My name is John Estabrook Jr., and it is my pleasure to serve my fellow Shareholders and Descendants on the CIRI Board of Directors.
I was born and raised and currently reside in Anchorage with my wife and three daughters. I was gifted CIRI shares from my father, who inherited shares from his mother and my grandmother, Clara Gundrum Estabrook. Serving on the CIRI Board of Directors has been a goal of mine for many years, and I’m so grateful to my father for gifting me the shares that allowed me to pursue my dream.
My introduction to CIRI began when I decided to attend college. Scholarships through The CIRI Foundation allowed me to attend a top-notch engineering program without accumulating a pile of student-loan debt. While earning my degree, I worked at CIRI as a summer intern in the Land and Resources department. I learned a lot about our lands and the corporation and how to navigate real-world situations. I believe it is important that CIRI continue to offer its Shareholders and Descendants these types of opportunities.
After beginning my career at Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, I went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage. I currently manage my family’s real-estate portfolio, which includes office, retail and warehouse space. I have served on the Cook Inlet Tribal Council board of directors since 2011 and as chair of the Clare Swan Early Learning Center since 2020. In addition, over the years, I have volunteered with the Native Youth Olympic Games and the CIRI Golf Classic and served as a delegate to the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Like many CIRI Shareholders and Descendants, I grew up in an urban environment. Engaging in subsistence activities like hunting and fishing allows me to stay connected with my culture. My family has a cabin on the Kenai Peninsula, and we especially enjoy dip-netting red salmon during the summer. I mostly captain the boat and clean the fish, but I enjoy watching the chaos and excitement as our girls scoop the salmon out of the water! My hobbies also include reading—biographies, autobiographies and Alaska history, particularly the “Aunt Phil’s Trunk” series, are favorites—and watching my daughters play sports.
My vision for CIRI is a large, successful corporation, known not only in Alaska but nationwide, that provides meaningful distributions and cultural and social opportunities for our family of Shareholders and Descendants. I was elected to the CIRI Board in June 2023, and I am eager to continue my Board service in 2024 and beyond. Thank you for the trust you place in your Board of Directors!
