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ASRC appoints new chairman

January 6th 7:54 pm | Hannah Heimbuch Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

The Arctic Slope Regional Corporation ushered in 2012 with new leadership by the name of Crawford Patkotak of Barrow. After 12 years of service on the ASRC board, Patkotak was appointed board chairmen on Dec. 13. He replaces former Chairman Jacob Adams, who left ASRC to work with North Slope Borough Mayor Charlotte Brower as Chief Administrative Officer.

"I'm grateful for the vote of confidence from the rest of the ASRC board," Patkotak said. "It really gives me an opportunity to continue to not only work with the board and management but to serve the shareholders of ASRC in a greater capacity. And I believe the experience and working knowledge that I have of ASRC will help me be able to do an effective job."

Along with serving on the board, Patkotak has held a variety of positions at ASRC over the last decade. This includes running the ASRC subsidiary Eskimos Inc., serving as executive vice president for shareholder and community programs and as the board treasurer.

He also served on the city council from 1997 to 2005, worked for the North Slope Borough as a project administrator and spent 11 years on the Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative board.

Patkotak names protecting shareholder interests in a slow economy and offshore drilling decisions the biggest issues facing the board in 2012.

He said the sensitive topic of drilling will require diligence from himself and the board in order to bring the right position to the discussion table.

"I believe it's striking that balance as far as sustaining and protecting our subsistence way of life, while at the same time maximizing the benefits that could be had by our people," he said.

Patkotak said finding that balance will involve continuing the momentum already in motion and relying on the wisdom of the ASRC collective.

"We have a few elders on the board that really provide a lot of good advice and guidance," Patkotak said. "And I really look to them and the rest of the board for that guidance."

Patkotak lives in his hometown of Barrow, where he and his wife Laura raised six children. He said he maintains a positive attitude throughout life's challenges, and this new position is no exception.

"I'm looking forward to working with the board and management and the future challenges of ASRC. Despite the challenges that we are faced with I'm optimistic and I believe that the best days of ASRC are yet to come."

 

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