Episode 3 - Calista

Calista Corporation is an Alaska Native Regional Corporation, aiming to create economic opportunities for Alaska Native Shareholders in Southwest Alaska. Calista provided an overview of the Donlin Gold project and its impact on the Kuskokwim region, including the impact on subsistence.

The presentation was followed by a question and answer period. The episode was recorded on January 19th, 2022.

Thom Leonard
Director, Corporate Communications and Shareholder Services

Thom oversees Calista’s public and corporate communications activities, and public relations. Thom also directs Shareholder services including stock management, distributions, enrollment, stock wills, the annual meeting, and more. Before joining Calista in 2010, Thom’s career in communications included working for a multi-billion dollar corporation, small businesses, and a nonprofit. A Calista Shareholder born in the Calista Region, he spent many summers on the Yukon River delta. 

Thom received his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University and is attending Alaska Pacific University, pursuing an Executive MBA in Information Technology after earning a graduate certificate in APU’s Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program.

Tisha Kuhns
VP of Land and Natural Resources

Tisha Kuhns was appointed Vice President of Land and Natural Resources in 2019 after serving for three years as a geologist in Calista’s Land and Natural Resources Department. Before joining Calista, she worked for 12 years with the Donlin Gold Project in geology and water quality baseline management.

At Calista, Tisha is responsible for the management of Calista land and natural resources to achieve Calista Corporation’s goals of financial success. She provides technical advice concerning economic minerals, land issues and coordination with industry and government agencies. Tisha is a Calista Shareholder born and raised in Bethel and Homer, Alaska. She earned her BS in Geology from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon.

Tisha currently serves on the governor-appointed Alaska Minerals Commission and the Alaska Miners Association’s Board of Directors and is pursuing a graduate certificate in Alaska Native Executive Leadership at Alaska Pacific University. In 2021, she was named a Native American 40 Under 40 by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.