Aleut Corporation shareholders return all three incumbent directors over six challengers

Aleut Corporation shareholders reelected all three incumbent directors on the ballot Saturday, returning board chair Jenifer Samuelson Nelson, secretary Anthony Lekanof and director Tara Bourdukofsky at the corporation's 54th annual meeting in Bellevue, Washington.

Six challengers ran for the three seats on the nine-member board, Alaska News reported in September. Votes are counted by shares. Samuelson Nelson led with 127,493, followed by Lekanof with 86,734 and Bourdukofsky with 84,092, according to the corporation's posted results.

Julie Toomey, a former executive director of The Aleut Foundation, finished fourth with 58,986. Alexandra Philemonoff, who also placed fourth last year, drew 50,522. John Melovidov had 48,036, Sarah Stepetin 35,701, David Foster 31,036 and Shaun Stark 9,221. About 61% of shares were voted.

Samuelson Nelson began serving on the board in 2008, and Bourdukofsky in 2002. Lekanof was first elected in 2020. Directors serve three-year terms and are paid $2,500 a month.

The corporation's candidate page credited the board's guidance for a "remarkable transformation" over five years, from an $11 million loss in fiscal 2021 to a $37 million profit in fiscal 2024, and record revenue of $415 million in fiscal 2026.

Two challengers argued for more of that growth to reach shareholders and the region. Toomey wrote that Aleut should ensure "shareholder benefits grow at least as fast as our revenue." Melovidov, who leads the Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island's tribal government, wrote: "We must strive to do better at supporting our communities' economies in collaboration with our tribes and village corporations."

Shareholders raised similar questions ahead of the meeting. They asked why dividends don't always rise with profits, whether the $1,000 Elders Distribution will be increased, what directors and executives are paid and why the meeting is held in Washington every three years. The corporation says more than a quarter of its shareholders live in the Seattle area. It says it will post answers to questions raised at the meeting within two weeks.

Starting with next year's election, a board committee will interview every candidate, and the board may label up to three as "Board-Recognized Candidates" in voting materials, based on gaps it sees in the board's skills, according to the corporation's board page. Aleut says the label is for information only and not an endorsement. Its election page says it has no management slate.

The meeting also honored Bonita Babcock of King Cove as Shareholder of the Year and Karen Ravenscroft, a teacher at Akutan School who is working on a master's degree, as Student of the Year.