New Chief for Natives of Kodiak

The Alaska Native urban corporation for Kodiak has selected a successor to longtime President and CEO Jim Erickson, who is planning to retire.

Natives of Kodiak (NOK) is hiring Monica James, most recently the chief operating officer at Aleut Corporation. James is a shareholder of Calista Corporation and Bethel Native Corporation. She was raised in Bethel and has family ties to Alakanuk.

“It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to work on behalf of the shareholders of Natives of Kodiak, Inc. in this leadership role,” says James. “I look forward to working with the NOK board of directors, highly capable and dedicated executive team, and NOK’s subsidiary management staff to help grow and strengthen the corporation’s businesses and profitability.”

James is a seasoned executive with experience in federal contracting, commercial markets, and aerospace. She was previously executive vice president and COO at Calista, responsible for leading and directing federal contracting subsidiaries. James also served as president of Yulista Holding, the Alabama-based aerospace branch of Calista, where she was a part of a team that won a competitive 8(a) contract award valued at over $4 billion. James also served as vice president of business operations and administration for Alaska Aerospace, the state-backed owner and operator of the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island.

James also serves on the boards of nonprofit organizations including Abused Women in Crisis, the Resource Development Council, Alaska Small Business Development Center, and Girl Scouts of Alaska.