2010 - Summer

nasir vik
elevated view
Vol. 6, Issue 3, Summer 2010
Bowhead Receives Workforce Leadership Award
include, but are not limited
Community College, recognized
to, courses on several IT and
BST’s commitment to the creation
professional certifications,
and implementation of business
leadership and management,
strategies that support and benefit
Microsoft Office desktop, and
its employees. One of the tools the
compliance with laws and
company uses to achieve this is
regulations. After successfully
its comprehensive performance
completing a course, employees will
management process that assesses
receive a certificate of completion
employee skills and potential for
future advancement.
continued on page 8
Additionally, the
company has an
internal job posting
system that allows for
career advancement.
In April, BST
launched an on-line
training tool, through
which employees can
pursue a wide variety
of professional
development
opportunities.
Employees may
L to R: Barney Michel, SWN President; Richard Ryan, BST
President; Kevin Walls, BST Division Director, Aberdeen
choose from four
Operations; Vickie Ream, BST Program Manager, ARL; Don Owen,
different training
BTPS HR Director; and Daria Gray, BTPS Sr. Manager, Corporate
Communications.
bundles which
Bowhead Science and Technology,
LLC (BST) announced today that
they received the Susquehanna
Workforce Leadership Award for
its innovative workplace strategies
which improve workers’ skills and
workplace quality in Maryland’s
Harford County. The Susquehanna
Workforce Network (SWN)
presented Bowhead with the award
at their annual meeting in Perryville,
Maryland on Friday, June 25.
“We are honored to receive this
award,” said Richard Ryan, BST
President. “Our employees are
our most valuable asset. Their
development, advancement, and
overall wellbeing are core to our
success as a company. Being
recognized for the investment we
make in our employees, affirms
our ongoing commitment to them,”
Ryan added.
The award, which also includes a
$1000 training certificate to Harford
INSIDE
President’s Message 2
New Director of HR
2
BOD Vice President Message
3
Charles Wong Recognition
3
Annual Meeting Photos
4
Shareholder Awards
5
Bowhead Holding Company
6
Employee of the Quarter
7
Special Message Regarding UIC's
Drug and Alcohol Testing Program
This year, UIC celebrated its 37th
anniversary as an Alaska Native
Corporation. UIC embodies the
Iñupiat values that have carried
our people through thousands
of years on the Arctic Slope. The
Iñupiat values integrated into our
organization include the mission
to provide for the economic and
cultural wellbeing of its owners,
the Iñupiat people of Barrow,
Alaska. UIC has been blessed
with the great joy of contributing
to a better standard of living,
level of education, and quality of
healthcare for its shareholders.
People are UIC's most important
resource.
UIC’s current and future
workforce depends on people
being employable. The Human
Resources Department is working
on how we can best utilize the
talents of our shareholders. UIC
recognizes the importance of job
opportunities to our shareholders’
wellbeing. We are aware of the
concerns shareholders have
voiced regarding positions
that have been filled by nonshareholders. UIC follows the
continued on page 6
Q u a r t e r l y N e w s l e t t e r O f U k p e a g v i k I ñ u p i a t C o r p o r a t i on ( UI C )
President’s Message
Dear fellow UIC shareholders,
It is my privilege to serve you as a UIC
Board Member, previously serving as
Chairman and now as your President.
The board has confidence in newly
elected Chairwoman, Raynita “Taqulik”
Hepa and I look forward to working
collaboratively with her by continuing
efforts for a strong foundation and
future for UIC. It is also my pleasure to
announce that Anthony E. Edwardsen
was re-elected to the Board as
Treasurer/Corporate Secretary, and
please join me in welcoming new
Board Vice President Herman L.
Ahsoak. I would also like to thank all
the shareholders who attended and
participated in the Annual Meeting by
casting their votes either through proxy
or in person. It is very humbling for me
to have been chosen to lead UIC and
I will do so with the utmost respect for
our Iñupiat values and with integrity
and honesty.
This year UIC’s Corporate
Management has made many
difficult, but necessary changes in our
company and how we do business.
There have been corporate asset and
overhead reductions made to reduce
waste. These changes have improved
efficiencies and reduced operating
expenses by several millions of
dollars. Over the coming months I
will be working with the Corporate
Management team to continue the
detailed assessments of the company
at all levels. The focus is to grow the
bottom line and communicate to
staff our corporate culture of fiscal
responsibility.
The changes made over the previous
months will improve value for our
shareholders. These changes include
limiting corporate travel to that which
is deemed necessary to business and
utilizing teleconference and online
WebEx meetings in lieu of traveling
to meet in person. We have also
implemented additional cost control
mechanisms and reclassified assets.
