The Hunter, Volume 2022, April | Page 2

NANA

New Vice Presidents Add Decades of Experience to the NANA Team

NANA has filled three key vacancies on its senior management team with well-established shareholder professionals . The new leaders are Lucy Aŋasuk Nelson , vice president , administration ; Sandy Salaktuna Kowalski , vice president , shareholder relations ; and Elizabeth Saagulik Hensley , J . D ., vice president , external and government affairs .

“ I am pleased to announce the recruitment of three senior team members who bring outstanding education , experience and commitment to our company and shareholders ,” said John Lincoln , NANA president and CEO .
Nelson has 30 years of professional management experience , including as
director of administrative services for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District and vice president and chief financial officer for Maniilaq Association . She most recently served as the mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough . She holds a bachelor ’ s degree in business organizational management from Alaska Pacific University and a master ’ s degree in business administration from the University of Alaska Southeast .
Kowalski began her 30-year career in education as a teacher in Deering . She was the director of Indigenous programs for the University of Alaska Fairbanks before her most recent position as assistant superintendent for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District . Kowalski holds bachelor ’ s degrees in both English and
Iñupiaq language from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and earned a master ’ s degree in educational leadership from the National University in California .
Hensley is an experienced attorney who has worked for NANA as well as for the Alaska Legislature , the U . S . Department of the Interior and as a partner at a private law firm . Her most recent position was as general counsel for the Maniilaq Association . She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Native American Studies from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona .
“ Lucy , Sandy and Elizabeth are part of the next generation of leadership at NANA , humbly working to achieve the vision of
our board of directors and early leaders ,” said Lincoln . “ I am grateful for their willingness to help with the tremendous work of building a bright and prosperous future for our region and shareholders .”
In November 2021 , shareholder Brad Kuuġnaaluk Osborne took on the role of vice president , operations . Brad rejoined NANA in August 2021 . He has been a model of hard work and commitment , most recently demonstrated as the project manager of NANA ’ s CARES Act Individual Disaster Relief Program . This experience and determination will now be employed towards managing out of region facilities , security , safety , quality assurance and business processes .
Bios
Lucy Aŋasuk Nelson
Vice President , Administration
Lucy Aŋasuk Nelson is vice president of administration and is responsible for providing strategic leadership on corporate initiatives , board operations and development , and in-region operations . Lucy has 30 years of professional management experience .
Lucy is a NANA shareholder from Kotzebue . Until October 2021 , she served as mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough , the second largest borough in Alaska . Prior to that , she was the director of administrative services for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District , which operates schools in 11 villages in the region . For nine years , she worked for Maniilaq Association , rising to the position of vice president and chief financial officer .
Lucy served as a long-term board member of OTZ Telephone Cooperative and the Kotzebue Electric Association , and as an assembly member on the Northwest Arctic Borough . She ’ s volunteered as an announcer on KOTZ Radio , providing local news , weather , stories and basketball play-by-play . She holds a bachelor ’ s degree in business organizational management from Alaska Pacific University and a master ’ s degree in business administration from the University of Alaska Southeast .
Sandy Salaktuna Kowalski
Vice President , Shareholder Relations
Sandy Salaktuna Kowalski is vice president of shareholder relations . She is responsible for leading the shareholder relations department , with the goal of providing exceptional service and opportunities for workforce development , shareholder hire , and Iñupiaq language and culture revitalization .
Sandy is a shareholder from Kotzebue . Most recently , she was assistant superintendent for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District . Prior to that , she served as director of Indigenous programs for the University of Alaska Fairbanks , overseeing initiatives that support Alaska Native and rural students to help them achieve success . Sandy began her 30- year career in Deering as an Iñupiaq language and language arts teacher , before becoming a principal and administrator in Fairbanks and Kotzebue . She also directed Nikaitchuat Ilisaġviat , the only Iñupiaq language immersion school in Alaska .
In 2018 , the Alaska State Legislature appointed Sandy to join the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development . Sandy has bachelor ’ s degrees in English and Iñupiaq language from the University of Alaska Fairbanks , and a master ’ s degree in educational leadership from the National University in California .
Elizabeth Saagulik Hensley
Vice President , External and Government Affairs
Elizabeth Saagulik Hensley , J . D ., is vice president of external and government affairs , responsible for developing , managing and leveraging relationships with key stakeholders and partners to advance NANA ’ s mission .
Saagulik has worked for NANA as a staff attorney and as a partner at a private law firm , advising Alaska businesses and Alaska Native tribes , organizations and corporations . Her most recent position was as general counsel for Maniilaq Association , a tribal nonprofit corporation that provides health , tribal government and social services to residents of northwest Alaska . She has served as a senior policy advisor to the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the U . S . Department of the Interior and as an aide for the Alaska Legislature .
Saagulik is a NANA shareholder and a tribal citizen of the Native Village of Kotzebue . She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Native American Studies from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona , James E . Rogers College of Law .
Brad Kuuġnaaluk Osborne
Vice President , Operations
Brad Kuugnaaluk Osborne is vice president of operations and is responsible for managing out-of-region facilities , IT , security , safety , quality assurance and business processes .
Brad has held management positions at NANA in accounting , IT , finance and strategy . Among his various roles
and added responsibilities , he has led the team that implemented a companywide enterprise resource planning ( ERP ) system , served as president of NANA Oilfield Services , acted as the senior advisor to the chief operations officer , and oversaw NANA ’ s CARES Act Individual Disaster Relief Program . He has represented NANA in professional organizations such as the Alaska Support Industry Alliance , Commonwealth North and Alaska Business Week , and he chaired the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce .
Brad is a NANA shareholder with family ties in Kotzebue . He demonstrates NANA ’ s deep-rooted values of respect , honesty , commitments fulfilled , cooperation and the importance of family .
Brad earned a bachelor ’ s degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage , with a focus on accounting .
2 The Hunter | 2022 April