LACAYAH ENGEBRETSON: LOVE, NOT GREED

WINTER 2015
LACAYAH ENGEBRETSON: LOVE, NOT GREED,
BELONGS IN THE SMOKEHOUSE P.10
‘GO-GETTER ATTITUDE’ DRIVES YOUTH
OF YEAR P. 13
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Winter 2015
TABLE OF
3
5
6
7
8
12
14
14
CONTENTS
10
13
Lacayah
Engebretson:
Love, not
greed,
belongs in
smokehouse
Ahtna youth
of the year:
John Ewan
7
9
12
18
Series explores
missed
promises,
future of
ANCSA
Construction
at cloud level
Johns
receives
visionary
award
Maintaining
cultural values
important goal
for Dementi
President's message
CEO’s message
AES designs ballistics office
Ahtna prepares to drill gas well
Subsidiary spotlight
Rebne speaks at Youth and Elders Conference
AFN reception
Caitlin Kroener earns master’s degree
14
14
15
15
16
19
19
Bruce Cain gets involved in the community
Condolences
AHF scholarship highlight
Changes to board nomination procedures
Financial update
Shareholder-owner services update
Calendar of events
Ahtna, Inc. and Ahtna Netiye’ senior management team
Michelle Anderson
Tom Maloney
Roy J. Tansy Jr.
Kathryn Martin
William M. Tisher
Joe Bovee
Douglas Miller
Matt Block
President, AI
CEO, AN
Executive VP, AN
Senior VP, AI
CFO, AI
VP of Land and
VP of Human
General Counsel
Resources, AI
Resources, AI
Ahtna Subsidiary Presidents
Craig O’Rourke
Brenda Rebne
Vicky Dunlap
Susan Taylor
Tim Finnigan
David O’Donnell
President, AGSC & ADB
President, AFSI & APSI
President, ASTS
President, KEC,
President, AES & AEI
President, AC & PPC
AKHI & ATSI
If shareholder-owners would like to submit articles for
For questions or more information about the Kanas,
the next issue of the Kanas, the submission deadline is
please contact the Media and Communications office:
February 2, 2016.
Shannon Blue at (907) 230-7098 or [email protected]
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Winter 2015
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
YOUNG SHAREHOLDER-OWNERS SET POSITIVE EXAMPLE
Dear fellow shareholder-owners,
The past quarter has been an emotional one as we have
found reason for great celebration but also taken time to
mourn losses and pay our respects.
Our beloved Katie John’s memory was honored at both the
Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention and Elders
and Youth Conferences. Her family was presented with a
plaque celebrating her lifetime of achievements, including
her success in fighting for indigenous subsistence rights.
There was much to be proud of during the events, such
as the inspiring keynote speech that Lacayah Engebretson
gave − it included a touching poem about what being
Alaska Native means to her. The Kluti-Kaah Dancers, a
talented young group from the Ahtna region, kicked off
the last day of AFN, followed by Samuel Johns opening
the day’s sessions speaking about his “Forget Me Not”
Facebook group, which was featured in the fall issue of
the Kanas. These young shareholder-owners are setting a
positive example for our future leaders and their speeches
and performances were met with standing ovations from
the crowd of thousands.
Grant Rebne, shareholder-owner and Project Designer
for Ahtna Engineering Services, facilitated two Ahtna
Athabascan language sessions, and we appreciate that
he used his free time to share our Native language with
a new generation. You can feel his passion when he talks
about the importance of keeping our language alive: “...
[our language] enriches our lives, allows people to have a
different perspective, a self-identity.”
Ahtna had high visibility at the event − we were able
to share some new company materials with the many
attendees who stopped by and visited with us at our
booth. We also enjoyed catching up with many of our
shareholder-owners at the reception we hosted at our
Anchorage office. We want you to feel at home in your
Continued on page 4
KLUTI-KAAH DANCERS PERFORMING AT AFN
3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
-
Continued from page 3
company’s offices and we welcome opportunities to open
the doors and share what’s going on within your company.
We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that struck on
the last day of AFN, with a man losing his life in what
appears to have been a suicide. Depression, alcohol and
Young and also met with Governor Walker and Lt.
Governor Mallott. We are deeply thankful for Governor
Walker taking the time to sit down with us before the
special session and it seems like he has submitted a work
paper for comment from state representatives that outlines
HELP RESOURCES
Seeking help is one of the first, but sometimes hardest, steps on the road to recovery. Below is a list
of national and local resources:
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Alaska Careline Suicide Prevention:
www.carelinealaska.com
• Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions (serving
the Cantwell area): www.railbelt.org
• Copper River Native Association
Behavioral Health Department:
www.crnative.org/departments/behavioral-health
substance abuse, domestic violence − these are all related
topics that were discussed at the conference, but are not
easy to talk about and are even harder to address. These
are not issues that face just Alaskans or Native people,
but they have become an epidemic in Alaska, with alcohol
consumption per capita being twice the national average,
a suicide rate that is twice the national average and
almost 75 percent of Alaskans experiencing or knowing
someone who has experienced domestic violence or
sexual assault. We can’t ignore the struggles that plague
our communities and it will take a united effort to turn
things around.
I know these are heavy topics, but there is nothing more
important than working to have healthy communities
and families.
Ahtna has once again made the Alaska Business Monthly’s
list of Top 49 Alaska businesses. Many thanks to everyone
who helped to get us to #18! Alaska Business Monthly’s
2015 Top 49ers included 20 Alaska Native corporations
reporting 74 percent of the gross revenue and providing
85 percent of the total jobs and employees — 69 percent
in Alaska.
