Alaska Business Monthly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Alaska trends for December 2007.(Statistical table)
ALASKA TRENDS FOR DECEMBER 2007 Indicator Units GENERAL Personal Income--Alaska US $ Personal Income--United States . . .

Clarification.(Correction notice)
In the September 2007 issue (page 29), we reported that David Chipperfield is an architect with the firm of Kumin Associates Inc. Based in London and Berlin, David Chipperfield Architects was select . . .

Sometimes we get what we vote for.(From the Publisher)
... and the converse is also true: "Sometimes we get what we don't vote for!" When Candidate A or Proposition 100 wins in a low-vote turnout, it might easily be misconstrued that everybody is satisf . . .

Alaska Airlines buys Anchorage-based tour company, Hawaiian vacations.(ACQUISITIONS)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last month, ABM published a feature article regarding the connection between Alaska and Hawaii, with extensive references and coverage of Hawaiian Vacations Inc. Shortly aft . . .

Colorado-based engineering firm becomes new VECO owner.(ACQUISITIONS )(CH2M Hill Companies Ltd. acquired VECO Corp.)(Brief artic
CH2M HILL,--a global full-service engineering, construction and operations firm--announced in September that it acquired VECO. The former Anchorage-based VECO organization includes businesses specia . . .

GCI to build new Southeast Alaska fiber-optic cable.(COMMUNICATIONS)
Anchorage-based General Communication Inc. plans to build a new $30 million fiber-optic cable network in Southeast Alaska. The 754 miles of cable will connect Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Angoon . . .

UAA Mat-Su campus recycles carpet.(RECYCLING)
The University of Alaska Anchorage's Matanuska-Susitna campus plans to recycle 1,100 square yards of carpet removed from its facilities. The used carpet was to be shipped from Anchorage to a laborat . . .

Financial Alaska adds accounting services.(FINANCES)
Financial Alaska of Anchorage has expanded its offerings by creating Financial Alaska Accounting LLC to provide accounting services. Joe Kashaverof serves as partner and controller of Financial Alas . . .

First Alaskans Institute funds healthy community projects.(FUNDING)
First Alaskans Institute has awarded $500,000 to fund 18 projects promoting collaboration between community groups statewide. The projects aim is to plan and implement innovative and lasting program . . .

ML&P revs up new power-generating unit.(ENERGY)
Municipal Light & Power of Anchorage has added a new power-generating unit--the first such unit to come online since 1984. The new unit is more efficient, delivering more and cleaner energy for the . . .

National Science Foundation funds new UAF research vessel.(EDUCATION)
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has received initial funding from the National Science Foundation to build the Alaska Region Research Vessel, a 236-foot, $123 million icebreaking vessel. The vess . . .

Closing in: two big ad agencies compete with smaller entities that are after their market shares.
Everything is big in Alaska. So when market research revealed that local fast food customers were hungry for a Big Mac that was even bigger, The Nerland Agency--the advertising firm tasked with prom . . .

Sun never sets at solstice: advertising agency offers myriad of services.
"Thinking outside the box is passe ... we fold the box into a plane and make it fly." Brooks Pleninger Creative Director Solstice Advertising [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Look up the word "solstice" . . .

Rod Bradley: the man of advertising: he made Ds in high school, but handled million dollar business deals out of college.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rod Bradley is the proverbial ad man. He's got an every-two-week haircut and a year-round golf course tan. He's as comfortable elbowing up to a farmhouse dinner table as he . . .

First National Bank Alaska celebrates 85 years of success: it has grown from a one-man operation to serving 17 communities throu
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Winfield Ervin opened First National Bank of Anchorage in 1922, he did it because he said he had "faith in the future of Anchorage." Over the years, that faith grew to . . .

Making dollars and sense: unique real estate group comes to the aid of homebuyers and owners.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They don't collect any monthly membership club dues. They don't select an employee of the month, and they don't have any health insurance benefits. No, it's not a group of . . .

