Alaska Business Monthly articles from December 2006

Alaska Business Monthly archives from December 2006

UCM exports coal to South America.(TRADE)
December 1, 2006... The panamax vessel MV Coral Sapphire departed Seward recently loaded with 73,000 metric tons of Alaskan coal from Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy. The shipment is bound for a power plant in Mejillones, Chile. There is an option for the customer...

Canadian-U.S. marketing group lauded.(MARKETING)
December 1, 2006... North to Alaska, a marketing consortium comprising the Alaska Travel Industry Association, Travel Alberta, Tourism British Columbia and Yukon Tourism, recently was awarded the Travel Industry Association Destiny Award for Marketing Programs....

VCRS plans new educational recycling center.(ENVIRONMENT)
December 1, 2006... Valley Community for Recycling Solutions is running a capita) fundraising campaign to build a 30,000-square-foot recycling center-a 20,000-square-foot plant with 5,000 square feet for an education center and office space-in Palmer beside the...

Driver shortage prompts new Carlile campaign.(Carlile Transportation Systems)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Carlile Transportation Systems has launched a new campaign, "Careers at Carlile," designed to recruit qualified and experienced drivers. The American Trucking Association says the trucking industry in America is facing serious labor shortages...

Crowley to build four more ATBs by 2010.(TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... Crowley Maritime Corp.'s Vessel Management Services subsidiary has signed a contract with VT Halter Marine Inc. to build four more articulated tug-barge (ATB), 185,000-barrel tank vessels. The new vessels will have an estimated delivered cost...

Alaska USA to acquire anchorage Willis of Alaska.(INSURANCE)
December 1, 2006... Alaska USA Insurance Brokers, a subsidiary of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Anchorage office of Willis of Alaska. The transaction is expected to close by press times, subject to certain...

"Solutions".(Book review)
December 1, 2006... "Solutions" By Lynne Curry, Ph.D. She's done it again! For the third time, Alaska's management maven Lynne Curry, Ph.D., and president of the Growth Company Inc., has authored a deskbook of solutions to businesses' most persistent...

Interior gas projects stalled: gas exploration and development on slowdown: State and federal government blamed.
December 1, 2006... Efforts to explore and develop sources of natural gas in locations other than Alaska's North Slope and Cook Inlet appear to be steadily grinding to a halt, and industry is pointing to the state and local government as a primary contributor to...

Fairbanks natural gas plans North Slope facility: as Cook Inlet supplies dwindle, Fairbanks taps into the North Slope.
December 1, 2006... Given the lack of development of alternative natural gas supplies in the Interior and the dwindling supply of Cook Inlet gas causing availability issues and price increases, Fairbanks Natural Gas is eyeing vast supplies of North Slope gas as...

Alaska ski resorts: glide, swoosh and race down Alaska's mountains.
December 1, 2006... Alyeska may be the jewel of Alaska ski resorts, but it's hardly all that sparkles in this Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Winter offers a patchwork of resort development, mom-and-pop-style operations and remote adventuring in challenging-often...

Winter getaways: some hibernate in Alaska, some flock to warmer climates, but Alaskans enjoy winter either way.
December 1, 2006... For most of the Northern Hemisphere, vacations occur in the summer. People head for the beach, hit the national parks, visit family and--as Alaskans know all too well--travel north to The Last Frontier to revel at (and in) one of the the truly...

Alaska's growing tourism industry--a new winter destination for conventions: with the new convention center under construction, more and more are signing up for winter conventions, bringing dollars to the community.
December 1, 2006... More conventions are happening in Anchorage in the winter. What's happening to create this? Typically, the summer season in Alaska enjoys multitudes of tourists. At this time, hotel rooms are booked and unavailable for larger events. In...

Alaska's top contractors win construction recognition: AGC honors many in annual conference.(AGC 2006 CONSTRUCTION AWARDS)
December 1, 2006... The Associated General Contractors of Alaska (AGC), a 650-member association of companies in the commercial construction business, honored its top projects, safety programs and individuals during the group's annual conference in Anchorage in...

AGC: recognizing those who build Alaska.(Associated General Contractors of Alaska)
December 1, 2006... Construction is the 800-pound gorilla in the room. It is the third-largest industry in Alaska and contributes more that $7.2 billion to the state's economic base, pays the second-highest wages and employs more than 21,000 in the Great Land's...

December calendar.
December 1, 2006... ANCHORAGE 1-3 Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge In this satirical look at the Christmas Carol, American playwright Christopher Durang pays tribute to all those "nauseating remakes and repeats." Located at UAA Mainstage Theatre....

November calendar.
December 1, 2006... Palmer 9-10 Colony Christmas Old-fashioned country Christmas celebration featuring sleigh rides, caroling, arts and crafts. For more information, phone 745-2880. Seward 1-2 Holiday Bazarr Take the holiday train from...

