Alaska Business Monthly articles from August 2005

Alaska Business Monthly archives from August 2005

UNOCAL and CNOOC.(China National Offshore Oil Corp. to buy Unocal Corp.)
August 1, 2005... Will the six-story office building at 9th Avenue and I Street in downtown Anchorage, with the word UNOCAL atop it, one of the city's longtime landmarks, soon be replaced with Chinese characters for CNOOC, China National Offshore Oil Corp.? ...

Alaska Football Camp teaches state's players.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Players from more than half the state's high school football teams got a head start on the season--and in some cases their college careers--at the All Alaska Football Camp this summer. More than 300 players and their coaches from as...

ACS signs wireless with State.(Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc., Alaska )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. (NASDAQ:ALSK) has entered into a contract with the State of Alaska for wireless services. ACS is supplying phones and services for about 4,400 state employees and contractors. Under a previous...

GCI announces repurchase of all Series B preferred shares.(General Communications Inc., Toronto Dominion Securities Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... General Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:GNCMA) has reached an agreement with Toronto Dominion Securities to repurchase the remaining 4,314 shares of GCI Series B preferred stock for $6.6 million. The 4,314 preferred shares were convertible into...

Everts Air services Southeast.(Everts Air Cargo)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Everts Air Cargo has begun cargo service to the Southeast cities of Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell and Petersburg, with departures from Anchorage Monday through Saturday. Everts is operating their new Embraer Aircraft in this market and...

TSA imposes trucker fingerprinting.(Transportation Security Administration's rule for commercial truckers hauling hazardous materials )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Commercial truckers hauling hazardous materials in Alaska are required to complete new federal security requirements, including background checks and new fingerprinting administered only by federally approved agencies. The Transportation...

Northland buys back barge freight service.(Northland Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The management team and founding owners of Northland Services Inc., in partnership with Endeavour Capital, have completed a management buyout of the Seattle-based common carrier and contract barge freight service company that provides service...

Investment Group purchases Era Aviation.(Era Aviation Investment Group LLC, SEACOR Holdings Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Era Aviation Investment Group LLC announced it has entered into ah agreement with SEACOR Holdings Inc. to acquire the Alaska-based regional airline, Era Aviation Inc. For the first time since 1991, all of the airline's officers and management...

Slow going: the governor is still looking at three options to get North Slope gas to market.
August 1, 2005... Commercial development of Alaska's vast North Slope natural gas resources continues to advance in 2005, albeit at a seemingly snail's pace for those expecting contracts for public review during the spring Legislative session, as previously...

Insurance for small businesses: companies in Alaska are lagging behind when it comes to providing health care benefits--which isn't surprising for a state facing health care costs estimated at almost 40 percent higher than other parts of the country.
August 1, 2005... Insurance is one of the most important benefits companies offer their employees. But rising health care costs--and premiums--make it more difficult for businesses to provide workers with health care coverage. It's particularly challenging for...

2005 August events calendar.(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... Anchorage 5-14 Silver Slam'n Salm'n Derby A benefit for the Downtown Soup Kitchen. Fish a world-class sport fishery right in the middle of downtown Anchorage from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Ship Creek. For more information, phone 344-7780. ...

State fair offers last blast of summer: this year the fair runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 5, celebrating the final days of summer.(the Palmer fair)
August 1, 2005... As opportunities to sneak in summer fun dwindle with the length of the days, the fair in Palmer offers a perfect way to get outdoors, see some unusual things, dive into tasty food and indulge the inner child with friends and family. Fair...

Alaska's top women-owned business: an annual directory of women who own businesses and provide jobs to their communities.(Alaska's 2005 top women-owned businesses directory)(Directory)
August 1, 2005... This year, 81 women are recognized for their role as owners of a business in Alaska, most with revenues above $250,000. These women provide jobs to employees, donate to nonprofits and others in the communities they work in, and volunteer for...

Women in construction: women are making headway in the construction industry.
August 1, 2005... It used to be that construction was considered a man's job. Women were thought to be too weak to do the work, and didn't have the skills required to make their way in this most masculine of industries. And while there is still a shortage of...

Northern Dame Construction: Doris Coy started her business because of a bad boss, and now grosses more than $1 million a year.
August 1, 2005... When Doris Coy first got started in the construction business, she didn't have a lot of experience. But she did have the belief that she could do the job and had the patience to learn the topes along the way. And that persistence enabled her to...

