Alaska Business Monthly articles from June 2004

Alaska Business Monthly archives from June 2004

Correction.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2004... In the April issue, in the Corporate 100 Listing, under Totem Ocean Trailer Express' entry, the words "Totem Ocean Trailer" were left off the beginning of a section describing their business descriptions. Therefore the company's full name did...

The other shoe ... has just been dropped!(From the Publisher)
June 1, 2004... Ever since enactment of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act (ANGTA) of 1976 in which President Jimmy Carter handed over development of Alaska's North Slope natural gas to Canada (as a symbol of the ability of the two governments to work...

Anchorage engineer receives fourth patent.(Engineering)(PND Inc)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Civil engineer Dennis Nottingham has received a patent for the Open Cell bulkhead structure, which can be used economically for docks, bridge abutments, retaining structures and many other structure types. Open Cell structures are comprised...

Investment board expands job training.(Resources)(Alaska Workforce Investment Board)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Alaska Workforce Investment Board is expanding its program to strengthen the state workforce by adding training for workers in resource industries, such as oil, gas and mining. New job skills available through the Workforce Investment...

Juneau businesswoman is small business champ.(Applause)(ACH Consulting)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Juneau businesswoman Peggy Ann McConoochie received the first state Small-Business Champion award recently for her years of advocacy and effort on behalf of Alaska small-business owners. The National Federation of Independent Business...

Anchorage Printing completes press remodel.(General)(Anchorage Printing Inc)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Anchorage Printing Inc. recently completed the touches on its latest press remodel. The company replaced its old press in 1999 and this year has added eight more press units, which required nine months to complete. Anchorage Printing now...

SBS opens Palmer Store.(Retail/Wholesale)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Spenard Builders Supply's Palmer Store marked the opening of its third Valley location by offering a chance to win a trip to NASCAR's Checker Auto Parts 500 in Phoenix this November. A two-seater Kasea Kart dune-buggie also was given away...

Alaska CHARR offers insurance to members.(Insurance)(Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association)(Alaska Cabaret)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Christmas came early for dozens of Alaska businesses in the hospitality industry. The businesses, all members of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association (CHARR), received the first dividend payment from a new insurance...

Gustavus chooses taxes for self-government.(Government)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Gov. Murkowski recently hailed the decision by voters in Gustavus to assume the responsibilities of self-government by voting to incorporate as a second-class city, and to tax themselves to pay for basic local government services. The...

GCI and ACS reach settlement.(Communications)(Alaska Communications Systems )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... GCI recently announced that a joint settlement has been reached to substantially resolve a number of legal and regulatory proceedings between Alaska Communications Systems and GCI. Some terms of the settlement are: * ACS relinquishes...

Northrim Bank launches new Web site.(Finance)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Northrim Bank launched a new business Web site recently to offer information to Alaska's small businesses, according to President Marc Langland. The site, at www.northrim.biz, was designed to connect Alaska's small-business owners to...

Anchorage Airport completes C Concourse.(Construction)(facilities)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The new 447,200-square-foot C Concourse of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is scheduled to open for operation June 30. Prior to opening for business, the airport will hold an open house on June 29 for members of the media...

Cook Inlet: an oil and gas report: gas supplies are diminishing in the Southcentral region, but companies are doing what they can to squeeze the last drop out of reservoirs.
June 1, 2004... It has been almost half a century since commercial oil was first discovered in the Cook Inlet region. Richfield Oil Co.'s discovery at Swanson River, on the Kenai Peninsula, ushered in a new industry for the then-Territory of Alaska and set the...

Thomas, Head & Greisen, CPA, APC: the vanguard of excellence.(Business Spotlight)(Certified Public Accountant)(Company Profile)
June 1, 2004... Headquartered in Anchorage, for 35 years the firm of Thomas, Head & Greisen, certified public accountants, has continuously served Alaska-based business owner/entrepreneurs and a wide variety of other clients seeking expert accounting services....

Alaska wired! We're the most wired state in the nation. Even rural Alaska is jumping onboard.
June 1, 2004... Though the least populous, most remote state in the country, Alaska is also considered the most wired, ranking No. 1 for home computer penetration and Internet access. A whopping 83.7 percent of Alaska homes are plugged in. It is estimated that...

