MAKing It Winter 2023/2024

Winter 2023/2024

Stories of Alaskans succeeding in challenging times

AT

Salted Roots Cabins SEWARD IS WINTER’S

Perfect Hideaway

Table of contents At Salted Roots Cabins, Seward is winter’s perfect hideaway

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How ‘worry-free’ housing in Kodiak is changing lives

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Legacy Juneau clinic Lifetime Eyecare starts a new era

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The CIRI Foundation – a ‘testament to the power of education’

PUBLISHER Andy Pennington EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nina Wladkowski SALES MANAGER Erika Watsjold ACCOUNT MANAGER Joleesa Stepetin DESIGNER Jian Bautista

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This article was produced by the sponsored content department of Anchorage Daily News in collaboration with First National Bank Alaska.

The ADN newsroom was not involved in its production.

THE CO-OWNERS OF SALTED ROOTS AND FLAMINGO LOUNGE HAVE CREATED AFFORDABLE, LUXURIOUS LODGING AND DINING EXPERIENCES YEAR-ROUND IN THE IDYLLIC SEASIDE TOWN OF SEWARD.

KellyAnn Cavaretta and Matt Cope spent three years living in their Toyota RAV4, crisscrossing the U.S. and Central America, before they discovered the cozy coastal community of Seward, Alaska. And as soon as they visited, they started dreaming up plans to return.

Today, the couple’s vision has blossomed far beyond the ideas they seeded during long drives on the road: They moved to Seward, started a family, and opened Salted Roots Cabins in 2020.

In 2022, they bought iconic local restaurant Thorn’s Showcase Lounge and began operating it as the Flamingo Lounge.

Together they have built a new life, luxurious lodgings and unforgettable experiences for visitors. But the restaurant, cabins and cottages represent far more than business to the couple.

We unintentionally built something suited for Alaskans.

“It’s more of a love story than anything,” Cope said, “about falling in love with Seward.”

First National Bank Alaska has been Alaska’s community bank since 1922. We’re proud to help Alaskans shape a brighter tomorrow by investing in your success as you take the leaps of faith, large and small, that enrich communities across the state.

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In a town known for shutting down in the winter, they hope their year-round businesses will benefit everyone, travelers and locals alike.

“Seward’s not a hidden gem in the winter — we think it’s a forgotten one,” Cope said.

SALTED ROOTS: MADE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRAVELERS In 2014, the couple left their lives in San Diego, California.

Cavaretta, now 32, worked in environmental consulting, and Cope, 41, worked in hospitality.

Craving adventure, they took off in their car and didn’t look back.

At occasional stays in hotels or Airbnbs, they discussed features they liked about each place.

“Really what we were doing was carving out the design for Salted Roots in our heads without even knowing it,” Cavaretta said.

They drove from California to Nicaragua, and up to Denali National Park and Preserve, where they worked for the summer. At the end of the season, in mid-September, they drove to Seward.

They arrived on “one of those perfect days where you get totally suckered in,” Cope said.

The pair hiked up to Harding Glacier, watched black bears play in a field of pink fireweed, and made a fire by the sea on a warm evening. They were hooked.

“We’re like, ‘okay if we’re still traveling by next summer, we’ll come up here.’ And we did,” Cope said.

The Salted Roots cabins and cottages are nestled at the end of the road. Their aesthetic design and cozy furnishings help create life-long memories. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

They returned in 2018. Two years later, in March 2020, they broke ground on Salted Roots Alaska, “just in time for COVID,” Cope chuckled.

We wanted to create a space that was welcoming to all.

But with endless support from their new community, they built something even greater than they imagined.

“We unintentionally built something suited for Alaskans,” Cope said.

The cabins and cottages are nestled at the end of the road and have fast Wi-Fi, making them perfect for remote work. Their aesthetic design, majestic views across Resurrection Bay and cozy furnishings look beautiful in photographs and help create lifelong memories.

Salted Roots serves the “next generation of travelers,” Cavaretta said. That means offering modern conveniences and tech-friendly accommodations, combined with maximum privacy and comfort.

Throughout the property, the couple’s travels are reflected in the design.

