With one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, nearly all of us have been touched by the devastating impacts of this disease,” said Angie Astle, Chugach’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “This year we had the honor of running on behalf of our dear friend, coworker, and ‘superhero’ Tammy Morton-Bilak, who has been an inspiration and steadfast advocate of the AKRFW throughout her diagnosis and treatment.”

Thank you to all who joined Team Tammy, especially Tammy’s family members who ran the race with us from start to finish. We look forward to coming together next year and running the race again for Tammy and for all the women and their families who have been touched by breast cancer.

Until then Team Tammy, wear your capes with pride!

Sheri Buretta Family Scholarship Established

Her tenure on the UA Board of Regents began in 2015 and ended in 2023. While serving as a Regent, Sheri wholeheartedly supported UA’s mission to inspire learning, and advance and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, while emphasizing the North and its diverse peoples.

As she steps down from her regency position, her legacy at UA will live on through the Sheri Buretta Family Scholarship, which will provide financial assistance to students who demonstrate need and are Alaska residents.

Sheri Buretta was born in Anchorage. Her family is from the village of Tatitlek, located in Prince William Sound. She holds a degree in accounting from UAA, and she has a heart and passion for young people in need in Alaska and, through this scholarship, wants them to provide a support system for them to achieve their higher education dreams.

Sheri remembers a time in her adolescence when similar support allowed her to learn and prosper in the classroom. “Sheri told me that she wanted to support a scholarship for students in need, because she remembers her school, Nunaka Valley Elementary, was a ‘safe haven’ for her,” said former Alaska Governor Sean Parnell who is currently serving as the UAA Chancellor. “And she hopes that the support of the scholarship named in her honor will help to changes lives – personally and economically.”

Chancellor Parnell went on to say, “We intend to endow the Sheri Buretta Family Scholarship and make it available to assist UAA students for generations to come.” To this end, the Chancellor and his wife Sandy were amongst the first to step forward and contribute funds to place this scholarship on the path toward endowment.

“I want to thank the Chancellor and Sandy for this gesture, and it was a privilege to work with Chancellor Parnell and my friends who serve on the UA Board of Regents,” said Sheri Buretta. “At Chugach, I know the scholarships we provide to our shareholders and descendants are the most meaningful way that we serve our community, so I am incredibly touched to have my name attached to this new scholarship at UAA.”

“I am so thankful for my eight years of service on the UA Board of Regents. It has been a wonderful and rewarding experience,” Buretta expressed. “I cannot think of a better way to pay it forward than to provide funding for education at UAA for those in need.”

During the recent UAA Giving Days, the $25,000 endowment goal was surpassed, so the new goal is $50,000 and a process for distribution for the next year school year is being developed. So please consider contributing to this worthy effort by clicking here.

Sheri Buretta Receives ATHENA Leadership Award

Chugach recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Sheri has served on its Board of Directors for half of those five decades helping to guide Chugach through significant growth.

Sheri’s professional career extends beyond her leadership position with Chugach. She is an active community member, serving on the board of Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) for 25 years; Native American Contractor’s Association; Silver Salmon Creek Leadership Institute; Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska (ROSSIA); and The Tatitlek Corporation and Copper Mountain Foundation. In 2015, Sheri was appointed to serve on the University of Alaska Board of Regents where she was elected to serve 3 years as Chair through her term ending in February 2023.

She also served as President for the ANSCA Regional Association (ARA) Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008 and as a board director from 1999-2008. Sheri is especially proud to have safeguarded the ancestral waters of the Chugach Region through her services on the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Public Advisory Group.

During Sheri’s tenure as Chairman, Chugach has maintained its standing on Alaska Business Monthly’s Top 49er List for more than a decade, regularly earning the 5th or 6th rank amongst Alaska’s most profitable businesses. During her time leading Chugach, the corporation has also been the recipient of numerous awards from Best of Alaska Business, the Anchorage Chamber, and the Alaska Journal of Commerce.

Within the corporation, Sheri was recognized with a Visionary Award for her work to get legislation passed for Alaska Native settlement trusts to benefit generations to come; and for lobbying the California Air Resource Board to include Alaska forests in their inventory for potential carbon sequestration projects and her contributions leading to the successful Bering River Coal Field (BRCF) coal rights sale. Bringing the carbon market to Alaska and retiring the coal rights was a huge component of Chugach’s 100-year plan, placing Chugach on a path to intergenerational prosperity and funding the CHF educational endowment.

