Alaska Business Monthly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Remote-site communications: distance doesn't matter anymore; Alaska communities small as dots become wired.
LAST FRONTIER IN COMMUNICATIONS Allakaket, Shageluk, Kipnuk, Tenakee and Naukati ... mere dots on the more than 656,000 square miles of Alaska's landscape. Stony River, Mentasta Lake, Nightmute, . . .

Major mining companies in Alaska plan for success: mine operators are gearing up for another banner year.
Steve Borell, executive director for the Alaska Miners Association, stated in the November 2006 issue of Alaska Business Monthly that, "Alaska mines already in operation, advanced exploration projec . . .

Money well spent: local thrift stores help a variety of programs.
Like to shop? Like bargains? Like to help those in need? Well, buying at thrift stores allows you to get the best deals while helping the elderly, disabled, sick, young or poor. SOUTHSIDE BARGAIN . . .

Horizon Air.(Right Moves)
Horizon Air was honored as Regional Airline of the Year by the editors of Air Transport World magazine. "Reflecting its founders" philosophy, Horizon remains committed to its local communities and t . . .

USKH Inc.(Right Moves)
USKH Inc. has expanded its civil surface transportation department with the addition of Kristina Blair, CAD technician. Molly Webb, a human resources specialist, is also a recent hire of USKH and wi . . .

Bezek Durst Seiser.(Right Moves)(appointment of Eric Spangler and Victor Valenote )(Brief article)
The architecture and planning firm of Bezek Durst Seiser announced the promotion of two of its staff members. Architects Eric Spangler and Victor Valenote were named associates of the firm. Spangl . . .

UAA.(Right Moves)
The University of Alaska Anchorage announced that Steve Colt will serve as interim director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research. Colt, an economist with ISER since 1984, will replace U . . .

Porcaro Communications.(Right Moves)
Porcaro Communications Inc. announced that Daryl Hoflich, a veteran of the Alaska marketing and advertising community with more than 32 years of experience, will be the agency's new creative directo . . .

RIM Design.(Right Moves)
RIM Design LLC has added Susannah Cloyed as its new accountant. Cloyed brings 10 years of accounting and financial management experience with strong customer service skills to RIM Design. She has li . . .

Imaging Associates.(Right Moves)(appointment of Ruthie Schointuch )(Brief article)
Imaging Associates hired Ruthie Schointuch as its clinical manager of the firm's Mat-Su Valley imaging center in Palmer. Schointuch is a registered X-ray technologist and previously ran a radiology . . .

First Alaskans Institute.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief article)
First Alaskans Institute announced new staff members. Tracy L. Craig, an Ahtna/Gwich'in Athabascan and Yup'ik, is the director of finance and oversees the organization's financial responsibilities t . . .

Wordwright.(Right Moves)(Brief article)
Joette Storm joined her husband, Gene, as a partner in their professional communications business, Wordwright. Storm recently retired from the FAA Alaska Region, where she served as community relati . . .

Crowley Maritime Corp.(Right Moves)
Crowley Maritime Corp. announced that Alex Sweeney was named vice president of safety and health. Sweeney moves from Seattle to Anchorage and reports to Charlie Nalen, vice president, environmental, . . .

Alaska Travel Adventures.(Right Moves)(appointment of Chris Meier )(Brief article)
Alaska Travel Adventures Inc. announced the appointment of Chris Meier as vice president operations. Meier has extensive experience in both ATA's land and marine operations. He joined ATA in 1994 an . . .

American Institute of Architects.(Right Moves)
The American Institute of Architects announced that local architect Harley Hightower was elevated to its prestigious "College of Fellows", an honor awarded to select members who have made contributi . . .

Credit Union 1.(Right Moves)
Credit Union 1 promoted Rachel Ramsey to marketing manager. Originally hired as marketing associate in February 2005, Ramsey came to the credit union with previous marketing and financial institutio . . .

Design Alaska.(Right Moves)(The University of Alaska Fairbanks School)(appointment of Jack B. Wilbur Jr.)(Brief article)
The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management and the UAF Associated Students of Business selected Jack B. Wilbur Jr. as this year's recipient of the "Business Leader of the Year" Award. W . . .

