Federal law permits Alaska Native corporations to practice Shareholder hiring preference, allowing companies like CIRI to prioritize employment opportunities for Shareholders and their families. At present, 19% of CIRI employees are Shareholders and confirmed Descendants.
“One of our top goals is to help our workers grow in their jobs by giving them choices and chances for new jobs,” said Darla Graham, director, CIRI stakeholder engagement. “We aim to hire more Shareholders and Descendants at every level of the Company each year.”
Original CIRI enrollee Cheryl Bailey (Inupiaq) began working at CIRI 22 years ago. “I wanted to work for my corporation,” Cheryl recalled. “Living CIRI’s dedication to our mission, vision, and values and having many opportunities as an employee to participate in that dedication is rewarding.”
In 2003, Cheryl began working as a transfer technician for CIRI Alaska Tourism Corp. Already a busy wife and mother, she went on to earn dual bachelor’s degrees in business administration and accounting (2012) and received a graduate certificate in Alaska Native Executive Leadership from Alaska Pacific University (2015). She cites “on-the-job mentors and CIRI’s contributions to my career development” as being instrumental to her success.
Cheryl has served CIRI as a corporate accountant since 2012. A committed community volunteer, she has dedicated her time to numerous CIRI-supported organizations and causes over the years, including the Alaska Run for Women, American Heart Association, Bean’s Café, CIRI Golf Classic, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, Salvation Army and United Way of Anchorage. “These examples are just from my experiences, and only a fraction of what CIRI offers to the community directly and through CIRI’s family of socially driven enterprises,” Cheryl enthused.
Cheryl said she “truly enjoys” working at CIRI and appreciates its “professional atmosphere, where hard work and enthusiasm are rewarded.” If you are a CIRI Shareholder or Descendant interested in career opportunities with CIRI or one of our subsidiary companies, please visit the CIRI website.
