Alaska Business Monthly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.(Right Moves)(appointment of Anthony Edwardsen)(Brief article)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anthony Edwardsen was chosen president and chief executive for Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp., an Alaska Native village corporation based in Barrow. He was appointed for a three-ye . . .

URS Corp.(Right Moves)
Kim Onstad was hired as an environmental scientist at URS Corp. in Anchorage. She has worked on several Chevron projects nationwide, from Texas to Philadelphia to Southeast Alaska. In her new role, . . .

Crowley Maritime Corp.(Right Moves)
Bob Cox joined Crowley Maritime Corp. as general manager of the petroleum distribution group. Cox is based in Anchorage. He is responsible for Crowley's 14 Alaska marine and aviation petroleum termi . . .

Holmes Weddle & Barcott PC.(Right Moves)
Jeffrey Waller joined the law firm of Holmes Weddle & Barcott PC. Waller recently returned to Alaska after seven years practicing law in Texas and American Samoa. He earned a law degree from Texas T . . .

Bernholz & Graham Inc.(Right Moves)(appointments of Amy Cockerham and Tara Stevens and promotion of Gary Scott )(Brief article)
Amy Cockerham has rejoined Bernholz & Graham Inc. public relations firm as senior account manager. She worked for the company from 2002 to 2005 and most recently served as director of news services . . .

Anchorage Economic Development Corp.(Right Moves)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Anchorage Economic Development Corp. hired Erin Ealum as business and economic development director. Ealum recently worked as program manager in the Anchorage office of . . .

ABCs of pensions and retirement: retirement plans help retain and attract employees, and a multitude of options makes it easier
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As financial institutions and lawmakers have realized the changing needs among America's work force, employers can select from more retirement plans than ever before, which . . .

Banking on the future: checkbooks are becoming a backpack staple for school students.(Wells Fargo Bank N.A. joins patnership wit
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Here's a quick checklist for your junior or senior high school student who's rushing out the door on his or her way to school in the morning: * BOOKS * NOTEBOOK * PENC . . .

Music, motion and memories: blues train combines fall scenery with vibrant tunes.(Alaska This Month)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Soulful, melodic strains of live music accompany the steady rhythmic swaying of the Alaska Railroad Corp. train as it treks along Turnagain Arm. Then the tour winds through . . .

September events calendar.(Calendar)
ANCHORAGE 1-2 and 8-9 Saturday and Sunday Market Alaska's largest open-air market with a variety of goods, including fresh Alaska Grown produce and seafood, spectacular works of art and more. Ev . . .

Tower of strength: once a village health aide, Quintavel takes the reins of large corporation.(Alaska Native: BUSINESS NEWS)(Arc
She's as confident as the day is long. But her humble beginnings are a constant reminder that keeps this Native leader in check and well-grounded. She is also feeling optimistic and energized. " . . .

Native regional corporations top $5 billion mark: most show double-digit growth.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)
Business is booming for Alaska's 13 Native regional corporations, thanks to increases in oil and metal prices, growth in the government and commercial contracting sector, and strong returns realized . . .

Breaking the billion dollar mark: two native corporations earn more than $1 billion in FY2006/2006.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For many companies, breaking the billion-dollar mark calls for a major celebration. Yet two Alaska Native corporations that recently earned in excess of this amount in the p . . .

2007 Alaska native regional corporations directory.(Directory)(Statistical table)
2007 ALASKA NATIVE REGIONAL CORPORATIONS DIRECTORY Ahtna Inc. Ken Johns, President and CEO Mile 115 Richardson Hwy. Glennallen, AK 99588 Phone: 822-3476 Fax: 822-3495 E-mail: brebne@ahtna.net WWW: a . . .

Partners of choice: native corporations attract mining companies to their lands for a win-win situation.(Alaska Native: BUSINESS
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rusty-colored, crumbly rocks and dirt sporadically mixed with small chunks of white quartz freshly uncovered immediately caught the attention, and the geological interest, o . . .

Knowledge management and ANCs: a cultural match: finding new ways to efficiently capture and transfer knowledge faster than comp
Knowledge Management has been an established discipline since 1995, but it roots can be traced farther back and some of the most common and tangible examples come from some unlikely business origins . . .

