Alaska Business Monthly articles from May 2002

Alaska Business Monthly archives from May 2002

Caught with their britches down. (From the Publisher).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... "Truth will out," and out it is, at last! Those rascal environmentalists have been fibbing to us all along about massive trauma to the Porcupine caribou herd resulting from oil exploration in ANWR. According to published reports, an...

Corrections.
May 1, 2002... * In a March 2002 article titled "Bright Spots in Alaska Business," we stated that Cook Inlet Region Inc. made a financial contribution to Cook Inlet Tribal Council Inc. from its Voicestream Wireless Corp. investments. CITC did not receive any...

ABM readership survey results in. (ABM Readership Survey).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Who reads Alaska Business Monthly? The University of Alaska Anchorage School of Business recently completed a Readership Survey for us and we plan to provide results as a regular feature of Inside Alaska Business. Here's a sampling of what we...

Earthworks Technology opens Alaska branch office. (General).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Earthworks Technology Inc. now has an Alaska branch office to provide environmental management services for Alaska industrial clients and resource-development projects. The firm manages environmental issues associated with resource...

Cathay Pacific reinstates Anchorage flights. (Transportation).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Cathay Pacific Airways has reinstated its international transit flights through Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport after nearly six months of operating through Vancouver, Canada, after new customs regulations were implemented following...

Three authors offer Adventure in Alaska Ecotourism. (Transportation).
May 1, 2002... "Chilkoot an Adventure in Ecotourism," by Allan Ingleson, Michael Mahony and Robert Scace, is a scholarly yet easily read book offering instruction in the tenets of ecotourism. The book, by the University of Calgary Press and the University of...

SBSC rates Alaska Congressmen tops for small business. (General).(Small Business Survival Committee)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Small Business Survival Committee has released its annual scorecard that rates how members of Congress voted during 2001 on key small business issues. In Alaska, U.S. Rep. Don Young scored a perfect 100 percent. Meanwhile U.S. Sens....

Holiday Inn Express Anchorage expands. (Tourism).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Holiday Inn Express Anchorage has been receiving a face-lift, expanding both inside and outside. The expansion will accommodate more guests and add more comfort to their stay, managers said. The hotel opened in June 1999 but the demand...

NovaGold pursuing potential major claim. (Mining).(Donlin Creek gold mining project)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Following an independent geological analysis in January that doubled the contained gold estimates at the Donlin Creek gold project in Alaska, a new independent economic assessment confirms the NovaGold Resources Inc. project may be developed...

The Alaska Club opens two more Anchorage Clubs. (Services).(Alaska Club Network)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Alaska Club Network has Anchorage. The Alaska Club West and The Alaska Club for Women bring the total number of clubs within the network to 13, including seven in Anchorage, two in Fairbanks, two in Juneau and one each in Eagle River and...

Budget basics for business loans: you should talk to your financial advisor even before you need that business loan.
May 1, 2002... Managing cash flow is one of the most important aspects of operating a business-- especially during times of growth, says Ron Veltkamp, business development director of the Alaska Small Business Administration. As a company grows, so does...

Alaska visitor industry plans for tough tourist season: Terrorist attacks bring travel numbers down.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... Tourism is big business in Alaska, bringing more than $1 billion into the state annually, or about $770 per visitor. As the fastest growing industry in the state, it is the second largest private-sector employer, contributing more than $124...

Events.
May 1, 2002... MAY ANCHORAGE 4 Alaska Biz Fair 2002 A day of workshops for business owners and for those thinking about starting a business. Topics include feasibility, advertising, legal issues, leases, government contracting...

Calendar.
May 1, 2002... FAIRBANKS 6 Alaskaland Spring-a-Thon Gather pledges and walk or run to benefit the Breadline Soup Kitchen. Pledge sheets are available from Beaver Sports and the Clothes Line Thrift Store. Registration will take place at the...

Saturday open-air market begins May 18. (Alaska This Month).(produce, seafood available)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... So summer is here and spending your time indoors seems tantamount to wearing a fur-lined parka and snow boots for a sunny stroll. Shopping and eating are still necessities right? What better way to meld the season with a reason than to take in...

A family affair.(Lucky Wishbone owners win small business award)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Lucky Wishbone founders. George and Peggy Brown received this year's. Alaska Small Business Persons of the Year award, but they know they couldn't have done any of it without their extended family: their employees. Walk into the Lucky...

Realizing the dream: steps to starting you own small business.
May 1, 2002... Many people, at one time or another, have had urges to quit their day jobs and start their own small businesses. It's kind of an all-American dream--the challenge of creating something and watching it grow into a successful venture. Maybe it's...

Alaska Manufacturing Contractors meets housing needs of rural Alaska: this Mat-Su valley company designs and builds homes and ships them to bush Alaska.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Living in rural Alaska means having to deal with a lot of rough weather conditions: frost heave, 100-mph winds, seemingly endless snow. Unfortunately, up until a few years ago, it also often meant living in a house that didn't do nearly enough...

