Alaska Business Monthly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Kumin Associates Inc.(Angela Barr, Daphne Brown and Jon Stolle appointed)(Brief Article)
Kumin Associates Inc. celebrates its 28th year in business with the addition of three new faces to the corporation's leadership ranks. Angela Barr will join Jon Kumin and Charles Banister as a share . . .

Enterprise Engineering Inc.(Fred Park appointed)(Brief Article)
Enterprise Engineering Inc. announced that Fred Park, PE, joined the firm as senior structural engineer. Park is a licensed engineer in Alaska and Washington, with more than 20 years experience in s . . .

Technology for small business: from IP faxing to video mail to VoIP, advancing technology exists to help small businesses thrive
In the "old" days, Anchorage's Pip Printing relied on traditional printing plates, expensive film and face-to-face client contact. Customers had to come into the shop, provide a drawing of what they . . .

Alaska's trains: ride the rails for a trip to remember.
In today's ultra-modern world, travelers making their way across Alaska have several options on how to transport themselves from one place to another. From backpacking to cruising, The Last Frontier . . .

On the move: American Fast Freight: American Fast Freight was born in Alaska to serve the nation.(Cover Story)
American Fast Freight will move it for you. Anything. From a ton of iron beams to a carton of eggs, AFF will arrange for the transportation of your merchandise to its destination and get it there on . . .

2005 Convention Facilities Directory.(Directory)(Illustration)
ANCHORAGE 4th Avenue Theatre Special Features: 630 W. Fourth Ave. * Anchorage, Historic buil- AK 99501 ding . . .

Alaska Business Monthly's 2005 Convention & Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce Listing.(2005 Convention Facilities Direct
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce 217 Second St., Suite 201 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 586-2323 Fax: 463-5515 Top Executive: Wayne Stevens, Pres./CEO E-Mail: info@alaskachamber.com Web Site: www.alaskac . . .

Alaska Business Monthly's 2005 Convention and Facilities Directory: Alaska's lure draws convention attendees to the state.(2005
Advertising campaigns about Alaska's beauty and exciting activities are reaching millions, and drawing more and more conventions and meetings to the state. This is good because voters passed in Apri . . .

Harvesting the fruit of Anchorage's Convention & Meeting Business: getting conventions to Anchorage doesn't always come easily.
Most people think bringing a convention to Anchorage is all about sales. It's actually about forming and building relationships with meeting planners. This job just became more vital for Anchorage . . .

Creative meetings: themed corporate meetings bring new life to business events.
Whether it's a murder mystery, or a survivor theme, corporate meetings can be fun, educational and meet the goals of an organization. Instead of a traditional meeting with a standard meal, try one . . .

July Calendar.(Calendar)
1 Friday Night at the Zoo Live music on the coffee shop lawn and extended zoo hours, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, call 346-2133 or visit www.alaskazoo.org. 1 Music in the Park: Terry . . .

Artists flock to Girdwood Forest Fair: this festival runs from July 1-3 at Girdwood's community fairgrounds.
Just before fireworks sprout in the summer sky this month, a weekend of fun and amusement ignites in Girdwood during a specially Alaska festival, providing a chance to see handcrafted art from local . . .

Wayne A. Stevens: State Chamber president's cup overflows with opportunity.(SPOTLIGHT)(Alaska State Chamber of Commerce)(Biograp
You could say Wayne Stevens' passion for skiing made a way for him to slide into the presidential seat of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce (ASCC). But perhaps it's more a matter of a man who's n . . .

Life on the North Slope: slope work provides adventuresome jobs, with great pay and decent accommodations.
Since its start more than 33 years ago, Alaska's North Slope oil and gas industry has created a new and unique type of employment opportunity for individuals with the skills and desire to work long . . .

Texas designers see future in Alaska.(Architectural services)(Brief Article)
There are billions of dollars worth of architecture projects going on throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but three of the Lone Star State's largest firms have their Texas eyes and design teams f . . .

GCI reports first quarter financials.(GCI Communication Corp.)(Brief Article)
GCI (NASDAQ:GNCMA) reported net income of $4.7 million, or earnings per diluted share of $0.08, for the first quarter of 2005. The company's first-quarter net income compares to income of $1.9 milli . . .

Agency tackles workers' comp costs.(Workers' compensation)(Brief Article)
In the face of rising workers' compensation rates, one Alaska insurance agency says it has created an innovative solution for hundreds of Alaskan business owners. CHI of Alaska, an Anchorage-based . . .