Ten steps to better management: know your employees and know yourself.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One of the top five reasons people leave organizations is because of the leadership, and this makes the effective management of employees of the "utmost importance" to compa . . .

Rapt by raptors: photographers, birders flock to Haines for bald eagle gathering.(Alaska This Month)
[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] In early winter, thousands of bald eagles congregate along a section of the Chilkat River just outside of Haines. The spot is unique--an underground reservoir warms the wat . . .

November events calendar.(Calendar)
ANCHORAGE 3 Leahy This eight-member sibling act from Canada is a whirlwind triple threat of Celtic fiddle-driven music, dance and song, known for their electrifying step dancing and passionate, . . .

World Trade Center Alaska.
I am proud to serve as the chairman of the World Trade Center Alaska (WTCAK) board of directors during 2007, the organization's 20th anniversary year. It's an exciting time to be involved with the c . . .

The Canada-Alaska connection: neighbors helping neighbors.(WORLD TRADE CENTER SPECIAL SECTION)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alaska's relationship with its next-door neighbor, Canada, is one of the state's most important international partnerships. Approximately 1,500 miles of common border and ma . . .

World of opportunities: terminal seen as a new link to business with the 49th State.(WORLD TRADE CENTER SPECIAL SECTION)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There are grand openings, and then there are grand openings. In early September, the opening of the Prince Rupert (British Columbia) Fairview Container Terminal is creating . . .

Recent World Trade Center testimonials.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dennis Mitchell, Regional Manager Alaska Lynden International "Lynden International has been a member of World Trade Center Alaska for 20 years. Our membership in this o . . .

Q&A: interview with Greg Wolf Executive Director World Trade Center Alaska.(WORLD TRADE CENTER SPECIAL SECTION)(Interview)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Greg Wolf is a seasoned veteran of Alaska's international trade business. Since 2002, he has served as the executive director of World Trade Center Alaska. He came to this p . . .

State of Alaska: office of the Governor Juneau.
October 2007 Dear Alaskans: We congratulate the board and staff of World Trade Center Alaska on their 20th anniversary. Alaskans have been first-rate at international trade for decades. To our . . .

Marketing Solutions.(Right Moves)(promotion of Grant Johnston and Elizabeth Senaga )(Brief article)
Grant Johnston was promoted to vice president and creative director at Marketing Solutions, an advertising and public relations firm in Anchorage. In his new role, Johnston manages all design and cr . . .

Weidner Investment Services.(Right Moves)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maureen Chandler was hired as regional director in Alaska for Weidner Investment Services, a rental apartment management company with 30 properties. Chandler most recently m . . .

Scan Home.(Right Moves)
Lisa Susich joined Scan Home as in-house advertising director. She now manages all design, media and creative strategies for Scan Home, Scan Office, Scan Bedroom and Scan Futon stores. She has nearl . . .

National Consumer Cooperative Bank.(Right Moves)
Anthony Alvarado joined National Consumer Cooperative Bank as vice president and business development officer in the bank's Anchorage office. He manages the Washington, D.C.-based bank's outreach to . . .

Alaska Airlines.(Right Moves)
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines appointed Ben Minicucci to the position of staff vice president of customer service/operational support. Minicucci joined Alaska Airlines in 2004 and served as staff vi . . .

Emerald Consulting Group LLC.(Right Moves)
William Breighner was hired by Emerald Consulting Group LLC as senior vice president. He leads the company's new Washington, D.C., office, which serves new and existing commercial and federal East C . . .

State Government.(Right Moves)
Gov. Sarah Palin appointed Carl Bauman to the Kenai Superior Court. Bauman replaces the retiring Harold M. Brown. Bauman has practiced law for 33 years. He currently is a managing member of Hughes, . . .

Alaska Conservation Foundation.(Right Moves)
Ann Rothe joined the Alaska Conservation Foundation as program officer. Rothe's work will focus on oceans, mining and other issues. She is a wildlife biologist who has worked for the Alaska Departme . . .

