Alaska Business Monthly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Alaska gas is now national imperative.(From the Publisher)
Ever since February, when Gov. Frank Murkowski announced he had achieved a contract (an incomplete work in progress) with North Slope oil producers to build an Alaska gas pipeline, the project has b . . .

Alaska trends for July 2006.
ALASKA TRENDS FOR JULY 2006 Indicator Units Period GENERAL Personal Income--Alaska Millions of $ 4thQ05 Personal Income--United Sta . . .

Commercial and residential building permits. (Alaska Trends for July 2006).
Alaska trends, an outline of significant statewide statistics, is provided by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development and sponsored by American Fast Freight. There was a gradual d . . .

Getting noticed: promotional products put your business in spotlight.(SPECIAL SECTION: 2006 CONVENTION GUIDE)
Growing a business-promoting a business-takes more than just good intent, a good product and savvy industry acumen. Even the best products or concepts can easily flop when the company fails to effec . . .

Tours to the top of the world: take a trip to Barrow from Fairbanks' River's Edge Resort.(SPECIAL SECTION: 2006 CONVENTION GUIDE
Located on Alaska's North Slope, Barrow is the northernmost community in the United States and the northernmost community of more than 2,000 people in the world. With a population of 4,680, as of 20 . . .

Anchorage hotels ready to host 1 million or more: 2006 looks to be very good year for tourism industry.(SPECIAL SECTION: 2006 CO
Each year, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent encouraging people from out of state to visit Alaska. Its largest city, Anchorage, is often a main attraction, offering visitors the chance to e . . .

Anchorage's New Convention Center: we are building it. Will people come?(SPECIAL SECTION: 2006 CONVENTION GUIDE)(Cover story)
A world-class convention facility in Alaska's largest city is transforming downtown Anchorage and will soon kick the city's economic engine into high gear. Three months ago, Anchorage broke ground f . . .

Get into next year's Convention Guide.(SPECIAL SECTION: 2006 CONVENTION DIRECTORY)(Directory)
If you run an audio/visual business; or a hotel or business with convention facilities; or are a caterer, a CVB, chamber, or meeting planner, then make sure you are included in the 2007 Convention G . . .

Identify theft: America's fastest-growing crime: Alaska has 63.3 complaints of identify theft filed per 100,000 individuals.
Identity theft is one of the hottest-and scariest-topics today. It should be because it's one of the fastest-growing types of crimes in the country. For the sixth year in a row, identity theft hea . . .

Keeping Alaska clean: Alaska making progress in hazardous waste removal.
When most people picture Alaska, they imagine bright blue skies, fresh, unpolluted water, towering mountains and vast stretches of uninhabited land. And while much of the state lives up to this idea . . .

Tourism season high despite bird flu concerns: Alaska is a land of wild birds but visitors aren't scared.
Large, medium or small--when it comes to birds--Alaska has more than its share of wild fowl. From little sparrows to the majestic eagle, the state is home--if only on a temporary basis--to hundreds . . .

Fundraiser celebrates Alaska's aviation history: salmon and vintage planes on the menu.(Alaska This Month)
Certain aspects of Alaska's history are inseparable from a spirit of adventure. Its rugged beauty, size and extreme climates make this a fact. An integral part of that adventuresome past is directly . . .

July calendar.(Calendar)
ANCHORAGE 1 Cultural Faire Come celebrate Alaska's exciting cultural richness at this concert and dance event. Located at Peratrovich Park, Fourth Avenue and E Street. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Fo . . .

Mining industry may top $2 billion in exploration and development: increased metal prices help Alaska mine operations and minera
Mine managers at the Red Dog zinc, lead and silver mine .in Northwestern Alaska are implementing a $25 million-plus capital budget this year, the second year in a row that strong metal prices have h . . .

Modular construction: saving companies time, money: from a pizzeria to sealift modules, these buildings have a niche market.
There are many factors to consider when a company is planning to expand into a remote area, or to expand an already established work site. Along with a way to get materials to the site, there also i . . .

The overseers: joint pipeline office a melting pot of 12 other state and federal agencies.
As all natural resource extraction businesses know, development of Alaska's assets requires working with a myriad of overseeing government agencies, obtaining numerous permits and complying with vas . . .