Major setbacks don't deter Alaska Gasline Port Authority.(From the Publisher)
The Alaska Gasline Port Authority has guts; you've got to give them that. In the face of a couple of recent horrendous setbacks, they insist they are still upright and running. After attracting a wo . . .

Alaska trends for June 2005.(Illustration)
ALASKA TRENDS FOR JUNE 2005 SPONSORED BY AMERICAN FAST FREIGHT Indicator Units Period GENERAL Personal Income Alaska Millions . . .

North Slope Spot Price: drastically Increasing (April 2004-April 2005).(Alaska Trends for June 2005)(Illustration)
North Slope Spot Price: Drastically Increasing (APRIL 2004-APRIL 2005) North Slope Spot Price (Gulf) April 2004 36.16 April 2005 51.25 The North Slope spot price drastically increased over . . .

Tech soup: does technology terminology get you down? Here's a guide that will help you understand the latest in buzzwords, lingo
There is a program on E! called Talk Soup and it has something to do with being the reference point for talk shows. What follows can almost be considered Tech Soup-a guide to understanding some of t . . .

Alaska's half-shell dreams: there's more demand for shellfish than Alaska nurseries can provide; however they are faced with hig
Inside the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery in downtown Seward, seawater made green by billions of microscopic algae gently swirls through 5-foot-tall blue plastic tanks. Hatchery Director Jeff Hetr . . .

Technologies in cellular: the new generation: cell phones transform as the years pass, and the latest will soon have TV-viewing
GENERATIONS They have been walking from the beginning, through the foggy sponges of lowland forests, under umbrella leaves, in the shattered rain of ocean beaches, through the tinder of ashpits, t . . .

Alaska banks add personal touch through variety of services and programs: your bank today is a far cry from one a decade ago.
At many financial institutions, personal banking is synonymous with "relationship" banking and going the "extra mile" to meet customers' needs. Personal banking runs the gamut of non-business bankin . . .

Alaska businesses construct long-term relationship with military.
Defense is Alaska's only enduring statewide industry impacting villages, boroughs and cities for centuries. Department of Defense funding cycles sustain businesses through booms and busts, providi . . .

Commercial real estate on track in Alaska: banks, real estate companies and builders give a big thumbs up.
Alaska has enjoyed more than a decade of continuous and steady growth and good employment in almost every segment of its economy. That includes the commercial real estate and construction industries . . .

Happy anniversary Avis: 50 years in Alaska: despite changes in the business, Avis thrives and meets customer demand.
Avis Alaska is celebrating its 50-year anniversary. It has been family owned and operated since Robert Halcro and his wife, Barbara, came to Anchorage from San Francisco on their honeymoon in 1955 a . . .

Mega databases are changing the world: businesses benefit from emerging technology.
Introduction: Vern McCorkle This is the fourth in a series of Executive Forum sessions on the Knowledge Economy. This time, we examined the use of mega databases and addressed theories such as: Wh . . .

Native corporations 'raise the bar of business in Alaska': they operate worldwide, but much of the money returns or stays in Ala
Thirty-four years after they were established, Alaska Native corporations continue to wield a weighty effect on the Alaska economy. Major lines of business include construction, real estate developm . . .

Cruise industry brings in nearly $1 billion to state economy: the cruise industry spends between $50 million and $70 million on
Just 10 years ago, a trip to Alaska was a dream vacation for the average traveler. Today, setting your compass to America's far north is becoming a more common occurrence and the state is reaping th . . .

Alaska business monthly's 2005 transportation directory.(Transportation)(Directory)
AAA Moving & Storage 717 E. Ship Creek Ave. * Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: 276-3506 Fax: 258-3986 Toll-Free: 800-238-3506 Top Executive: Greg Wakefield, CEO Service Areas: Worldwide and stat . . .

The Alaska Marine Highway System brings controversy to Southeast: a ride on the Alaska Marine Highway System has always remained
It's not unheard of that taking the ferry in Southeast Alaska has meant typically longer trips on aging vessels, sometimes waiting to board in the dark hours of the morning or late night, and of gen . . .

Marathon under the Midnight Sun: on June 18, racers from around the world gather in Alaska for a 26.2-mile race.(Alaska This Mon
This month, roughly 4,000 people are expected to don their gear and join the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon. Runners come from all 50 states and numerous countries to take part in the scenic run. On . . .

