Alaska Business Monthly articles from February 2003

Alaska Business Monthly archives from February 2003

Looking out for business... a report from the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce - the Voice of Alaska Business. (Advertisement).
February 1, 2003... The first session of the twenty-third Alaska State Legislature is underway and the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, the "Voice of Alaska Business", is actively lobbying for positive legislation on issues of importance to business. Following is...

Go west, young man until you run east! (From the Publisher).
February 1, 2003... Alaska is a far away place, but it has connections. It is very near the great circle route to the Orient. It is the air cargo crossroads of the world. It is located on the Pacific Rim, one of the major geographic and economic regions of the...

Bush Honors Fish and Wildlife's Jones. (Applause).(Marshall Jones)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Marshall Jones, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been selected by President Bush as a recipient of a Presidential Rank Award, a prize awarded annually to a select number of career senior executives to recognize...

U.S. and Canada Sign historic Salmon Agreement. (Fishing).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the signing of the Yukon River Salmon Agreement by representatives of the governments of Canada and the United States. This agreement is the product of 16 years of negotiations, and is...

Wards Cove terminates Alaska salmon operations. (Fishing).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Wards Cove Packing Co. Chairman Alec W. Brindle announced recently that, after processing wild Alaska salmon for 75 years, the company has terminated its Alaska salmon operations. "This is a very sad day for the Brindle family, our...

CSX to convey CSX Lines for $300 million. (Transportation).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) announced it has agreed to convey its domestic container shipping unit, CSX Lines LLC, to a venture formed with The Carlyle Group for approximately $300 million in cash and securities. The transaction is subject to...

Aquatrain logs 40th year. (Transportation).
February 1, 2003... For four decades, Alaska businesses have enjoyed having two ways to obtain goods by rail, thanks to a quiet little company with an exotic name. CN Aquatrain, a small division of the Canadian National Railway, celebrated its 40th anniversary of...

Banking on customer service: Alaska's banks strive to provide the best service possible, and have many policies in place to do such.
February 1, 2003... Customer service is defined as "a department or function of an organization that responds to inquiries or complaints from customers of that organization," according to Barron's Dictionary of Business Terms. Senior management with Alaska banks...

Alaska Open Imaging Center, LLC: providing you images for life. (Advertisement: Business Profile).
February 1, 2003... Physicians and their patients, and private individuals, are finding state-of-the-art technology and a standard of care that is without equal when they call upon Alaska Open Imaging Center for a variety of outpatient diagnostic services. ...

Multi-modal leaders in Alaska: Alaska's multi-modal transportation industry/infrastructure is complex.(Industry Overview)
February 1, 2003... From the docks of Ketchikan to the shores of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska's transporters deliver our goods each day by land, by air, by sea. It's a select few among that roster of professional cargo handlers that offer their clientele a multi-modal...

CRW Engineering Group. (Right Moves).(hires several individuals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CRW Engineering Group LLC has hired the following people for the firm: Rebecca L. Campbell is the president for the Institute of Transportation Engineers; Karl Hulse was hired as a design engineer; Archie L. Olsen was hired as a construction...

USDA Rural Development. (Right Moves).(names technician in Bethel, Alaska Field Office)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Minnie Fritts was appointed as technician in the USDA Rural Development field office in Bethel. Fritts has worked as a social worker for the Alaska Division of Family and Youth Services and has served as an advocate for individuals and tribes...

PDC Inc. (Right Moves).(hires mechanical engineer)
February 1, 2003... Danny Rauchenstein joined PDC Inc.'s mechanical engineering department. He is a University of Alaska Fair-banks graduate. He is currently working on projects including the Fort Wainwright Vehicle Maintenance Facility and the AISU Metlakatla...

Brady & Co. (Right Moves).(hires employee benefits assistant)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Libby Miller was hired as an administrative assistant in the employee benefits department of Brady & Co. She has more than four years of administrative and insurance experience and is a graduate of the University of Alaska Southeast.

Agrium Kenai Nitrogen Operations. (Right Moves).(names human resources superintendent)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Agrium Kenai Nitrogen Operations recently promoted Don Zacharias to human resources superintendent at the Kenai plant. Zacharais has served as Kenai's human resources advisor and has 29 years of service with Agrium in a number of different...