June 2004 calendar of events.(Calendar)
June 1, 2004... ANCHORAGE 11 Military Appreciation Picnics Come volunteer and show your support to the troops and their families at Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information contact the Anchorage Chamber...

The Last Frontier Theatre Conference: this conference is scheduled to take place in Valdez June 18-26 at the Prince William Sound Community College.(Alaska This Month)
June 1, 2004... Catch a culinary expert in a small kitchen with a few friends and something intimate and special happens, like having an ad hoc round of golf with Tiger, Woods sans the hubbub and crowds. This atmosphere appears the driving force behind the...

2004 Shippers and transportation directory.(2004 Shippers and Transportation Directory)(Directory)
June 1, 2004... Alaska has one mile of road for every 42 square miles of land, whereas the U.S. average is one to one. Based on that fact, alone, one might conclude transportation isn't a major industry in the state, at least not trucking. But the trucking...

The Alaska Railroad keeps chugging along: 2003 was a good year for the rairoad, but 2004 might even be better.
June 1, 2004... The Alaska Railroad is doing better than ever, said John Binkley, chairman of the board. "2003 was a watershed year," he said. "In all of the categories we measure, 2003 was the best year ever for The Alaska Railroad. In safety, in...

Alaska Native village corporations: sleeping giant? ANCSA village corporations will continue to expand and develop their business operations both within and outside Alaska.
June 1, 2004... Alaska Native village corporations may be a sleeping giant whose role in Alaska's economic destiny is not only misunderstood but also perhaps underestimated. In fact, in 2003, three village corporations were among the Top 49 Alaskan-owned and...

Military construction projects abound throughout state: Stryker Brigade catalyst for military construction.
June 1, 2004... It's summer in Alaska, and that means the sounds of big construction. And nowhere is this more evident than on military bases throughout the state. Despite the fact that federal spending has decreased in many other areas, Alaska construction...

Conveyor delivery truck dumps 'on target': a high-tech truck allows for quick turn-around time, savings of man-hours.
June 1, 2004... Jerome Stewart, owner of Conveyor Delivery Systems, has the philosophy of delivering materials "on target" without waste, the need for clean up or extra equipment or man hours. Those are the words etched on his business cards and words he...

RBMS LLC.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Gregory J. Kershaw was named president/chief operating officer of RBMS LLC. Kershaw had been chief operating officer and previously vice president of marketing and group administration. He holds a degree in accounting from the University of...

Nabors Alaska Drilling Inc.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Nabors Alaska Drilling Inc. named President Jim Denney chairman of Nabors Alaska and Pool Well Service Co. He will relocate to the company's office in Houston, Texas. Denney will continue to oversee Alaska operations and will manage outside...

Pratt Museum.(Right Moves)(Michael Hewfield awarded Excellence in Peer Review Service from the American Association of Museums)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Former Pratt Museum Director Michael Hewfield has received the award for Excellence in Peer Review Service from the American Association of Museums. The award honors those who have shown outstanding professional dedication and service to the...

AEDC.(Right Moves)(appointments at Anchorage Economic Development Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Anchorage Economic Development Corp. named Bob Poe as its new president and chief executive officer. Poe brings 24 years of experience in both the private and public sector to the position. He formerly was executive director of Anchorage...

PDC Inc.(Right Moves)(technical paper presentations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Matt Emerson, structural engineer, of PDC Inc. Consulting Engineers, is co-author of a technical paper to be presented at this year's North American Steel Construction Conference in Long Beach, Calif. The paper, "Stability of Unbraced Steel...

Alaska Railroad Corp.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Alaska Railroad Corp. recently named Tim Thompson as public affairs officer. Thompson recently worked with KTUU Channel 2 News as a manager and assignment editor. Thompson has more than 10 years of experience in public and media...

KeyCorp.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Lynn Klassert was appointed underwriting officer for KeyCorp's district office. Klassert will work out of the Anchorage office and will be responsible for conducting the analysis and approval packages for credit proposals. He is a...

Northrim Bank.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Robert Shake was promoted from senior vice president, commercial loan manager, to senior vice president, executive loan manager at Northrim Bank. Ken Ferguson was promoted from vice president to senior vice president, commercial real estate...

