Andrew Guy
President/Chief Executive Officer
Born and raised in Napaskiak, Alaska, Andrew grew up speaking Yup’ik and learned English like many other children when they were sent away to school. Years later, he started as an intern at a Calista Corporation subsidiary doing research and financial analyses. He earned a degree in business administration from University of Alaska Fairbanks and went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law. He served on the Board of Directors and also worked as the Vice President of Yulista Management Services. He then joined Calista’s executive team as general counsel, involving him in the corporation’s contract negotiations and business enterprises. Andrew Guy was promoted by the Board of Directors to President/CEO of Calista in 2010, 26 years after first serving as an intern.
Kathy Moran
Chief Financial Officer
As the Chief Financial Officer at Calista, Kathy Moran is responsible for financial operations, oversight and advising on financial matters. She began her career in public accounting before overseeing financial operations for companies in a variety of industries including Alaskan Native Corporations. Most recently she served as CFO at Goldbelt, Inc. before coming to Calista Corporation. Kathy earned a BS in Accounting from Virginia Tech.
Walter Featherly
General Counsel
Walter Featherly is General Counsel at Calista Corporation. Previously, he had regularly counseled executives and boards of directors on matters related to corporate law and governance, the ANCSA, ANILCA, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, government contracting, labor and employment, finance, and real estate. Walter has also assisted Alaska Native Corporations and tribal-owned businesses to navigate the laws and regulations of the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) subcontracting and teaming opportunities.
Walter earned a BA from St. John’s College in New Mexico, and JD from Harvard Law School. Following law school, Walter returned to Alaska and has practiced law in Anchorage ever since.
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 received a graduate certificate in Alaska Native Executive Leadership at Alaska Pacific University in 2023. In 2021, she was named a Native American 40 Under 40 by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.
Kathy Benedetti
VP of Human Resources
Kathy Benedetti brings over 25 years of combined operations and human resource leadership experience from various sectors. She is responsible for the compliance of Calista Corporate Human Resource policies, programs and services, and ensuring they are aligned with Calista’s corporate goals and shared HR services to Calista’s holding lines. Kathy has worked in the oil & gas sector, construction, government services, technology and hospitality. A born and raised Alaskan with a love and respect for its diverse geography, culture and people, she understands the need to adapt quickly to change and to never stop learning. Kathy completed a Geography program at Winona State University and later obtained her HRCI certification.
Terrance Pearson
Chief Information Officer
Terrance Pearson has over 28 years of experience in telecommunications and information technology. At Calista, he is responsible for establishing the vision, strategy and systems to ensure the compliant, secure and effective user experience as it relates to IT infrastructure. Terrance previously served as the Systems and Communications Division Manager at Municipal Light & Power, an enterprise of the Municipality of Anchorage. He earned a BS in Engineering Design from East Tennessee State University.
Thom Aparuk Leonard
VP of Corporate Affairs
Thom Aparuk Leonard oversees Calista’s daily communications activities such as the website, newsletters, 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 graduated from Alaska Pacific University with an Executive MBA in Information Technology and a graduate certificate in APU’s Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program.
Alba Brice
Director, Business Development
Alba Brice’s primary role is to foster Calista’s relationship with Donlin Gold, maximize opportunities for Calista subsidiaries and Shareholders, and promote Calista’s rural energy priorities within the Region. Prior to working at Calista, Alba maintained executive roles at Brice Companies. Born in Fairbanks, Alba earned a BA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and enjoys downhill skiing and ice hockey.
Miranda Strong
Director of Government Relations
Miranda Strong manages Calista’s government relations program. She has worked as an attorney advising on political law in private practice; as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Associate General Counsel for Bering Straits Native Corporation; and as an Assistant Attorney General, Tribal Liaison and Special Assistant on Alaska Native matters at the State of Alaska. Her article on Alaska Native subsistence rights was published in The Alaska Law Review.
Miranda holds a JD from the University of Washington and an MPA from the University of Alaska Southeast. Born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula, Miranda enjoys biking, snowmachining, and skate skiing.