“When you live in your car, the bathrooms and showers become paramount in life,” Cope said.

Freestanding bathtubs and a separate wet room with tiled showers are featured in all cabins and cottages. The cabins have a double vanity, heated floors, and double shower heads.

During their travels the couple witnessed others getting emotional in restaurants and public areas due to fatigue. “We wanted to provide a win for people,” Cope said.

“People come to Seward to go outside and get tired and get dirty all day, and we wanted a place for people to come and relax, and have that sense of remoteness without being remote,” Cavaretta said.

FLAMINGO LOUNGE: ‘THE HANDING OVER OF A TORCH’ They never planned to buy a restaurant.

But in 2020, the owner of Thorn’s Showcase Lounge passed away and the family put the

property up for sale. Thorn’s had been in business more than 70 years, and Cavaretta and Cope wanted to continue that legacy.

“It was humbling. It was way more than a transaction. It was the handing over of a torch,” Cope said.

The Flamingo Lounge changed its name but kept Thorn’s original aesthetics — including its iconic sign, red leather seats and moody lighting — and classic steakhouse dishes, while elevating the drink selection and expanding the menu.

“We wanted to create a space that was welcoming to all,” Cope said.

“Quality is not a matter of geography anymore,” he said. “It’s a matter of intention. It’s a matter of commitment. We really leaned into that.”

“You can find good food on the edge of any map,” Cope added.

Melissa Schutter, branch manager and assistant vice president at First National Bank Alaska in Seward, was raised in the community.

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The Flamingo Lounge changed the name of a favorite Seward location but kept some of Thorn’s original aesthetics — including its iconic sign, red leather seats and moody lighting. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

She was happy the Flamingo Lounge kept its original 1970s vibe and some of her favorite dishes, like deep-fried halibut.

Schutter was “pleased to see that they’re keeping some of the old staples going and adding their own twist to it to cater to a newer generation.”

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS: ‘A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS’ Many local Seward shops shutter their windows once the brief summer season has passed. While living in a small town has advantages, Schutter said, people also need places to eat and stay during the winter.

“We need businesses to be open to support the residents that live here year-round,” Schutter said.

Schutter has worked at First National for nearly 25 years. She helped Cavaretta and Cope grow their businesses with merchant services, construction

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loans, and guidance from the time they began developing their business plan.

“The more people that grow and show up and commit to small business, the better,” she said.

“When we approached them, they wanted to make (Salted Roots) happen for us,” Cope said.

Salted Roots’ Winter Wellness Package includes a private yoga class, charcuterie board, and holistic treatments, all from Seward businesses, giving travelers a chance to enjoy the town’s local offerings and unwind in peaceful surroundings.

When it came time to help with the Flamingo Lounge purchase, “it was really a joy to help them move to that next phase,” Schutter said. The bank now provides crucial access to cash for the restaurant’s daily operations.

“No one does anything alone,” Cope said. “There’s so many people that helped us along the way, most definitely First National.”

Salted Roots highlights other Alaska businesses throughout the property — local art, coffee, hot sauce, “even the mugs,” Cavaretta said.

Cavaretta is a small business advisor with Alaska Small Business Development Center. Supporting other local businesses is crucial to growing the city’s economy, she said.

“It’s a great way for people to book a whole weekend and get a taste of the local community in Seward,” Cavaretta said.

As Cavaretta and Cope grow Salted Roots and Flamingo Lounge, they will continue to invest in other local organizations, just as they have been supported by the Seward community.

The reason is simple: “A rising tide lifts all boats,” Cavaretta said.

HOW ‘WORRY-FREE’ HOUSING IN

Kodiak is Changing Lives KODIAK ISLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY IS PROVIDING AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS TO A LOCAL HOUSING SHORTAGE.

Living in Alaska can be hard. In winter, the snow must be shoveled; the driveway, plowed; the sidewalks, salted. For older Alaskans with mobility constraints, these tasks can be even more challenging, and worrisome.

But for residents at Kodiak Island Housing Authority’s apartments, those worries have faded. At these facilities, dedicated teams maintain the properties, so tenants don’t have to struggle with Alaska’s elements — all while enjoying the benefits of living in a close-knit community.

