Alaska Business Monthly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Alaska open imaging center grows to meet medical need: AOIC offers patients and physicians an alternative to hospital-based serv
For many years, Alaskans who needed medical imaging services have had to travel to the state's urban centers, or even out of state, to have these diagnostic procedures performed. Services such as ma . . .

Perseverance pays off for director of funeral homes: businessman who got 'trumped' bounces back to run successful company.
Think Donald Trump's tough? Timothy Wisniewski's grandfather fired him not once-but twice. Call it philosophical differences. "My business philosophy always differed greatly from that of my gran . . .

Agrium and Southcentral communities to benefit from Kenai Blue Sky project: new coal-gasification facility to provide long-term
For almost 40 years, Agrium has been making and exporting fertilizer from its nitrogen facility located on the Kenai Peninsula. As natural gas supplies have begun to diminish, however, the company h . . .

Education programs abound to fill shortage of construction workers: the average construction worker makes upward of $60,000 a ye
Not so many years ago, the notion that Alaska was facing a shortage of construction workers was, like global warming, not universally accepted as a call to action. Today, several regions of the stat . . .

Boom and bust? How about steady and stable? Anchorage boasts nearly two decades of uninterrupted job growth.
The end of 2006 marked the completion of 18 years of uninterrupted job growth for the Anchorage economy, a claim few cities in the world can make. In January 2007, the Anchorage Economic Development . . .

Seniors in Alaska: the economic factor: they provide revenue to the state, while getting tax breaks to stay here.
When Norma Cooper turned 60 and was ready to move away from Buffalo, N.Y., she headed north, instead of south. Cooper, now 78, had a son living in Alaska. "I came up to visit him one summer, and t . . .

All Breed Dog Show seeks best of the best: hundreds drawn to Anchorage to show their purebred dogs.(Alaska This Month)
They pose, strut and glide, exhibiting their best qualities in brief moments before onlookers and the judges. If the lights, judging and attention get a little hot, some even pant-their tongues loll . . .

January calendar.(Calendar)
ANCHORAGE 3-14 The Crystal Gallery of Ice Exhibition Watch the artists in Town Square as they carve magnificent wonders from ice. Then enjoy the sculpted ice illuminate with color. For more info . . .

2007 forecast for Alaska's key industries: business leaders predict healthy climate for corporate Alaska.
As we get ready to close the door on the first decade of this millennium and begin looking ahead in the new year, it might be fun to gaze into the corporate crystal ball with many of Alaska's key bu . . .

Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureate: Helvi Sandvik: this NANA Development Corp. leader fulfills dreams of y
With a resume to envy, and a spirit to match. Helvi Sandvik, president of NANA Development Corp., stands out as a remarkable person as well as an informed businesswoman. If the idea of the Junior Ac . . .

Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureate: Betsy Lawer: hardworking banker chooses to follow in her father's foot
Betsy Lawer learned the banking business in the "trenches." As a girl. she often accompanied her father, Daniel Cuddy, on Saturday morning calls to First National Bank of Anchorage customers. (The b . . .

Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureate: Carence Kramer: a man of many talents and achievements, he had his roo
When Clarence F. Kramer died on Dec. 4, 1978, he left behind a legacy of leadership and innovation in the Alaska logging industry. He succeeded in his endeavors despite many setbacks, the first of w . . .

Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureate: Ron Duncan: his first business enterprise was selling candy to the oth
Being nominated for the Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame is an "inspiring" experience for Ron Duncan, president, CEO and co-founder of General Communications Inc. Not only does it hon . . .

Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureates: Ron Cosgrave Bruce Kennedy.(JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SPECIAL SECTION)
It is nearly impossible to see the "smiling Eskimo" logo of Alaska Airlines and not think of the two men responsible for the company's legendary revitalization: Ron Cosgrave and Bruce Kennedy. Cos . . .

Junior Achievement Donor Category Report: (11/2/2006).
Junior Achievement Donor Category Report (11/2/2006) Platinum Plus Investors--($10,000.00 +) Alaska Business Monthly Allstate Foundation Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Atwood Foundati . . .

