Cheryl Sands
Cheryl Sands
General Managerphone
(907) 201-0073Biography
As CEO of Gana-A’Yoo, Limited, Dena M. Sommer-Pedebone is responsible for working with the Board of Directors to set the overall direction of the Gana-A’Yoo Family of Companies and provide leadership to its senior management team. Dena has been with Gana-A’Yoo since 2018.
Prior to her position as CEO of her village corporation, Dena worked for Alyeska Pipeline and tribal organizations in the Cook Inlet and Doyon regions. Dena graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Business Management with leadership honors. She has completed graduation certificate programs in executive leadership at Alaska Pacific University and Cornell University.
Dena serves on the board of directors for the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, and is a founder and director of College Prep Athletics, she is passionate about providing opportunities to Alaska student-athletes who may not have the resources necessary to achieve their potential. Dena was named a 2013 recipient of the Alaska Journal of Commerce’s “Top 40 Under 40” award.
Dena is Koyukon Athabascan and is an enrolled member of the Nulato tribe. She was born in Fairbanks and raised on the Yukon River. She is married to Macoy Pedebone, and they have two daughters, Austyn and Sunny.