I found a place where I don’t have to worry about anything.

“I like to call it worry-free living,” said Kodiak Island Housing Authority Executive Director Mindy Pruitt, about Emerald Heights.

Among the housing authority’s rental properties, the Emerald Heights complex features 32 apartments for seniors with sprawling views overlooking Kodiak Harbor.

“I have to pinch myself, really,” said Sonya Nicholson, a 77-year-old resident who sold her house and moved into Emerald Heights last year.

“I found a place where I don’t have to worry about anything.”

Kodiak Island Housing Authority serves as the tribally designated housing entity for nine tribes in the Kodiak region. It provides a variety of services to American Indian and Alaska Native families and individuals, including housing assistance for low-income residents and

Kodiak Island Housing Authority supports more than 300 households through affordable and subsidized housing and provides millions in emergency assistance to residents each year. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

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“I found a place where I don’t have to worry about anything,” said Sonya Nicholson, second from right, who moved into Emerald Heights last year. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska.

local students. It also provides assistance for eligible non-American Indian and -Alaska Native residents, including individuals 55 years and older.

We’re taking a different approach on ways that we can help solve some of the housing shortage in Kodiak.

Throughout the region, Kodiak Island Housing Authority supports more than 300 households through affordable and subsidized housing and provides millions in emergency assistance to residents each year.

KODIAK’S HOUSING SHORTAGE: ‘WE’RE TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH’ Kodiak is the second largest island in the U.S., but its mountainous terrain is mostly undeveloped. It has fewer than 90 miles of paved road.

The housing market is tight — and limited.

“We just don’t have a lot of vacant land for new development,” Pruitt said. “And then what is available is extremely expensive, so it’s very cost-prohibitive for families.”

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Many of the families at Harborview and Cliffwood apartments work two or three jobs in the community, Pruitt said.

“We keep those rents really affordable for families that are doing great things in our community,” she said.

Affordable rent is crucial for the island’s residents. A needs assessment commissioned by the housing authority in 2022 found that the vast majority of Kodiak residents (77%) rated housing affordability “poor” for homes for sale, with a similar number of residents (71%) rating rental affordability as “poor.”

The most in-demand type of housing was affordable single-family homes.

The assessment also identified senior housing as an ever-growing need in Kodiak. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development forecasts that the borough’s population of residents 65 and older will peak in 2035.

Providing housing for older residents is more than just a senior issue.

Pruitt said that when older adults sell their homes to move into the organization’s housing, they’re also freeing up new spaces for younger families.

“We’re taking a different approach on ways that we can help solve some of the housing shortage in Kodiak,” Kodiak Island Housing Authority Executive Director Mindy Pruitt said.

Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

“We’re taking a different approach on ways that we can help solve some of the housing shortage in Kodiak,” she said.

In addition to its properties built for Kodiak seniors and low-income residents, Kodiak Island Housing Authority has an apartment complex called Heritage Heights, which serves elders and disabled families.

AT EMERALD HEIGHTS, ‘MY BURDEN HAS BEEN LIFTED’ Nicholson, the Emerald Heights resident, first came to Kodiak in the 1970s with her husband, Larry, who was a fisheries biologist. They lived on the island for years before moving to Sterling, on the Kenai Peninsula.

When she lost Larry to cancer in 2020, Nicholson didn’t know what to do.

“I was so lost; I was so alone,” she said. “And I just didn’t feel like [Sterling] was home.”

No matter where I go, I know faces, I know people, I know their history.

Nicholson visited Kodiak last year. At a local furnishings store, she ran into a friend, who told Nicholson to come visit her at Emerald Heights.

When Nicholson walked into the Emerald Heights’ open, inviting living room space, she knew that was where she wanted to be.

“It was everything I need,” she said, getting teary. “When I walked in here, my burden had been lifted.”

Living at Emerald Heights has changed Nicholson’s life. She and her building neighbors — who are all active — take care of each other around the holidays. They gather over games and puzzles in the activity room.

They’ll often meet for impromptu potluck brunches.