Alaska USA Trust Co.(Right Moves)
Sterling Sears joined Alaska USA Trust Co. as trust and investment services officer. He is responsible for assisting clients develop customized investment plans. Sears previously worked for Thrivent . . .

NC Machinery.(Right Moves)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scott McDonnell was appointed rental coordinator at NC Machinery's The Cat Rental Store in Fairbanks. His career includes several years of experience in equipment rental. . . .

Resource Data Inc.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief article)
Nicholas St. Gabriel joined Resource Data Inc. as a programmer/analyst at the firm's Juneau office. St. Gabriel earned a master's degree in information systems and management from the University of . . .

Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium.(Right Moves)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Molly Merritt-Duren was hired as executive director for the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium. She has more than 20 years of experience in state, federal and nonpro . . .

University of Alaska Anchorage.(Right Moves)
Rebakah Moras, a University of Alaska Anchorage graduate, received a U.S. Student Fulbright Award scholarship to travel to Germany to teach English as a foreign language. She is one of more than 1,3 . . .

Arctic Structures.(Right Moves)(appointment of John Dittrich )(Brief article)
John Dittrich was chosen general manager for Arctic Structures, a modular building manufacturer and general contractor. He has worked in the Alaska construction industry for many years, including po . . .

FedEx Express.(Right Moves)
Scott Watts, a FedEx Express truck driver based in Anchorage, earned the title of national champion at the 2007 National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis in August. Watts won in the straig . . .

ARECA Insurance Exchange.(Right Moves)
Brenda Mead was promoted to chief financial officer for ARECA Insurance Exchange, a member-owned company that serves 21 electric and telephone cooperatives in Alaska. Mead has served as an accountan . . .

Alaska Power Association.(Right Moves)
Debra Canoy was hired as accountant for the Alaska Power Association. Canoy has more than 20 years of accounting experience, most recently with Mikunda Cottrell & Co. Inc., Certified Public Accounta . . .

A pandemic could cripple Alaska economy: prepare in case of catastrophe.
It is predicted that we are due any day for the next pandemic influenza. Over the past 1,000 years, a pandemic has occurred every 10 to 50 years. The most recent pandemics to hit American soil kille . . .

North slope businesses benefit from new practice: idle-reduction technology makes sense, saves dollars.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some ideas just make sense. And some ideas add up to dollars and cents. Such is the case for idle-reduction technologies in use by more and more companies operating heavy . . .

Natural gas system grows in Fairbanks: new customer on the North Slope?(BUILDING ALASKA)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For years, many Alaskans have hoped for a North Slope gas pipeline project, longing for the related economic boom and for the cheap fuel that could be available to the rest . . .

A new creation: airport car rental garage first of its kind in the nation.(BUILDING ALASKA)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Once again, Alaskans lead the nation in building a better mousetrap. In this case, it's the new rental car center at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and its . . .

Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center: 'bridge between cultures.'.(BUILDING ALASKA)
An extraordinary bridge between the public sector and private sector, Native and non-Native organizations, rural and urban cultures is under construction in downtown Fairbanks. When the 35,000-squ . . .

Winter construction: safety key for this hearty bunch of men and women who work outdoors.(BUILDING ALASKA)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anyone will admit that it's no fun to be in subzero temperatures and nasty weather--especially when it involves working. But, in Alaska construction, sometimes there is no c . . .

Crisis looms: Medicare coverage doesn't pay enough, doctors refuse service, and Medicare patients can't make up the difference e
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When asked how many doctors offer their services to Medicare patients, Rita Hatch, Medicare Counseling Coordinator at the Older Persons Action Group in Anchorage, just shook . . .

Status of the mineral industry: 2007 continues growth pattern, with six large mines operating in Alaska.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING
Worldwide coal and metal prices continue strong. These prices are the primary driving force for the mining industry everywhere, including Alaska. Alaska's six large and numerous small operating mine . . .