We continue to make positive progress with our wildlife
co-management legislation efforts. Since we last reported,
we have had a follow-up meeting with Congressman
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Winter 2015
• Substance Abuse & Mental
Health Services Administration:
www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
• State of Alaska Substance Abuse Prevention
Program: www.dhss.alaska.gov/dbh/Pages/
Prevention/programs/substanceabuse/default.aspx
• National Domestic Violence Hotline:
www.thehotline.org
• State of Alaska Council on Domestic Violence
& Sexual Assault: www.dps.alaska.gov/cdvsa
the proposed legislation. I also had the opportunity to
present the topic while serving on an Alaska Department
of Fish and Game panel at the NCAI/AFN Tribal Summit.
We have just wrapped up the 2016 budget and business
planning process, which has been an eye-opening and
positive process. Our finance and accounting team
has worked collaboratively with leadership across the
company to create transparent and realistic forecasts, but
also to make sure we have stretch goals so that we are
always working to do our best.
With Thanksgiving behind us, and Christmas and New
Year’s right around the corner, I want to wish you all very
happy holidays and hope that you create many cherished
memories with those you love.
Tsin’aen,
Michelle Anderson, President
Ahtna, Incorporated
CEO’S MESSAGE
AHTNA COMPANIES WIN NEW CONTRACTS
Dear shareholder-owners,
I would like to extend a
heartfelt thank you for the warm
reception I have received from fellow staff, shareholderowners and customers since beginning as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Ahtna Netiye’. I am especially
appreciative of the cultural awareness training that my
wife Susan and I were able to take part in during our
first visit to the Glennallen corporate office. We found the
training to be very meaningful and were reminded just
how breathtaking the drive is through the Ahtna region
and along the Copper River Basin.
New contracts
While most of Ahtna’s revenues come from existing
customers, I couldn’t be prouder of the great work the
Ahtna team is doing to actively seek out new prospects.
We have recently been awarded a number of large new
contracts, many of which will help to create jobs and
provide an economic boost right here in Alaska.
I have been especially impressed with Ahtna Facility
Services Inc.’s (AFSI) rapid mobilization of the Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson janitorial contract. The project
included a few shareholder-owner temporary hires to
paint the warehouse and one full-time shareholder-owner
on the project itself. AFSI continues to recruit and is
hoping to increase its project-based shareholder-owner
personnel in the future. The team continues to work
hard to bring the contract facilities up to a standard
of excellence, an effort that has not gone unnoticed by
the customer, whose staff has provided praise for the
superior work completed thus far.
Ahtna Engineering Services (AES) was recently awarded
two contracts in Alaska totaling nearly $9 million. AES
will be working with the Alaska District U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to excavate, remove and dispose of more
than 5,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soils at the Port
Heiden White Alice Radio Relay Station, as well as
making environmental and structural upgrades to U.S.
Coast Guard (USCG) family housing in Cordova.
The AEI team was awarded another USCG contract
for the Kodiak Site 3 Pilot Study, which combines
environmental and construction service tasks to be
completed over the next year. The $3.3 million contract
will be the first project in Alaska to use a large-diameter
(48-inch) auger to remove contaminated soil and replace
it with reactive backfill designed to remediate chlorinated
organics present in the groundwater. In addition, AEI
was also awarded a $9.5 million National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contract to perform
environmental remediation at locations across the
country, including Alaska and Hawaii.
The YouTube video of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Bogard Road Extension ribbon-cutting ceremony, which
includes interviews and project images, can be viewed
at: youtu.be/iJgT96q_e_M
Potential acquisition
Alaska Business Monthly VP of Sales Charles Bell, right, presents the #18
Top 49er plaque to Ahtna Netiye’ Executive VP Roy Tansy Jr.
A strong backlog is critical to our future prosperity, and
we have been successful this quarter in securing many
new, out-of-state contracts. We are also exploring
acquisition opportunities that will help to increase
shareholder-owner value, including one in the MatSu Borough that will diversify our revenue base and
strengthen our operations. We cannot report more
details until the agreement has been finalized, but the
acquisition will put us in a prime position to be a major
player in the road development taking place in the MatSu Borough. Just one example is Ahtna Construction and
Primary Products Corporation’s (AC&PPC) work on the
Bogard Road extension, which will be completed in 2016
and will provide an additional east-west traffic corridor
in the Valley.
Continued on page 6
5
CEO’S MESSAGE
Award recognition
I would like to extend my congratulations to Ahtna
Government Services (AGSC) for being a part of the
former Naval Air Station Alameda (California) project
team, which was recognized for the Chief of Naval
Operations Environmental Restoration Award. The
award recognizes efforts to protect human health and
the environment by cleaning up identified sites in a
timely, cost-efficient and responsive manner. Only
through creative problem solving and utilization of
innovative techniques were the technically challenging
environmental projects completed on schedule and
within budget.
Resource development
As we look to diversify our operations and revenue
streams, resource development is a major focus of our
efforts. We had the pleasure of exhibiting at the Resource
Development Council Conference in Anchorage and
appreciated the opportunity to connect with colleagues
and share some of our recently updated and industryfocused marketing materials.
We have had some outstanding meetings with the
Alaska LNG owner team, and its senior leadership
took the time to speak at the Joint Successor Village
Continued from page 5
Organization (SVO) meeting in early October. With 33
miles of potential pipeline access, Ahtna is the largest
private landowner that this project would affect. As the
project gains traction, we are positioned to build on
the tremendous job that Ahtna has done with the TransAlaska Pipeline System over the past 40 years.