“There’s a camaraderie on Kodiak that you don’t find in other places,” Nicholson said.

She no longer needs to be concerned about taking care of her property, like she did when she owned a home. Larry handled snow plowing and repairs, and when he died, she had to find contractors to do the same work. Now, when she goes on vacation, she can just lock up and go — without thinking about what might happen while she’s gone.

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Dedicated teams maintain Kodiak Island Housing Authority properties so tenants don’t have to struggle with Alaska’s elements — all while enjoying the benefits of living in a close-knit community. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

Nicholson has friends who are on the Emerald Heights wait list. Nearly all of the 32 units in the building are full.

Emerald Heights is “kind of the crown jewel in the properties that they offer,” said Mark Lonheim, First National Bank Alaska vice president and manager of the Kodiak Branch. First National financed the building with Kodiak Island Housing Authority and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.

Kodiak Island Housing Authority is looking to buy another property for seniors, with space for another 24 units. When the time comes, First National will be ready to help them meet their needs, Lonheim said.

120 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE The team at First National’s Kodiak Branch knows the housing authority and its larger community well.

“Not only do we have a working relationship with Kodiak Housing Island Authority, we also have a personal relationship with Mindy and her team,” said First National Branch Operations Supervisor and Assistant Vice President Debbie Olson.

The Kodiak Branch has a cumulative 120 years of service among 10 employees. Many employees have long tenures there — like Olson, who has nearly four decades of experience with First National. The branch, which opened in 1963, celebrated its 60th anniversary in July.

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Emerald Heights complex features 32 apartments with sprawling views overlooking Kodiak Harbor. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

In addition to financing properties, First National assists Kodiak Island Housing Authority with all banking transactions and is helping it transition to a cashless organization.

“We’re a small enough bank that we can provide customized services,” Lonheim said. “Yet we’re tech-savvy enough to provide digital solutions to meet our customers’ changing needs.”

Pruitt said bank staff has been present in meetings with tribal leaders and community partners. Lonheim keeps an eye on properties that might be coming onto the market that align with Kodiak Island Housing Authority’s needs.

The team at First National values “knowing our community and being a consistent resource,” Lonheim said.

In a tight-knit community like Kodiak, degrees of separation are few and far between.

It’s something Nicholson knows well. Some of her neighbors at Emerald Heights are colleagues or friendly faces from years ago. Now, for the first time in decades, she lives in the same community as her family.

“It’s like a big hug,” Nicholson said. “No matter where I go, I know faces, I know people, I know their history.”

LEGACY JUNEAU CLINIC

Lifetime Eyecare

STARTS A NEW ERA

DR. WILLIAM TO IS PART OF A NEW GENERATION OF BUSINESS OWNERS INVESTING IN ALASKA AS A SHIFTING WORKFORCE NATIONWIDE BRINGS NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

When you find a special place like this, you can’t help but contribute back and want to be a part of it.

Juneau Optometrist Dr. William To says it’s a familiar story: Alaska patients can wait years before gaining access to new medical technology already in use elsewhere in the country.

It’s a trend Dr. To is bucking at Lifetime Eyecare, a longtime clinic in Alaska’s capital city. He’s made it his mission to bring state-of-the-art systems and services to the Southeast hub, while keeping the practice’s hometown feel.

“That’s always going to be my focus, no matter what,” Dr. To said. “When you find a special place like this, you can’t help but contribute back and want to be part of it.”

Dr. To became Lifetime Eyecare’s third owner when he bought the business in 2021 with financing from First National Bank Alaska. Since then, he’s carried on the legacy of the longtime local practice, keeping the clinic independently owned and growing with the community’s ever-expanding needs. He has also brought industry-leading diagnostic and imaging technologies to Juneau.

Yet Lifetime Eyecare’s story is one of changing times. The U.S. economy is shifting as the Baby Boomer generation leaves the workforce. As aging business owners look to retire, a new generation is stepping in to continue their legacies both nationwide and in Alaska.

A BIG DREAM MEETS AN EVER-CONNECTED WORLD Dr. To opened his optometry practice in California at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a first-time business owner, he was already making some of the most consequential decisions of his career as he led his San Jose-based practice through a tumultuous period of unknowns.

