Bering Straits promotes a shareholder into its executive ranks

Bering Straits Native Corporation has promoted Brittany Daletas, a shareholder from Nome, to vice president of operations — a move that's small on its own but points at something Alaska Native corporations have long worked toward: growing their own shareholders into the people who run them.

That matters because of what ANCs are for. Created to benefit Alaska Native shareholders, the corporations have historically leaned on outside professionals to fill their top ranks, and moving shareholders and their descendants into executive roles — not just onto the dividend list — has been a stated goal and a real challenge across the industry.

Daletas brings the résumé for it: more than a decade in operations and business performance, a business degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a master's in industrial distribution from Texas A&M.

In the new post, she'll focus on operational improvement and building the structures for growth across the company. Daletas is the daughter of Martin and Janette Brown of Nome.