Sealaska Board Names Richard Tashee Rinehart as board chair

Sealaska Board Names Richard Tashee Rinehart as board chair

Leadership decision emphasize value for shareholders, Southeast Alaska

Sealaska’s board of directors made Richard Tashee Rinehart the company’s new board chair during Thursday’s board meeting in Klawock. The board also appointed Terry Downes, current CEO of Sealaska business arm Woocheen, as Sealaska’s CEO. Joe Kaaxúxgu Nelson will continue in the role of interim president until a new president is hired. “This is an exciting time for Sealaska’s growth. We are looking forward to new leadership under Richard and for an open recruitment for president” says board Vice Chair Jodi Mitchell.  

Rinehart has served on Sealaska’s board since 2013 and has 38 years of experience as a business executive and entrepreneur, including 20 years in private industry. He said the board enthusiastically named Downes as CEO. 

“Sealaska’s business focus on ocean health is deeply rooted in our values and thousands of years living in harmony with the oceans, forests and communities of Southeast Alaska,” Rinehart said. “Under Terry’s leadership, we have built a global business that is fostering health for people and planet – and that is well positioned to directly benefit the region of Southeast Alaska. Terry is the right leader to ensure Sealaska’s activities continue to help shareholders and communities long-term.”

Sealaska’s operating EBITDA has grown nearly fivefold since 2018, with expansion in both its sustainable seafood business and in a collection of businesses focused on Earth sciences that advance clean energy and climate research.

“Our emphasis on ocean health was always a full-circle idea,” Rinehart said. “Now is the time to bring it back home.”

The Sealaska board of directors thanks Joe Nelson for his 10 years of service as board chair and acknowledges his amazing contributions to the organization.

Established in 1972, Sealaska is the Alaska Native regional corporation for Southeast Alaska. Its 26,000 shareholders are Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people with more than 10,000 years of history in Southeast Alaska.