Donlin creek gold deposit joins exclusive club: This find ranks as the 22nd largest gold deposit in the world.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... In late January, the world's gold mining industry welcomed a new member to one of its most exclusive clubs--a club consisting only of gold deposits with reserves in excess of 20 million troy ounces of gold. That new club member was the Donlin...

Glacierview sales and service adapts to changing market: When the spruce bark beetle took out a Kenai Peninsula company's logging trees, owners reacted and still made a profit.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Doing business in Alaska is always a logistical juggling act, but running a small business in rural Alaska can be an outright challenge. For many rural-based businesses, the key to success hinges not only on how the company deals with its...

North Slope exploration on decline for 2002: the oil industry is investing more than a billion dollars on capital expenditures this year, but only a fraction of that is for North Slope exploration.
May 1, 2002... Although exploration spending by oil companies working on Alaska's North Slope makes up only a fraction of this year's billion dollar capital expenditures, such prospecting work is closely monitored by the industry. Positive news about...

Looking out for business. (Alaska State Chamber of Commerce: Advertisement).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A report from the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce - The Voice of Alaska Business The second session of the twenty-second Alaska State Legislature is in progress and the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, the "Voice of Alaska Business", is...

Alaska's largest landlord: Weidner Investment Services Inc.(Company Profile)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... A winning combination of unique management Style and entrepreneurialism has helped make Weidner Investment Services Alaska's largest owner of multi-family (20+ units each) rental properties. Weidner is celebrating its 25th year in...

Building boom! Alaska will see nearly $5 billion of construction work this year.(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... They say Alaska has two seasons--winter and construction. With the snow gone, our other season promises to be a busy one, with about $4.7 billion in construction projects this year, according to a rough estimate gathered by the Association of...

Work begins on missile defense site at Fort Greely: site preparation is under way; construction may begin this summer.
May 1, 2002... Highly publicized and hotly debated missile defense projects have been on the American political agenda in some form since the Reagan administration, but for Alaska contractors it was a dream for decades. Then last August, Aglaq Construction...

Made in Alaska makes the bix box: supply chain stores seek out products made, grown and manufactured by Alaskans.(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2002... Alaska is a cold, sometimes uninviting place in the wintertime. But with the right insulation, a homeowner can make a pleasant atmosphere out of a veritable icebox. And Alaska could use a good, homegrown insulation manufacturer. That was...

Construction industry offers good jobs, good benefits: A construction professional can bring in an annual salary that ranges from $40,000 to $60,000, plus benefits.(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... As the world grapples with the ramifications of the events of last year, one fact remains: the U.S. economy will ultimately keep on growing-perhaps slower than the last decade-but America will keep investing in and building a better tomorrow....

Total Environmental Restoration Contracts: this 10-year contract will bring in $240 million worth of environmental cleanup to the state, with the bulk of the work subcontracted to small business.(Pat Roth and Charlie Rives discuss)(Interview)
May 1, 2002... To understand the local economic imp act of the Total Environmental Restoration Contracts at work in this state, Alaska Business Monthly went to the process' two key sources for an overview. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers serves as the TERC...

ASCG Inc. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... David White recently was hired as ASCG Inc.'s new corporate human resources manager. White has more than 20 years of experience in human resources. Juliana Cobb was appointed in-house counsel and director of human resources for ASCG. Three...

RE/MAX Properties Inc. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Tom Blake joined RE/MAX Properties Inc. Blake has been involved in residential sales in the Anchorage market since 1983 and has been a pilot with the Alaska Army National Guard since 1981.

Brady & Co. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Nancy Boardman joined Brady & Co. as a senior loss control consultant and will provide loss control, risk management and safety services to the company's private and public clients. She brings 14 years experience in loss control and safety...

Doyon Ltd. (Right Moves).
May 1, 2002... Orie G. Williams was selected by the board of directors for Doyon Ltd. as the new president and CEO. Williams, a Doyon shareholder, took over as head of Doyon in March. Most recently he was executive vice president of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health...

Challenger Learning Center of Alaska. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Jamie Meyers was hired as the lead flight director for the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska. Meyers has a bachelor's in education from the University of Wyoming and a master's degree in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass. She...

HDR Alaska Inc. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Stacey Cooper is a new environmental scientist with HDR Alaska Inc. She has two years experience in environmental science, performing site investigations and remediation, hazardous waste management and assisting in brownfields development....

ASCE. (Right Moves).(Howard Paul Thomas receives American Society of Civil Engineers award)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Howard Paul Thomas of Anchorage recently received the 2001 Harold R. Peyton Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Thomas received the award for his work in the field of cold regions engineering at the Annual Civil Engineering...

The Alaska Club. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Tam S. Poe was hired as general manager of The Alaska Club North, The Alaska Club Eagle River and The Alaska Club Midtown. Poe has 21 years of experience in the education field including 18 years as a physical education instructor,...