Alaska Business Hall of Fame Past laureates (1987-2006).(Brief article)
Alaska Business Hall of Fame Past Laureates (1987-2006) DON ABEL, JR., 1996 JACOB ADAMS, 2002 BILL ALLEN, 1995 BOB & BETTY ALLEN, 2001 ELEANOR ANDREWS, 2001 ROBERT ATWOOD, 1988 BERNARD . . .

Junior Achievement inspires children to learn about free enterprise: keeping America the strongest economic force in the world w
Junior Achievement of Alaska's 21st Annual Alaska Business Hall of Fame unites the Alaska community to honor outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the Alaska economy and . . .

Keller Williams Realty enters Alaska.(REAL ESTATE)
Keller Williams Realty has expanded its network to the Anchorage area with the recent opening of Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group. The office will be led by Matt Dimmick, operating principal in t . . .

They got their cake and ate it, too.(CONGRATULATIONS)
Olgoonik Corp., which placed 28th on the 2006 Top 49ers List, celebrated by making a cake featuring the cover of the magazine and the plaque given to them honoring them for being one of the leading . . .

Copper Valley Wireless installs digital wireless solution.(COMMUNICATIONS)(Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc.)(Brief artic
Copper Valley Wireless, a subsidiary of Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative, recently announced plans to provide digital wireless service by purchasing the All-IP CDMA2000 solution. "After many mo . . .

APIA declines Venezuelan fuel offer.(ENERGY)(Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association)(Brief article)
This year the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association received notice from Alaska Inter-Tribal Council that CITGO Oil Co. was prepared to make a donation of heating fuel to eligible households. The re . . .

Kikkan Randall signs with U.S. ski team, Mat Maid.(MANUFACTURING)
At 23, Kikkan Randall is the top female U.S. cross-country skier and among the best in the world. She's young to have won five national championships, raced in two winter Olympics and placed fifth i . . .

Alaska suspends informal salmon price-tracking.(SEAFOOD)
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) board of directors agreed recently to suspend the in-season salmon price-tracking component of its Seafood Market Information Service during the 2007 se . . .

Day spa opens in South Anchorage.(SERVICES)
Intuitions Day Spa and Salon opened for business recently in South Anchorage. Specializing in relaxation and rejuvenation of the mind and body, Intuitions offers a variety of spa treatments to its c . . .

Tony Smith: ABM founder: 1942-2006.(Tony Smith)(Anchorage Chamber of Commerce)(In memoriam)
Former Anchorage resident J. Anthony (Tony) Smith, 64, of Steamboat Springs, CO, died Dec. 8 at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat. He was born September 10, 1942, in Poughkeepsie, NY, to Euni . . .

Unemployment rate in Alaska.(Alaska Trends for December 2006)
Alaska trends, an outline of significant statewide, is provided by the University of Alaska center for economic development and sponsored by American fast freight. Alaska's unemployment rate decre . . .

Red king/blue king: why crab enhancement is so important to Alaska.
What is it about "king crab" that is so evocative of Alaska? Glorious history. Images of king crab bring up largess, days that we thought would never end, mountains of crab bringing a double bounty . . .

Training doctors for the Alaska wilderness may take a special breed: guess again if you thought all physician training is the sa
To want to become a doctor in Alaska is a little bit different than wanting to become a doctor in the Lower 48. An Alaska doctor needs to be willing to work long hours, sometimes without the modern . . .

Working together to reach a common goal: joint ventures help native corporations expand markets, increase expertise.
As Native corporations continue to diversify their holdings and grow their interests within Alaska as well as outside the state, it can often benefit these businesses to find other companies to part . . .

Alaska's groundfish fisheries: a national model for sustainability for more than 30 years: fisheries off Alaska account for abou
Commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries are critically important to cultures and economies all over the world, and nowhere more so than here in Alaska. Fisheries off Alaska account for ab . . .

Sitka tackles affordable housing crunch: are high-priced homes keeping people from moving to Sitka? If so, are there solutions?
When prospective police officers, schoolteachers and nurses-even a candidate for executive director of the local conservation society-all turned down jobs in Sitka because of the lack of adequate af . . .

Corporate Express.(Right Moves)
Kristi Nelson has been promoted to vice president of sales for the Alaska market. Nelson joined Corporate Express in February 2003 as an account representative and was promoted to office products sa . . .

