The Calista board elected its first chairwoman in the corporation’s 44-year history. Margaret Pohjola was voted to the job Thursday. Pohjola has ties to Chuathbaluk, upriver from Bethel. Chair Willie Kasayulie of Akiachak had served the limit of three consecutive yearlong terms.
Calista says in a news release that Pohjola has done accounting work for Cook Inlet Tribal Council, NANA and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. She graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in management and has been on Calista’s board since 1987.
Paul George Guy was reelected to vice-chair. Robert L. Beans was voted secretary and Johnny Evan as treasurer.
Puhjola will lead the company’s directors as it plans to take on tens of thousands of new shareholders born after 1971. Shareholders voted earlier this month to drastically increase the ownership base. That enrollment is expected to begin in early 2017.