Sheri serves as Interim CEO for Chugach during periods of transition in leadership and is also Chairman of the Chugach Heritage Foundation and Chugach Heritage Museum & Archaeological Repository, both nonprofits serving the Chugach people.

Chugach President Josie Hickel said “The Chugach family is so proud of the accomplishments that Sheri has made in her role with the corporation, as well as with the many organizations she has served to promote a strong and healthy Alaska. She has established herself among an elite group of strong Alaska Native leaders for her diligent efforts to elevate the lives of the Alaska Native people. She is well deserving of this recognition, and we offer our hearty congratulations.”

Her accomplishments earned her a previous induction into the ATHENA Society, which recognizes excellence. Sheri is also the recipient of the YWCA Women of Achievement Award.

Above all, Sheri is a steadfast advocate for Alaska Native self-determination and this advocacy manifests itself in all aspects of her life – including her work, community involvement and personal passions.

Sheri was born in Anchorage, Alaska; though, her family is from the Native Village of Tatitlek located in Prince William Sound. Sheri holds a degree from the University of Alaska and from Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. She and her husband Gary have two beautiful children, Anastasia and Bo.

Please join us in congratulating Sheri on being the well-deserved recipient of the ATHENA Leadership Award.

 

About Anchorage ATHENA Society

A part of the International ATHENA Society, which bears the name of the Greek goddess of wisdom, the Anchorage ATHENA Society (AAS) is a program of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce that works year-round to encourage the potential of all women as valued members and leaders of the business community. In addition, the members of the AAS devote themselves to raising money for scholarships, creating leadership initiatives, and establishing local mentoring and scholarship programs.

The AAS now approaches 275 members, representing a diverse group of professionals with 11 new inductees joining the group each year through the annual ATHENA Award ceremony. The first award was given to Dr. Joyce Murphy in 1988, and then in 1995, it was presented to Eleanor Andrews, the current Anchorage ATHENA Society Chair. That year she traveled to the National ATHENA Conference which inspired her to start Anchorage’s local group.

Chugach’s 2023 12 Months of Giving Kicks Off in a BIG Way!

Youth who join BBBS report increased confidence, do better in school, have a better relationship with their families, and feel better about themselves. Mentors, too, have an increased sense of purpose and connection, all while having fun and providing space for Littles to safely enjoy being a child.

Currently, there are 140 children on the BBBS waiting list in Alaska. Of these, there are six times as many Alaska Native and American Indian children looking for mentors, with a critical need for Alaska Native men. This stat prompted Ashley Christensen, Chugach’s Community Development Program Director, to take action, reach out to BBBS and become a Big.

“I spent this summer going through the volunteer process, which was extremely thorough,” Ashley recalls. “But the BBBS staff were accommodating, made it easy, and I was matched with my Little Sister just before Thanksgiving! They do a wonderful job pairing youth with mentors. It was wild all the similarities between my childhood and hers, which allowed us to create a stronger initial connection than I thought possible. It’s important to note not all youth in this program are troubled or come from troubled homes, many just need the space to be a kid and have one-on-one time to form healthy relationships.”

Ashley went on to say, “There are so many Alaska youth who are in need of a connection with someone outside their immediate circle, and there are also so many Alaskans who would make excellent role models. My Little is her own inspiring force who teaches me something every time we get together. The reward is very reciprocal; Littles add just as much, if not more value to a Bigs life, and this is the beginning of what I hope will become a lifelong friendship for us both. Being a Big does not require much. Yes, it takes some of your time and commitment to being available two to four times a month for one year, but the activities are all required to be low cost or no cost. BBBS of AK provides monthly activities at discount or free through their community partnerships.”

Volunteering to be a Big is just one way to support BBBS. “This incredible non-profit also requires donations to continue matching and supporting stable and consistent relationships,” Ashley expressed. The need for monetary support was one of the reasons that Ashley nominated BBBS in Chugach’s 12 Months of Giving, and we’re proud to say her submissions kicked off the year with BBBS being selected as the January winner in the campaign and being the first non-profit of 2023 to receive a $1,000 donation from Chugach.

To learn more about the incredible work that BBBS does and to become involved in the Big Program, go to www.bbbsak.org. Individual donations to BBBS can also be made using the same link.

Who will be the February 12 Months of Giving winner? That’s up to you. Make your nomination at 12months.chugach.com.

Lauren Johnson Named 2023 Top 40 Under 40!

