Alaska Business Monthly articles from August 2004

Alaska Business Monthly archives from August 2004

A leadership forum: give them E * for effort.(From The Publisher)
August 1, 2004... Last month, one of the most amazing events ever staged in Anchorage took place. Billed by its sponsors as the "first of its kind in North America," (and we are quite certain that it must have been just that), the two-day confab was designed to...

Alaska Public Telecom merges with APRN.(Mergers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Alaska Public Telecommunications Inc. has merged with Alaska Public Radio Network. The merger was achieved in a vote among the APRN member stations recently, and completed a public process that includes approval by the boards of both...

Heritage Gifts opens new Anchorage store.(Tourism)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Heritage Gifts, the gift store of the Alaska Native Heritage Center, has opened a new downtown location at 333 W. Fourth Ave. in the "Village at Ship Creek Center" in Anchorage. "Our downtown location will provide even more exposure for...

Carlyle sells Horizon Lines.(Transportation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Horizon Lines to private equity firm Castle Harlan for a purchase price of $650 million. Carlyle acquired Horizon Lines, formerly known as...

Security Aviation Inc. celebrates 20th.(Transportation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Anchorage-based Security Aviation Inc. recently celebrated its 20th year of accident-free operation. Founded by Mike O'Neill in 1984, the company operates five twin-engine aircraft, consisting of two turbo-prop Conquests and one Citation II...

Railroad terminal shows unique design.(Construction)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... RSA Engineering Inc. provided mechanical and electrical design for a three-story passenger terminal and 300-foot covered passenger platform with elevated track for the Alaska Railroad. The terminal provides assembly space for 250 people and has...

Cruise ship numbers rise in 2004: more than 800,000 passengers will be visiting Alaska this summer via luxury cruiseliners.
August 1, 2004... The 2004 tourist season is well under way and with a record-breaking 27 cruise ships sailing Alaska's waterways this summer, the cruise industry is projecting a banner year for one of its premier destinations. "We're anticipating that...

Small cruise ships are big on adventure: the small cruise ship visitor leaves behind more money in Alaska's towns than the average large cruise ship passenger.
August 1, 2004... While the large cruise ships still bring the majority of cruise travelers to the state, Alaska's small cruiseline business has been growing over the years as well. This season, five small cruise companies (many of which have several boats in...

Alaska's D.C. big three: up close and personal with Alaska's powerful, hard-working congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.
August 1, 2004... Prestige, power, position--three words that describe Alaska's Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C.: Sen. Ted Stevens, Rep. Don Young and Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Now in his 36th year as a member of the U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.'s...

August 2004 calendar of events.(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... ANCHORAGE 13-22 Anchorage Silver Salmon Derby Catch the big one at Ship Creek in downtown Anchorage. For information, call 276-6472. 14 Scared Scriptless Comedy Improv Features improvised scenes based on audience suggestions....

Silver Salmon Derby celebrates 49th year: catch the biggest fish, or a tagged fish, and win big.(Alaska This Month)
August 1, 2004... It's competitive and intense, it's fun, it can net you up to a $50,000 prize, but most importantly, it's fishing in Alaska. The Seward Silver Salmon Derby, scheduled to run from 6 a.m. on Aug. 7 to noon on Aug. 21, is celebrating its 49th year...

Wostmann & Associates.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Bob Wostmann of Wostmann & Associates recently stepped down as CEO after serving as founder and CEO for more than 20 years. He has spent more than 40 years in the IT business, with 23 years invested in growing IT in Alaska. His company,...

Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc. named Norman Gutcher, P.E., Arnold Harder, P.E., and Dave Evans, P.E., as senior associates of the firm. Gutcher has more than 43 years of civil engineering experience and is also a member of the board of directors for...

Koniag Inc.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Koniag Inc. hired shareholder and Director Andrew Teuber Jr. as vice president, Kodiak corporate affairs. This position, located in Kodiak, will provide leadership and support for community and shareholder relations programs. Teuber has served...

Alaska Pacific Bank.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Craig E. Dahl, president and chief executive officer of Alaska Pacific Bank, has been named to represent Alaska financial institutions on the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle (Seattle Bank). Dahl was selected to...

Dynamic Properties.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Michael and Kristen Choy have joined the sales associate team of Dynamic properties. Michael Choy has worked for more than seven years in the real estate business in Anchorage, and also has been active in Simonian Little League, Pop Warner...

GeoEngineers.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Kurt Fraese, L.G., and David Winter, PE, have been named regional managers at GeoEngineers. Fraese, who has been with the firm since 1988, will oversee the Puget Sound region offices that include Redmond, Everett, Bellingham, Tacoma and...

Wells Fargo.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Wells Fargo has awarded $10,000 scholarships to four Anchorage high school graduates. The scholarship recipients are Yagga Touray from Bartlett High School, Casey Flair from East High, Diana Kim from Stellar Secondary School, and Elvin Aygun...

Alaska USA Trust Co.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Janet K. Tempel joined Alaska USA Trust Co. as trust officer. Tempel holds undergraduate and juris doctor degrees from the University of lows. She has more than 20 years experience as an attorney, specializing in business law and estate...

Spenard Builders Supply.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Spenard Builders Supply recently named Josh Horvath as the winner of its annual scholarship. A committee selected Horvath from a pool of 30 qualified applicants. As the winner of the Spenard Builders Supply scholarship, Horvath will receive...

Crowley Maritime Corp.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Jim Van der Veen, director of contract services for Crowley Maritime Corp.'s energy and marine services group, was awarded the 2003 Thomas Crowley Trophy, Crowley Maritime's highest honor, at ceremonies held recently at the company's Pier 17...

