Patty serves as our Sr. Director of Employee Relations, HRIS and HR Operations. This is the second time Patty has been nominated and received the Northwest HR Management Association (NHRMA) award, and it is well-deserved. The award is intended to be a lifetime achievement award honoring individuals who have provided exceptional service and contributions to the human resources field.
Patty grew up in Mazatlán, a beach town on the Mexican Riviera and is the oldest of four siblings, raised to appreciate family, loyalty, ethics and lifelong education. She met her husband when he was visiting Mazatlán from the US, and they have been married for 30 years.
Patty attended the University of Alaska, Anchorage, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. Her values of family, love and respect for others closely mirror those of the Alaska Native corporations she has worked for throughout her 20-year career.
Over the past 12 years at NANA, Patty’s work ethic, exceptional performance and reputation earned her multiple NANA Hunter Awards. This award represents an Iñupiaq hunter moving toward a successful future in a vast, beautiful and sometimes harsh world. Having worked in HR for decades, she continues to demonstrate her skills and knowledge while working through challenges and nurturing relationships within the NANA community and beyond. Patty has an undeniable passion for helping others grow and encourages people to pursue their dreams.
Patty’s role in the community does not stop with NANA. She has served on the Anchorage Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) board in many roles for the past 22 years, including President and received the Professional of the Year Award in 2022. She is also a leader in her Homeowners Association, where she has made an impact using her management skills to forge a path to recovery after the 2018 earthquake and the damage caused to her fellow homeowners.
She has a wealth of knowledge in the HR field and actively looks for opportunities to grow and more innovative ways, like using generative AI and industry trends, to strengthen the HR team at NANA.
“The human resources profession and NANA are fortunate to have individuals with the characteristics that Patty Hickok represents. She is a true representation of our Inupiaq Ilitqusiat, which are our NANA values. The values she strongly represents are hard work, respect and lots of humor.” “This is a huge accomplishment, and we are proud to have Patty on the NANA team,” said Dana Tuimalealiifano. V.P. of Human Resources, NANA Regional Corporation.
You can find Patty outside of the office at the gym, walking her dogs, reading, or on her next travel adventure. She loves watching sports and has a passion for photography and video editing. Proud parents of four rescue pets, Patty enters her dogs in costume contests, where they are reigning champions.
Please join us in congratulating Patty on winning the NHRMA Distinguished Member Award!
Watch Patty’s NHRMA award acceptance video here.