Alaska Business Monthly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Code red! Environmental challenges alarm mining industry.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Three years ago, a Fairbanks-based environmental group appealed a water discharge permit issued by federal regulators to Teck Cominco, developer of the Pogo gold mine in Int . . .

Drilling Pebble: work continues into new year at aggressive pace.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While the public focus on the Pebble project has involved heated debate between environmental activists and pro-development advocates, exploration work on the Southwestern A . . .

First gold pour by year-end: Rock Creek transforms NovaGold into producer status.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)(Company overvie
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Founded a decade ago by a geologist looking to continue working in Alaska and to exit the large corporate employment culture, NovaGold Resources is about to celebrate its 10 . . .

Mega-sized projects for NovaGold: construction starts at Galore, exploration continues at Ambler and Donlin.(SPECIAL SECTION: MI
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While historically a small company, in its decade of exploring for gold and other valuable metals, NovaGold Resources takes on big projects--mineral resources measured in bi . . .

2007 Mining directory.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)(Directory)
Alaska Aggregate Products LLC Charles Bates, Gen. Mgr. 601 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 400 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: 278-7300 Fax: 278-7324 E-Mail: charles.bates@ak-gravel.com Web Site: www.ak . . .

International Tower Hill hits early stage properties: questions still lurking for mining bonanza.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Modern day gold prospector Jeff Pontius is building the "perfect storm" to discover Alaska's next major mineral deposit. As president of a well-funded junior exploration c . . .

Heap leach adds life to Fort Knox: gold mine receives extension to 2019.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Owners of Alaska's largest gold mine plan to incorporate a heap-leach operation and a pit expansion to the existing hard-rock operation, a capital investment designed to ext . . .

Full metal fills plate in Alaska: great land 'elephant country,' full of promise.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition to exploring on 14 different mineral properties in Alaska, Full Metal Minerals may be considered an unofficial "welcome wagon" for the state's mineral industry. . . .

Freegold ventures advances Golden Summit: bulk-sampling project to yield geological information, gold.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING I
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Steadily falling snow in late September and a quiet equipment yard at the Golden Summit project didn't dampen Michael Gross' enthusiasm. He's the vice president of explorati . . .

Alaska 2007: mining in review: a statewide look at Alaska's rich resource.(SPECIAL SECTION: MINING ISSUE)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Even though the year is not yet completed, it seems a safe bet to say that 2007 will go down in the books as one of the most exciting and productive years in Alaska mining h . . .

Adding visibility to the freight process: investments in new technology make tracking, transporting freight more efficient.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As technology continues to advance, so do the opportunities for different businesses, such as those in the freight industry, to use it to their advantage. In many cases, the . . .

Alaska Native corporations launch variety of new businesses: from gravel pits to employment agencies, ANCs grow and prosper.(Com
Alaska Native regional and village corporations engage in a wide variety of businesses to benefit their shareholders and the state. Some of their latest ventures involve a gravel pit, residential pr . . .

Alaska's future energy source? The answer may be blowing in the wind.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's free. There's plenty of it. You can't see it. It's clean. And its supply is endless. It's the wind. Wind is simple air in motion. The uneven heating of the earth's surf . . .

Selling your company--removing the obstacles to success: don't be bullied. Get full value out of your business.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In more than 25 years of advising selling middle-market owners, I have seen many changes in the acquisition market. Many of these changes have negatively impacted a U.S. sel . . .

ANS crude oil spot price in 12 currencies: (Sep. 24, 2007).(Alaska Trends for November 2007)
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. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] C . . .

Planning for profitability.(From the Publisher)(Brief article)
It is the duty of business to earn a profit. Experienced readers will distinguish the difference between earn a profit and make a profit. It is often easier to make a profit (frequently a one-shot . . .

Seattle Port CEO outlines future plans.(PORTS)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Port of Seattle Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani is charting a course for the future of the port amid competition from other Northwest coast ports. Yoshitani detailed h . . .

Bering Strait Crossing: Asia to Alaska?(LITERARY)(Brief article)(Book review)
Information Architects has published "The Bering Strait Crossing," written by James A. Oliver. The book describes the 53-mile-wide waterway as a geographical crossroads linking East with West. The B . . .