Crowley Maritime Corp.(Right Moves)(education scholarships)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Crowley Maritime Corp. recently presented Parian Grinage with a scholarship to assist in his education at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. Grinage is a sophomore in the business school where he is earning a degree in business...

Alaska Growth Capital.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Shannon Edens joined Alaska Growth Capital as a loan processor. Edens is responsible for commercial loan processing and assisting loan officers with a wide variety of administrative duties. Edens, a lifelong Alaskan, grew up in the Aleutians...

Petro Star Inc.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Petro Star Inc. has appointed Doug Chapados as president and chief executive officer. Chapados has been with the company since its inception in 1984, and has served in a number of capacities for PSI, including North Pole refinery manager, vice...

Alaska Airlines.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Alaska Airlines has announced the appointment of Ben Minicucci to staff vice president of maintenance. Minicucci, 38, is currently vice president of aircraft maintenance for Air Canada in Vancouver, B.C. Minicucci will be responsible for...

Wells Fargo Bank.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Wells Fargo Bank named Reid Bowman, Scarlet Higgins and Shin Suzuki as business banking specialists serving its Anchorage stores. Business banking specialists focus on helping small-business customers succeed financially, and they offer a...

MAC Federal Credit Union.(Right Moves)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Billie Blanchard, president and CEO of MAC Federal Credit Union, was honored recently for providing a family friendly workplace. As part of the "Grow Better Kids" campaign, the Fairbanks-area Family Friendly Workplace Award recognizes employer...

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.(Right Moves)(Clyde Darey appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Alaska Group of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has added Clyde Darey to its staff. Carey specializes in providing expert guidance to help people meet their financial goals. Previously at The Alaska Club, Carey was a membership sales...

TOTE.(Right Moves)(Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc. has recently added the title of president to its chief operating officer, Bill Dearer, and has promoted Alaska General Manager John Parrott to vice president Alaska. Dearer joined TOTE's Alaska division as vice...

IP telephony: an attractive option for doing business in Alaska: where is there a better test bed for the value and effectiveness of VoIP than Alaska?
June 1, 2004... It "all began with a call What better way to start a feature on Voice over Internet Protocol--the art of turning your voice into data that can travel over the Internet, then turn back into voice at the other end--than with an IP phone call? Don...

Financing Alaska: when banking in Alaska, consumers have plenty of financial institutions to choose from, be it banks, credit unions or other financial institutions.
June 1, 2004... Financial institutions are like twin brothers; they are all similar enough to be confusing, but different enough to have their own unique personalities. All but two groups of financial institutions either provide savings and loan services,...

Alaska residents spend tourism dollars at home: in-state travelers spend $741.6 million annually.
June 1, 2004... That Alaska is a world-class player in the travel industry is no surprise to those who live here. In fact, travel and tourism constitutes Alaska's seventh-largest private-sector industry, accounting for a 28 percent growth in related revenue...

Identity theft don't be a victim: fraud and identity theft are major threats to Americans.
June 1, 2004... The United States is currently under attack, and it is not by al-Qaeda terrorists. For the most part, it is by good old red-blooded American thieves. Fraud and identity theft are at epidemic proportion in our country. They are the...

Pelican Hill: an innovative independent? This oil and gas company has arrived in Alaska and has geared up for an active exploration season.(Pelican Hill Oil and Gas Inc.)
June 1, 2004... Pelican Hill Oil and Gas Inc., a San Clemente, Calif.-based independent operator, is the latest company to venture into the Alaska exploration and production scene. Admittedly, the Alaska venue is an exceedingly difficult place to operate and...

Steady growth in the labor force throughout Alaska.(Alaska Trends for June)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The labor force throughout Alaska has steadily grown over the period of one year. Alaska had 336,419 people in the labor force in March 2004, compared to just 323,040 people just one year prior. This increase indicates a 4.14 percent growth in...

Alaska trends for June 2004 sponsored by Waste Management of Alaska.(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... ALASKA TRENDS FOR JUNE 2004 SPONSORED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT OF ALASKA Indicator Units GENERAL Personal Income--Alaska Millions of $ Personal Income--United States ...