Cruise ship increase approved.(TOURISM)
The number of cruise ship entries into Glacier Bay will increase by 10 percent beginning in 2007, according to a recent decision by the director of the National Park Service. NPS Deputy Director S . . .

Alaska marketplace donations spark success.(APPLAUSE)
ConocoPhillips recently donated $100,000 to the Alaska Marketplace program. The investment follows on the heels of a $200,000 donation made to the program by BP last fall. In all, more than $700,000 . . .

New cargo carriers in Alaska.(TRANSPORTATION)
Two new cargo carriers, Cargo 360 and Shanghai Airlines, have scheduled service at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Cargo 360 Inc. initiated cargo service between Seoul, Korea and New . . .

Alaska works partnership builds rural neighborhoods.(CONSTRUCTION)
In an Alaska village tucked along the Kuskokwim Delta, local construction .workers are building houses for their neighbors and helping to meet the critical housing needs of rural Alaskans. Since A . . .

Time out.(From the Publisher)
The first of what may be two or more special sessions of the Alaska legislature adjourned I just as this edition of Alaska Business Monthly went to press. Both Senate and House of Representatives, e . . .

North slope spot price: drastically increasing.(Statistical table)
North Slope Spot Price: Drastically Increasing (April 24, 2005 to April 24, 2006) Yearly Change: North Slope Spot Price (Gulf) 2005 51.26 2006 69.28 Comparing Two Months: North Slope Spot Pri . . .

VoIP for business: call anytime anywhere for less.
STARTED WITH ALEXANDER The telephone system is a part of life, and has been since Alexander Graham Bell invented it in 1876. Now, with the advent of the Internet, the communications traveling over . . .

Turning the customers' dreams into reality: R-PLUS homes: modern technology to help energy dilemma.
Energy conservation is now more than a fact of life for Alaskans. With the price of oil busting through the $75-a-barrel mark in April, conserving energy has become a way of life. One primary area . . .

Native Business key to Alaska's Oil Patch: Native oilfield contractors impact industry in Alaska.
Increased activity in Alaska's oil and gas industry, particularly on the North Slope, has translated into additional opportunities for the state's Native regional corporations participating in that . . .

Building Alaska's future: apprenticeships and school programs designed to train skilled construction workers.
In 2006, more than $2.6 billion will be spent on construction in Alaska, 13 percent more than was spent the previous year. Construction jobs are projected to grow by 4 percent. Despite the increasin . . .

The Institute of Social and Economic Research: this research facility, located at the University of Alaska Anchorage, has its he
How important is good information to your business? Whether you are in the public or the private sector, information is a crucial ingredient in good decision-making, and ultimately, in whether you s . . .

Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 oil and gas directory: Service & Support Companies.
In the May issue, in the Alaska Business Monthly 2006 Oil & Gas Directory, under the section subtitled "Services & Support Companies," some businesses had the wrong services and notable clients list . . .

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.(Right Moves)
Sue Winters was named Alaska reverse mortgage consultant for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a division of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Winters will work exclusively with senior homeowners seeking a reverse mor . . .

ASCG.(Right Moves)(Brief article)
ASCG Inc. was awarded two of 17 awards in the Southwest Contractor's Best of 2005 Awards. ASCG won the best civil and infrastructure project for its college pump station for the City of Albuquerque . . .

University of Alaska Fairbanks.(Right Moves)
The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management and the UAF Associated Students of Business have selected Jim Lund as this year's recipient of the business leader of the year award. Lund is . . .

University of Alaska.(Right Moves)
Mary K. Hughes of Anchorage was elected chair of the board of regents of the University of Alaska. Hughes was appointed to the board in 2002. She also serves as a trustee of the University of Alas . . .

PSI.(PSI Environmental and Instrumentation LLC hires Keith Guyer)(Brief article)
PSI Environmental and Instrumentation LLC hired Keith Guyer as senior program manager. Guyer is a former business owner and senior program manger for multiple government and private industry project . . .

BRP honors two Alaska companies.(Bombardier Recreational Products)(Brief article)
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) announced that Alaska Mining and Diving of Anchorage received the 2006 Ski-Doo National Dealer of the Year Award-U.S. The annual award was presented befor . . .

