Who We Are

Sitnasuak Native Corporation (SNC) was incorporated under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) as a Native Village Corporation in 1971 and is now the largest of the 16 village corporations in the Bering Straits Region with over 1200 employees, and 15 active subsidiaries. Our subsidiary services include fuel storage, sales & delivery services, real estate management & development, title & escrow real estate services, manufacturing, and retail, which span over seven industries throughout the United States.

Directed by an 11-member Board, SNC continually works to grow into a thriving, successful organization, adapting in ways that benefit customers and shareholders alike.

Our Executive Staff

Charles (Buzz) Fagerstrom
CEO
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Charles (Buzz) Fagerstrom

Charles E. Fagerstrom is Iñupiaq, with family roots in Nome and the Bering Strait region. A Sitnasuak Shareholder, he joined the corporation as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after serving as a Board Director for 3 years.  Mr. Fagerstrom brings to the organization over 20 years of progressive and diverse experience in health care as well as leading large scale improvement efforts and business development. He previously worked for Alaska Native Tribal Heath Consortium (ANTHC) and Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA) where he was responsible for leading rural hospital and long-term care centers, business development for residential psychiatric treatment centers and multi-hospital actuarial studies. 

Mr. Fagerstrom holds a bachelor's degree in Business Finance from Seattle Pacific University, a master’s degree in Health Services Administration and Planning from the University of Hawaii, and a master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Colorado.  He is heavily involved in organizations such as Alaska Village Initiatives and Alaska Native Village Corporations Association where he works to promote the success of Sitnasuak and protection of its lands. 

Heather Spear-Morris
Vice President, Human Resources
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Heather Spear-Morris

Heather Spear-Morris joined Sitnasuak as the Vice President, Human Resources in 2018 to oversee and develop the Human Resources functions for the corporation and its subsidiary companies including Bonanza Fuel, Bonanza Express, Nanuaq, LLC, Fidelity Title Agency of Alaska and Mat-Su Title Agency. 

Mrs. Spear-Morris has over 22 years of experience in Human Resources, primarily with Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and utility companies on the East Coast. She recently worked fifteen years with Calista Corporation in Human Resource Development including Shareholder training and development, benefits administration, collective bargaining negotiations, and supporting high performing teams to work effectively. Mrs. Spear-Morris currently serves as the Board Secretary for the Alaska Process Industry Career Consortium (APICC), President of the Business and Professional Women – Chinook Chapter, and Board Chair of Maritime Works. 

Lesli Smith
Chief Financial Officer
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Lesli Smith

Serving Sitnasuak in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer since February 2020, Lesli Smith has worked for the corporation since 1997.  She graduated in 1991 from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  Ms. Smith obtained her certified public accountant (CPA) license in Alaska while working for the accounting firm KPMG in Anchorage.  She moved to Nome in 1996 and worked for Norton Sound Health Corporation before she accepted the position of Controller at Sitnasuak in 1997. 

Brittany Brown
Director, Marketing & Communications
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Brittany Brown

Brittany Brown joined Sitnasuak Native Corporation (SNC) as Director of Marketing and Communications June 2022.  Ms. Brown comes to the organization with over 11 years of experience in Public and Community Relations to lead and grow its communications and marketing initiatives.  

After graduating from the University of Alaska Anchorage with her bachelor's degree in Business Administration and then with her master’s degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University, Ms. Brown served in a variety of public relations and community development roles across the State of Alaska, including work with Fortune 500 oil & gas industry leaders, Regional and Village Native Corporations as well as state and federal government.  She began her professional journey as a Shareholder Relations Intern at SNC and over the last decade has worked with several organizations establishing a reputation for building and maintaining strong, trusting relationships with communities and industry professionals to develop and promote shared visions and mutual benefits. 

Ms. Brown has served on both the Alaska Native Professionals Association and Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council Board of Directors where she worked to increase regional economic growth and build local community involvement.