Robert has been told his name means “A Good Man,” though he’s unsure about the spelling. Born in Minnesota, his family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, when he was 6 years old. Family and community have shaped his life. He met his wife, Lizzie Ann Reich, ‘Akpayuk’ of Kotzebue, in Chugiak in 1993. The couple made […]
Company
Kara Cronan – Shareholder Spotlight
Kara Cronan, known by her Iñupiaq name “Tati,” serves as the Assistant Corporate Controller at NMS. Originally from Eagle River, Alaska, Kara has strong roots in the NANA region. Her mother, Sandy Baker, works in IT at NANA North, and her grandfather, James “Jim” Hayes, played a pivotal role in Kotzebue’s telecommunications history—bringing the first […]
Robin Wade Celebrates 25 Years with NMS
Robin Wade’s career with NMS spans 25 years of growth, leadership, and dedication. She joined NMS as a Patient Services Manager at the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC), a role that quickly led to new opportunities. She stepped in as General Manager for the Alaska Railroad dining services contract, then advanced to General Manager at […]
Cathleen Mala – Shareholder Spotlight
Cathleen ‘Utauyaq’ Mala is the Director of Operations for Camp Services. She is the daughter of Harvey and Vernita Vestal, from Kotzebue and Selawik, respectively. Cathleen was raised with the same Iñupiat values and subsistence lifestyle her parents grew up with, learning early on to work hard to provide for her family and help others. […]
Grace ‘Igluguq’ Graves – NANA Shareholder Spotlight
Raised between a small town in Iowa and Kotzebue, Grace ‘Igluguq’ Graves grew up with her grandparents, Richard and Grace (Wells) Graves. Her mother hailed from Noorvik. Igluguq, named after her Auntie Mildred Sampson, now resides in Waterloo, Iowa, with her husband of 19 years, Mike, and their beloved cats, Sassy and Sunny, affectionately called […]
Celebrating Exceptional Courage: James Webb Saves a Life at Alpine Camp
In the high-stakes environment of the oil and gas industry, ensuring the safety and well-being of all personnel is paramount. At NMS, we take immense pride in our team members who exemplify our commitment to these values. Today, we want to spotlight one such individual whose actions have profoundly impacted our community. Meet James Webb […]