The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is looking for a new executive director.
Ray Riutta tells KMXT he’s be stepping down at the end of the year.
“Yeah, I’m going to retire in December, see if I can’t get it right this time,” Riutta says.
Before coming to ASMI in 2002, Riutta spent 38 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring with the rank of Vice Admiral. His military career included a stint as commander of the Coast Guard’s 17th District based in Juneau.
He plans to retire to Redmond, Washington, which he says is conveniently close to family. He and his wife, Barbara Kramer, have two sons.
“Grandkids are front and center,” he says, adding “I’m thinking about golf.”
He also looks forward to some sport fishing, though he admits it won’t compare to Alaska.
Riutta is helping ASMI’s board of directors with the search process for a new executive director. He says the board hopes to make a selection in August, and have the new director on the job in September to train with him during a two- or three-month transition period.
ASMI Communications Director Tyson Fick says Riutta’s Xtra Tufs will tough to fill.
“He’s done just an amazing job for ASMI as well as the seafood industry in the state of Alaska as a whole,” says Fick.
ASMI is a public-private partnership between the State of Alaska and the seafood industry. Its seven-member board is appointed by the governor.
