OFF THE CUFF McHugh Pierre.

Coming from Wasilla, the career of a professional surfer didn't make sense to McHugh Pierre, much as he wished it could. Instead, he followed another dream. He studied journalism at UAA and worked in TV news. Covering public issues led to an interest in government, so he joined the communications office of then-Governor Frank Murkowski. After running his own public relations firm, Quantum Communications, Pierre was hired by the urban Native corporation for Juneau, Goldbelt, Inc., in 2015. Within five years he was elevated to CEO. Now he oversees 1,500 employees across various business sectors.

Goldbelt is heavily invested in tourism, operating the only aerial tramway in Southeast Alaska, which carries visitors 1,800 feet up into the rainforest. When asked if tourists would come to Juneau without intensive marketing, Pierre simply indicates the view from his porch in Douglas, looking across Gastineau Channel to cruise ships docked under a welcoming sunny sky. Totally rad, surfers might say.

Alaska Business: What do you do in your free time? McHugh Pierre: I really like to seek adventure. I love to downhill ski. I love to ride my motorcycle.

AB: Is there a skill you're currently developing or have always wanted to learn?

Pierre: No there isn't... [but] Every day I work on being thankful for the day that I'm given. I don't know that that's a skill.

AB: What's the most daring thing you've ever done?

Pierre: The most daring thing in the eyes of everybody is skydiving... More importantly, the most daring thing to me is speaking truth to power. Anytime you're in a position where you have...