Budding 8(a)s: as Native-owned businesses "graduate" from the SBA 8(a) program, many form new spin-off companies that qualify fo
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Karen Forsland, Alaska district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration, calls the SBA 8(a) program a success in Alaska, and says it is heavily weighted by Alask . . .

Reach for a dream: Effie Kokrine Charter School Early College Program gives Native students a head start on advanced education.(
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Students at the Effie Kokrine Charter School in Fairbanks are working on their college degrees while still in high school under a program that aims to bridge the divide betw . . .

Pipeline jobs promised to natives under section 29: twenty percent Native hire is the goal of Alyeska.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NE
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On paper, the Section 29 requirements of the federal Agreement and Grant of Right-of-Way for the trans-Alaska oil pipeline and corresponding Alaska Native Utilization Agreem . . .

Creature comforts: pet food warehouse celebrates two decades of fulfilling needs.(PetZoo & Animal Food Warehouse)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alaska Business Monthly 106 Lions and tigers and bears ... oh my! Don't expect to see any of those ferocious animals at any of the PetZoo or Animal Food Warehouse locations, . . .

Recall sparks fear and anquish: pet owners cautious and curious.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Earlier this year, a nationwide pet food recall sparked deep concern and fear into many pet owners. In February, the recalled foods came to the attention of Menu Foods, as r . . .

CEO/board basics: ways to help organizations become better: quick tips for better operations.
The CEO of a mid-sized organization is on the phone telling me about an e-mail from one of her board members. The board member wanted to know why the CEO was trying to censor him for speaking out on . . .

The technology gap: how can a small-business manager make certain the computer network is being managed correctly without becomi
Many management methods that are taught in business schools or found in books are out of touch with the reality of managing a small business in Alaska. Most business managers need to maximize the ti . . .

12 month trend in unemployment: Alaska Trends, an outline of significant statewide statistics, is provided by the University of
The unemployment rate tends to follow a predictable seasonal trend, hitting lows in the summer, and highs in the winter months in between. This trend is reflected at all levels, from the national le . . .

The Alaska food chain links up.(From the Publisher)
Just as some observers had begun to sense a cyclical end to the once popular business and commercial trade show and exposition, along comes Robin Richardson and her Global Food Alaska Conference and . . .

Alyeska Resort begins $8 million upgrade for hotel, ski facilities.(CONSTRUCTION)
Alyeska Resort has started an $8 million renovation project, which will update hotel rooms, meeting space, a mountaintop restaurant and skiing facilities. Upgrades to the 304-room Hotel Alyeska in G . . .

CIRI, partner will build Southcentral wind-energy facility.(ENERGY)
Cook Inlet Region Inc. has partnered with a wind-energy operations company, enXco Development Corp., to build and operate a wind farm on Fire Island. Wind Energy Alaska LLC will be the state's large . . .

First National Bank Alaska boosts salmon gift to Iraq.(DONATIONS)
First National Bank Alaska donated $1,000 to help Kenai Peninsula salmon reach U.S. troops serving in Iraq. The effort was originally organized by Soldotna Mayor Dave Carey and his brother, Mike Car . . .

Pioneer Alaska businessman donates $2.6 million to UAF.(DONATIONS)
Longtime Alaskan Ronald F. Cosgrave donated $2.6 million to the University of Alaska. The donation marks the single largest gift ever given to the university by a living alumnus, according to UA off . . .

Denali Park bus operator offers new tour to Kantishna.(TOURISM)
Visitors to Denali National Park & Preserve can choose a new bus trip to the end-of-the-road mining town of Kantishna. The 12-hour roundtrip tour, featuring narration by a driver guide and a Nationa . . .

National magazine picks Spinell Homes as a Top 400 home builder.(APPLAUSE)
Spinell Homes of Anchorage was selected for the Top 400 list of the nation's largest home builders. This marks Spinell Homes' 12th consecutive appearance on the list, which is published by Professio . . .

Usibelli Coal Mine, Fairbanks CVB win Governor's Exporter Awards.(APPLAUSE)
Gov. Sarah Palin chose two Interior Alaska companies to receive the Governor's Exporter of the Year Awards. Usibelli Coal Mine Inc. of Healy was honored for its international coal-shipping efforts . . .

First National Bank donates to Junior Achievement.(DONATIONS)
First National Bank Alaska donated $10,350 to Junior Achievement of Alaska. The donation will support programs in Anchorage, Bethel, Cordova, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Kodiak, th . . .

