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My name is Charles Lee (Tlingit), and I was appointed by the CIRI Board of Directors this past August to serve my fellow Shareholders and Descendants in the seat previously held by Michelle Lindersmith (Iñupiaq), who resigned to accept her new role as president and CEO of OSC Global, a CIRI subsidiary. It is an honor to step into this responsibility, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me.
My lifelong connection to CIRI began with my grandmother, Janet Beatrice Lee, an original Shareholder who gifted me my shares. Growing up in Anchorage, CIRI newsletters and Annual Reports were regular fixtures on our kitchen table. From an early age, my grandmother impressed upon me what the Corporation meant, not just to our family, but to all Alaska Native people. Her encouragement led me to enroll with the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, explore CIRI programs and pursue scholarship opportunities through The CIRI Foundation. These acts helped shape my future, allowing me to focus on education, laying the foundation for self-sufficiency, independence and a career in public service. My grandmother’s legacy—and my deep appreciation for how CIRI has personally impacted my life—drives my sincere desire to give back to our Corporation.
Professionally, I serve as an accounts director for the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Office of Customer and Stakeholder Engagement. As the senior representative in my region, I am responsible for directing customer engagement, marketing, and solution-development initiatives that leverage a broad range of acquisition, technology and logistics programs.
My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in education from Chaminade University, an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University and a graduate certificate in business resources management from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. I also recently completed a Senior Executive Fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Like many Alaskans, several of my favorite pastimes include fishing, hunting, hiking and camping. Some of my most meaningful childhood memories come from time spent outdoors with my grandparents on Kodiak Island and exploring the waters, mountains and backcountry of Alaska with my father, Charles Lee Sr. Those years instilled in me a deep respect for the land and sea and a sense of responsibility for the fish and animals that sustain us.
Prior to my appointment to the Board, I was a member of the CIRI Participation Committee (CPC). This experience proved invaluable. The CPC offers a platform for Shareholders and Descendants to gain insight into their Corporation, enhance their connection to CIRI and express their viewpoints in meaningful ways. I strongly urge all Shareholders and Descendants to engage with the CPC as a way to participate, connect and foster community with others.
These past few months, as I’ve begun my journey of service on the Board, I’ve often reflected upon the early foresight and great effort of those who have guided and shaped CIRI thus far. Their vision and dedication established the foundation for an organization that delivers opportunity while strengthening the bonds of community and shared purpose. That legacy of commitment is still central to who we are today and continues to inform our path forward. I’m honored to join this effort and look forward to contributing to CIRI’s growth for future generations.
