Alaska Business Monthly articles from February 2002

Alaska Business Monthly archives from February 2002

Legislature--This is your time to shine! (From the Publisher).(Alaskan lawmakers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Vern C. McCorkle We now have the Second Session of the Twenty-Second Legislature of Alaska. When it is over in May (?) let's hope that we don't say "good riddance!" Scanning the press, and the press releases of many lawmakers, the...

Security Aviation awarded contracts. (Transportation).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Anchorage-based Security Aviation recently was awarded three contracts for transporting military and government personnel and freight to locations in Alaska. The U.S. Air Force renewed a long-standing contract for an additional two years....

State, ACS sign $92 million partnership. (Telecommunications).(Alaska and Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. sign telecommunications agreement)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. and the state of Alaska recently entered into a five-year $92 million telecommunications partnering contract that calls for ACS to provide a broad range of telephone, long-distance, cellular, Internet...

XTO exploration expansions include Alaska. (Oil & Gas).(XTO Energy Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... XTO Energy Inc. (NYSE-XTO) announced recently that its board of directors approved a $400 million exploration and development budget for 2002. With this budget, XTO Energy expects to increase gas production this year by 20 percent over 2001...

ASRC first to install new supercomputing technology. (Technology).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus recently completed the installation of the first Cray SV1ex, called the Chilkoot, to be installed at a supercomputing facility. This completes an ongoing...

Seward has high-speed DSL service. (Technology).(TelAlaska service)(Digital Subscriber Line)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... High-speed digital subscriber service (DSL) is now available in Se: ward's downtown core area through Seward.Net, and tests in other areas of the community are expected throughout the year, TelAlaska officials said. TelAlaska owns...

December tourism data shows bookings down. (Tourism).(Alaska's travel industry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Bookings for the 2002 visitor's season dropped 23 percent, according to the results of a recently completed travel industry poll conducted by GMA Research for the Alaska Travel Industry Association. While some industry officials looked to the...

Local companies purchase University Center Mall. (General).(Furniture Enterprises Alaska Inc.)(JL Properties)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A partnership of two local companies recently purchased the University Center Mall on the Old Seward Highway. Furniture Enterprises Alaska Inc. and JL Properties were the successful bidders and developers said the long-term plan is to divide...

GCI closes acquisition for AK cable TV properties. (Communications).(General Communications Inc. acquires Rogers American Cablesystems Inc. from Rogers Cable Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... General Communications Inc. recently closed a transaction with Rogers Cable Inc. to acquire 100 percent of the stock of Rogers American Cablesystems Inc., a cable TV provider in Alaska. "We have already made significant progress in tying...

Klukwan subsidiary wins Seattle Ferry service bid. (Native).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Chilkat Washington Inc., known as Chilkat Cruises, and is a subsidiary of Klukwan Inc., now operates a high speed passenger ferry service between the Puget Sound destinations of Seattle and Port Townsend. The service features one of the fastest...

David Hoffman: Alaska growth capital; This financial institution provides loans and technical assistance to its high-risk clients. (Interview).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... "Providing loans to clients is great. But coupling those funds with ongoing, prudent management assistance is even better. It is this combination of money and service that differentiates Alaska Growth (Capital) in the eyes of our customers."...

Oil & Gas: A look into 2002; Spending in 2002 by Alaska's two majors will be less than in previous years, but will remain at healthy levels, exceeding $1.5 billion. (Oil & Gas).
February 1, 2002... Tapping smaller satellite oil fields located near existing North Slope infrastructure--a less costly and quick method of maintaining and even boosting crude production--is the main focus this year for the major players in Alaska's oil and gas...

Foreign direct investment: A wealth of opportunity; Investments in Alaska by U.S. affiliates of foreign companies total nearly $30 billion. (Trade).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Alaska is one of the most trade-oriented states in America. In 2000, Alaska's worldwide exports held steady at $2.5 billion, a performance on par with 1999. Exports not only bring new money into the local economy, but also they support the jobs...

Events Calendar.
February 1, 2002... FEBRUARY 1-3 Winter Classics ANCHORAGE An international cast of musicians to perform a variety of music. Presented by the Sitka Summer Music Festival and sponsored by Alaska Airlines, the event is set for 8 p.m. Friday and...

Past and future meld at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Alaska this Month).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Preserving the past without neglecting the future is the aim of the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, and several events scheduled there this month show how deftly the center handles both. Two elders from a village on the Kubuk River...

Standing after the quake: Seismic technology allows owners to choose how well their buildings will perform.
February 1, 2002... Structural engineers around the state are waiting for a major earthquake. That's really the only way they know they've done their jobs right. If the building stands afterward, then engineers like John Aho did well. "Seismic design is...

Engineers and Architects: Building on a team; Their work isn't always obvious, but engineers work closely with architects in designing buildings.(Brief Article)(Column)
February 1, 2002... Many people don't think of an engineer as someone who de signs buildings. When we think of engineers, we think of the cartoon character Dilbert or maybe someone like electric company mogul George Westinghouse. Architects tend to get the...

Hit or miss: Design/Build bidding is becoming controversial engineering firms gamble on jobs-and lose big.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Gary Poll can breathe a little easier--all the hard work paid off. This time. Poll estimates his architect and engineering firm, USKH, invested about $250,000 in time and labor just preparing the bid for the $22 million Joint Mobility Complex...

Russian engineers study American principles of project management at UAA.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... An innovative two-year pilot program is bringing Russian Far East oil executives and technicians as well as RFE university professors to the University of Alaska Anchorage to study and experience firsthand how Western project management is...

2002 engineer of the year nominees.
February 1, 2002... Brian Looney, P.E. Nominated by the American Society of Professional Engineers Brian Looney is a senior engineer with the CRW Engineering Group, a 24-person civil consulting firm in Anchorage. Looney was born in Alaska and has lived 29...

Alaska 2002 Engineers directory.(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Alaska Anvil Inc. 509 W. 3rd Ave., Anchorege, AK 99501 Phone: 276-2747, Fax: 279-4088 WWW: anvilcorp.com Engineers: 53 Support Staff: 110 Year Established: 1984 Discipline: Electrical, mechanical, civil,...

Jumping on the technology bandwagon: Can high-tech tools help your business grow? (Communications & Technology).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Whether you're the CEO of a global corporation or the owner/operator of a small business, there are a variety of high-tech tools available on today's market to meet changing needs as you expand your business. Security tools, networking...

Alaska firms go public and expand reach: There are five Alaska-based publicly traded companies in the U.S.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... What do a candy counter, a trailer, Bootlegger's Cove, a King Crab dinner and a lumber company have to do with Wall Street? Publicly traded Alaska companies had their start with these elements. Dallas investor Michael Christodolou estimates...

Construction Alaska 2002 and beyond: Alaska's construction sector holds steady with increases in state/federal and military spending.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... As 2001 came to a close, a lot of industries found themselves facing new challenges--airlines looked to the federal government for help after passengers stopped flying as a result of Sept. 11; many private companies closed their doors as the...

Interior construction sector doing well: From roads to airports to a parking garage, interior Alaska is enjoying a healthy construction season.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... He could be the voice of one crying in the wilderness, but in Interior construction circles only City of Fairbanks Building Official Steve Shuttleworth predicted a less than stellar 2002 construction season. It's not that Shuttleworth speaks...

February Alaska Trends.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... February Alaska Trends Units Period GENERAL Personal Income -- Alaska Millions of $ 2ndQ01 Personal Income -- United Billions of $ (SAAR)...