Another resource development prospect on our horizon
is the Tolsona gas field, which will not only create new
shareholder-owner career opportunities but also has
the potential to help to reduce the high energy costs in
the region. The local Ahtna headquarters office will be
a tremendous asset to us in executing this challenging
drilling program.
As we close out the year, I look forward to working to
grow revenues in 2016 and creating shareholder-owner
value wherever possible.
Thank you,
Tom Maloney,
Chief Executive Officer
Ahtna Netiye’
IRVINE TEAM DESIGNS PROTOTYPE BALLISTICS OFFICE SYSTEMS FOR FAA
Ahtna Engineering Services received a $228,500 task
order from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in
April to design and install a ballistic-partition-office-wall
system to protect FAA personnel at the Long Beach Flight
Standards District Office.
The ballistic walls were a prototype that will be used in
other FAA offices nationwide.
Highlights of the survey comments:
“I just want to say that it was a pleasure working with
Ahtna; very professional and I appreciate that. Everyone
loves the finished product! … Good job, Ahtna,”
commented Margaret Williams.
The FAA anticipates rolling out ballistic-protection systems
at all of its public-facing offices throughout North America.
“Ahtna is the first contractor I’ve worked with that
was that intense about safety.” − Lorraine Ea
Project Engineer Bonnie Mathews led a six-month design
and fabrication process that was followed by four intense
days of demolition, installation and finish work that had to
occur during hours the offices were closed.
In a recent client satisfaction survey, the client’s staff
rated our performance as exceptional in every category.
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Winter 2015
This could potentially lead to 155 office installations
nationwide over the next several years, depending upon
funding. Our Ahtna Irvine team was very pleased to have
been selected to design and install the first prototype.
DRILLING TO BEGIN IN MARCH FOR GAS PROJECT
Two years after Ahtna received a state exploration
license covering 43,492 acres of state-owned lands 10
miles west of Glennallen, drilling is scheduled to begin
in early March. The next steps in the Tolsona natural
gas project involve constructing an access road and
drill pad this December-January, mobilization of a drill
rig in February and drilling a new well to a depth of
approximately 5,000 feet in March.
While interest in developing the Tolsona Region’s
hydrocarbons dates back to the 1950s, it was last year
that seismic exploration identified a distinct oil-and-gas
structure 1 mile north of the Glenn Highway, at milepost
175. The Ahtna Board of Directors voted to pursue
drilling a gas well there after reviewing various tax
credits, partnering opportunities and financing options.
The goal is to create jobs and develop natural resources
within the region.
The Tolsona Oil and Gas Project has since obtained
various environmental and civil construction permits,
completed preliminary engineering on a well design and
pre-qualified for New Frontier Basin Oil and Gas Tax
Credits through the State of Alaska.
Some 50-75 workers will be needed for the next
phases of the project. For a list of available positions,
contact Mercedes Starr Knighten at (907) 822-3476 or
[email protected].
Historical timeline of O&G in region
Pan American
Seismic
Petroleum drills
exploration Moose Creek
No. 1
Amoco drills
Amoco No. 1
Anschutz
Expoloration Corp.
obtains lease for
state acreage
Rutter Corp.
drills Ahtna 1-19
2003
2001
1950s
1960s
1980s
Ahtna
reanalyzes 100
miles of Amoco
seismic data
2008
2005
Rutter Corp.
obtains Anschutz
working interest
and signs lease
with Ahtna
2010
Rutter re-enters
Ahtna 1-19 (now
1-19A)
AHTNA LAND CLAIMS DATE BACK TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION
In 1943, Gulkana Village Elders were roused one day by
men pounding on cabin doors. Residents were surprised
and young children frightened by the strangers and loud
clanking of bulldozers as they were ordered to vacate their
homes to allow construction for the re-alignment of Eagle
Trail − commonly known today as the Richardson Highway.
Some of their homes were destroyed, and the residents of
houses that weren’t demolished found their village bisected
by a new road to provide better service for the World War
II effort.
On July 26, 1951, Chitina Village Elder, John Billum Sr.
posted a certified letter to the Indian Claims Commission
for traditional Ahtna land claims, Docket No. 187, in
which he claimed 30 million acres for his (Ahtna) people.
The lands stretched from Cantwell to the Canadian border,
Wrangell Mountain to Kennicott, southwest to Chugach
Mountain, and to MP 75 on the Richardson Highway.
The letter was witnessed by his daughter Maggie Billum
Eskilida and his granddaughter Lucille V. Goodlataw.
Both of these events, and others, launched Ahtna’s
aboriginal land claims that became part of the 1971
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA) and led to
the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
This is the first of a four-part series on ANSCA. The
coverage will continue in 2016 and will provide Kanas
readers with historical information on how ANCSA came
to be, the Ahtna leaders who played major roles as it
evolved, the missed promises and what the future of
ANCSA holds for Alaska Natives.
This photo of Gulkana was taken in 1944, one year after the village
was bisected by the re-alignment of the Richardson Highway.
7
SUBSIDIARY SPOTLIGHT
AHTNA ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. (AEI)
STAR AWARDS
Recent winners:
Three workers at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
in South Carolina received STAR awards for their
exemplary efforts.
Ahtna
Environmental Inc.
Craig Lynch, HVAC mechanic, was
recognized with a Level 3 STAR award
for setting a good safety example.
Craig is a new employee who does not
hesitate to speak up, ask questions and
provide positive input.