Like many others, he quickly learned how to manage a company online – hosting meetings and using telehealth to access clients remotely. Thanks to these new skills, when it came time to expand, Dr. To dreamt big.

Lifetime Eyecare’s story of generational transition is becoming more common as more owners retire and sell their businesses. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

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Dr. To likes working with First National Bank Alaska because “they understand Alaska, and the need and opportunities for growth,” he said. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

By identifying their long-term plans, we can help business owners be better prepared when the time comes.

business and franchisee owners in the U.S., according to reports from 2020.

“Alaska is witnessing a similar trend,” said Zac Hays, vice president and lending unit team leader at First National Bank Alaska. In the 1970s, the state’s economy and population boomed with the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and new businesses flourished.

“The world is small when you can communicate that quickly, over distances,” he said.

“This has led to a large number of older business owners looking to retire in a relatively short period,” Hays said.

Dr. To met then-Lifetime Eyecare owner Michael Bennett through a mutual friend, and it seemed like a good fit: a new and enthusiastic doctor who could carry on the practice’s shining local reputation, giving Bennett a chance to retire.

Not everyone has a plan. Sometimes, the business simply closes, Hays said, “leaving a void where the people of Alaska no longer have access to the products and services these businesses once offered.”

Dr. To spent some time in Juneau before he made his decision. He met with locals and sensed it was a community he wanted to serve. Six months after his first visit to the clinic, Dr. To took the reins.

“It was fast, but it was one of those things that felt good,” he said.

Lifetime Eyecare’s story of generational transition is becoming more common as more owners retire and sell their businesses. The Baby Boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, makes up roughly 44% of small

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Lifetime Eyecare also hopes to expand into more remote communities surrounding Juneau, bringing vital healthcare to people in harder-to-reach places. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

“By identifying their long-term plans, we can help business owners be better prepared when the time comes,” Hays said. “Furthermore, we can work with potential buyers and facilitate introductions and meetings where the buyer and seller can discuss various options.”

The wave of retirements also offers opportunities for the next generation, as financing is easier to obtain when buying an existing business.

For first-time business owners, financing can be a struggle, as most startups are shown to fail within the first few years. But with an existing company,

“you have the ability to evaluate historical trends,” Hays said, and can “more accurately predict what you are going to need in order to operate and potentially grow.”

Lifetime Eyecare has long been a First National customer.

And Dr. To said he’ll sometimes stop by one of the Juneau branches just to say hello.

“They’re just great people there,” he said.

GROWING TO MEET JUNEAU’S NEEDS, AND BEYOND

“Every business is going to be in a different stage in its cycle, whether it’s continuing on through family or other people that are up and coming,” said Marc Guevarra, vice president and branch manager of First National’s Valley Centre Branch in Juneau.

Lifetime Eyecare is a short walk from the Juneau airport in the beautiful Mendenhall Valley. Dr. To and his staff serve a relatively small community, but there’s no shortage of demand for eye care.

Guevarra and his team worked with Dr. To and the previous owners of the practice to facilitate a smooth transition. Dr. To financed the purchase with a commercial loan from the bank, and established a commercial line of credit for the company’s capital needs.

These days, the clinic is booked out roughly four to six weeks in advance, said Office Manager Jenica Canaday. Lifetime Eyecare is considering bringing on another doctor and may extend its operating hours to five days a week, up from the current four-day schedule, she said.

After he took over the clinic, Dr. To decided to keep banking with First National. Today, First National also provides Dr. To with financial solutions like merchant services for smooth payment processing.

Dr. To hopes to bring more specialties and services to patients, like minor laser surgeries for conditions like glaucoma.

Dr. To said the national bank he worked with in California didn’t understand why he was expanding to Alaska, let alone Juneau.

“That’s what’s great about working with a local bank like First National,” Dr. To said. “They understand Alaska, and the need and opportunities for growth.”

“We have no intent to downsize,” Dr. To said. “We’re only expanding and growing. We’re going to give people more benefits than they had before and more opportunities to grow than before.”