HDR Alaska. (Right Moves).(names new senior solid waste manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Joel Grunwaldt, a senior solid waste manager, recently joined HDR Alaska in Anchorage. He has 30 years of experience managing solid waste services for the Municipality of Anchorage. He served as director of the MOA Solid Waste Services...

Hawaiian Vacations. (Right Moves).(promotes director of sales and marketing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Dee Buchanan was promoted to director of sales and marketing for Hawaiian Vacations/Alaskan Vacations and Fire & Ice Vacations. Buchanon had been the director of marketing for the agencies. She will continue to supervise the in-house...

Afognak Native Corp. (Right Moves).(hires new chief operating officer )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Afognak Native Corp. hired Ventura Samaniego as chief operating officer. Samaniego's primary responsibility will be for the corporation's development of its timber resources on Afognak Island, responsibility for development and management of...

PRSA. (Right Moves).(Public Relations Society of America's Alaska chapter gives awards)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Alaska Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America presented its 2002 Communicator of the Year Award to longtime chapter volunteer and 15-year public relations practitioner Natalie Knox, APR, at the organization's Aurora Awards...

Hageland Aviation Services Inc. (Right Moves).(hires director of safety and training )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Dale Ferguson was hired as director of safety & training for Hageland Aviation Services Inc. Ferguson previously was with Era Aviation, where he was director of training for the past 10 years. Bob Anderson was hired as director of cargo...

Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc. (Right Moves).(hired Jenelle Fesperman, EIT, as a civil engineer in the structural engineering department)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc. recently hired Jenelle Fesperman, EIT, as a civil engineer in the structural engineering department. Fesperman has a degree in civil engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

AT&T Alascom. (Right Moves).(hires Kevin Causey as an account executive)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Kevin Causey recently joined AT&T Alascom as an account executive, small business markets. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque with a degree in business management. He last worked in Denver selling Voice over IP for...

Matanuska Maid. (Right Moves).(CEO and President Joe Van Treeck has been elected to the Milk Industry Foundation of the International Dairy Foods Association )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Matanuska Maid Dairy CEO and President Joe Van Treeck was elected to the Milk Industry Foundation of the International Dairy Foods Association during a recent board meeting in Washington, DC. The organization is actively involved in government...

February events calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... ANCHOR POINT 20-23 Snow Rondi An annual event that features an auction, Nordic events, snowmachine events, archery, a parade and lots of family fun. Call 235-2600 or visit www.xyz.netl~apcoc/. ANCHORAGE All Month ...

The Fur Rendezvous packed with tradition, lore. (Alaska this Month).
February 1, 2003... From Fur auctions to the eskimo blanket toss... from snow races to sled dog races... from ice sculptures to fireworks... Fur Rondy's got it all! Finding fun things to do, especially outdoors, during the height of the winter season, is...

Photographers live life to the fullest despite disabilities: Phil and Jlona Richey have a love for Alaska, and work to capture this great land on film.
February 1, 2003... Jlona Richey, owner of Tracks of Alaska, has grit. It put her in the running for the Olympics three decades ago in Germany, and it helps her put one foot in front of the other every day, in spite of injuries and ills that threaten to disable...

Branding for business. (Required Reading).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... "Managing the Customer Experience: Turning Customers Into Advocates" Shawn Smith and Joe Wheeler Prentice Hall/Financial Times London, England 2002, 254 pages, $24.00 Every now and then a business book comes along that puts an often...

Canadians to build Alaska Gas Pipeline.
February 1, 2003... Many Alaskans may not know that following the requisite Alaska Highway route places two-thirds of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline in Canada. Why governors, legislators or producer companies have not informed Alaskans of this prompts...

The challenges of Arctic engineering: Alaska's extremities keep engineers on their toes.
February 1, 2003... Engineering in the Arctic conditions of Alaska creates special challenges, to say the least. There aren't many places in the world where one will find aboveground water pipes, ice-breaking footings on bridges and office buildings that sit on...

Award-winning Engineers: Alaska projects stand out in the crowd.
February 1, 2003... It was a challenging concept, to say the least. How to build an indoor shooting range that keeps the air fresh and is easy to heat, and in Fairbanks, no less, where temperatures drop into double digits below zero. "The real problem is the...