An example is the transfer of company
vehicles to UIC Development so
that they may be rented and create
revenue for the company. Also, you
may have noticed that this quarter’s
newsletter is smaller in size. This is
in an effort to save on printing and
postage costs and reduce waste in
paper and ink. Sometimes even small
changes can add up to make a big
difference in the long term.
I would like to share a whaling analogy
with you to paint a picture of my
business philosophy. When a whaling
crew is focused on landing a large
whale, and uses all the resources to
do so, sometimes they end up with
more than they can handle. Once the
whale is landed, they find they do not
have the necessary resources and
manpower to butcher such a large
whale. Therefore, it is important that
when making a decision to strike the
whale, you know that it is right rather
than taking the chance of losing or
wasting the whale.
whales. Many small whales fill up a
cellar just as well as a large whale,
which equals a happy community. We
need to focus on work that provides
the greatest value to our company,
employees, and shareholders so that
we may all share in the prosperity.
A top priority for me is to continue to
support the shareholders and their
descendents in making positive
choices for healthy living in the realm
of drug and alcohol abuse. The
Special Message Regarding UIC's
Drug and Alcohol Testing Program on
the front page elaborates on what we
are doing to support healthy choices
and drug- and alcohol-free lifestyles
which is heavily supported by our
Board of Directors.
In closing, I would like to thank all of
the staff at UIC for their hard work,
loyalty, and commitment to the
company. This company is nothing
without the hard work of the collective
whole and we will continue to harness
and nurture each staff member’s
capabilities for the greater good of the
company and shareholders we serve.
Tavra. Quyanaq.
Sometimes, it is the same in the
business world when we focus on
only obtaining large contracts. We
may wind up with more than we can
efficiently manage.
This is to say, rather than focusing on
high revenue, we need to focus on the
bottom line which will bring value to
our shareholders. As a company we
must always stay true to our Iñupiaq
values when doing business. By all of
us working together as a team we are
able to go out and land many small
Forrest "Deano" Olemaun
President and CEO
UIC Announces New Director of Human Resources
Sandra Beitel has been named Director of Human Resources for UIC. Beitel has extensive
experience in designing and implementing HR strategies that include reward systems,
resourcing, employee and labor relations, performance management, and organization
and leadership development through business partnership. Prior to joining UIC, she
worked in the oil and gas industry for 27 years, and served as Human Resources Director
for both BP Exploration & Production Technology in Houston and BP Alaska Exploration
and Production. She graduated from the University of Montana, Missoula, with a degree
in Business Administration and furthered her development through specialized courses at
Northwestern University, Cornell, and University of Michigan in both leadership and human
resources studies.
2
Board of Directors
Chairman
Vice Chairman
President
Raynita T. Hepa
Doreen M. Knodel
Forrest "Deano" Olemaun
Vice President
Treasurer/Secretary
Director
Herman L. Ahsoak
Anthony E. Edwardsen
Fred S. Kanayurak
Director
Director
Max E. Ahgeak
Tara MacLean Sweeney
New BOD Vice
President Message
I would like to personally
thank all the UIC shareholders
that gave me their vote of
confidence. I am looking
forward to working with the
rest of the UIC Board of
Directors, in my capacity as
a new board member. I will
not forget the people that
paved the way for the younger
generation to become
responsible leaders in our
community, people like Alice
Solomon and Burton Rexford
who honestly and faithfully
served out their terms as
Directors for our corporation.
They set an example that we
must follow so that we can
get our corporation back on
solid ground. I would like
to encourage people in my
generation and younger,
to learn to become active
leaders in our community.
When you work, be honest,
truthful and most of all do not
forget our Heavenly Father
who gave us our right to live
and be Iñupiaq.
-Herman L. Ahsoak, Vice
President, UIC Board of
Directors
UIC Recognizes Accomplishments of Charles Wong
Working on
computers
has always
been a
passion
for Charles
Wong, so
when he
came to
Anchorage
in 2007 he began pursuing a degree
in Computer Programming. Not long
after he started classes, he changed
his major to applied science
telecommunications, electronics and
computer technology. While he was
awarded scholarships to help with
tuition, he soon realized he couldn’t
get by on scholarships alone and
applied for an internship with the
UIC Information Technology (IT)
department.