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Lifetime Eyecare’s growing staff comprises 11 team members, most of whom were around before the business transition. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

They understand Alaska, and the need and opportunities for growth.

All the while, Dr. To has kept the Lifetime Eyecare legacy intact. His growing staff comprises 11 team members, most of whom were around before the business transition.

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Lifetime Eyecare also hopes to expand into more remote communities surrounding Juneau, bringing vital healthcare to people in harder-to-reach places. Most smaller towns lack clinics, so many patients commute to Alaska’s capital city, chancing ferry and plane cancellations while racking up expensive travel fees.

Canaday, who has been with Lifetime Eyecare for a decade, said when Dr. To took over, he wanted to hear from the team about the changes they wanted to see at the practice.

With satellite clinics, Lifetime Eyecare staff could drop in for periodic eye exams, Dr. To explained. The clinic is already moving in that direction, with capabilities for hybrid remote exams; doctors control equipment remotely while technicians are in the room with patients.

“He picked our brains on how we felt about anything during the process, and we had a chance to give feedback,” she said.

Dr. To said his goal is to ensure no Alaskan receives reduced healthcare services just because of where they live.

“With the previous and current owners, I feel like everyone here is really anxious to grow as a team and to keep learning. So, I really appreciate that kind of enthusiasm,” Canaday said.

“I tell industry partners and vendors: If you do business with me in California, you do business with me in Alaska, too,” he said. “The people here are in need of good healthcare and they deserve good healthcare.”

THE CIRI FOUNDATION

A ‘TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF EDUCATION’ ONE RECIPIENT OF THE FOUNDATION’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SHARES HER STORY OF SELF-DETERMINATION. Anchorage resident Laura Cantrell jumped into a new career in the medical field right as the COVID-19 pandemic began. After working overtime on the front lines while attending nursing school, she found herself at a crossroads.

Cantrell, an Athabascan woman and single mother of two young children, knew it was time to make a bold move and shift careers.

She had already overcome incredible odds in her life, including experiencing homelessness off and on from ages 18 through 24.

First National is here to help Alaska thrive.

With a love of learning and passion for business, she decided to pursue an associate degree at Alaska Career College. To make her ambitions a reality, Cantrell built up her savings and also applied for financial aid, including a scholarship through The CIRI Foundation. This crucial support allowed her to study full time, focus on her education, and stay home.

“When I want something, I go for it,” said Cantrell.

Going to school without needing to work a full-time job or two throughout “was really beneficial for my children, because they got to spend time with me,” Cantrell said. She

also used her prior education in childhood development to teach her children essential skills. And they could observe her studying and working on her degree. “They were able to see me in class every day. It’s good for them to see that.”

In June, Cantrell graduated with an associate degree in accounting and business administration, with a 3.6 GPA. Cantrell’s story exemplifies The CIRI Foundation’s primary mission to promote individual self-development and economic selfsufficiency. The foundation provides education funding for original shareholders of the Cook Inlet Region, Inc. and their direct descendants.

The CIRI Foundation team includes, from left to right, Vice President Kyla Morris, Communications Manager Rachael Fisher, President/CEO Connie Wirz, Administrative Manager Ginger Miles, and, in back row, Program Assistant Tim Lucason and Program Assistant Sara Martinchick. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

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“Our collaboration with First National allows us to tap into customized financial services that cater to our diverse needs, enabling more resource allocation to our core mission,” said The CIRI Foundation President and CEO Connie Wirz. Image courtesy First National Bank Alaska

“It really excites me to have a good career and to keep learning to better myself, and to be a good role model for my kids,” said Cantrell. “I want them to be as resilient and independent and ambitious as I am.”

‘AFTER THAT, I CAN HANDLE ANYTHING’ Today, Cantrell’s son is 11 and her daughter is 4 years old. She works as an accounting intern at Cook Inlet Tribal Council and enjoys learning about self-improvement.

She’s thriving. But life wasn’t always this way. At 14, she found herself living on her own, struggling with substance misuse, and spending time with a crowd that encouraged unsafe behavior. Then at 18, she became pregnant. It was a pivotal moment.

“I quit all that when I found out I was pregnant,” said Cantrell, now 30.