Ahtna Environmental Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Ahtna, has had a tremendous 2015, bringing in more
than $120 million in new contract awards. AEI offers a
wide variety of construction and environmental mitigation,
planning and restoration services, as well as remote
logistical planning and support.
An 8(a) corporation founded in 2011, AEI received its first
contract award in May 2011. Since then, the company has
exceeded all expectations in growth and performance.
David Wilda, a boiler mechanic,
and Wayne Grabenbauer, a
plumber, received Level 2 STAR awards
for consistently taking the time to
write Near-Miss Reports and initiate
corrective action.
AEI is dedicated to, “…delivering safe and sustainable
solutions for our clients, our land and our people.”
TIMELINE OF SUCCESS:
AHTNA ENVIRONMENTAL INC.
Received first MMRP
project at former FOB
Galena and first contract
with USACE Omaha
District: 2013
First contract award:
May 2011
11
11
Founded: 2011
12
First 8(a) contract
award: June 2012
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
MMRP – Military Munitions Response Program
FOB – Forward Operating Base
USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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Winter 2015
13
AEI launches
new website:
September 2015
15
AEI project
featured in national
publication of
Society of American
Military Engineers:
Summer 2015
15
Over $120M in new
contract awards in
FY 2015
15
EPA Corvallis $70M
construction IDIQ
awarded: September
2015
EPA – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
IDIQ – Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity
15
KUIU ISLAND PROJECT FEATURED IN
NATIONWIDE MAGAZINE
By Karina Quintans,
Marketing and Communications, AES/AEI
AES/AEI is pleased to announce that our work has
again been featured in The Society for American Military
Engineer’s nationwide magazine, The Military Engineer.
The article, titled “Construction at Cloud Level: Building
a Radio Communications Facility in Alaska”, discusses
the complex planning and execution of the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Self-Sustained Outlet Radio
Communications Facility Replacement project on Kuiu
Island, Alaska.
The project is so compelling both technically and visually
that it merited placement on the magazine’s cover. Kuiu
Island is the third such project Ahtna Environmental has
completed for the FAA as a subcontractor to Parsons. Our
first was completed in 2011, when we introduced our
innovative approach to the facility’s structural foundation,
an approach so successful that the FAA mandated its use
on all FAA “high sites.” Last year, our performance on the
Kuiu Island project was recognized by the Associated
General Contractors of Alaska with the “Excellence in
Construction” award.
Article excerpt:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains
hundreds of facilities designed to ensure the safety of
aircraft in flight. These include Self-Sustained Outlet (SSO)
radio communications facilities, which in Alaska are often
located on remote, unadorned mountain ridges referred to
as “high sites.”
In summer 2014, Ahtna Environmental, under subcontract
to Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group, supported
the highly complex construction of an FAA SSO atop
a 3,400-ft high mountain ridge on Kuiu Island, which
is located in the Tebenkof Bay Wilderness Area of The
Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska.
The project scope of work included:
• Removal of the existing building and aluminum
helicopter pad.
• Site preparation including the clearing of vegetation
or small boulders, and minor site grading and/or leveling.
• Excavation and installation of four concrete disc
foundations to support the equipment building; four
concrete disc foundations for the guy wire anchors;
eight concrete disc foundations to support the solar
panel array; and nine concrete disc foundations to
support the helicopter pad.
• Installation of prefabricated nominal 6-ft/3-in by 8-ft
by 16-in equipment building including deck, railing
and stairs; trenching and installation of a 4/0
grounding loop (earth electrode system); assistance
during the installation, leveling and plumbing of a
solar panel array; and fabrication and assembly of a
new helicopter pad.
• Installation of conduits, conduit bodies, connections
and cribbing from the equipment building to the solar
panel array.
To read the full article, please visit this link:
www.themilitaryengineer.com/index.php/tme-articles/
tme-magazine-online/item/521-construction-at-cloud-level
A feature article on this topic was published in the
Nov-Dec 2015 issue of The Military Engineer, Vol 107,
Issue #698.
9
The First Alaskans Institute and Alaska Federation of
Natives stakeholders from across Alaska selected 18-yearold Ahtna shareholder-owner Lacayah Engebretson to
give the keynote address at the 2015 Elders and Youth
Conference. Engebretson was chosen because her
message most closely represented this year’s theme “Not in
Our Smokehouse!” which village youth picked to represent
the protection and love we feel for the “Alaska Native
Ways of Life.”
Engebretson is the daughter of Liana Charley and
Greg Engebretson. She has lived in Chistochina,
Tazlina and Kake and presently is a college
freshman at the University of Alaska Anchorage,
working toward a degree in education. Engebretson
told First Alaskans Institute she wanted to “give
Alaska Native students a teacher that looks like
them, learns like them and understands what they
are going through, not just from an education
perspective, but from a personal one as well.”
This story, by Tegan Hanlon, appeared in the Oct. 12
edition of Alaska Dispatch News.
Lacayah Engebretson asked everyone to close their eyes
and imagine themselves at age 6 or 7 on a midsummer
day at fish camp.
“You can feel the sun on your back and the wind kind of
breeze in your hair,” said Engebretson, who graduated
from Glennallen High School this spring and spoke
as the keynote speaker at the 2015 Elders’ and Youth
Conference. “The rivers flowing from one bank literally
through your heart and back to the bank.”
Those days represented a simpler time, when Engebretson
said she didn’t know what words like “rape” and
“alcoholism” meant. She didn’t know that the word “drugs”
referred to a variety of substances. She thought the biggest
social injustice was that people weren’t kind to each other,
she said.