Northern Air Cargo adds 737-200s to its cargo fleet.(TRANSPORTATION)
Northern Air Cargo, the state's largest all-cargo air carrier, has started service using its first two converted Boeing 737-200 freighter aircraft. The company plans to add another similar aircraft . . .

A successful trio: three unique businesses thrive and provide tourism opportunities at a small complex in Anchorage.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition to a sound business plan, adequate capital and hard work, innovative ideas can make the difference between good and great. Three Anchorage businesses, the recipi . . .

Fear not! A business audit doesn't have to be the end of the world.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to Wikipidea, the earliest account of any type of audit can be traced back to 1314, in England, where a public official was tasked with auditing government expendi . . .

A season of promise: oil and gas projects result in near-record levels of activity on North Slope.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Oil and gas activity has been at near-record levels on the North Slope in the last half year, with major projects under way to replace the Prudhoe Bay crude oil transit pipe . . .

Good old-fashioned country fun: smells, tastes--delight of state fairgoers.(Alaska This Month)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Memories of state fairs tickle the senses. Once again, this year fairgoers can savor and smell outdoor vendors' hamburgers or kettle corn, stroke goats or sheep at a petting . . .

August events calendar.(Calendar)
ANCHORAGE 1-5 Hullabaloo A hysterical, historically accurate history lesson on Alaska with spoofs on Sonny and Cher and more. This family friendly program provides a great nightlife atmosphere a . . .

A hand up: 'Individual Development Accounts' help people save for homes, businesses and education expenses.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It wasn't so long ago that Norma Jean Esmailka and her family lived in a makeshift shelter in the woods near the University of Alaska Anchorage. These days, a pretty door . . .

Protecting native lands from modern waste: Larry Zirkle of total reclaim teaches villagers better ways to deal with hazardous ma
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Larry Zirkle first watched the video Exporting Harm: the High-Tech Trashing of Asia, he thought that the images of tires, refrigerators and computer waste scattered acr . . .

More Alaska businesses going green: from using energy-efficient bulbs, to recycling, to developing wind farms, companies see cos
[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Increasingly, more Alaska businesses are going green--not just for the sake of the environment but to benefit their bottom line. Companies historically have adopted envir . . .

Garbage, garbage everywhere: environment a concern as trash piles up at landfills.(ABM's 2007 ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIAL SECTION)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Where do you put 3.7 million pounds of trash? And that's just the tip of the iceberg or the top of the garbage heap. The early spring Anchorage citywide cleanup effort net . . .

ABM's 2007 environmental directory.(Directory)
Alaska is ripe with resources. It is also a beautiful state, full of majesty and rich with an abundance of trees, rivers, lakes and mountains. The age-old dilemma has been how to extract the resourc . . .

Driving the financial highway: good roadmap will help avoid potholes.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The old adage "If you shoot for nothing, you'll likely get it" accurately sums up financial planning. Without a roadmap for the future, you'll wind up like a tourist who pac . . .

Drug and alcohol testing in the workplace: prevent problems before they get out of hand.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Workplace managers in Alaska, a state with a reputation for drug tolerance, are paying up-front for programs to help identify applicants or employees whose drug or alcohol u . . .

Drug facts.(Survey)(Brief article)
While the Alaska Supreme Court has upheld the right of adult Alaskans to possess up to four ounces of marijuana in their homes for personal use, the move did not immunize state residents against fed . . .

More than a century of work: this tunnel to somewhere is idealistic, but possible.(BUILDING ALASKA)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It is tantalizing, that small stretch of water between Uelen, Siberia, and Wales, Alaska, with the two Diomede Islands between them, all seemingly just waiting to be connect . . .

Fewer hammers, nails and saws: down, but not out, new housing market looks to rebound.(BUILDING ALASKA)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ahhhhh ... Home Sweet Home. Hold everything. That old adage may not apply to homebuyers in the Anchorage area searching for new housing for very long. The good news: The A . . .

A bold, new presence: Anchorage's Ted Stevens International Airport, top-ranked cargo airport in North America, gains new cargo
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lee Nunn, president of Anchorage Global Logistics Airpark Development Inc., has been receiving favorable comments about the new cargo facility that AGLAD Postmark LLC is dev . . .