Johnson’s accomplishments, professional excellence, and deep commitment to community and education, and her rise from a former Chugach intern and to an emerging leader who has played a key role in increasing Chugach’s ability to deliver benefits and services to the Chugach people, make her well deserving of this recognition.

Johnson’s leadership journey has had two paths: one grounded in a solid and extensive academic foundation, and another that goes back nearly three decades and transitioned through her adolescence to her becoming an adult as, through those years, she helped to establish and manage Nuuciq Spirit Camp, the centerpiece of Chugach culture and the annual gathering place of learning for our shareholders and descendants.

Johnson graduated from University of Alaska Anchorage in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Management. She then went on to complete Alaska Pacific University’s Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program (ANELP), and in 2019, she graduated with a Master of Business Administration.

Today as President and Executive Director, she manages the $33 million plus CHF educational endowment and oversees an organization that has awarded nearly $11 million in scholarships to Chugach shareholders and lineal descendants. In total, this represents more than 4,300 individuals who have received education funding assistance to pursue their academic and vocational dreams. Johnson has further supported education and mentorship for our shareholders and descendants through the establishment of the Chugach Connections Forum and the Chugach Native Professionals group.

In addition to CHF’s regular operations and the annual educational assistance that Johnson manages, she still oversees all of the work that makes Nuuciq Spirit Camp happen every year, orchestrating the many arrangements that bring people together from throughout the Chugach region for two-weeks of Sugt’stun language and dance classes, subsistence education, arts and craft, and other cultural related activities. Her duties also include hosting Chugach’s annual Russian New Year celebration and an array of culture workshops that take place throughout the year, each serving to keep the Chugach culture alive and vibrant.

Beyond Chugach, Johnson sits on the board of directors for the Alaska Native Heritage Center and Co-Chairs the ANCSA Educational Consortium. Without question, she has risen through the ranks of Chugach to become a shining star of the Chugach region.

We are proud of all that Lauren has done to better herself and to better our community, and we would like to thank the Alaska Journal of Commerce for honoring Lauren Johnson with a 2023 Top 40 Under 40 Award.

​​​​​​​Click here to see the full list of the 2023 Top 40 Under 40 Award recipients.

Chugach Sleep Out Participants Raise $80,000+ For Covenant House

Since 1988, Covenant House Alaska has provided that place to sleep for the Last Frontier’s homeless youth. In the last 34 years, more than 30,000 youth have passed through the Covenant House doors under the organization’s guiding vision to end youth homelessness so that Alaska’s young people can grow into the best versions of themselves.

While Covenant House serves on the frontlines to end homelessness for Alaska’s youth, they don’t do it alone. Covenant House depends on individual and corporate donations to fulfill their mission. It truly takes a community, and that’s what Chugach is great at – building community. This year, Chugach built community for Covenant House and the youth they serve to the tune of more than $80,000.

What’s more, four members of Chugach’s executive team took part in the 2022 Great Alaska Sleep Out, Covenant House’s annual flagship fundraising event, including Chugach Government Solutions VP of Business Development Christopher Crosta, Deputy General Counsel Samantha Beehner, and Director of Marketing & Communications Randi Jo Gause. On the cold evening of November 17, Chugach’s Sleep Out participants donned winter gear and sleeping bags, and braved a night outside to raise awareness about Alaska’s homeless youth and, more importantly, to raise funds for the Covenant House and their ongoing pursuit to end homelessness.

Melanie Osborne, Chugach Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Administrative Officer, has been a longtime participant in the Sleep Out, and she shared her motivation for her commitment to the Covenant House and its mission. “I’m always struck by meeting the youth and hearing their stores of courage,” Osborne said. “This year’s Sleep Out was particularly meaningful as we had three new Chugach sleepers brave the tents and sleeping bags. I’m grateful for all the work that Covenant House Alaska does for our community and honored to participate in the Sleep Out.”

Covenant House Alaska accepts donations year-round. This crucial support goes toward programs such as shelter services, educational assistance, employment placement and youth enrichment activities, all of which are a bridge to success for the youth who depend on Covenant House Alaska. To learn more about this incredible organization and to make a donation, click here.

Thanks to individual donations that came in over the last year and through funds raised by events like the Sleep Out, 799 youth were cared for in Covenant House’s residential and outreach programs; 100 youth graduated from their education programs with a diploma or GED; and 90 beds were kept open and available for youth in need, every single night.