Update April 6, 2018: In an interview with KYUK, Executive Director Ron Hoffman confirmed that he has tendered his resignation. After years of public service, he plans to go back into retirement.
The Orutsararmiut Native Council is looking to hire a new Executive Director, but the organization won’t answer any questions about why, or even whether, their current director is leaving.
ONC hired Ron Hoffman to serve as Executive Director of the federally-recognized tribal organization in November of 2016. The tribe started publicly advertising for a new director about three weeks ago, posting flyers in the Bethel Cultural Center and Bethel Native Corporation building and encouraging residents to apply for Hoffman’s job.
When contacted by KYUK, ONC would not confirm that Hoffman is leaving. A spokeswoman for the council said that she wouldn’t answer questions about him, and Hoffman himself did not respond to KYUK’s emails. When KYUK called ONC with further questions, our reporter was hung up on three different times.
According to ONC’s job posting, community members interested in serving as their new Executive Director should submit their resume and a letter of introduction to the council’s attorney, Jim Valcarce. All applications must be received by April 30.