The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has named Alexa Tonkovich as its new executive director. She succeeds Michael Cerne, who left the post in July. Since his departure, the organization was temporarily led Ray Riutta, its former executive director.
The announcement of Tonkovich’s appointment was made by ASMI Board Chairman Barry Collier during a reception for attendees of the Institute’s annual “All Hands On Deck” meeting in Anchorage.
Alexa Tonkovich has assumed the helm of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.“I’m very excited to be leading ASMI,” said Tonkovich, who most recently served as the organization’s international director. “We certainly have some challenges facing us, but it’s also a very exciting time for Alaska Seafood both domestically and around the world.”
In her previous post Tonkovich oversaw ASMI’s $8 million overseas marketing programs in nearly 21 countries, helping develop markets for exports of Alaska seafood, which accounted for roughly 70% of the value of fishery products harvested by the state’s fishermen last year. She was instrumental in developing new markets in Brazil, Southeast Asia and the Philippines.
Tonkovich, who lives in Juneau, holds a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies from Colgate University. She has worked for ASMI since 2009.
The Institute has been operating with a $22 million annual budget, which is funded with industry and state sources plus matching federal funds from USDA’s Market Access Program for the international program. Budget cuts are expected next year, however, due to lower revenues collected by the government as market prices for crude oil have declined.
