Project Manager, Kuparuk
When Wes Walters moved to Alaska in 2010, he and his wife sold everything they owned, trusting he’d find steady work to support their young family. DUS gave him that chance — and more than a decade later, Wes has grown from an entry-level cook to managing one of the largest facility operations on the North Slope.
He quickly stepped into management roles and assumed a variety of responsibilities as contracts evolved. “I didn’t know everything when I came up here, but I stayed open to learning and had mentors who believed in me,” he says. He credits Kim Sanderson and Corey Parent for encouraging him to see his potential. “If you do good work with good intentions, DUS does everything they can to take care of you.”
Today, Wes views leadership primarily as a people-oriented endeavor. “Managing projects is only part of it — you’ve got to care about your team. If they succeed, you succeed.” He sets the tone on safety through daily interactions and leads by example. His advice for others is simple: “Be open to feedback, do the work, and stay positive. If you do that, you’ll get noticed — I’m proof of it.”