Sealaska is seeking qualified shareholders to become endorsed nominees for the Sealaska Board of Directors. There are three incumbent candidates and two open seats this year.

At a meeting of its Governance and Nominations Committee on Thursday, Feb. 4, the committee approved a set of criteria for candidates who choose to participate in the endorsement process.

Applicants will be evaluated based on their experience and demonstrated accomplishments in the following areas: business; financial stewardship; character and integrity; leadership; culture/traditional way of life; and education. In addition, the board will be looking for candidates who round out or fill in gaps in the overall composition of the board’s experience, education and qualifications. Sealaska’s recent status as a global company makes candidates with international business experience – particularly in seafood, ocean science or engineering – particularly desirable.

“We are a for-profit company that can only provide shareholder benefits if we make a profit,” said Morgan Howard, a current board member who went through the process to receive the board’s endorsement in 2017. “Business experience is mandatory. Of course, I always want for us to be Native people engaged in business, not business people who happen to be Native. You must know why we are in business – it’s for our people. That’s the real bottom line – our people.”

As Sealaska’s business evolves, so do the qualifications and experiences that are needed to help shape its future, said Jodi Mitchell, who chairs the Governance and Nominations Committee.

Interested shareholders must submit a letter of interest and a current resume via email by 11:59 p.m. AKST on Monday, Feb. 22 to corpsec@sealaska.com. After an initial round of review, the pool of applicants will be narrowed and finalists will be required to submit more detailed personal information through a board application to continue in the process.

Prospective candidates who do not receive the board’s endorsement may still run as independent candidates for the board, as can any shareholder whether they choose to seek an endorsement or not. Information and key dates on the independent candidacy option will be coming soon to MySealaska.com and will be announced via Sealaska email messages.