SBA.(Right Moves)
Administrator Steven C. Preston of the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the appointment of Joseph Tolliver, Trailboss Enterprises CEO and president, to the SBA's National Advisory Counci . . .

Colville Inc.(Right Moves)(Brief article)
Colville Inc., an oilfield service company on the North Slope, announced the promotion of Rick Hofreiter to vice president of operations. Hofreiter will oversee daily operations, respond to clients, . . .

Alaska Business Monthly.(Right Moves)
Alaska Business Monthly promoted Ben Grenn to associate editor. ABM hired Grenn in October 2006 as its staff writer. Prior to joining the monthly publication as a full-time employee, Grenn was a fre . . .

Higher education: MBAs and degree-completion programs offer career advancement opportunities.
It's no secret that furthering one's education can help in job placement and income levels. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, the average college graduate earns 62 percent m . . .

ArXotica: tundra plants from Alaska make way to Australia and beyond in natural skin care products.
Three sisters from the Yukon-Kuskokwim region have started an innovative company that draws on traditional Yup'ik/Cup'ik knowledge of the area to create high-end skin-care products using tundra plan . . .

A season in flux: projects on the horizon could affect construction plans.
Each year, the end of winter signals the start of construction season in Alaska. And while 2007 is shaping up to be a very good year with construction spending remaining heavy, it is also turning ou . . .

2007 June events calendar.
ANCHORAGE 2 Alaska K-9 Cutie Pageant The second Annual Alaska K-9 Cutie Pageant. Check-in begins at 10 a.m. and the festivities begin at 12 p.m. in the Anchorage PetZoo parking lot, 7521 Brayton D . . .

Juneau celebrates past with gold rush days: the capital city's history is built on gold.(Alaska This Month)
More than 125 years ago, the discovery of gold brought waves of prospectors and adventure-seekers to Southeast Alaska, seeking dreams of wealth and a new life on the northern frontier. This month, v . . .

WAGS shows promise.(Brief article)
A three-year research project mostly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy investigated and identified optimum methods to produce North Slope viscous oil, techniques that could assist North Slope . . .

Thick as molasses: heavy oil development could provide boom to Alaska.
Imagine owning a piggy bank stuffed with gold coins-$5, $10, even $50 pieces. But the bank's opening is rather small to get the heavy gold coins out. Turning and shaking the piggy bank yields only a . . .

All in the family: Habitat team looks to new faces, new services, new clients.
Despite the adage against combining business and family, the mother-daughter management team at Habitat Housewares in Anchorage seems to have achieved a comfortable berth in the culinary-specialties . . .

The 'quiet' thief: diabetic clinic quells fears while treating menacing disease.(DIABETES)
Shhhhhhhh! Diabetes, like cancer, was once thought to be taboo to talk about; it was rarely brought up in public circles. Diabetic Consultants of Alaska wants to change all that. In fact, they wan . . .

Safety in the oil patch: big oil does not compromise on safety issues on North Slope.
Companies and contractors involved in Alaska's North Slope oil industry face substantial challenges in providing and maintaining a safe workplace. Harsh weather conditions, frozen ground and equip . . .

Transportation: Alaska's link to growth.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2007 TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORY)(Directory)
We've all heard it. "We are within 9 1/2 hours of 90 percent of the Industrialized Northern Hemisphere." "Alaska is the transportation crossroads to the world." "The Ted Stevens Anchorage Internatio . . .

By rail, sea, air and truck: transportation industry anticipates growth, particularly air cargo.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2007
As summer breaks in the northland, the work of moving people and products to and from Alaska speeds up, and the state's skies, seas, railways and roads are humming with activity. Beset by high fuel . . .

Busting at the seams: payloads bigger as Northern Air Cargo adds trio of jumbo jetliners.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2007 TRANSPO
How do you ship an elephant to the Bush? Why, in any one of three new Northern Air Cargos' Boeing 737-200 cargo freighters. That's how. You could put one of those gray behemoths on a barge and wai . . .

Do the cargo shuffle: transloading process helps Anchorage to be near apex in cargo shipping.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2007 TRA
Picture you and your family and some close friends heading out together on a mini-vacation across country. You decide to meet at a pre-destined stop. Now all the children and some your vacation gear . . .