June 2005 calendar of events.(Calendar)
ANCHORAGE 1 Music in the Park These free concerts bring Anchorage together for lunch. Beginning at noon at Peratrovich Park, Fourth Avenue and E Street. For more information, contact Anchorage D . . .

Mining and exploration boom in 2004: 2005 looks good: exploration spending jumped last year to an estimated $64.4 million, more
After several years of dwindling interest, which translated into decreased spending for mineral exploration in Alaska, 2004 proved to be a banner year for prospectors active in the state's mining in . . .

Shell moving toward Alaska exploration project: Shell proceeds with patience after Alaska lease sale.(Oil & Gas)
On March 30, 2005, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group bid more than $44 million for rights to explore for oil and gas in the Beaufort Sea. Despite this sizable commitment to re-enter the Alaska market wher . . .

Protecting Alaska's infrastructure: oil and gas industries are prime targets.(Oil & Gas)
In this age of increased threats to national security, every state needs to have measures in place to protect important infrastructure. In Alaska, home of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline and 20 percen . . .

Continental joins with Pacific Motors.(RETAIL)(Continental Auto Group)(Pacific Motors)(Brief Article)
Continental Auto Group has taken over Pacific Motors Nissan in Anchorage. Continental Auto Group now includes Acura, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Volvo. "We're really excited about becom . . .

Mountain village youth heads to UN in Geneva.(APPLAUSE)(Trina Landlord goes to United Nations to study international human right
Trina Landlord, a Yupik Eskimo and employee of First Alaskans Institute, is one of only five young people chosen from across the world for the Indigenous Fellowship Programme this summer at the Offi . . .

Winter Games generate success in Kenai projects.(RECREATION)(Brief Article)
From the top of the Peninsula to Homer at its tip, some of the $4.25 million in legacy projects of the upcoming Kenai Peninsula 2006 Arctic Winter Games can already be seen. The new indoor ice rin . . .

Alaska USA adds financial centers.(FINANCE)(Brief Article)
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union will build new financial centers in three Alaska communities. These include one in Anchorage to open this summer, one in Soldotna to open in fall 2005, and one in Fai . . .

AT&T operates TAPS communications.(COMMUNICATIONS)(trans-Alaska oil pipeline system)(AT&T Alascom)(Brief Article)
AT&T Alascom has entered into a 20-year agreement with Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. to upgrade and operate the AT&T Alascom microwave communications network along the 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipel . . .

ANS producers: sell us our gas!(From the Publisher)(Arctic North Slope)
That's right--our gas! The Arctic North Slope producers do not own the gas, Alaskans do. It's a fact not fully understood by Alaskans until fairly recent days. They have wanted Alaskans to think t . . .

Correction.(Correction Notice)
In the April 2005 edition, in an article titled "Alaska's Seafood Industry: Evolving and Advancing," it was stated that $2.2 million worth of seafood was exported from Alaska in 2004. It also stated . . .

Unemployment rate in Alaska.(ALASKA TRENDS FOR MAY)(Illustration)
The state of Alaska's unemployment rate increased from 7.6 percent in December to 8.4 percent in January. This increase is inconsistent with the rest of the United States. The unemployment rate for . . .

For the brave at heart: paragliding with Chugach Paragliding offers thrills, excitement and adventure to Alaskans and tourists.(
Paragliding has been Mark Ryan's primary business for the last seven years. The experience provides a great way to see the beautiful scenery of Alaska. A complete package gives you the ability to le . . .

You're fired! Letting an employee go isn't easy for any manager. But if you must, take steps to protect yourself and your busine
Although it's fun to hear The Donald say the phrase to eliminate his underlings, those two words can be nearly as difficult for a boss to utter as they are for the employee to hear: you're fired. . . .

Managing your Web site: most companies should revisit their content on their Web sites at least a couple times a year to update
If you visit the Web site of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, you'll find colorful imagery, magnificent photos of Alaska and an engaging design. You also will find hundreds of Web pages t . . .

Managing your wealth: it's important to build accounts early in life and to review your accounts at least once a year.
Most of the rules of the road in life are simple, but not always easy to follow. The same adage holds true for managing wealth. "Buy low, sell high" sounds good, but like in life, nothing is 100 per . . .

Alaska Railroad extension benefits military, minerals sector: thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, an EIS will
Entering its 20th year of state ownership, the Alaska Railroad Corp. has started environmental review work this spring to consider impacts of a proposed 80-mile extension of the system's 500-plus mi . . .