Kootznoowoo Appoints Atuk as President & CEO
Deborah J. Atuk has joined Kootznoowoo as its new President & CEO.
Atuk replaces Hal Dreyer who came to Kootznoowoo in April of 2017 as a consultant tasked with evaluating the organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Prior to joining Kootznoowoo, since 2016, Atuk served as a portfolio specialist and institutional relationship manager for SkyView Investment Advisors in New York City where her focus was on serving the unique needs of Alaska Native and American Indian clients. Previously, she was the treasurer of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation in North Carolina and director of business development at the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation in Eastern Washington. Atuk also serves as treasurer of the Board of Directors for Bering Straits Native Corporation. Originally from Nome, Atuk is Iñupiaq. She earned an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Atuk began her career in finance and worked in Chicago as an investment banker at ABN-AMRO and later SG Cowen.
In addition to the BSNC Board, Atuk also serves on the board of the Kissaq Kingikmiuruguqtuat, an Alaskan non-profit established to preserve and revitalize the Wales dialect of Iñupiaq.
Current Issue
January 2026
Private Infrastructure Funding Team Builds a Case for Port MacKenzie Rail Project
Alaska Gasline Development Corporation signs with two Australian firms to make a case for completing Port MacKenzie Rail Extension.
907 Sweet Treats Selling Honey via Vending Machine
The Midtown Mall in Anchorage is home to a new vending machine packed with honey, tea, and candles sold by 907 Sweet Treats.
Evans Becomes North Pacific Fisheries Management Council’s Fifth Executive Director
The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council promoted Diana Evans to become the federal regulatory panel’s fifth-ever Executive Director.
We’re honored again this year to celebrate our partnership with Junior Achievement of Alaska, a nonprofit that educates local youth about enterprise, business, money, and financial literacy. In the special section, three Junior Achievement of Alaska students weigh in on their experience with the exceptional volunteers and teachers involved with the program.
And in Industry Support, we explore the range of varied services that industry in Alaska requires, from mancamps to spill response to off-grid energy solutions.
Outside the special sections, make sure to check out the 2026 Economic forecast, where Alaska leaders share their insights on what may lie ahead in the coming year. Enjoy!