Carl H. Marrs: Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureate, JA: former CEO and president, CIRI.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: Chief executive officer of Cook Inlet Region Inc. - Cover Story

When Carl H. Marrs first joined Cook Inlet Region Inc. back in 1973, he never imagined that one day he would become its president and CEO. Looking back on his 31-year career at the Native corporation, he credits it with giving him the education he needed to succeed.

"I could have gone to college for 20 years, and I'd never have gotten the experience I got growing up within CIRI," he said. "I was with the company more than half of my life, and I got to work with a great crew--the people there deserve accolades for everything that they have accomplished."

In December 2004, Marrs stepped down as the company's president and CEO. He left behind an organization that in his tenure provided record dividend payouts to shareholders, and fulfilled its commitment to enhancing the social welfare of its people. In addition, he left behind a legacy of talented, determined people who will continue to help CIRI succeed.

"Carl has done so much for this company; it was very sad to see him go," said CIRI Executive Vice President Barbara Donatelli, who has known Marrs for more than 20 years. "He has a unique combination of skills in that he is a visionary who can see what the big picture is. But he also has the substance to sit down with his team and work through the details to make the big picture happen. It's not often you find this mix of skills in the same person.

"Carl also is tremendous at identifying potential in his people and helping them to build on it," she added. "He moves people into positions that they may not realize they are ready for and he encourages them to succeed. As a result, we have strong, capable people working throughout CIRI and its family of organizations."

Marrs knows about living up to potential. Born and raised in Seldovia, at the age of eight, he began commercial fishing in Cook Inlet with a friend of his parents. He later spent two years in the Marine Corps before returning to commercial fishing. "I decided to join CIRI when a position opened up," he said. "I started as a land trainee in 1973, and have since held every position in the company at one time or another."

Though he achieved much at CIRI in his eight years as CEO, he is particularly proud of the company's continued commitment to its shareholders and to the community as a whole. "It is sometimes a double-edged sword for a for-profit company to try to both enhance the economic value for its shareholders and enhance the social value of the community," he said. "But the...