Alaska Business Monthly articles from March 2004

Alaska Business Monthly archives from March 2004

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2004... In an article titled "Grace Schaible: A Woman of Many Faces" in our January issue, it incorrectly stated that Schaible is currently on the board of trustees for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. She served on the board of trustees from 1995-1997....

Three cheers for Alaska Conference of Mayors.(From the Publisher)
March 1, 2004... Whether they realized it or not, when the Alaska Conference of Mayors lambasted Alaska's impotent Legislature, they actually spoke for most Alaskans, the way we hear it. When the conference advanced upon the Juneau hidey-hole of the state...

Looking out for business ... A report from the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce--the Voice of Alaska Business.(Alaska Insurance Guaranty Association)
March 1, 2004... What will happen to Alaskan businesses that, in good faith, bought workers compensation insurance from a company that went out of business leaving $60 million in unpaid claims? The reality is, these businesses may end up paying for the claims...

SGS CT&E celebrates 40 years: the SGS Alaska laboratory, located at 200 W. Potter Drive in Anchorage.(Environmental)(Commercial Testing & Engineering Co.)(Societe Generale de Surveillance Group)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... SGS CT&E began in 1964 as Chemical & Geological Laboratories of Alaska (remembered by some as Chem Lab). The primary emphasis was servicing the needs of the Cook Inlet oil fields, but by 1974 the vision of Chem Lab expanded. Diversified...

Juneau brewer commended for Alaskan hire.(Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Alaskan Brewing Co., launched 17 years ago and now a national brewing force, was commended by state labor officials recently for its pledge to fill most jobs with Alaskans and provide a safe working environment. Commissioner of Labor and...

Governor backs Alaska-Canada rail system.(Transportation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Now is the time for a concerted effort to develop a connection for the Alaska Railroad to the Canadian and Lower 48 rail system, Gov. Frank Murkowski told a one-day summit on the issue recently in Juneau. Attending and speaking to the summit...

New Frontier services announced.(Transportation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Frontier Airlines announced it would begin flights to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport this coming summer. Frontier Airlines will offer nonstop flights between Denver and Anchorage starting May 9. The flights are timed so that...

Anchorage named one of the hottest cities.(Applause)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... It may be hard to appreciate during a chilly winter, but Anchorage recently was named one of America's "hottest cities" as a desirable place to live by CNN Money Magazine. The ranking for Alaska's largest city measured criteria such as college...

North Country CU merges into Credit Union 1.(credit unions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... North Country Credit Union recently reopened as Credit Union 1. The two institutions merged after the New Year, with staff working to integrate computer systems and accounts. As a result of the merger, Credit Union 1 now offers financial...

Alaska USA opens new branches.(Finance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Alaska USA Federal Credit Union recently opened new branches in Homer and Federal Way, Wash., bringing its total number of branches to 39. "Alaska USA is pleased to provide personalized member service in these communities," said Bill...

Q&A with Steve Marshall: President BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.(Interview)
March 1, 2004... Oil and gas powerhouse BP is Alaska's largest investor. In 2003, the company set aside $700 million for its Alaska business. It intends to invest billions more over the next several years. But despite those numbers, many Alaskans still find...

Tourism: state's second-largest industry shines in 2004: about $1.8 billion is brought into the state in tourism dollars on an annual basis.
March 1, 2004... If truth be told, it probably all started with John Muir-maybe even before. Regardless, once people heard tales of the last great place, the stampede began. Comprised of gold seekers, adventurers of all sorts, and tourists (defined in the New...

March 2004 calendar of events.(Illustration)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... ANCHORAGE 4 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race XXXII Mushers' Pre-Race Banquet Sullivan Arena, www.iditarod.com. Obtain tickets from Iditarod Headquarters. Call 376-5155. 5-6 Banff...

Large field primed for last great race: a record-breaking 93 mushers will race in the 32nd running of the Iditarod.(Alaska This Month)
March 1, 2004... Winter conditions prevail and an impressive roster of heavy hitters are ready for the 2004 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, with the makings of a record-setting sports event, complete with the local, national and international attention for which...