ECI/Hyer.(ECI/Hyer Architecture and Interiors )(Brief article)
Anchorage-based ECI/Hyer Architecture and Interiors announced its 25th anniversary. Since 1981, the firm has provided architectural and interior design to clients around the state. The firm also a . . .

Millennium Alaskan Hotel.(Right Moves)
The Millennium Alaskan Hotel appointed Mick Hug to the position of executive chef of all food and beverage operations. Hug arrives at the Millennium with an extensive resume of more than 15 years as . . .

Alaska USA.(Alaska USA Federal Credit Union)(Brief article)
Geoff Lundfelt was promoted to vice president of Branch Administration at Alaska USA, with responsibilities for 22 of the credit union's 32 branches that are located in Alaska. Lundfelt worked for . . .

Westmark Anchorage.(Holland America Line)(Brief article)
Holland America Line has named Malini Wright to the position of regional sales manager of Westmark Anchorage. Wright will be based in Anchorage and responsible for achieving revenue goals at Westmar . . .

UIC.(Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.)(Brief article)
Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. recently hired Eileen Terwilliger as its risk manager. Terwilliger will develop and administer the company's risk-management, risk-financing and exposure-reduction policies a . . .

UAF.(Right Moves)
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association has honored banker Jyotsna "Jo" Heckman as this year's distinguished alumna. Heckman, president of Uenali State Bank, was born and raised in I . . .

TGI Friday's.(Right Moves)
The top T.G.I. Friday's restaurant general managers of corporate and franchise-owned restaurants in the West Division were recognized during the annual West Division Summer General Managers Conferen . . .

CCHRC.(Cold Climate Housing Research Center)(Brief article)
The Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) announced that Jennifer Jolis is the organization's new development coordinator. Jolis' responsibilities include increasing COHRO's industry membersh . . .

RIM.(RIM Architects )(Brief article)
With more than 25 years of design experience working primarily as a lead designer and project architect, RIM Architects has added Steven Reed to its architectural staff in Anchorage. Reed has more t . . .

RBMS: facilitating self-funded health benefit plans: company offers alternative to traditional coverage.(Risk & Benefit Manageme
The typical Alaska employer struggles with insurance benefits. Catch-22: offer benefits and shoulder a great deal of premium expense or shift the expense to employees through premium stipends, a lac . . .

Housing on a budget: how does a single-income or low-income family find affordable housing with rising housing prices in Alaska?
It is one of the necessities in life, finding shelter. But who actually enjoys taking the time to search all over town for a perfect place that mandatorily fits into a budget? Anchorage isn't exactl . . .

Foreign direct investment in Alaska: without question, FDI plays a critical role in the state's economy. In addition to their di
International trade is big business for Alaska. In 2005, the state's worldwide exports reached $3.6 billion, a solid 14 percent increase from the previous year, and marking the third consecutive yea . . .

Information technology.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
3SG 6921 Brayton Dr., Suite 201 Anchorage, AK 99507 Phone: 929-4374 Fax: 929-4276 Top Executive: Justin Burgess, Pres. E-Mail: sales@3sgi.com Web Site: www.3sgi.com Established: 2001 . . .

Wireless services.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
ACS (Alaska Communications Systems) 600 Telephone Ave. * Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 297-3000 Fax: 297-3052 Top Executive: Liane Pelletier, CEO E-Mail: execoffice@acsalaska.com Web Site: ww . . .

Telephone equipment.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
ACS (Alaska Communications Systems) 600 Telephone Ave. * Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 297-3000 Fax: 297-3052 Top Executive: Liane Pelletier, CEO E-Mail: execoffice@acsalaska.com Web Site: ww . . .

Long-distance services.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
ASTAC 4300 B St., Suite 501 Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 563-3989 Fax: 274-7455 Top Executive: David S. Fauske, Gen. Mgr. E-Mail: info@astac.net Web Site: www.astac.net Established: 19 . . .

Internet services.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
ACS (Alaska Communications Systems) 600 Telephone Ave., Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 297-3000 Fax: 297-3052 Top Executive: Liane Pelletier, CEO Web Site: www.acsalaska.com Established: 199 . . .

Bundled communication services big with businesses: most U.S. small and medium businesses prefer to buy bundled communications s
Bundled communications packages for business customers are commonplace among U.S. telecommunications firms. These all-in-one packages offer everything from local and long-distance voice, to mobile v . . .