Christiansen is the “Human Face” of the CIRI Code of Conduct

CIRI’s employees have always operated in an environment of integrity and respect for the shareholders, but the fact that these standards have now been recorded in an official code of conduct makes it easier for employees and those outside the corporation as well. Although codifying the standards of behavior has been the work of many people, the one person most identified with pulling it altogether has been Michele Christiansen, CIRI legal compliance manager.

“This effort has been supported from the top down,” said Christiansen. “It demonstrates the values CIRI has.”
Christiansen said working on the compliance program was a labor of love for her for a number of reasons. Besides the satisfaction she got from the work on a personal level, she feels strongly about CIRI because her children are CIRI descendants. She and their father Anthony Dale Christiansen, who is an Aleut originally from King Cove, are no longer married. Christiansen is raising them as a single parent, but she and Anthony Dale work closely as a team to provide for their children.

Christiansen was hired to work at CIRI in late 1999. Prior to that she worked at the Alaska Native Justice Center. She actually applied to work at CIRI in the early 1990s, and always admired the organization. Now that she has earned her five-year pin, she feels even greater admiration for CIRI.

“I can’t think of another organization I’d rather work for. The employees have high standards, but they always strive to improve,” she said.

CIRI’s new compliance program took Christiansen and a team of CIRI employees about a year to develop. When some national corporations grabbed headlines a few years ago for accounting and other scandals, CIRI’s top management and Board of Directors decided to be proactive in codifying values and principles that have always been the basis of CIRI’s business dealings.
“With a written document, stating these principles, we can demonstrate our commitment to integrity,” Christiansen said. “This also provides a guideline for any new hires. There will never be any questions about how CIRI conducts itself in any business endeavors.”

While the corporate compliance program has taken much of Christiansen’s time, she also has a number of other duties related to CIRI’s legal department. For example, she oversees CIRI’s subsidiary maintenance, as well as background for new employees.

Christiansen feels strongly that her work, which benefits the corporation, benefits her children, 18-year-old David and 16-year-old Ashley. Maybe someday either or both of them will be employed by CIRI, Christiansen said, noting that she knows in her heart that the foundation that has been built for the corporation in the last few years will serve well for the long-term future.

“Thanks to CIRI dividends and overall success, the quality of life for my children has been dramatically improved,” she said. “I’m very thankful. The money has been wonderful, but the true inspiration for both my children has come from CIRI’s strong leadership.”
Christiansen noted that Carl Marrs in particular has been inspiring to her children because he has been such a strong leader, but also a man who is very approachable.

“Once he cracks that smile, he relates to everybody.”