But as Engebretson aged, she said, she got closer to reality.
“We live in a time that is full of tragedy and hurt and
negativity and abuse and addiction and just all of this
negative stuff,” said Engebretson. “And some days, the
fact that I can’t think about the world in the simple-smile
10
Winter 2015
kind of way, it’s a little bit overwhelming. But on those
days, I pull out my fish camp hoodie.”
Everyone has that fish camp hoodie, she said. It’s kind of
big, the sleeves are kind of long and it is marked by some
stains, but it smells like smoke. When she puts it on, it
takes her to the river, to the feeling of sore bones and hard
work. It takes her to the fish camp
and to the smokehouse, where some
things just don’t belong.
Engebretson, an Ahtna Athabascan, Yup’ik and Tlingit,
encouraged the younger members of the crowd to carry
on traditions, but not hesitate to update them and make
them their own. Her family’s smokehouse has a mosquito
net, she said, but she doubts the one belonging to her
ancestors did.
“There wasn’t disrespect in our
smokehouse,” Engebretson said.
“There’s no unkindness in our
smokehouse. Greed is not in our
smokehouse. Addiction is not in our
smokehouse. Domestic violence is not
in our smokehouse. Sexual assault is
not in our smokehouse. Negativity is
not in our smokehouse.”
What does belong in the smokehouse
is love, she said.
“Love is Native,” she said. “I will
always run to that.”
11
SAMUEL JOHNS RECEIVES 2015 VISIONARY AWARD
Samuel Johns, an Ahtna shareholderowner originally from Copper Center,
received the Alaska Native Heritage
Month Inc.’s 2015 Visionary Award.
The award is given annually to those
who “are perpetuating and preserving
culture in unique and innovative
ways through artistic and visionary
ventures.” This type of an award
showcases individuals that perpetuate
culture in a unique way that is
enticing to the younger generation.
They are people who are making their
traditions relevant in today’s everchanging, technological age.
Samuel Johns, Fiance’ Maribel, daughter Aaliyah and newborn
baby Brooklyn pose for a family photo.
Johns continues to find ways to use
culture to engage Alaska Native
youths and people at risk. In addition
to being an up-and-coming rapper
with songs tackling some of the most
difficult challenges facing today’s
youth – domestic abuse, drug and
alcohol abuse, and a feeling of
disconnection and hopelessness
– Johns is a noted public speaker
and founder of a group that reunites
homeless people with their families.
Johns started the Forget Me Not
group in 2014, which uses Facebook
to connect homeless people with
families and friends looking for
them. Since then, the group has
garnered thousands of supporters
and received national attention with
other communities looking to copy
its success. Johns also frequently
performs traditional Alaska Native
dances and drum songs with clients
of Anchorage’s largest soup kitchen,
Beans Café.
Johns has spoken to dozens of high
schools, groups and gatherings
across the state.
Johns’ mantra? “What’s stopping you
from making a difference? The answer
is: NOTHING.”
SPEAKING AHTNA: 'WE CAN' BECOMES 'I WILL'
Grant Rebne took his passion for language preservation to
this year’s Youth and Elders Conference, where he found
great enthusiasm along with significant hurdles.
language), and students
are too busy with school,”
read one.
Twenty-five teachers and learners attended what was
supposed to be a 90-minute workshop that went on for 3
1/2 hours. “We had an open dialogue and discovered
we all faced the same issues,” Rebne said. The goal of
the workshop was to create a supportive environment
for Native language teachers and learners to discuss
challenges that everyone faces. “Being able to share how
we overcome these issues could enable the group’s success
in their personal language efforts.”
Others were more
proactive:
For the Ahtna Language Circle, Rebne developed several
games that enabled participants to practice their language
skills and have fun learning Ahtna words.
“There was a lot of interaction with Elders who want to
teach Ahtna to a new generation,” Rebne said.
Rebne put up posters to identify the reasons more young
people don’t speak Ahtna, why Ahtna is not being taught
and ways to encourage youth. Time was a major issue
for the participants. “Elders not teaching it (the Ahtna
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Winter 2015
• We can learn more
Ahtna every day.
• We can practice
speaking Ahtna every day.
• We can teach each other more Ahtna every day.
• We can talk to each other in Ahtna every day.
• We will speak more Ahtna.
By the end of the session, the “we can” became “I will.”
Rebne is already planning for next year’s conference in
Fairbanks
AHTNA YOUTH
OF THE YEAR:
JOHN EWAN
John Ewan, a 14-year-old freshman
at Glennallen High School, was
selected as Ahtna’s Youth of the Year
for 2015. John is the son of John Dye
and Eileen Ewan and the grandson
of the late Markle F. Ewan Jr. and
Margie Ewan of Anchorage.
John, who looks forward to playing
for the Glennallen High School
basketball team this year, said he
loves to lift weights and can bench
press 125 pounds. But sports provide
more for the young man, than just an
athletic release.
“He is very active in sports,” mother
Eileen said. “I think it teaches him
initiative and to have a go-getter
attitude. That puts him in a good
position to advocate for other kids to
get involved.”
Off the court, Ewan loves to hunt. His
favorite targets are moose, caribou
and ptarmigan.
John bagged his first moose on a
cold snowy day on January 4, 2014.
On the day First Traditional Chief Ben
Neeley passed away, John was at
his Grandpa Larry’s property when
he went looking for a shovel to dig
through the snow. Instead of a shovel,
Ewan discovered a moose. One shot
from his 30-06 (which is always on
the back of his snow machine) and
Ewan had downed his first moose.