Superior Machine & Welding Inc.: Jan Tina Lunsford didn't want to own her own business. But she loved a challenge.
August 1, 2005... When Jan Tina Lunsford was a kid growing up in Alaska, if you had asked her if she would someday take over the family business, she would have laughed and went right back to daydreaming. Her father bought Superior Machine & Welding Inc. when...

Alaska businesswoman tranforms wilderness travel: Alpaca Raft Inc. is growing due to woman's endurance.(Interview)
August 1, 2005... Some people take the old adage to heart: If you want something done right, do it yourself... or better yet, ask your mother to do it. When Thor Tingey returned from a trip through the Brooks Range "absolutely beside himself" with the...

Associated builders and contractors push agenda: from gathering recruits to opposing Project Labor Agreements for the gas line, ABC speaks out.
August 1, 2005... In a trend that has Alaska builders pulling their hair, the construction .trades reportedly will require 1,000 new recruits per year for the next 10 years in Alaska to make up for the recent ebb of skilled trades workers-a phenomenon due to...

2005 excellent year for military construction, 2006 even better: Army Corps of Engineers' spending recycles taxpayer dollars back into the economy.
August 1, 2005... Military construction is booming on the Last Frontier. This year, the Army Corps of Engineers, the military's chief construction agency in Alaska, is expected to spend about $680 million on statewide military projects. While the Corps...

Alaska Travel Industry Association.(Shirley Laird elected for Educational Foundation for Woman in Accounting)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Shirley Laird, director of finance and human resources for the Alaska Travel Industry Association, was elected president of the Educational Foundation for Woman in Accounting. The EFWA is a national organization that supports the advancement of...

AT&T Alascom.(President's Circle Award, Achiever's Club Award)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Twelve Alaskans have been recognized for their role as corporate leaders and received the AT&T national 2005 Achiever's Club Award. The Achiever's Club is the top honor from AT&T and is given to the most distinguished employees throughout the...

Tactix.(opened its regional sales office in Anchorage)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Tactix has opened its regional sales office in Anchorage, a move the company hopes will allow it to provide information technology products and services to a broader set of customers in the greater Pacific Northwest. Located at 2221 E....

UAA.(University of Alaska Anchorage College of Business and Public Policy annual awards )
August 1, 2005... The University of Alaska Anchorage College of Business and Public Policy celebrated its partnerships with the business community when two of its many corporate partners and a former UAA student were among those recognized with awards at the...

Alaska Airlines.(Right Moves)
August 1, 2005... Alaska Airlines was named one of the 100 Best of America in Reader's Digest Magazine's annual compilation of the 100 best people, places, ideas and innovations in America. Alaska Airlines won Best Airline Innovation for being the pioneer of...

Alaska Growth Capital.(Jeff Batton appointed)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Alaska Growth Capital added Jeff Batton to the executive team, serving as vice president of client services. Batton will be responsible for establishing and growing the company's consulting practice to provide clients with services related to...

DAT/EM Systems International.(Julie Perilla appointed)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... DAT/EM Systems International, a developer of digital mapping software, has added Julie Perilla to its software engineering team. Perilla moved to Anchorage from Philadelphia recently. While in Philadelphia, she worked as a software engineer for...

Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc.(Shaun McFarlane appointed)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc. hired Shaun McFarlane as a senior marine engineer in the Marine Engineering Department. McFarLane holds a master's degree in ocean engineering from Texas A&M University and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from...

Alaska Press Women.(Rhonda McBride honoured with National Communicator of Achievement Award)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Alaska Press Women nominated member Rhonda McBride for the National Communicator of Achievement Award, the highest honor awarded by the National Federation of Press Women. The prestigious award is bestowed upon those members who have redefined...

ADF&G.(Alaska Department of Fish and Game hired Cynthia Pring-Ham )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... McKie Campbell, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, announced that Cynthia Pring-Ham was hired as the department's new mariculture coordinator. Pring-Ham will be managing ADF&G's aquatic farm program and coordinating the...

RIM Architects.(Krista Phillips joins National Architectural Accrediting Board )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Krista Phillips, associate AIA and a senior intern architect with RIM Architects, was selected by the American Institute of Architects to serve on the National Architectural Accrediting Board visiting team. In this capacity, Phillips will...

Alaska Commercial Banking Group.(Rick Flake joined)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Rick Flake was named business relationship manager for Wells Fargo's Alaska Commercial Banking Group. Flake has 16 years of experience as an internal auditor for Wells Fargo. His most recent position was senior audit project leader. He has a...