She found temporary housing through a program for pregnant teens. She took life skill classes and

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finished her GED when her son was six months old.

Cantrell went on to teach early childhood development before enrolling in a medical assistant program. She graduated at the top of her class and promptly enrolled in nursing school. Working on the front lines during the pandemic was incredibly challenging, she said.

“After that, I can handle anything!” Cantrell told The CIRI Foundation. What she wanted next was a new career. She was able to get the education she needed to start anew with a scholarship from the foundation.

The CIRI Foundation’s scholarship programs serve as a stepping stone, said President and CEO Connie Wirz.

Together, we are a testament to the power of education, hard work, and the enduring commitment to excellence.

“However, the true measure of success lies in each student’s efforts to take ownership of their futures, through responsibility, dedication and sacrifice as they actively work toward improving their lives through education and hard work,” Wirz said.

In the past 41 years, The CIRI Foundation has provided $42 million to scholarship recipients. The foundation was founded by the Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) Board of Directors. CIRI is an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation.

Since Wirz stepped into her new role as President and CEO in April she and her team have been streamlining systems to make the organization’s scholarship programs even more accessible.

“The goal is to modernize our systems providing responsive student support and outreach while reducing administrative costs, prioritizing scholarships over administrative expenses, and sustaining and growing the endowment,” said Wirz.

It really excites me to have a good career and to keep learning to better myself, and to be a good role model for my kids.

The bank’s range of services is helpful for The CIRI Foundation.

“Our collaboration with First National allows us to tap into customized financial services that cater to our diverse needs, enabling more resource allocation to our core mission. Their steadfast dedication and deep understanding of our needs have established them as crucial financial allies in our endeavors,” said Wirz.

“It’s been a long 12 years and I’m really happy where I’m at today,” said Anchorage resident Laura Cantrell, who was able to pivot careers thanks in part to support from The CIRI Foundation. Image courtesy Laura Cantrell

The foundation’s scholarships are for degreeseeking students. Vocational training grants support enrollment in accredited or recognized technical skill training programs, from certificates to advanced degrees.

The impact for recipients is “truly remarkable,” Wirz said, with graduates forging careers in a wide variety of fields across Alaska and nationwide.

Some go on to work within the CIRI family of organizations as doctors, dentists, nurses, or educators.

“Together, we are a testament to the power of education, hard work, and the enduring commitment to excellence,” said Wirz.

ALLIANCE IN SHARED VALUES “It is an amazing nonprofit. They do so much for the Alaska Native community,” said Tammy Stewart, First National Bank Alaska Treasury Management Consultant and Senior Business Development Officer. Stewart works with

The CIRI Foundation to find the best options to manage their First National accounts.

Applying her 25 years of experience, Stewart assists organizations of all sizes. Her team provides crucial banking services to assist businesses in managing cash flow, preventing fraud, and leveraging enterprise solutions.

These Treasury Management solutions “help make business day-to-day a little bit easier,” said Stewart. “We’re much like a trusted advisor, not only streamlining, but helping them to protect their accounts against fraud.”

At First National, Alaska organizations and businesses benefit from working with local branch managers, personal bankers, treasury management professionals, and others.

“Clients have a handful of experts they are able to consult with and who can be there to help them grow,” said Stewart. “First National is here to help Alaska thrive.”

“Our alliance with First National was wellconsidered, rooted in shared values and a common focus on serving Alaska communities,” she said.

“First National consistently nails the basics of commitment to customer service, adaptability and relationships.”

‘I HOPE I CAN INSPIRE OTHERS’ With First National helping to keep The CIRI Foundation’s finances secure, the organization can focus on its mission.

As Cantrell continues to pursue her ambitions, she encourages others to chase their dreams and tap into available support.

“I hope that I can inspire other people, because I came from rock bottom,” said Cantrell. “It’s been a long 12 years, and I’m really happy where I’m at today. My life is good.”

She’s hoping to join the accounting team at her current job full time while going back to school.

“I plan on going for a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Alaska Pacific University starting in January,” she said. “I’m already enrolled. I’ll definitely be applying for scholarships again.”

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