Liability insurance for business: do you carry enough liability insurance? How do you protect your business?
March 1, 2004... As a good quality jacket can protect Alaskans from a bitter cold winter storm, a good quality liability insurance policy can protect Alaskan business owners from a cold, harsh business environment. The most common type of policy business...

First National Bank Alaska: shopping for a home loan is made easy at this Alaskan-owned bank.(Business Profile)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2004... Looking for a quick, streamlined approach to financing your new home or improvements for your cur rent home? First National Bank Alaska has the solutions. "First National can design a mortgage program to fit your personal situation using...

2004 Environmental Directory.(Directory)
March 1, 2004... At Alaska Business Monthly, we support resource development in an environmentally friendly manner. Most Alaskans do. That's why it is so important to have environmental firms working in the state to ensure oil spills are cleaned, hazardous...

PSI Environmental grows tenfold in four years: sisters in business build on their strengths.(Alaska Business Montly's 2004 Environmental Issue)(PSI/Hall-Kimbrell Environmental Services Inc.)
March 1, 2004... Family owned businesses can be rewarding and profitable, but they are not without their challenges. Meet those challenges and the business can be very successful; failure to meet them is likely to mean failure of the business. Sisters Amie...

An eye on the environment: development of natural resources is important to the economy, but not at the expense of the environment.(Alaska Business Montly's 2004 Environmental Issue)
March 1, 2004... Leave it better than how you found it. It s a simple adage that Alaskans live by, and one that, fortunately, companies doing business in the state are beginning to understand. Gone are the days when, in exchange for jobs and revenue, businesses...

E-commerce: make your presence known: it's expensive to have a Web site, but today's business shouldn't be without one.
March 1, 2004... In retail, the timeworn adage of "location, location, location" is as important today as it was when the first Main Street in Downtown USA was paved. The retail establishment in a garage on Shady Lane just doesn't have the exposure as a store...

Matters of health: employers are finding that wellness programs increase morale and decrease sickness and injury.
March 1, 2004... Wayne Halliday's job saved his life. It wasn't the work he performs maintaining aircraft simulators for ERA Aviation in Anchorage, but the company's health fair he attended in March 2002 that prevented a heart attack that would likely be fatal....

Alaska freight just keeps on going and going: freight moving in and out of Alaska moves over mountains, across stormy seas and through glacier-gilded valleys.
March 1, 2004... Yes, it is a bit like the trademark Energizer Bunny of commercial fame. Alaska freight keeps on going and going and going. It moves via land, sea and air. Most importantly, in most cases, no matter where it originates, it keeps on moving until...

Digest of the proceedings: UAA-ABM Executive Forum Jan. 14, 2004 ASRC board room, Anchorage.(Growing Entrepreneur in Alaska)(University of Alaska Anchorage)(Alaska Business Monthly)(American Centre for International Studies)
March 1, 2004... OPENING REMARKS Thomas R. Case, Dean College of Business & Public Policy University of Alaska Anchorage "The entrepreneur is the heartbeat of business growth, one who organizes, operates and assumes the risk in a business...

UAA celebrates its 50th anniversary: the University of Alaska Anchorage honors its past while looking to the future.
March 1, 2004... Feb. 6 marked the golden anniversary for the University of Alaska Anchorage. The evening ceremony took place at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium, and the guest speaker was Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, who wrote "Angela's Ashes."...

The Hotel Captain Cook: this luxury hotel offers guests service above the ordinary.
March 1, 2004... In Alaska, oil, gas and seafood mean business. The tourism industry also is vital to the economy. In 2003, tourists to Anchorage alone spent about $153 million. In a New York Times travel article, Jo Ferreira, a FedEx executive from...

Staying invested in Alaska: though cost on the North Slope can be up 60 percent higher than a company's global average, the outlook for 2004 is good for investment dollars to the state.
March 1, 2004... No matter what the issue is for the oil and gas industry in Alaska for 2004-the bottom line will be the bare-bones, hardcore competition for investment dollars for infield development and especially for new exploration and new developments. ...