The animal was shared with the
entire region at Chief Neeley’s
funeral potlatch.
Hunters typically have to travel far
from their homes to find an animal
when a loved one passes, but this
moose seemed to give itself to the
young hunter. Other moose were
spotted near the village as well.
John’s mom isn’t sure it is
a coincidence.
“Ben was a spiritual man, and a man
of God,” Eileen said. “I think things
went that way because of him.”
John said he is thinking about going
to college to become an engineer
and is working to enroll in the Alaska
Native Science and Engineering
Program. He is also a member of
the Ahtna Dance Group and has
performed in Juneau, Glennallen
and Anchorage.
13
SHAREHOLDER-OWNER SPOTLIGHT
AHTNA WELCOMES SHAREHOLDER-OWNERS TO ANCHORAGE HEADQUARTERS
Robyn George, left, and Elmer Tyone
Pictured left to right: Susie Martin, Ruth Eskilida, Kathryn Martin
and Shanna Pete chat as they stand in line for hors d’oeuvres.
CONDOLENCES
In loving memory of our
shareholder-owners who
have passed
James L. Barnes
Monson Nicklie Sr.
Mary Craig
14
Winter 2015
Edna Charley, left, and Grant Rebne
Laura Hobson, left, and Lorraine Jackson are all smiles at the 2015 AFN reception
CONGRATULATIONS,
CAITLIN KROENER
Cailtin Kroener is the daughter of Cheryl and
Marvin Kroener, and the granddaughter of
Evelyn and Houston Monroe, and Hilda and
Herman Kroner. In September of this year,
Caitlin graduated with a Master of Education
degree, specializing in Montessori education,
through a distance program at Loyola
University of Maryland. Great Job, Caitlin!
GET INVOLVED
In a continuing effort to be a focal point in our
local communities, Ahtna encourages staff to
become involved in civic organizations. Bruce
Cain, Ahtna Special Projects Manager, has
served as Treasurer for the Greater Copper
Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC) for
two years. Bruce was recently selected by
chamber members to be President for a threeyear term. During his acceptance speech,
Bruce graciously accepted the position “as
long as no one [tells my wife I am] going to
take on more responsibilities.” Ahtna thanks
Bruce for his selfless acts in promoting the
local economy and the Ahtna people.
SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
WANTS TO HELP OTHERS
Lisa M. McConkey, a
sophomore pursuing an
associate’s degree in child
education at Gateway
Community and Technical
College in Elsmere, Kentucky,
is the 2015 recipient of the
$5,000 Ahtna Competitive
Scholarship.
Lisa grew up in Kluti-Kaah
(Copper Center) and graduated from Glennallen High
School. Her parents are Irving Jackson and Kimberly
McConkey, and her maternal grandparents are Marie
and Albert Craig Sr.
After the birth of her own daughter, Lisa said she
realized that she needed to focus on growing her life
and helping others in her home village.
“For so long, I wanted to know my purpose,” she
said. “Leaving home has been hard and a huge
struggle, but extremely worth it. I realized we don’t
have a proper, reliable daycare in the Copper Valley
community, so I would like to finish my degree and
return home to open one.”
The Ahtna Heritage Foundation was created to assist
Ahtna shareholder-owners in meeting their educational
goals. The foundation awarded 81 scholarships in
2015, for a total amount of $149,500. There are four
types of scholarship awarded:
• Walter Charley Memorial Scholarship,
which is generously supported by a substantial
contribution from Ahtna Inc. and funds both
undergraduate and graduate studies
• Duel Credit Scholarship for high school
students taking college courses
• Summer Scholarship for students taking
summer courses
• Competitive Scholarship for one highachieving student.
Call the Ahtna Heritage Foundation office at
(907) 822-5778, or visit the website at
www.ahtnaheritagefoundation.com for more details.
BOARD MODIFIES ELECTION RULES
You may remember seeing a biographical sketch with
information about each Board candidate in the proxy
materials that are sent out before each annual meeting
of the shareholder-owners. The Board of Directors has
adopted some changes to Section 3.17 of the Annual
Shareholder Meeting Rules of Election and Section 3.3
of Ahtna’s bylaws to help shareholder-owners get more
complete and accurate information on candidates before
the election.
Ahtna makes certain filings with the State of Alaska
every year, including information about each of the
candidates for director positions. The corporation
prints this information in the proxy materials so voting
shareholder-owners have the best information possible in
deciding who should direct their company. To collect that
information, Ahtna sends a candidate questionnaire to
every nominee. In the past, a nominee had no clear way
to accept (or decline) the nomination. In addition, the
questionnaire was not always completed.
With the changes to the rules and bylaws, this will no
longer happen. Ahtna will send out questionnaires, as
it has always done, to every nominee. Any nominee
who would like to accept the nomination and stand for
election will let Ahtna know by returning a completed
candidate questionnaire on time. If a questionnaire is
not returned or is not completed by the deadline, the
candidate will not be included on the general ballot or
proxy materials.
This year, nominations will open on Jan. 1, 2016
and close on Feb. 29, 2016. Ahtna will send out the
candidate questionnaires as soon as it can after the close
of nominations. The questionnaires must be completed
and received by Ahtna by March 4, 2016.
The Board also changed the bylaws to limit who can run
for a director seat. Now, the President of Ahtna, CEO
of Ahtna Netiye’ and presidents and managers of any
subsidiary in which Ahtna owns 50 percent or more must
wait at least a year after leaving that position before they
can be an Ahtna Director. The Board expects the effect
of this simple change will be significant. Although Ahtna
has been blessed to avoid the situation, having a former
executive on the Board can lead to conflict with the new
management or with those Directors who were serving
while the executive was managing.
