John L Hastie III, was born and raised in Bethel, Alaska.  At 11 years old, entering the eighth grade he left home to attend the Marine Military Academy, in Harlingen, Texas.  At 17 years old, he was a Licensed Private Pilot and was part of the Class of 1999. He was as a Cadet Lieutenant and member of the Battalion Staff, responsible for almost 500 cadets.

Johnny then attended Purdue University and studied Political Science, Aviation Management, and Organizational Leadership.  At Purdue he participated in the Purdue Automotive Performance Association, Purdue Motorcycle Alliance, Purdue Pilots Incorporated, College Mentors for Kids.  John was a proud member of the US Marine Officer Program at Purdue and trained to be become a Marine Officer.  John earned his Bachelor of Science from Purdue’s School of Technology in 2004.

After Purdue he returned home to work for the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Human Resources.  YKHC provided him a scholarship through college as he had been working summers there since 1999.  John had been a HR Technician and was hired as the Compensation and Benefits Manager.  Although he quickly learned that he wasn’t designed to sit in an office behind a computer, he had accomplished some great projects to include introduction of a new HR Information System and restructured the Compensation and Benefits Program.

John was offered an opportunity in 2005 to get into the aviation industry as an Aircraft Dispatcher.  After 5 years working for Hageland Aviation / Ravn Alaska, he had worked every job in the Station.  John worked his way up to the Station and Operations Manager.  During this tenure we has helped to build one of the greatest Part 135 Air Charter Airlines in Alaska history.  John helped with the evolution of Hageland Aviation, Arctic Circle Air, Frontier Flying Service, Frontier Alaska, Era Alaska, which is now Ravn Alaska.

John III, was recruited by Alaska Airlines in 2010 to be the Station Manager in Bethel.  He learned a lot at Alaska Airlines and was grateful for the opportunity.  Lots of training.  Lots of doing things the Alaska Airlines way.  He learned that corporate culture wasn’t for him.  The khakis and button ups and dealing with people clawing their way up the corporate ladder wasn’t of interest.

In 2013, he went to work for the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and helped to run the Bethel Airport.  John became a Certified Manager with the American Association of Airport Executives, a Certified Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter, earned his Commercial Drivers License and learned to operate Heavy Equipment.  During this time he earned his Real Estate License to start growing that part of his business.

John then had the opportunity in 2016 to help build schools in our remote villages.  His grandfather helped to do the same as a carpenter in the 1960's and 70’s and this opportunity was somewhat of a calling.  John worked for Bethel Services Incorporated first as a Laborer and Material Handler.  He worked up into Heavy Equipment and eventually Foreman and Temporary Superintendent.  He and his team built the new schools in Napaskiak and Kwethluk; remote villages along the Kuskokwim River in Western Alaska.

After having a complete fill of commuting to the villages every day for work, no matter the weather conditions (boat or jet ski, snowmobile or ATV, truck or airplane), John had applied for a random position at  the Association of Village Council Presidents in 2019. 

John was asked to take on the responsibility of the Director of Facilities, Fleet, and Safety and was responsible for 5 different properties in Bethel including 30 vehicles, and the Safety and Security of hundreds of staff.  He took on major renovation projects and improvements to the aging buildings.  His team accomplished a major conversion of hotel and restaurant space to office space.  He restructured vehicle fleet management.  He built safety and security programs that were very much needed.

After significant improvements and major projects accomplished John was asked to continue work as a Lease Manager in the Legal Department at AVCP in 2022.  In this role he was responsible for managing 60 leases across two river systems in an area the size of Oregon in Western Alaska.  During this project we started the process of evaluating the condition of our leased space and buildings and presenting the results of these inspections to our shareholders.  After successfully managing these properties and informing those invested of the challenges faced with aging properties, in 2024 John decided to focus on his own business.

John Hastie and Company has evolved over the past 30 years from providing basic court and courier services, back ground investigations and fingerprinting to what I call “ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE”.  We have evolved into a FULL SERVICE Real Estate Company.  As a licensed Real Estate Salesperson with the State of Alaska John Hastie can help you buy and sell and manage real estate.  As a licensed Residential General Contractor John Hastie can help you build, renovate, and repair your property.  We operate short and long term rental properties across Alaska.  We provide Property Evaluations and Price Opinions anywhere we can access in the State of Alaska.

John has recently been fulfulling lifelong goals and recently renewed my involvement in the Bethel Fire Department and its Volunteer arm, BVESA.  He was elected as the Vice President of the Bethel Volunteer Emergency Services Association.  He re-Certified as an Emergency Trauma Technician.  John earned my Fire Fighter 1 Certification.  He also became more involved in developing our volunteer program and helped to drive community involvement.  John worked as a volunteer quite actively on ambulance and fire calls, as well as training and development.

After numerous starts and stops over the years, John finally wrapped up his Instrument Flight Rating and Commercial Pilot License.  Although he has been heavily involved in aviation, and has been a Private Pilot and aircraft owner, he never pursued Professional Piloting.  Now John is fully licensed to work as a Professional Pilot.

John has committed to living life more and getting out and having more experiences.  He have accumulated many skills and many tools.  Now it’s time to get out there and use them.  For work and pleasure now is time to live.