The daughter of the late John N. Colberg, chairman emeritus of the CIRI Board of Directors, and his wife, Alta, CIRI shareholder Alexis Colberg has a talent for organizational detail that has led her to the position of systems administrator III with Southcentral Foundation’s Office of the President.
Colberg says her father – who also served on the Southcentral Foundation Board and was especially dedicated to its mission – would be happy to see her in the role. “He would have said, ‘way to go Missy, now take what you’ve learned and make a difference.’ ” And, apparently, she has.
Colberg’s co-workers suggested that the CIRI Shareholder Update profile her to recognize her hard work, commitment and attention to detail. Describing her as “reliable, pleasant and efficient,” they credit Colberg with helping to improve the internal processes to make inter-department transactions run more smoothly.

Prior to assuming her current position, Colberg spent three years building Southcentral Foundation’s Early Head Start program, which opened on Feb. 1, 2000. The program provides comprehensive, culturally appropriate education, special needs assessment, health and other services for children six weeks to three years of age and pregnant women.

“My time spent in the Early Head Start program allowed me to hone my skills in putting systems into place,” Colberg says. In July 2001, Colberg began dual responsibilities as the Early Head Start manager and a systems administrator in Southcentral Foundation’s Executive & Tribal Services Division. “The Office of the President was looking for someone to come in and improve the systems that are currently in place and that is what I enjoy doing.”

In 1993, Colberg decided to complete her education. “I always knew how important education was to my parents. I also realized that I could continue to use my back in dead-end jobs or go to school and start using my brain.” As a result, today Colberg holds an associate’s degree from Alaska Junior College, a bachelor’s in business administration from Alaska Pacific University, and in May 2003 she earned a master’s degree in business administration from APU.

Colberg received scholarship assistance from The CIRI Foundation, Southcentral Foundation, Seldovia Native Association and the Seldovia Village Tribe. “I’m sure everyone has heard the saying, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ ” she says. “I will always be grateful for the support of my parents, CIRI, Southcentral Foundation, Seldovia Native Association and Seldovia Village Tribe for doing just that.”

Colberg plans to make traditional Athabascan dance regalia before returning to school to take classes in public health.