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Wells Fargo Home Mortgage expanded its Eagle River branch and acquired space from an adjacent office, making the branch more than twice its previous size. Tara Murdoch-Barndt was promoted to sales manager for the expanded branch. Barndt...

WorkSafe.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Stephen A. Mihalik, C-SAPA, general manager of WorkSafe, earned the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Certification and was named to the board of directors of the Substance Abuse Program Administrator's Association. The association is a...

Alaska Airlines.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Alaska Airlines recently appointed Matt Yerbic to managing director of cargo, a newly created position at the airline. In his new position, Yerbic will be responsible for all aspects of Alaska's cargo business and also will provide a...

Alaska Central Express Inc.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Alaska Central Express Inc., an Anchorage-based air cargo carrier, hired Todd Wallace as director of sales-Alaska. Wallace is a 27-year veteran of the Alaska aviation industry. Wallace previously worked for Evergreen International Airlines,...

New York Life Insurance Co.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Mike Bookout relocated to the Alaska general office of New York Life Insurance Co. as an agent for the company in Soldotna. Charlotte Abellera was hired by the Alaska office as an agent. Abellera previously worked as an administrative...

Associated Builders & Contractors of Alaska.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Loren Burnham, membership director for Associated Builders & Contractors of Alaska, was recognized for completing comprehensive member service training at ABC's national Membership Director Conference. The conference provides a hands-on...

Tatonduk Outfitters Ltd./Everts Air Alaska.(Right Moves)(appointments )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Harry Cook, general manager for Everts Air Alaska since 1998, was promoted to general manager for Tatonduk Outfitters Ltd. Matthew McGuire recently joined the Everts team as director of training. McGuire has more than 14 years of technical...

Northrim Bank.(Right Moves)(Kelly Lykins-Longlet )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Kelly Lykins-Longlet was hired as vice president, electronic banking manager, for Northrim Bank. Lykins-Longlet brings more than 23 years of banking and technology experience to the position.

Weidner Investment Services Inc.(Right Moves)(Tom Gallahan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Tom Gallahan was named vice president, Alaska operations, for Weidner Investment Services Inc. Gallahan comes to Weidner after 28 years in the airline catering industry. He most recently was with Sky Chefs in Salt Lake City, where he worked for...

Edward Jones.(Right Moves)(Wallace R. Thomas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Wallace R. Thomas, of the financial services firm Edward Jones, has achieved the professional designation of certified financial planner. Thomas successfully completed the requirements for the designation, including course work and a series of...

Northern Schools Federal Credit Union.(Right Moves)(Jim Carter)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Jim Carter joined Northern Schools Federal Credit Union as vice president of consumer lending. Carter is a 22-year Alaska resident and returns to Fairbanks after three years in Kenai where he was the director of the Kenai Peninsula Economic...

A chance to banish the fiscal gap exists now by strategically seizing the opportunity presented by ANGDA gas pipeline.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2004 Pipeline Proposal Comparison)(Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority)
March 1, 2004... By a referendum vote in 2002, the people of Alaska overwhelmingly mandated the creation of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority (ANGDA) and charged it with building a gas pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez within the trans-Alaska oil...

Figuratively speaking.(ABM Feature)
March 1, 2004... Percentage of executives who say that employee job satisfaction is most affected by how we they get along with their managers, according to a survey by Accountemps: 43 Percentage who say salary and benefits is the biggest factor: 19 ...

Significant growth in number of active rotary rigs throughout the United States and Alaska.(Alaska Trends for March)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The Baker Hughes North American Rotary Rig Count is a count of drilling rigs that are actively searching for or developing oil and natural gas throughout the United States and Canada. The highest rig count in the United States was in December...

Alaska trends for March sponsored by Waste Management of Alaska.(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... ALASKA TRENDS FOR MARCH SPONSORED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT OF ALASKA Indicator Units Period GENERAL Personal Income--Alaska Millions of $ 3rdQ03 Personal...