RIM Architects.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... RIM Architects announces the addition of three new staff members to its Anchorage office. Trent Mullins joins the architectural staff with a background in design documentation and construction administration. Lisa Morris and Cynthia Reimer also...

Alaska Central Express.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Alaska Central Express named Robb Milne its new chief financial officer. Milne was most recently chief financial and administrative officer for Petro Star Inc., Arctic Slope Regional Corp.'s wholly owned oil refining and fuel supply subsidiary....

AEDC.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Anchorage Economic Development Corp. named Rachel Warenda as its new marketing director. Warenda brings four years of marketing, public relations and communications experience to AEDC. She arrives at AEDC from an advertising agency where...

VECO Alaska Inc.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Charles F. O'Donnell assumed the position of president and general manager at VECO, Alaska Inc. O'Donnell has been the vice president of project operations for VECO since 2002, after joining the company as a senior project manager in 2000....

Satellite fields increase North Slope production: these smaller fields share infrastructure with larger fields, and have some tax advantages.
August 1, 2004... Satellites, those pools of oil and gas near large producing fields, are increasingly being relied on to sustain Alaska's oil production near the million-barrels-a day total. Today satellites to the large North Slope fields are producing oil and...

Oil & gas: contributing to Alaska's future jobs and economy: how Alaska manages its fiscal gap will dictate the future of oil and gas development in this state for the next decade.
August 1, 2004... If there's one thing Alaskans know about the world oil market, it's how volatile the market can be. Five years ago, oil prices were less than $10 a barrel and today prices have reached all-time highs. Even with the best crystal ball, no one...

Alaska Business Monthly's 2004 Oil & Gas Services Directory.(Directory)
August 1, 2004... Agrium Kenai Nitrogen Operations P.O. Box 575 Kenai, AK 99611 Phone: 776-8121 Fax: 776-5579 Top Executive: Bill Boycott, Gen. Mgr. Web Site: agrium.com Estab.: 1968 AK Empls.: 234 Exploration: X ...

Health matters: keeping your workplace safe makes a difference in employee morale and the bottom line.
August 1, 2004... Everyone knows that working on a fishing boat can be dangerous. Standing on slippery decks, lifting and hauling heavy catches, and dealing with dramatically changing weather can lead to debilitating injuries/or those who work unheard. But what...

The complexities of business insurance: review your insurance policy annually to make sure you have the coverage you need.
August 1, 2004... So you've built the company into a smoothly operating machine, having paid attention to all the little operations details a streamlined supply-chain management, the latest whiz-bang technology, sound and tested policies and procedures, an...

The coming crisis in workers' compensation.
August 1, 2004... Employers need to listen up and take note, according to Linda Hall, I director of the Division of Insurance in the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development. "The potential failure of the system is going to fall right back...

The retaliation land mine: retaliation accounts for a consistent 13 percent to 17 percent of all charges brought before Alaska's Human Rights Commission.(ABM Quarterly Feature)
August 1, 2004... "Let me show you around," Sam told Anne her first day at Barnes Construction. As he led her into the warehouse, he said, "You are so lucky, you can have your choice of these guys." Anne said nothing, thinking, "This guy's a dinosaur." Comments...

A stryking endeavor: preparation for third Stryker Brigade under way in Alaska.
August 1, 2004... In spring of 2005, the United States Army's third Stryker Brigade is expected to become operational in Alaska. By August of 2005, it is expected that this brigade, numbering roughly 3,500 people, will be deployed to fulfill the Army's mission...

Knik Arm Bridge will save Mat-Su commuters hours on the road: while most people are happy about the proposed bridge, there are still concerns about logistics.
August 1, 2004... It is not a bridge over troubled waters, as the proposed Knik Arm Bridge, when it comes to fruition, will make many people happy; Still, it is unwanted by some. The project will connect the Port of Anchorage to the Mat-Su Point Mackenzie...

Extreme makeover for the Port of Anchorage: long overdue upgrades will bring the port up to speed.(Proposed Port Expansion Project)
August 1, 2004... The Port of Anchorage, which is located on the east side of Knik Arm in upper Cook Inlet, transported about 4.5 million tons of cargo over its five berths last year. So, what does that mean? That equates to nearly 7 tons of cargo for every man,...

Anchorage school district construction projects for 2004 and beyond: though construction work is not as extensive as ASD would like, there are still plenty of school projects ongoing this year.
August 1, 2004... On April 6, Anchorage voters voted for several school bonds: Proposition 4 for major repairs, renewals and equipment, with a total estimated project cost of $36.4 million; Proposition 5 for school renovation, construction and site acquisition,...

The plans room: this information center for the construction industry provides plans and specifications in conjunction with a customizable Web site for the ease of the client.(www.theplansroom.com)
August 1, 2004... Say you own a mom and pop electrical shop. Or own a painting company. Or are a contractor who does roadwork. You work all day to bring in the bacon, and have little time during the day to see what projects are coming up for bid so you can...

Predatory lending: are you at risk? Some borrowers may be particularly vulnerable to abusive lending practices.
August 1, 2004... Did you know that predatory lenders are increasing their focus on Alaska and Alaskans? More than 65 percent of Alaskans now own their own homes, up nearly 10 percent in a decade, the second-highest growth in home-ownership rate in the nation....

Air passenger traffic: Anchorage and Fairbanks Airports: March 2003-March 2004.(Alaska Trends For July)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Air passenger traffic at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport increased over the period of one year. In March 2004, 347,015 passengers traveled through the Anchorage International Airport, compared to 316,417 passengers just one year...

Alaska trends for July 2004 sponsored by Waste Management of Alaska.(Illustration)
August 1, 2004... ALASKA TRENDS FOR JULY 2004 SPONSORED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT OF ALASKA Indicator Units Period GENERAL Personal Income--Alaska Millions of $ 4thQ03 Personal...