After a couple months as an intern,
Charles was offered a full-time
position. He knew it would be tough
to juggle a full-time job while taking
classes but thought finding the
balance between the two would
only help. Plus, having extra money
in his pocket wouldn’t hurt. After a
couple of months, he was promoted
to Helpdesk I Technician. In the
beginning he was answering phones,
escalating Helpdesk tickets and
general Helpdesk support, but
from there he worked his way up to
Helpdesk Technician II and is now a
Systems Network Technician.
His advice to students working
full-time would be to try and find
a job within their field of study. By
working and attending classes
full-time, Charles found his classes
to be easier because he was able
to take his hands-on experience
and apply it to his studies. Charles
said this worked both ways and he
was also able to take what he was
studying and use it on a daily basis
at work. Charles quickly learned
communication skills working for the
IT Helpdesk and helping various
staff. He says he likes the everyday
challenges that come up and keep
his job interesting, and is glad to
have coworkers he enjoys working
with.
Charles graduated in May with his
Associate of Arts Degree, but doesn’t
plan on stopping his education there;
he would eventually like to earn a
bachelor’s degree in information
technology.
3
Annual UIC Shareholder Meeting 2010
4
2010 Annual
Shareholder
Awards
Community Service: Clarence
E. Itta Clarence is the father of
five children, Natasha, Yeleana,
Lyndon, Paxton and Adison and a
grandfather to one granddaughter,
Manulook.
Clarence became a Barrow
Volunteer Fireman in 1985, and
in 1995 was hired full-time as
a Prevention Officer for the
Department. He has worked his
way up the ladder to becoming
the first Iñupiat Fire Chief,
and was recently appointed
the Director of the NSB Fire
Department.
Door Prize Winners
Congratulations to the following door prize
recipients for the drawing held on June 5, 2010 at
the UIC Annual Meeting of Shareholders:
$1,000 Grand Prize
Winner
Molly Jane Adams
$250 Prize Winners
Shelley Mae Kaleak
Perry R. Ahsogeak
James Kasa
Margaret E. Fischer
Thomas P. Olemaun
Steven Rexford II
Adam Leavitt III
Gary D. Kelly
Lloyd Isaac Pikok
Karen M. Kippi
James Lee Tuckfield
Maggie E. Hopson
Rose Ann Leavitt
Emma Ericklook
Nimrod Bodfish
Lorena M. Ahvik
Mollie Itta
George Adams Jr.
Katherine Ahgeak
Gilbert G. Suvlu
He enjoys working with the
volunteer firefighters in Barrow. He
encourages people to volunteer,
because many Department
employees are reaching
retirement age. He has not only
been recruiting young adults, but
also started an Explorers program
in Barrow for youth aged 14 to
19. The explorer youth went to
Fairbanks last year for training
with the State Explorer program.
Outstanding Homemaker:
Dorothy Edwardsen Dorothy
is a lifelong resident of Barrow.
Dorothy has eight children and
ten grandchildren.
She has worked for our Tribal
Government as a Realty Officer,
as a Tribal Court Chief Judge,
and Administrator. She has also
been a Translator and Editor for
our Iñupiaq History, Language
and History Commission. Dorothy,
along with others, has also
operated a cultural summer camp
through a contract with the Arctic
Slope Native Association at her
subsistence camp.
She loves to be with children and
family playing board games and
just having fun. She also attends
a church where she is active in
helping with ministry.
continued on page 7
5
Change in the Air at Bowhead
Holding Company
This summer is a season of
change for Bowhead Holding
Company (BHC) and its
subsidiaries. Establishment of
a new corporate headquarters
in Huntsville, Alabama will be
complete at the end of the
summer, but significant progress
has already been made. BHC
has new office space and
new personnel are providing
BHC with a fresh perspective
and positive outlook on the
future. This restructure and
relocation is already providing
significant improvements to
Bowhead Holding Company
subsidiaries in marketing and
business development support,
human resources, finance and
accounting, and purchasing.
The new team's impact has
already paid large dividends in
support of Gulf of Mexico spill
response operations. After the
relocation and restructure, the
staff team in Huntsville will have
grown to 24, with the opportunity
for further growth.
Huntsville is a strategic location
for BHC’s headquarters, offering
people and businesses many
opportunities for success.
Huntsville is home to several
government agencies and is
slated to receive more through
Base Realignment and Closure
activities. Huntsville offers
opportunities not only for BHC, but
for many other UIC subsidiaries as
well, allowing UIC to opportunity
to leverage the tremendous
portfolio of experience that BHC
has accumulated as a company.
Special Message Regarding Drug
and Alcohol Program continued from front page
policy that if applicants are
equally qualified, shareholder
preference will be used. However,
some very talented and skilled
shareholders have not passed
their drug tests, a critical part
of UIC’s pre-employment
screening process. UIC has a
long road ahead as we continue
to see some otherwise qualified
shareholders fail this preemployment test and lose out on
opportunities.