2006 film fest bigger--and better--than ever: hosted in Anchorage, this event is sure to draw crowds.
December 1, 2006... This month, Alaskans with a passion for film have the chance to indulge in some unusual big-screen fare, thanks to the 2006 Anchorage International Film Festival-now in its sixth year. Organizers say the selection of entries from which they...

Top business stories of 2006: from pipeline shutdowns, to the gas line, to VECO investigations, Alaska business news makes headlines around the world.
December 1, 2006... From shake-ups in the governor's race to shutdowns in BP's oilfields, 2006 was a very exciting year for the people of Alaska. There was good news on a lot of fronts-the construction and mining industries had superlative years, and Native...

Alaska Business Monthly.(Ben Grenn appointed)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Alaska Business Monthly announced the addition of Ben Grenn to its staff. Grenn, a 40-year Alaska resident, joins the staff as the full-time staff writer, with more than 10 years experience as a freelance writer for the magazine. A...

Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... Beth Knight recently was promoted to title department manager with Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency. She has more than 23 years experience in the title insurance industry, including 13 years of commercial title experience. Knight has lived in...

Northrim BanCorp.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... David Wight joined Northrim BanCorp Inc.'s (Nasdaq: NRIM) board of directors. Wight recently retired as the president and CEO of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., a position he held since 2000. He had a 40-year career in the oil industry with the...

NAWIC.(National Association of Women in Construction)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Tamie Taylor of Anchorage will be the next president of the National Association of Women in Construction. Taylor was installed recently as president-elect at NAWIC's 51st annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. A 17-year Alaska resident,...

Weston Solutions Inc.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... Weston Solutions Inc. announced that Dr. Jay McKendrick joined the company as a principal biologist to support and grow its Alaska operations' biological and ecological services. McKendrick has 34 years of experience working in the field of...

R&M Consultants.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... R&M Consultants Inc. announced that founding partner James W. Rooney, P.E., has retired as president of R&M. His work included participating in the initial geotechnical studies and route selection for the transAlaska oil pipeline system and in...

Computers: the 'weak link'? How do businesses reduce the maintenance costs and eliminate the hidden costs of their computer networks?
December 1, 2006... Do you feel like your computers don't work as well as they should? Are they a weak link in your employees getting their work done on time and correctly? This is the truth for many small businesses. In today's small-business environment,...

Bundled communication services big with businesses: most U.S. small and medium businesses prefer to buy bundled communications solutions from a single provider.
December 1, 2006... Bundled communications packages for business customers are commonplace among U.S. telecommunications firms. These all-in-one packages offer everything from local and long-distance voice, to mobile voice and broadband Internet access. The...

Internet services.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
December 1, 2006... ACS (Alaska Communications Systems) 600 Telephone Ave., Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 297-3000 Fax: 297-3052 Top Executive: Liane Pelletier, CEO Web Site: www.acsalaska.com Established: 1999 AK Empls: 1,030 ...

Long-distance services.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
December 1, 2006... ASTAC 4300 B St., Suite 501 Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 563-3989 Fax: 274-7455 Top Executive: David S. Fauske, Gen. Mgr. E-Mail: info@astac.net Web Site: www.astac.net Established: 1979 Areas Served:...

Telephone equipment.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
December 1, 2006... ACS (Alaska Communications Systems) 600 Telephone Ave. * Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 297-3000 Fax: 297-3052 Top Executive: Liane Pelletier, CEO E-Mail: execoffice@acsalaska.com Web Site: www.acsalaska.com Established:...

Wireless services.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
December 1, 2006... ACS (Alaska Communications Systems) 600 Telephone Ave. * Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 297-3000 Fax: 297-3052 Top Executive: Liane Pelletier, CEO E-Mail: execoffice@acsalaska.com Web Site: www.acsalaska.com; alsk.com ...

Information technology.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2006 IT Directory)(Directory)
December 1, 2006... 3SG 6921 Brayton Dr., Suite 201 Anchorage, AK 99507 Phone: 929-4374 Fax: 929-4276 Top Executive: Justin Burgess, Pres. E-Mail: sales@3sgi.com Web Site: www.3sgi.com Established: 2001 Alaska Computer...

Foreign direct investment in Alaska: without question, FDI plays a critical role in the state's economy. In addition to their direct capital investments, these companies also contribute significantly to the communities where they operate through payrolls, taxes, procurement of supplies and services, and civic contributions.(Company overview)
December 1, 2006... International trade is big business for Alaska. In 2005, the state's worldwide exports reached $3.6 billion, a solid 14 percent increase from the previous year, and marking the third consecutive year of double-digit growth. The continuing...