The Board is confident that these changes will improve
the management and direction of Ahtna and deliver
added value to you.
15
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Consolidated Balance Sheet
The Consolidated Balance Sheet shows economic resources that we own (assets), what we owe (liabilities) and the
stockholders’ ownership in the business (stockholders’ equity). The Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects a snapshot
picture of our business at any given time.
Consolidated Statement of Operation
This statement shows our sales, expenses and profit from operations. It is a reflection of our business activity and gives
an overview of how we are doing financially during a certain period of time.
AHTNA, INCORPORATED, AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited)
For the Period Ending September 30, 2015 and 2014
Revenues
Cost of revenues 1
$
Grossprofit 2
Operating expenses
3
Income from operations
Other income (expense):
Investment income
Interest expense
Gain from sale of property and equipment
Social, cultural and educational programs
Other
Total other income (expense)
Income before income taxes
Income taxes expense
Net income 4
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income attributable to Ahtna, Incorporated
Earnings per share
$
2015
2014
137,710,508
114,631,973
146,348,336
123,596,578
23,078,535
22,751,758
17,680,087
17,552,848
5,398,448
5,198,910
297,740
(178,467)
844,839
(560,015)
175,697
264,213
(106,960)
31,460
(774,833)
192,779
579,794
(393,341)
5,978,242
4,805,569
(2,304,420)
(2,039,469)
3,673,822
2,766,100
(14,988)
(70,032)
3,658,834
2,696,068
15.65
11.53
Cost of Revenue – Costs incurred in providing services to customers.
Gross Profit – Revenue less cost of revenue.
3
Operating Expenses – Costs associated with running core operations on a daily basis such as general and administrative payroll, insurance and
professional services.
4
Net Income – Profit left after all expenses have been paid.
5
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Includes cash and other liquid investments that are convertible into cash within three months.
6
Marketable Securities – Investments in marketable securities such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
7
Accounts Receivable – Money owed from customers to Ahtna from sales to customers.
8
Prepaid Expenses – Amounts already paid for future services or goods.
9
Oil and Gas Exploration Costs – The costs for exploring for oil and gas in the Ahtna region.
10
Property Plant and Equipment – The cost of property and equipment purchased by the company less depreciation or costs for using the equipment
11
Line of Credit – Shorter-term amounts borrowed from financial institutions or banks to conduct operations.
12
Accounts Payable – Amounts owned for purchases made by the company.
13
Accrued Expenses – Amounts that will be paid in the future for company activity that has taken place.
14
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings on
Uncompleted Contracts – Amounts billed on contracts that are in excess of costs recognized to date on contracts.
15
Long Term Debt – Longer-term amounts borrowed from financial institutions or banks to conduct operations.
16
Total Stockholders’ Equity – Stockholder/owners ownership in the company and/or assets less liabilities.
1
2
16
Winter 2015
AHTNA, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
September 30, 2015 and 2014
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 5
Marketable securities 6
Accounts receivable, net 7
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8
Deferred taxes
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
on uncompleted contracts
2015
$
Total current assets
Defferedtaxes
Other assets
Oil and gas exploration costs 9
Property and equipment, net 10
Total assets
$
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Line of credit 11
Accounts payable 12
Accrued expenses 13
Current portion of long-term debt
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
on uncompleted contracts 14
Income taxes payable
Deferredincome
Othercurrentliabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, less current portion
Deferredtaxes
15
Total liabilities
Stockholders’ equity :
Common stock, no par value. Authorized 2,750,000 shares; and
233,800sharesissuedandoutstanding,at2015and2014,respectively
Contributedcapital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
6,886,369
1,829,856
24,878,214
152,081
935,457
1,233,837
804,975
4,637,740
24,473,880
168,176
2,254,675
1,649,054
4,813,142
927,734
40,728,956
34,916,234
−
106,743
2,913,667
13,407,549
184,322
42,028
−
14,569,933
57,156,915
49,712,517
2015
$
2014
2014
4,000,000
5,640,821
14,987,585
790,152
−
4,537,244
14,148,819
871,259
3,074,778
1,381,208
−
233,510
3,113,635
609,277
−
−
30,108,054
23,280,234
2,988,497
485,940
4,083,017
−
33,582,491
27,363,251
−
−
21,926,771
9,512
−
1,097,009
20,501,519
124,815
21,936,283
21,723,343
1,638,141
625,923
23,574,424
22,349,266
57,156,915
49,712,517
16
Total stockholders’ equity attributable
to Ahtna, Incorporated
Noncontrolling interests
Total stockholders’ equity
Commitments and contingencies
Total stockholders’ equity
$
17
MEET THE BOARD
MEET THE BOARD
MAINTAINING CULTURAL VALUES
IMPORTANT GOAL FOR DEMENTI
For long-time Board member Eleanor Dementi, helping to
maintain customary and traditional hunting practices and
lifestyle by working on the proposed Ahtna co-management
legislation is a top priority.
Here is an extended interview with Dementi, who is currently
the Board Vice-Chair. She first served from 1972-1976 and
was re-elected in 2007.
Describe your family.
I was married to my husband Gilbert Dementi for 38 years
until he went to Heaven. We have three children – Darrel,
Tammany and Gilbert Jr. – and eight grandchildren.
Describe your childhood (memories,
teachings, lessons).