Safety is good business and
everyone’s responsibility. UIC
has identified some gaps in
community outreach efforts
regarding drugs and alcohol,
and has decided to take an
active role to ensure that potential
employees are employable at
any time and place. UIC was
founded by Iñupiaq people and
it exists for their wellbeing. UIC’s
drug and alcohol testing program
exist to help our employees and
shareholders. It is easy to be
influenced by external factors
in Alaska; however, our Iñupiat
values can guide us and sustain
our ability to meet oncoming
6
challenges and strike the right
balance between the two worlds
in which we live. UIC continues
to be genuinely concerned about
the wellbeing of our shareholder
neighbors in our community, even
as we are forced to make tough
decisions at times. UIC hopes
all interested shareholders have
an employment opportunity with
UIC, and more importantly, that
they maintain safe and healthy
lifestyles.
As a whaling captain talks to
the crew about the hazards of
hunting on unstable ice or in bad
conditions, so too does UIC alert
shareholders of potential hazards.
In addition to preventing incidents
from happening, whaling captains
help their crew members achieve
personal growth. Growth is also
essential for a productive worker.
UIC works to educate and remind
its community of their continual
responsibility to minimize the risks
to themselves and others. Just as
whaling crew members may one
day become captains, so too may
safe and healthy workers one day
emerge as leaders for UIC.
LCMF and
UMIAQ Join
Forces
Effective August 1, 2010,
UIC subsidiary UMIAQ has
merged with sister company
LCMF. The combination of the
companies’ professional services
business lines offers clients a
comprehensive package for
their architecture, engineering,
surveying, and consulting needs.
UMIAQ provides services to
clients across Alaska focusing
on the resource development
industries and rural community
development projects. LCMF
has been rebranded as UMIAQ
and the Anchorage offices of
both firms have been combined
at UIC’s 6700 Arctic Spur Road
location.
Richard Reich, P.E., has been
named General Manager of
UMIAQ and Amanda Henry will
serve as Operations Manager.
Steve Chronic, P.E., will oversee
the design division which
will consist of architecture,
engineering, and surveying and
Edith Vorderstrasse will manage
the consulting division which will
provide regulatory, community
relations, and GIS services.
“Combining our companies
expertise allows us to build upon
each other’s experience and offers
our clients expanded capabilities
for their professional services
needs,” says UMIAQ General
Manager Richard Reich.
Visit http://www.ukpik.com/umiaq.
htm to learn more.
Shareholder Awards
Outstanding Educator: Emily
Roseberry Emily was born and
raised in Barrow and is the 16th
child of Arnold and Emily Brower
Sr. She is married and has three
children. In all things, Emily
acknowledges the Lord and is
thankful for her accomplishments.
Emily graduated from Barrow
High School in 1984 as
valedictorian, and went on to
attend Oral Roberts University
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, completing
her bachelor’s degree in biology
in 1997. In 2000, Emily received
her teaching certificate from the
University of Alaska Fairbanks and
has been teaching in the North
Slope Borough School District
since 2001. Emily received the
Alaska Science and Engineering
Fair’s most outstanding science
teacher award in 2009.
In May, Emily received her
master’s degree in education and
plans to become a principal. Emily
is thankful for the support she has
received during her educational
endeavors from organizations
including UIC, ASRC, Native
Village of Barrow, City of Barrow,
Lion’s Club, and Rotary.
Cultural Bearer: Wesley Aiken
Wesley, also known as Ugiaqtaq,
was born on January 25, 1925.
He learned how to hunt from
his grandfather Anagi, and
grandmother, Iqilasuk. He is the
eldest son of Johnny Aviuganna
and Lucy Pamiilaq Aiken. He
married Anna Kayutak in
1947. Their children are Martha
Stackhouse, Larry Aiken, Ruth
Iqi Aiken and the late John
Michael Aiken. He has worked as
a trapper, hunter, and mechanic,
and when ASRC was formed,
continued from page 5
he became Land Chief until he
retired.
Wesley has been a part of
Commissioners for the Iñupiat
History, Language and Culture
for many years, and is an avid
supporter of Iñupiaq studies in
schools. He is often asked for
advice during whaling and to pray
to bless the food before serving
whale.
Outstanding Elder: Warren
Matumeak Warren was born in
Barrow on December 26, 1927
to Paul and Beulah Matumeak.
Warren married Martha Gordon
in the summer of 1959. Warren
later married his second wife, also
named Martha. Warren has six
children, seven grandchildren,
and five great-grandchildren.