KeyCorp Inks merger with Union State Bank.(BANKING)
Cleveland-based KeyCorp, the holding company for KeyBank, has agreed to merge with U.S.B. Holding Co. Inc., the holding company for Union State Bank. U.S.B. Holding Co. is based in Orangeburg, N.Y. . . .

Subway chooses wild Alaska salmon sandwich recipe.(FOOD)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Subway restaurants chose a wild Alaska salmon sub sandwich recipe submitted by Anchorage's Ellen Cole as its new salmon sub. Cole is a professor at Alaska Pacific University . . .

Homer Bakery celebrates 25 years in business.(ANNIVERSARIES)
The Fresh Sourdough Express Bakery and Cafe of Homer marks its 25th anniversary this year. Owned by Donna and Kevin Maltz, the business hit the milestone on Aug. 31. The bakery and cafe employees ha . . .

Rental Car Center opens at Anchorage Airport.(RENTALS)
Venture Development Group opened the Consolidated Rental Car Center at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in July. The new center allows travelers to check in at rental car desks then l . . .

Museum earns kudos.(EDUCATION)
The University of Alaska Museum of the North's expansion received a architecture merit award from the Society for College and University Planning. The Fairbanks museum earned the Excellence in Archi . . .

Pebble development dynamics change: this could be a world-class mine, providing many jobs and wealth to the state. But will oppo
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Everything about the Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum prospect in Southwest Alaska is gigantic--the amount of metals contained in the deposit, the spending on exploration and e . . .

Pebble facts.
* Pebble location: 200 miles southwest of Anchorage, about 200 river miles from Bristol Bay. Nearest communities are Iliamna, Nondalton and Newhalen. Located on state mining claims, inside the Lake . . .

Building warriors: Tatitlek Corp. provides valuable predeployment training for the military.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Deep in the Mojave Desert, a small Alaska Native village corporation--The Tatitlek Corp.-is engaging in a unique way to serve its county, shareholders and state. Tatitlek . . .

Flower power: Bagoy's florist celebrates its 85th Anniversary.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This month, Bagoy's will celebrate 85 years of providing flowers for beauty, for gifts, for romance, for celebration and for sympathy. Current owners, Chanda Mines, and he . . .

Extreme makeover: destination Downtown Anchorage: Alaska's largest city is about to change.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Imagine walking outside in downtown Anchorage in the winter and not having to change from your shoes into your boots. How can you do this comfortably and safely? Some of t . . .

Something venture-d, something gained: friends build company and Anchorage landscape.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What do the glass-towered downtown fire station, a revived City Hall, the new airport rental car facility, the under-construction Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center and "bir . . .

Opposites attract: Alaska and Hawaii do have common threads.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On the surface, Alaska and Hawaii are polar opposites. One state offers fire (volcanoes), tropical weather and beautiful beaches, while the other offers ice (countless glaci . . .

Early warning: state needs to find more black gold sooner rather than later.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The big North Slope oil fields are declining in production, faster than expected. To feed its growing state budget, Alaska badly needs to find new oil. Set aside, for a mome . . .

AOGA: fostering long-term viability of the oil and gas industry: agency a major player in resource decisions.(Alaska Oil and Gas
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA), an oil industry trade association, celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. The original office opened in 1966 as the Alaska Div . . .

Taking the 'reigns': Marilyn Crockett, an oil veteran, heads AOGA.
Marilyn Crockett was named AOGA's third executive director in July 2007, after a 37-year career with the organization. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crockett went to high school in Anchorage, but her f . . .

Celebrate with food, beer, arts and more: Octoberfest in Petersburg enlivens fall weekends.(Alaska This Month)
The holiday-free weeks between Labor Day and Thanksgiving can seem endless, but Alaskans' hearts rejoice with fall activities to anticipate. In the Southeast Alaska town of Petersburg, residents h . . .

October events calendar.(Calendar)
ANCHORAGE 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 Tuesday Night Race Series A fall family tradition for both competitive and non-competitive runners. Three separate courses are set each week at unique locations, an . . .