Peninsula Airways.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
Peninsula Airways was presented a Diamond Award of Excellence by the Federal Aviation Administration for achieving 100 percent participation in the agency's Aviation Maintenance Technician Safety pr . . .

Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.(Right Moves)
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce announced the recent hire of Mindy O'Neall as membership director. O'Neall came to Alaska in August 2004 with a B.A. from Iowa State University in journalism and ma . . .

Transportation: from Alaska to the world.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2006 TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORY)(Directory)
Our cover this month illustrates how much Alaska relies on transportation. Pictured is a globe of the world, with Alaska positioned at its center, and a train, plane, barge and truck encircling the . . .

'Handle With Care': customer service is guaranteed at Georges Courier Service.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2006 TRANSPORTATION SEC
Ask any business owner what separates him or her from the competition, and chances are pretty good most of them will say their customer service. Lisa Howe, owner of the Anchorage-based Georges Cou . . .

Changing with the times: frontier flying service finds new ways to conduct business in the face of steep competition.(ALASKA BUS
As we waited for our flight out of Nome, Frontier employee Pat Eckroate tallied the passenger weights and yelled out to the baggage handlers that they might be able to take the mail after all. Grabb . . .

A ferry tale: roads and shuttles designed to connect Southeast towns bring much controversy.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2006 TRAN
With a winter of rough waters behind it, the state's vision of a mix of roads and ferries for Southeast Alaska has been mired in a turbulent storm of public controversy, with the editorial pages of . . .

A new owner, a new face: NAC celebrates a half-century in Alaska.(Northern Air Cargo Inc.)(Company overview)
Reaching a 50th birthday is a milestone in anyone's life. But when a company turns 50-especially one that has survived in an industry that is among the toughest and most competitive in Alaska-it is . . .

Gateway to the world: Alaska's transportation companies meet customers' needs with old-fashioned hard work and innovative ideas.
What do the transportation companies servicing the largest state in the U.S. have in common? A combination of hard work and innovative ideas. Often added to that formula is a sense of employee owner . . .

Alaskan colors flourish at Alaska Botanical Garden Fair: the 9th Annual Garden Fair and Garden Art Show, which takes place durin
Taking in the best of Alaska's summer beauty at once is like trying to wade through a six-course gourmet meal, followed up by an impossible choice of rich desserts. It takes planning, patience and a . . .

2006 June events calendar.(Calendar)
3-4 Spirit Days A free event to promote pride in the rich and diverse cultural heritage and traditions of Alaska Natives and the Native American people. Located at West High School, begins at 10 a . . .

The wonderful (and profitable) world of geoducs: the bottom line is good for this Southeast shellfish.
Along the ocean floor of Southeast Alaska--or rather under it--lives the world's largest burrowing clam: a behemoth bivalve that can dig itself down into the bottom up to 5 feet. From there, the cla . . .

Cordova spill response facility nears decision: environmentalists vow lawsuits to halt construction.
After 10 years of studies and another five of agency and public review, Cordova's Shepard Point Oil Spill Response Facility may finally be taking a giant step toward reality. OVERVIEW Ordered by . . .

Giving Bock to Alaska ... The Rasmuson Foundation: four generations supporting the people of Alaska.
A half-century of philanthropy will be marked in June when the Rasmuson Foundation concludes a yearlong observance of 50 years of giving back to the people of Alaska, its charitable institutions and . . .

Neg Regs increases diesel fuel costs: ultra-low sulfur diesel will be required soon, raising costs even more at pumps.
The world is changing for fuel distributors and retailers this year, and for Alaska refineries who sell their products in the state. New rules for ultra-low sulfur diesel are coming into effect. Big . . .

Alaska's urban real estate markets: housing market brisk, commercial market brings in new names.
Alaska's urban real estate market is cooling, but still strong overall, experts say. Residential real estate remains brisk, despite land shortages, as well as steadily rising interest rates, constru . . .

Alaska Sales & Service celebrates valley opening.(Brief article)
Alaska Sales and Service unveiled its newer, larger Palmer dealership to the public recently during a grand-opening celebration on Blue Lupine Road. Diana Pfeiffer, president, hosted the ribbon-cu . . .