Six months from start to finish: Horizon Lines' team gets RFID up and running in Alaska.(ALASKA BUSINESS MONTHLY'S 2007 TRANSPOR
Once a decision is made to implement a new technology, it often takes a company years before the actual concept comes to fruition. In the case of Horizon Lines, however, team members were given six . . .

Horizon lines introduces first intermodal RFID program to Alaska: radio frequency identification to provide real-time shipment v
In the cargo business, knowing where a particular item is and when it will reach its destination is paramount in running an efficient supply chain. Yet for many years, businesses that shipped contai . . .

Corrections.(Inside Alaska Business)(Correction notice)
In the March 2007 issue, in the article titled "Going to the Dogs," the caption of Balto referred to him as the lead dog in the sled dog run serum run from Anchorage to Nome. We incorrectly mentione . . .

2006 record year for national parks visitors.(TOURISM)
A record number of visits were made to Alaska's national parks in 2006, driven largely by increases at three Southeast Alaska parks served by cruise ships, state officials said. The past year record . . .

Alaska Dinner Factory is new dining solution.(NEW BUSINESS)(Alaska Dinner Factory)(Brief article)
The Alaska Dinner Factory, a new Alaska-owned business offering dinners made easy, opened in Anchorage. The company allows busy Alaskans to come in and make healthy meals that are customized to thei . . .

Wells Fargo wins honors for small business efforts.(AWARDS)
Wells Fargo & Company's (NYSE: WFC) small business Web site has been ranked No. 1 by Change Sciences Group, a national research firm, for the best online customer experience for small-business custo . . .

Scotsman acquires Alaska Modular Space.(ACQUISITIONS)
Williams Scotsman Inc. (NASDAQ: WLSC) announced recently a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Honolulu-based Hawaii Modular Space and its sister company, Alaska Modular Space, for a purch . . .

Personalized training studio opens.(HEALTH & MEDICINE)
BFIT and Well, a personalized fitness training studio for mature women, opened in May at 203 W. 15th Avenue, Suite 103 in Anchorage. Bonnie Murphy is a premier master Fitness by Phone coach. This st . . .

Alaska Airlines celebrates 75th.(TRANSPORTATION)
Bill Ayer, chairman, president and CEO of Alaska Airlines, leads the nation's ninth largest air carrier in celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Alaska Airlines was founded in Anchorage in 193 . . .

AGC of Alaska named Chapter of the Year.(AWARDS)
The Alaska Chapter of the Associated General Contractors was named "Chapter of the Year" during the AGC of America annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. The chapter, with about 650 members in com . . .

Virginia talks to God about school shootings.(From the Publisher)
Ever since Francis P. Church, writing in the New York Sun on Sept. 21, 1897, reassured her that, indeed, there really was a Santa Claus, Virginia has lived in our memories one way or another. Recent . . .

High January unemployment: overall a gradual downward trend?(ALASKA TRENDS FOR MAY 2007)
Alaska's unemployment rate decreased gradually over the last year from 7.7 percent in January 2006 to 7.4 percent in January of this year. The rest of the United States also experienced a slight dec . . .

Nature-based tourism: a new label for Southeast: the Panhandle attracts the adventuresome tourist who wants the real Alaska expe
To the locals, it's no surprise that Alaska's complicated coastline of spray-swept islands and tranquil inlets speaks to the soul of the traveler. To witness dawn break over the calm waters of Zimov . . .

Ch'etbuja: native shareholders receive benefits under their corporations' umbrella.
The Origins Native corporations were created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), passed by Congress in December 1971, which settled the aboriginal land claims of Alaska Native p . . .

Southeast rich in construction projects: most everywhere a cruise ship or ferry docks or airplane lands in Southeast Alaska, som
Summer blooms in the Panhandle and the building season ramps up to full speed, promising another season of construction projects in towns and villages across the region. SURF'S UP ON CONSTRUCTION . . .

Fairbanks construction: five golden years: this year new construction in Fairbanks should be in the $75 million to $80 million r
The construction boom experienced during the last four years in the Fairbanks area will continue through 2007, thanks to a number of retail, housing and professional office space projects slated to . . .