Investment expertise right here in Alaska: CFA creditials 'gold standard' worldwide.
Many investors in Alaska know there are a multitude of financial designations associated with the financial industry, but only one designation--the Chartered Financial Analyst, or CFA-has become the . . .

Alaska Native Medical Center celebrates 10-year anniversary: building design promotes healing in holistic ways.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the Alaska Native Medical Center celebrates 10 years in its new facility, work is under way to expand the structure for the next 10 years and into the future. "It's a 1 . . .

Top 49ers: Alaska's Economic Pipelines to the Future.(2007 Alaska's Top 49ers: Economic Pipelines to the Future)(Directory)(Comp
It's been 30 years since the first tanker full of oil left Valdez aboard the SS Arco Juneau after being transported through the 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline that began in Prudhoe Bay and ended . . .

Top 49ers businesses listed alphabetically.(2007 Alaska's Top 49ers: Economic Pipelines to the Future)(Statistical table)(Compan
TOP 49ERS BUSINESSES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY 2007 2006 2006 49ers Rev. 49ers COMPANY . . .

Top 49ers listed by business classification.(2007 Alaska's Top 49ers: Economic Pipelines to the Future)(Statistical table)(Compa
TOP 49ERS LISTED BY BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION RANK TOTAL ALASKA REV. 2006 CLASSIFICATION / COMPANY 2007 EMPLS. EMPLS. (Million $) CONSTRUCTION . . .

AIC: 'we move the earth.'.(2007 Alaska's Top 49ers: Economic Pipelines to the Future)(Company overview)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Our company has a reputation for taking an impossible idea and making it an accomplished fact." It's a bold statement taken from Alaska Interstate Construction's Web site . . .

Colville Inc.: they arrived at Prudhoe Bay, even before the pipeline.(2007 Alaska's Top 49ers: Economic Pipelines to the Future)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Serving Alaska's North Slope with a collection of varied support services, Prudhoe Bay-based Colville Inc. operates across the sweeping landscape of Alaska's extreme north-- . . .

Golden Valley Electric Association: increased technology produces cleaner energy.(2007 Alaska's Top 49ers: Economic Pipelines to
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Celebrating more than 60 years of service to the Interior, Fairbanks-based Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) is enjoying a golden day. Incorporated in 1946, the elec . . .

USTravel: growth is hallmark of this Alaskan-owned company.(2007 Alaska's Top 49ers: Economic Pipelines to the Future)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It seems hard to believe that a highly successful business like USTravel started with an off-hand comment at a cocktail party. But according to President and CEO Mark Eliaso . . .

Al Fleetwood: man of many talents: Fleetwood honored by Alaska Business Monthly for his 'Lifetime Achievement in Business.'.(Ala
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The road leading to Al Fleetwood's success in business has been paved with excitement, dedication and impact. And it's never-ending. Since moving to Alaska in 1957, Fleetw . . .

Tikigaq Corp.(Right Moves)
[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] JW Graves was named chief operating officer for Tikigaq Corp., an Alaska Native corporation. Graves has 40 years experience in engineering and construction in the oil and g . . .

Ahtna Technical Services Inc.(Right Moves)
Gretchen Thompson was selected human resources manager for Ahtna Technical Services Inc. She has 15 years of experience in her field and has earned two degrees in human resources. . . .

Solstice Advertising.(Right Moves)
Amy Sparck Dobmeier joined Solstice Advertising as marketing coordinator. The firm is a subsidiary of Calista Corp. Sparck Dobmeier worked for Alaska Republicans Rep. Don Young, Sens. Frank Murkowsk . . .

Perkins Coie.(Right Moves)
Eric B. Fjelstad was appointed managing partner of the Anchorage office of law firm Perkins Coie. Fjelstad worked at the firm for eight years. He has practiced environmental and natural resources la . . .

First Alaskans Institute.(Right Moves)(appointment of Kristel Komakhuk )(Brief article)
First Alaskans Institute hired Kristel Komakhuk as development assistant. Komakhuk, an Alutiiq and Inupiaq, previously worked as executive assistant to the president and chief executive officer at T . . .