Housing on a budget: how does a single-income or low-income family find affordable housing with rising housing prices in Alaska?
December 1, 2006... It is one of the necessities in life, finding shelter. But who actually enjoys taking the time to search all over town for a perfect place that mandatorily fits into a budget? Anchorage isn't exactly the most expensive city around, but it's...

RBMS: facilitating self-funded health benefit plans: company offers alternative to traditional coverage.(Risk & Benefit Management Services)
December 1, 2006... The typical Alaska employer struggles with insurance benefits. Catch-22: offer benefits and shoulder a great deal of premium expense or shift the expense to employees through premium stipends, a lack of insurance, or limited coverage. None...

RIM.(RIM Architects )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... With more than 25 years of design experience working primarily as a lead designer and project architect, RIM Architects has added Steven Reed to its architectural staff in Anchorage. Reed has more than 25 years of design experience working...

CCHRC.(Cold Climate Housing Research Center)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) announced that Jennifer Jolis is the organization's new development coordinator. Jolis' responsibilities include increasing COHRO's industry memberships and organizing the first in a series of...

TGI Friday's.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... The top T.G.I. Friday's restaurant general managers of corporate and franchise-owned restaurants in the West Division were recognized during the annual West Division Summer General Managers Conference held in San Antonio, Texas, recently. ...

UAF.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association has honored banker Jyotsna "Jo" Heckman as this year's distinguished alumna. Heckman, president of Uenali State Bank, was born and raised in India and came to Fairbanks in 1975 to...

UIC.(Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. recently hired Eileen Terwilliger as its risk manager. Terwilliger will develop and administer the company's risk-management, risk-financing and exposure-reduction policies and programs across UIC and its subsidiaries,...

Westmark Anchorage.(Holland America Line)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Holland America Line has named Malini Wright to the position of regional sales manager of Westmark Anchorage. Wright will be based in Anchorage and responsible for achieving revenue goals at Westmark Anchorage through implementing and managing...

Alaska USA.(Alaska USA Federal Credit Union)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Geoff Lundfelt was promoted to vice president of Branch Administration at Alaska USA, with responsibilities for 22 of the credit union's 32 branches that are located in Alaska. Lundfelt worked for Alaska USA since 1998. He has in-depth...

Millennium Alaskan Hotel.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... The Millennium Alaskan Hotel appointed Mick Hug to the position of executive chef of all food and beverage operations. Hug arrives at the Millennium with an extensive resume of more than 15 years as a chef with many outstanding restaurants and...

ECI/Hyer.(ECI/Hyer Architecture and Interiors )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Anchorage-based ECI/Hyer Architecture and Interiors announced its 25th anniversary. Since 1981, the firm has provided architectural and interior design to clients around the state. The firm also announced that Jonathan Steele and Mary Knopf...

Corporate Express.(Right Moves)
December 1, 2006... Kristi Nelson has been promoted to vice president of sales for the Alaska market. Nelson joined Corporate Express in February 2003 as an account representative and was promoted to office products sales manager in November 2005. Laura Hays...

Sitka tackles affordable housing crunch: are high-priced homes keeping people from moving to Sitka? If so, are there solutions?
December 1, 2006... When prospective police officers, schoolteachers and nurses-even a candidate for executive director of the local conservation society-all turned down jobs in Sitka because of the lack of adequate affordable housing, city leaders turned their...

Alaska's groundfish fisheries: a national model for sustainability for more than 30 years: fisheries off Alaska account for about half of total U.S. harvests; they are the No. 1 private-sector employer in Alaska.
December 1, 2006... Commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries are critically important to cultures and economies all over the world, and nowhere more so than here in Alaska. Fisheries off Alaska account for about half of total U.S. harvests; they are the...

Working together to reach a common goal: joint ventures help native corporations expand markets, increase expertise.
December 1, 2006... As Native corporations continue to diversify their holdings and grow their interests within Alaska as well as outside the state, it can often benefit these businesses to find other companies to partner with on specific projects. Establishing...

Training doctors for the Alaska wilderness may take a special breed: guess again if you thought all physician training is the same.
December 1, 2006... To want to become a doctor in Alaska is a little bit different than wanting to become a doctor in the Lower 48. An Alaska doctor needs to be willing to work long hours, sometimes without the modern amenities that a Pennsylvanian or a...

Red king/blue king: why crab enhancement is so important to Alaska.
December 1, 2006... What is it about "king crab" that is so evocative of Alaska? Glorious history. Images of king crab bring up largess, days that we thought would never end, mountains of crab bringing a double bounty of food and income from Southeast to the...

Unemployment rate in Alaska.(Alaska Trends for December 2006)
December 1, 2006... Alaska trends, an outline of significant statewide, is provided by the University of Alaska center for economic development and sponsored by American fast freight. Alaska's unemployment rate decreased gradually over the last year from 5.8...