Calista Corporation announces 2018 Annual Meeting Results

by Thom Leonard

44th Meeting Held in Bethel on July 6.
Calista (cha-LIS-tuh) Corporation Shareholders reelected three directors and elected a new director to the Board. Additionally, the one resolution up for vote passed. A total of 56 percent of all outstanding shares voted. Over 60 percent of votes were cast online at calistavote.com. These results were certified by the Inspector of Elections, Sramek-Hightower.
Four board seats were up for election this year. Myron Naneng, Sr., JoAnn Werning and Robert Beans were all voted back into office for Administrative Units 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Marcie Sherer was elected to the At-Large Administrative Unit. Each elected Director serves a three-year term.
Calista Shareholder votes solely decide Board elections. In 2013, discretionary voting of non-directed votes was eliminated. Non-directed votes are now spread evenly across all candidates for office.
The sole resolution to establish an Alaska Native Settlement Trust passed. Yes votes for this resolution totaled 90 percent. Calista has distributed over $61.4 million in dividends and Elders’ Benefit distributions since inception, all non-taxable. Calista dividends were estimated to become taxable in 2021 once total dividends exceeded the monetary settlement from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. Calista received $80 million from that settlement.
This was the first Calista Annual Meeting with expanded enrollment. A total of 39 percent of voting Shareholders are 18-39 years old, and the remaining are 40 years or older.
The Board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting in late July. Board officers will be elected at this meeting.
About Calista
The second largest of the original 13 Alaska Native Corporations, Calista Corporation was established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 and represents approximately 25,600 Shareholders. The Calista Region encompasses more than 6.5 million acres and includes 56 villages, which are incorporated into 46 individual village corporations. Since 1994, Calista has provided more than $4.6 million in scholarships to its Shareholders and Descendants. Since inception, Calista has declared more than $55.6 million in dividends and $5.7 million in Elders’ Benefit Program distributions to Shareholders.
Calista Corporation is the parent company of more than 30 subsidiaries in the following industries: military defense contracting, construction, real estate, environmental and natural resource development, marine transportation, oil field services and heavy equipment sales, service and rentals.
Thom Aparuk Leonard is the Communications & Public Relations Manager for the Calista Corporation.