My parents were Dan and Tammany Nicklie, and I was
born and raised in Cantwell along with my six brothers and
two sisters. My parents taught us to work hard and take
What do you want all shareholder-owners to
know about the Board?
That the Board is always thinking of them and working hard
for financial success, as well as providing opportunities,
such as jobs.
What message would you like to share with
the youth of today?
Don’t be afraid to be who you are, because you are
valuable just the way you are. Also, don’t be afraid to try
something new just because you might not yet understand
it – go out and seek knowledge.
Can you tell me more about your work history
and community involvement?
I served on the Denali Borough School District Board for
nearly 20 years from 1989-2007 and in 2003 was named
president. I was a member of the Cantwell Village Council
from 1994-1999, Copper River Native Association from
1999-2003 and the Successor Village Organization (SVO)
for as long as I can remember. I served as an AFN Board
“I want to help by being a part of the solution, and
working for the success of our people.” − Eleanor Dementi
care of our tools and food. I remember hanging meat to
dry and picking berries with my mom so we would have
something to eat in the winter. I still miss my mom and
dad. They treated us kids like we were their precious gold.
What tribe are you with?
member from 1999-2002 and was appointed by AFN
to the Haskell Indian Nations University National Board
of Regents in Kansas from 1999-2002. I have been a
member since 2000 of the Alaska Commission on Aging
and was just recently appointed as a Department of the
Interior Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Member.
I am a tribal member of the Native Village of Cantwell.
What are some defining/influential moments in
your life?
When I got married, I realized that I now had greater
responsibilities, including to raise a family to the best of my
knowledge.
Is there anyone in particular in your life that
has inspired you?
My cousins Ruby Tansy John and Louise Tansy Mayo
encouraged me to get involved in public service and to run
for the Denali Borough School District Board.
18
Winter 2015
From left to right: Ahtna President Michelle Anderson, Board Vice Chair Eleanor
Dementi, and Board member Roy S. Ewan visit Washington, D.C., for Ahtna wildlife comanagement legislative meetings with our Alaska delegations and White House Staff.
SHAREHOLDER-OWNER SERVICE UPDATE
For details on all shareholder-owner services, visit
ahtna-inc.com or call (907) 822-3476
Testamentary disposition (If you are eligible for the
Merger Land Use Program, this form is required.)
Class L
The testamentary disposition form describes how you wish
to distribute your Ahtna shares in the event of your death.
Ahtna shareholder-owner descendants who wish to
become shareholder-owners may apply to become a Class
L stockholder. To do so, applicants must fill out the Class
L application, meet several eligibility requirements and
submit any necessary additional paperwork. Learn
more online.
Gift of stock
If you have Ahtna shares you would like to gift to your
descendants, you will need to provide the following to
the Shareholder Services department: Gift of Stock Form,
original birth certificate, original Certificate of Indian
Blood and copy of Social Security card.
Memorial fund donation
Ahtna provides a Memorial Fund Donation in the amount
of $5,000 to help defray the cost of funeral expenses for
the death of an Ahtna shareholder-owner. Assistance is
also available for a funeral program.
Direct deposit
Ahtna encourages shareholder-owners to fill out the directdeposit form, which can be found on our website.
Name and address change
If your address has changed, be sure to go online and
update it so you can enjoy any dividend that might be
distributed. Any 2015 dividend will be sent to the
address or direct-deposit account we had on file as of
Nov. 20, 2015. A list of those shareholder-owners with
missing valid addresses can be found by visiting www.
ahtna-inc.com/bad-address-list. Address change and
direct-deposit forms, along with instructions, are available
online at ahtna-inc.com or by contacting Shareholder
Records at (907) 822-3476 or [email protected].
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date
Event
Location & Time
Jan 1
New Year’s Day
Feb 26
Shareholder Committee Video - 9 a.m.
Jan 1
Board Nominations
Open
Feb 26
Land Committee
Feb 29
Deadline for all
Board Nominations
March 15
Audit Committee
Jan 14
Copper River Basin
Job Fair*
Jan 15
Oversight and
Video - 3 p.m.
Improvment Committee
Feb 12
Class L Application
Deadline
Feb 15
Presidents’ Day
Feb 25
Policy Committee
Video - 9 a.m.
Video - 1 p.m.
Video - 9 p.m.
Please note: Ahtna meeting dates and times are subject to change and can
be confirmed with Anna Upicksoun, Ahtna executive board secretary at
[email protected] or 907-868-8232.
*Join us on January 14, 2016 for the Copper River Basin
Job Fair at the American Legion Hall in Glennallen, AK
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Contact Theresa Absher
at the Glennallen Job center 822-3350 or Shareholder
Development Coordinator Starr Knighten, 822-3476 or
[email protected].
19
Ahtna, Incorporated
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
110 W 38TH Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
ANCHORAGE, AK
PERMIT NO. 358
PAID
RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED
Ahtna, Inc. Board of Directors
Nicholas Jackson
Chair
Eleanor Dementi
Vice Chair
Jason Hart
Treasurer
Linda Tyone
Secretary
Roy J. Tansy Sr.
Roy S. Ewan
Lucille Lincoln
Dorothy Shinn
Corporate Headquarters
PO Box 649
Glennallen, AK 99588
Phone: (907) 822-3476 | Fax: (907) 822-3495
Toll Free: 1-866-475-0420
Franklin John
Karen Linnell
20
Winter 2015
Angela Vermillion
Jessica Rock
Genevieve John
Anchorage Office
110 W. 38th Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 868-8250 | Fax: (907) 868-8285
Toll Free: 1-888-562-5316
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