Engineers support the arts.
February 1, 2003... Artist Kim Brown studied architectural design while attending an art and design school in Los Angeles during the 1980s. That emphasis on architecture helped her understand the basic necessities of structural design, aesthetics and safety. ...

2002 Engineer of the year nominees.
February 1, 2003... DAVID D. ADAMS, PE., L Nominated by the Alaska Society of Professional Engineers Dave Adams is a co-founder and principal electrical engineer of AMC Engineers. A graduate of Petersburg High School, he attended the University of Alaska...

2003 engineering directory.(Directory)
February 1, 2003... Alaska Anvil Inc. 509 W. 3rd Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501-2237 Phone: 276-2747 Fax: 279-4088 www.anvilcorp.com Engineers: 53 Support Staff: 110 Year Established: 1984 Discipline: Electrical, mechanical, civil,...

10 steps to working with an architect.
February 1, 2003... Architects are the men and women who bring buildings from the state of dreams to that of reality. It's not quite as simple as a wanna-be building owner walking into an architect's office and saying, "I want a building," but that's a good place...

Winter construction attracts a hardy bunch: there is ice, snow and frigid wind to deal with, but a steadfast group of construction workers labors through the winter season.
February 1, 2003... It was a dark and stormy night. In Alaska. In winter. Even so, such conditions cannot be a barrier to a vibrant construction industry. Considering how much of the calendar covers a Northern winter, Alaska's construction industry is required to...

Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center: a double boost for Homer; this marine center, still under construction, is expected to draw 30,000 to 40,000 visitors each year.
February 1, 2003... A new marine center in Homer is poised to be a twofold boon to the seaside town's economy. The first wave already has hit, with an influx of $15 million in construction funds spread mostly among local workers. The second will begin next...

Planning a meeting? Tips from the pros will help you organize a great office gathering.
February 1, 2003... Steve Cobb is a good example of the importance of good, organized planning for events or meetings. If things had gone wrong, the ripples would have gone beyond the Anchorage borders; the entire nation would have known where to turn. Cobb...

A new generation of telephones: let your telephone work for you: from simple voice mail to the latest rage, voice-over-IP.
February 1, 2003... "One ringy dingy. Two ringy dingy. Hello, is this the party to whom I am speaking?" Telephones have come a long way since comedian Lilly Tomlin made the concept of two-way communication indelible in our minds. The telephone has been...

Stewart Title of Alaska. (Biz Buzz).(relocates headquarters )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Julie Korting, president of Stewart Title of Alaska, has announced the relocation of headquarters to 2601 Denali Street. The telephone number remains unchanged: 274-2652.

Denali Federal Credit Union. (Biz Buzz).(joins Financial Service Centers Cooperative)
February 1, 2003... Denali Federal Credit Union and Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union have joined Financial Service Centers Cooperative. Together their members and 11 branches will be able to access 814 branches in 37 states. FSCC is an international credit...

Tesoro Petroleum Corp. (Biz Buzz).(closes agreement with Skyline Pacific Properties to sell and lease back 30 of their retail stores )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tesoro Petroleum Corp. has announced that the company has closed an agreement with Skyline Pacific Properties of San Francisco to sell and lease back 30 of their retail stores in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho and Utah.

Eagle River has won honorable mention in a contest to use the words "duck tape" in a song. (Biz Buzz).
February 1, 2003... Karen Davis of Eagle River has won honorable mention in a contest to use the words "duck tape" in a song. She received a year's supply of duck tape (value about $180.00) for her lyrics. There were 163 songs entered in the competition from 33...

The Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association. (Biz Buzz).(announces 2003 officers and executive committee)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association has announced its 2003 slate of officers and executive committee: chairman, Jeff Butcher, Hotel Halsingland, Haines; president, Frank Rose, Denali Bluffs Hotel & Grande Denali Lodge, Fairbanks; vice...

Chugach Support Services. (Biz Buzz).(awarded a contract)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Chugach Support Services, a Nativeowned small business, has been awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of airfields at King Salmon and Galena. The contract will infuse more than $80 million into the economy over the next seven...

