Aang Unangax Family,
Coming into 2022, it’s fitting that TAC has started a new era, new vision, and new focus on our mission to maximize shareholder dividends and opportunities.
In February, we brought on Cynthia Tisher as our new Chief Financial Officer. She brings with her 20 years of leadership and management experience as well as a deep understanding of Alaska Native corporations and 8(a) programs. You can get to know Cynthia, our new CFO, on page 6 of this newsletter.
We also recently hired a new Director of Operations, Mandy Hawes. Working directly with our Chief Operating Officer, Mandy will be integral in supporting subsidiary operations. To oversee our corporate internal and external messaging, we hired Kate Gilling as our Communications Director in December. It is my belief that to support the kind of growth we want to see for The Aleut Corporation, we need to have the right staff in place. We are pleased to welcome these wonderful additions to the team.
I have used my first few months to evaluate, adjust, and stabilize across our TAC family of companies to align with our core values of transparency, accountability, and building a foundation for growth. Our January Strategic Planning session with the Board defined a tactical growth strategy for the next five years and established a new strategic 10-year revenue and income goal that Chairman Nelson will share with you. We worked alongside our subsidiaries to map out a path for realistic long-term growth and success.
As our fiscal year closes, I am happy to report that the swift and rigorous changes the Board and TAC management implemented are moving us in a positive direction. We will continue to stabilize in 2022, but with rigor, discipline, and transparency, we are rebuilding our foundation.
The Board approved TAC’s recommendation to close our subsidiary Alaska Instrument Company (AIC). This was not an easy decision, but ultimately it was the right decision. AIC was a valuable member of the TAC family, but with Alaska’s changing economy, revenue streams had decreased with no path for growth.
I am excited to get back out to the region this summer as your President & CEO. COVID has kept TAC away for too long. My team is planning three separate trips this summer to reach every village. I want to use this time to sit down with and listen to shareholders in each community. More information on travel dates is provided in the TAC @ 50 section of this newsletter; be on the lookout for schedule specifics in the coming weeks.
Wishing you a bright and colorful spring.
Qaĝaasakung,
Skoey Vergen President & CEO