Warren worked for the NSB as a
Land Management Administrator,
and also served in the Alaska
Territorial Guard. Warren was
also a UIC board member, City of
Barrow council member, original
Arctic Slope Native Association
board member, member of the
Presbyterian Church of Trustees
and the church choir director for
over 50 years.
Warren enjoys teaching hunting
to his children and grandchildren.
Warren sees that the younger
generations are challenged with
balancing their traditions with
today’s society, and encourages
all elders to reach out to the
younger generation.
Shareholder of the Year: Clifford
S. Okpeaha A lifelong resident
of Barrow, Clifford has been with
Barrow Volunteer Search and
Rescue for 24 years. He is heavily
involved in the preparation of
searches for community members.
He also assists the NSB
Search and Rescue on outlying
community search missions as a
support base.
Clifford is a well-known
Barrow Whaling Captain and a
renowned subsistence hunter.
Clifford is also musically gifted
and volunteers his talents at
the church for services and
community “singspirations.” He
is also mechanically inclined and
is called on for assistance with
vehicles, snowmachines, and
outboard motors.
UIC Employee of the Year:
Fredricka Elavgak Fredericka
has worked for UIC for more
than 20 years, with 18 of those
years spent in Human Resources. Fredericka started working at UIC
as a receptionist in 1988. She
was promoted to a Personnel
Office Clerk in 1991, Benefits
Assistant in 1993, Personnel
Director in 1993, and lastly
as Benefits Administrator in
September 1995, the position she
currently holds. Fredricka administers UIC
Parent’s Health and Life Employee
benefits plans, oversees the 40l(k)
Employee Retirement Plan, assists
with the annual audit, reviews
and finalizes monthly health and
life insurance report billings, and
provides new hire orientation.
UIC is appreciative of her
commitment and loyalty to her
responsibilities in the Human
Resources Benefits Department.
Congratulations to all of this year's
shareholder award winners!
Employee of the Quarter William Leavitt
William at the Capitol during an internship
with the American Indian Science and
Engineering Society
UIC is pleased to recognize
William David Nauriaq Leavitt
as the employee of the quarter.
William started working for UIC
as a cashier in March 2009 and
was then promoted to Accounting
Technician II. In his position, he is
responsible for depositing checks
for the company and creating
and maintaining purchase orders. William has an associate's degree
in office administration from
Ilisagvik College. He also has his
Account Technician II certification.
Congratulations, William, on a job
well done!
7
FIRST CLASS PRSRT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ANCHORAGE, AK
PERMIT #69
P.O. Box 890
Barrow, AK 99723
Attention UIC Shareholders:
Do you have a change of address? Want your dividend direct deposited? Want to give part of your stock to your children or grandchildren?
Forms for these items can be found on the UIC website at: www.ukpik.com/stockforms.htm
BST Award
continued from front page
and may be able to apply the courses as recertification or post-secondary education credits.
“We are proud to present the award to Bowhead for their innovative workforce practices which we feel
represent the transformation we see taking place within Harford and Cecil Counties,” said Bruce
England, SWN Executive Director of Communications. “Each year we select one company from
both Cecil and Harford Counties to receive this award. Bowhead was selected for Harford
County because it exemplified the workforce initiatives we look for in a company.”
The SWN is a non-profit corporation that oversees, coordinates, or plans workforce
development programs and services for businesses and individuals.
UIC Foundation Scholarship Application Deadlines
Dec 1 – Winter Term/Spring Semester
Mar 1 – Spring Term
May 1 – Summer Term
Aug 1 – Fall Term/Semester
Applications available online at www.ukpik.com. Follow
link to “Shareholder Services” then to “Other Services”.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please
call 907-852-4460 with questions (UIC shareholders
may call collect if they need to change their personal
information) or email [email protected].
To qualify for scholarship renewal, students must
maintain a 2.0 GPA. Current grade report must
accompany all renewal applications. In 2009,
$217,174 was distributed in scholarships.
Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Values
Respect For Elders
Respect For Others
Respect For Nature
Hunting Traditions
Compassion
Humility
Sharing
Cooperation
Hard Work
Resolution of Conflict
Spirituality
Humor
Family and Kinship
Responsibility To Tribe
Knowledge Of Language
Nasirvik Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation Shareholder Newsletter
P.O. Box 890, Barrow, AK 99723 P: 907.852.4460 3201 C Street, Suite 801, Anchorage, AK 99503 P: 907.677.5200
Comments or article suggestions can be emailed to: [email protected]