Sealaska Board Names Richard Tashee Rinehart as board chair
Friday, September 6, 2024
Sealaska Board Names Richard Tashee Rinehart as board chair
Leadership decision emphasize value for shareholders, Southeast Alaska
Sealaska’s board of directors made Richard Tashee Rinehart the company’s new board chair during Thursday’s board meeting in Klawock. The board also appointed Terry Downes, current CEO of Sealaska business arm Woocheen, as Sealaska’s CEO. Joe Kaaxúxgu Nelson will continue in the role of interim president until a new president is hired. “This is an exciting time for Sealaska’s growth. We are looking forward to new leadership under Richard and for an open recruitment for president” says board Vice Chair Jodi Mitchell.
Rinehart has served on Sealaska’s board since 2013 and has 38 years of experience as a business executive and entrepreneur, including 20 years in private industry. He said the board enthusiastically named Downes as CEO.
“Sealaska’s business focus on ocean health is deeply rooted in our values and thousands of years living in harmony with the oceans, forests and communities of Southeast Alaska,” Rinehart said. “Under Terry’s leadership, we have built a global business that is fostering health for people and planet – and that is well positioned to directly benefit the region of Southeast Alaska. Terry is the right leader to ensure Sealaska’s activities continue to help shareholders and communities long-term.”
Sealaska’s operating EBITDA has grown nearly fivefold since 2018, with expansion in both its sustainable seafood business and in a collection of businesses focused on Earth sciences that advance clean energy and climate research.
“Our emphasis on ocean health was always a full-circle idea,” Rinehart said. “Now is the time to bring it back home.”
The Sealaska board of directors thanks Joe Nelson for his 10 years of service as board chair and acknowledges his amazing contributions to the organization.
Established in 1972, Sealaska is the Alaska Native regional corporation for Southeast Alaska. Its 26,000 shareholders are Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people with more than 10,000 years of history in Southeast Alaska.
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Posted 4/8/2022
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Posted 2/9/2021
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During the month of February, we are highlighting shareholders who are contributing to policy and advocacy efforts and who positively impact people and communities. Washington State Representative Debra Lekanoff is a champion for environmental policy and protections. She has given her time at the tribal, village, state and national level. Her efforts and professional background led some…
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Posted 6/19/2020
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We had a chance to connect with Sealaska Board Youth Advisor Maka Monture, a Tlingit and Mohawk from Yakutat, Alaska. She currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska, and is working on a few different projects at the time of this interview. We wanted to catch up on what she has been doing and, more importantly, learn more about why she is so dedicated to leading a youth charge on climate change and…
Posted 6/11/2020
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When our Elders came together for the first Sealaska Elders Conference 40 years ago, a single theme emerged: preserving the past and passing it on to future generations. We hear this loud and clear in the “Because We Cherish You” text: “Even from long ago, our grandchildren — we placed high above ourselves. Yes. We cherish them.” Our Elders’ beautiful words inspire Sealaska to be a better…
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It is natural that Morgan Howard sees the future of Sealaska – as well as its challenges – through the lens of communications. As founder of Morgan Howard Productions, a communications company specializing in video, web, and social media, he has been telling the stories of Alaska Native people and Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) since the mid-1990s. Howard said he believes that…
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Acquisition advances corporation’s work to build strong teams and ocean health. CS Marine Constructors, Inc., brings an ideal set of values and capabilities to Sealaska’s broad effort to improve ocean health and build a culture of respect, transparency, focus and drive. The Vallejo, California-based marine-construction company is well-positioned to help Sealaska address the…
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Posted 2/13/2020
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Like Sealaska’s core values, the basis of the upcoming 2020 Innovation Summit, Feb. 26-27, at Centennial Hall in Juneau is working together to address business challenges. One of the challenges we face today is a changing climate. In fact, out of any state, Alaska’s economy is predicted to be the most impacted by climate shifts. That’s why this year’s summit will feature Alaska scientists…
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Sealaska’s current and future shareholders and leaders will have many opportunities from the income we receive from the carbon project. In 2018, Sealaska’s carbon-offset project became the first in Alaska to be issued carbon-offset credits through California’s cap-and-trade program. The project is contributing to Sealaska’s biggest net income year on record. Creating financial…
Posted 6/8/2018
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A letter from Sealaska Chair Joe Nelson discussing the 2018 Celebration theme “Respect: Weigh Your Words” For decades, we have been coming together every other year during Celebration – as Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people. It is a beautiful thing. Over the years, much has changed, and yet, much has stayed the same. Technology changes every few months.
