CIRI President and CEO Meets with Young Professionals Group

Photo by Jason Moore.

CIRI understands that young people represent our future business leaders. Where it can, CIRI is happy to share knowledge with them – whether they are CIRI shareholders or descendants, or simply members of the communities in which we work and do business.

As part of its CEO Luncheon Series, members of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Group met with CIRI President and CEO Sophie Minich on Jan. 24. The group included CIRI shareholders Adam Leggett, Alaska Native program manager for Stantec, and David Kroto, lands administrator for Tyonek Native Corporation.

After touring the Fireweed Business Center, CIRI’s corporate headquarters in midtown Anchorage, Sophie spoke to the group about the importance of work/life balance. Her speech was based on a 1996 commencement address by Coca-Cola CEO Brian Dyson.

“You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball – if you drop it, it will bounce back,” she said. “But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”

“I thought the talk was extremely important for young professionals such as myself to hear – the importance of work/life balance coming from the top ranks of leadership,” Leggett said. “I also noted that CIRI was the only Alaska Native regional corporation that participated in the luncheon series. The company’s participation shows not only Sophie’s willingness to invest in the younger generation, but CIRI’s reputation as a leader in the Anchorage business community.”

For more information on the Young Professionals Group, visit http://anchoragechamber.org/young-professionals-group.