Alaska Regional Hospital. (Biz Buzz).(offices of plastic and reconstructive surgeons Michael Manuel, M.D., and Anne Stevenson, M.D., have moved to hospital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The offices of plastic and reconstructive surgeons Michael Manuel, M.D., and Anne Stevenson, M.D., have moved to the Alaska Regional Hospital campus at 2741 DeBarr Road, Building C, Suite 215. Telephone them at 563-2002.

Sommerset Computer Forensics LLC. (Biz Buzz).(offers various services, including retrieval and gathering of electronic evidence)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sommerset Computer Forensics LLC has announced service in retrieval and gathering of electronic evidence, and electronic analysis of computers and computer surveillance, employer protection, trial preparations, and when expert witnesses are...

Waste Management Inc. (Biz Buzz).
February 1, 2003... Anchorage Refuse and Wasilla Refuse have been recognized bytheirparentcorporation Waste Management Inc. for exemplary customer service.

Wells Fargo Bank Alaska. (Biz Buzz).(donated $262,000 to 115 nonprofit organizations in Alaska )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Wells Fargo Bank Alaska donated $262,000 to 115 nonprofit organizations in Alaska during the third quarter of 2002.

VECO Corporation. (Biz Buzz).(ranked 31st in the US for engineering and design by Engineering News-Record magazine)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... VECO Corporation has been ranked 31st in the nation for engineering and design by Engineering News-Record magazine. Additionally, the firm was ranked No. 1 in co-generation engineering, 8th in pipeline engineering, 9th in petroleum engineering,...

Doyon Ltd. (Biz Buzz).(distributed $4.8 million in dividends in 2002)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Doyon Ltd. distributed $4.8 million in dividends in 2002. The share dividend amount was $3.45, netting $345.00 per 100 shares to each of its 14,000 shareholders. The board of directors next meets on March 14 at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel.

Alaska Growth Capital. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Alaska Growth Capital has relocated its offices to 39000 Street, Suite 302, 99503-5965. New numbers are: Telephone: 339-6760; Fax: 339-6771.

Valdez Fisheries Development Association . (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Valdez Fisheries Development Association will install a small-scale fish processing plant in the fisheries building on Loop Road. Commercial fishermen in Prince William Sound will be invited to use the equipment free of charge to process their...

Mining and Petroleum Training Service. (Biz Buzz).(relocates)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Mining and Petroleum Training Service has relocated its offices to the University Center Mall at 3801 Old Seward Highway. P.O. Box 240428, Anchorage, 99524. Telephone: 786-6413; Fax: 786-6414.

Seasoned sole proprietors. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Seasoned sole proprietors, new-found entrepreneurs and senior level corporate executives interested in establishing networking relationships with Russian Far East entrepreneurs are invited to call Edward Leon, MBA, at 229-1042; Fax:243-6061;...

Year 2000 Census. (Biz Buzz).(cities triple in size since 1950)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Year 2000 Census figures show that the average size of the nation's 100 mostpopulated cities is about 168 square miles, more than triple their size in 1950. The gain came largely from annexing nearby subdivisions. Anchorage contains 1,700...

The Seattle Hotel Super Saver Package. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Seattle Hotel Super Saver Package offers Alaskan travelers up to 50 percent off regular room rates at participating hotels in downtown Seattle until March 31. To book one of the hotels (they range from economy to posh) call (800) 535-7071....

Q&A with Greg Wolf executive director, World Trade Center Alaska.(Interview)
February 1, 2003... Greg Wolf is well versed in trade. On Jan. 1, he began his position as executive director of the World Trade Center Alaska after serving nearly five years as director of the State Division of International Trade and Market Development. Prior to...

China: rising dragon, expanding exports for Alaska.
February 1, 2003... Across the Pacific, China, the long slumbering big dragon of Asia, has awoken. The country's economic liberalization and expansion that commenced 20 years ago is now steaming ahead at a torrid pace. China accession to the World Trade...

The University of Alaska: building 'people capital'.
February 1, 2003... With the new administration that took office in December, much of the New Year will be devoted to a thorough re-examination of how best to spur the state's economic development. As a former Alaska banker, Coy. Frank Murkowski will have a...

February Alaska trends.
February 1, 2003... February Alaska Trends Units Period GENERAL Personal Income -- Alaska Millions of $ 2ndQ02 Personal Income -- United States Billions...