Credit Union 1.(Gia Fowler, Melinda Longlet and Lorraine Bennett promoted)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Credit Union 1 promoted Gia Fowler to DeBarr branch manager, Melinda Longlet to Eagle River branch manager, and Lorraine Bennett to assistant vice president of member services. Fowler has worked at Credit Union 1 for 21 years in a variety...

Alaska Airlines.(Amanda Tobin joined)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Amanda Tobin joined Alaska Airlines as manager of media relations. In this role, Tobin will serve as one of the airline's primary spokespersons to regional and national news media. Tobin comes to the airline from Puyallup, Wash.-based Good...

CH2M Hill.(Floyd Damron, Dan Sterley, Eric Cutbirth appointed)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Floyd Damron, vice president and professional engineer with CH2M Hill, has accepted the role of marketing lead for the Water Business Group in Alaska and will continue his role as the northwest regional government affairs director. He is a...

Usibelli revived: things are looking up for this interior coal mine.(Usibelli Coal Mine Inc.)
August 1, 2005... Three years ago, Alaska's only commercially producing coal mine lost its only overseas supply contract for ultra-low sulfur coal mined near Healy. The resulting effects echoed throughout Usibelli Coal Mine, a third-generation family owned...

Peninsula Airways marks 50 years of superior service with an emphasis on safety: PenAir celebrates the past, but looks forward to the future as "The Spirit of Alaska.".(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... Peninsula Airways is celebrating its golden anniversary this year, an achievement few companies can appreciate, especially in Alaska. In 1955, when Elvis Presley was signing his first recording contract with RCA Records, Orin Seybert was...

Preventative health care for businesses: just a few simple changes in company policy will result in healthier employees and healthier companies.
August 1, 2005... "A stitch in time saves nine" easily applies to one's health. If you take care of yourself now, you reap the rewards of good health later in life. Companies also can benefit from encouraging employees to take better care of themselves....

The basics of video conferencing: reaching out from city to city, state to state, country to country: budget cuts have slashed many firms' travel budgets and video conferencing provides for an ideal solution to addressing the need for face-to-face meetings. It can be thought of as the next best thing to actually being there in person.
August 1, 2005... As business continues to move in numerous directions, and distances, video conferencing is becoming increasingly useful. Alaska-based businesses can find great success in implementing such technology as it allows for them to operate and...

New forest products from Southeast Alaska: Prince of Wales Island hotbed for small sawmill operators bent on value-added commodities.(Thorne Bay Wood Products)
August 1, 2005... Rick Cabe is a proud man. He has just finished installing a new Pinhiero planer at his sawmill in Thorne Bay on Prince of Wales Island, and he is happy to show it off. "I can make any type of pattern," says Cabe. "And this machine can...

Making your way in Washington, D.C.: ten ways to be your own Capitol Hill lobbyist.
August 1, 2005... Harry Truman was definitely onto something when he said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." The nation's capital can feel cold and snobbish. The town is obsessed with money and power. And yes, forget what they say in high...

Selling your company: seven common pitfalls that can produce failure: business owners should be able to sell their company at an aggressive premium price with only limited, if any, exposure to post-closing issues.
August 1, 2005... For many owners, the sale of their company is the largest, most complex transaction of their career. Due to its magnitude and impact on their future, it also is one of the most stressful. A seller will often find solace and security, if they...

A new business challenge: can you run a business or work a job and care for aging parents effectively at the same time?
August 1, 2005... Trying to manage the care of aging parents or a disabled family member while trying to meet work responsibilities is a challenge that faces a growing segment of our population. As the huge demographic "bubble" in our population--76 million baby...

Air passenger traffic for both Anchorage and fairbanks airports: Alaska Trends, and outline of significant statewide statistics, is provided by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development and sponsored by American Fast Freight.(Alaska Trends for August 2005)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Air passenger traffic at the Ted Steven's Anchorage International Airport has seen a decline from 329,200 passengers in January 2005 to 290,568 passengers in February 2005, indicating a more than 38,000-passenger decline in air travel through...

Alaska Trends for August 2005.(Illustration)
August 1, 2005... ALASKA TRENDS FOR AUGUST 2005 Indicator Units Period GENERAL Personal Income--Alaska Millions of $ 1stQ05 Personal Income--United States ...