The Board of Commissioners of Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA) unanimously selected Ricardo Worl for President and CEO. Worl currently serves THRHA as Vice President of Tribal Service and Loans overseeing the Loan Department, Grants Administration, and tribal housing programs. Worl has been with the housing authority for 14 years.

Current President/CEO, Dr. Blake Kazama, who has served as head of THRHA since 1998 is set to retire April 30, 2012.

“We extend our deep appreciation to Dr. Kazama and wish him the best in his retirement”, said Joe Williams, Chairman of the THRHA Board of Commissioners. “He has served the people of Southeast Alaska well. We have great confidence that Mr. Worl will continue this work and effectively meet the challenges of creating quality housing opportunities in Southeast Alaska.”

Worl is a member of the Shangukweidi (Thunderbird) Clan from the village of Klukwan. Ricardo is from the Kawdliyaayi Hit, or "House Lowered From the Sun", and is Lukwaxadi Yadi (a child of the Sockeye Clan). His Tlingit name is Gaachxweinaa. 

Prior to Worl’s service at THRHA, he was an Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer with National Bank of Alaska. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1984, he and his family founded the “Alaska Native Magazine”, a monthly publication featuring articles on Alaska Native Corporations as well as research the on social and economic issues impacting Alaska’s more than 200 remote Native communities. After the magazine, Worl worked at Sealaska Corporation as the Assistant Director of Corporate Communications until the opportunity to work as a Legislative Staff person for Senator Jerry Mackie of the Alaska State Legislature.

Worl is active in the community coaching Native Youth Olympics and coordinating with the Dartmouth Admissions Office to set up student interviews for the entire state of Alaska, serving on an Advisory Board for the City & Borough of Juneau, and teaching Junior Achievement classes. Worl and his wife Lisa have two children.

THRHA is the largest provider and developer of affordable housing in Southeast Alaska. With annual revenues of more than $21 million, net assets of over $62 million located in 14 communities, and oversight of more than 800 units, THRHA serves close to 2,000 residents, both Native and non-Native, each year. THRHA is a licensed general contractor conducting its own construction, is a certified Community Development Financial Institution, provides direct mortgage financing and loan servicing, is the region’s largest developer of Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties, and will provide weatherization and energy improvements to...