Crowley Maritime Corp. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Steve Peterson was appointed senior vice president and general manager for Crowley Maritime Corp.'s new energy and marine services group in Seattle. The move is part of Oakland, Calif.-based Crowley's reorganization of its Crowley Marine...

Petro Marine Services. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... R.J. Reierson was named president and chief executive officer of Harbor Enter-prises Inc. Reierson is a 15-year member of the Seward-based company. Most recently, he served as senior vice president and chief financial officer and moved to...

Wells Fargo. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Noui Campbell of Anchorage was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Wells Fargo Educational Financial Services. Campbell is a senior at East High School and the award is one of 250 scholarships Wells Fargo will award to seniors this year in its...

Livingston Slone Inc. (Right Moves).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Livingston Slone Inc. recently received two design awards from the Alaska Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for excellence in architecture. The Public Health Laboratory and Office of the State Medical Examiner received a merit...

AKDOT/PF-USDOT. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The northbound weigh station outside Anchorage will be the first to get a new AKDOT/PF-USDOT electronic screening system that can weigh and electronically check credentials of enrolled commercial vehicles while in motion at highway speed.

Ken Gerondale. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Construction Machinery Industrial is the new name for the former Construction Machinery Inc. The new operation has closed its Lower 48 offices to concentrate on Alaska sales and service in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks. Ken Gerondale remains...

Ron Kukes. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Alaska First Bank & Trust is the new name of the former First Interstate Bank, reports president/CEO Ron Kukes. Effective last month, the new name "reflects local ownership and diversity of services," Kukes says.

Karl Potts. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Karl Potts has become CEO at Choggiung Ltd., the Dillingham-based Alaska Native Village Corp. Potts holds BS and MBA degrees and has more than 20 years experience in senior executive positions in private industry.

Susan Mumma. (Biz Buzz).(Seldovia Summer Solstice Folk Music Festival to feature regional and national musicians)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Seldovia Summer Solstice Folk Music Festival is slated for June 21-22 and features an impressive lineup of national and regional musicians. When the tiny town "on the far side" of Kachemak Bay from Homer: rolls out the welcome mat, everybody is...

Shawn Purviance. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Alaska Computer Brokers, Anchorage and Wasilla, has achieved the Wireless LAN Specialization from Cisco Systems Inc. According to Shawn Purviance, manager ACB's Network Services Group, the Specialization" designation recognizes the company's...

Anchorage Daily News. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... The McClatchy Co., headquartered in Sacremento, Calif., and publisher of the Anchorage Daily News, reported in March that year-to-date advertising revenues and total revenues were down 5.3 percent and 4.9 percent respectively.

Scott McMurren. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Anchorage Travel Columnist Scott McMurren now hosts the "Alaska Travelgram," a weekly travel radio show featuring good deals, invited guests, interesting destinations and commentary. AM750, KFQD Radio Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

May Days. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... May Days: 2, National Day of Peace; 12, Mothers Day; 15, 230 days left; 18, Saturday Market, Anchorage; 21, Eagle River Market in the Park; 27, Memorial Day; 30, Colonists arrive in Matanuska Valley, 1935.

Biz Fair. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Biz Fair, May 4, sponsored by IRS, SBA, UAA, DoL, SoA at the UAA Business Education Building, 9 a.m. to 4. p.m. Learn how to market your business in a small town. Author Tom Egelhoff keynotes and signs books. Free registration and information:...

Fortune Magazine. (Biz Buzz).(some of the top 100 best companies to work for)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Nine companies with operations in Alaska have made the Fortune Magazine "100 best companies to work for" list. They are: AFLAC, 33; Charles Schwab, 46; LensCrafters, 56; Starbucks, 58; REI, 62; Nordstrom's, 84; FedEx, 85; Marriott...

Fargo Bank Alaska. (Biz Buzz).(new vice presidents)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Seven people have been promoted to assistant vice presidents at Wells Fargo Bank Alaska. They are: Darin Floyd, Mary Ford, Greg Gredvig, Michael James, Christine Kirby, Scott Schafer and Deanna Thompson.

Alan Greenspan. (Biz Buzz).(view on coal as energy source)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve board chair, says that coal will remain a significant factor in the nation's energy future, noting that in terms of thermal equivalents, the U.S. produces more energy through coal than either oil or natural gas....

Alaska Airlines. (Biz Buzz).(get flight information from home)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Alaska Airlines passengers can get flight status updates right from home, thanks to a new real-time flight tracking system for all IFR flights in and around U.S. air space. Operations data is available for the Caribbean, Canada and Hawaii. Get...

Wells Fargo & Co. (Biz Buzz).(anniversary)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Wells Fargo & Co., one of only 12 companies in the U.S. to operate under the same name for 150 years or more, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

I-Copy. (Biz Buzz).(opens in Anchorage)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... I-Copy, a full-service reprographic center, is now open for business on Fireweed Lane in Anchorage. It is operated by Doug Lowry, and is a subsidiary of Downtown Legal Copies, owned and operated by Toni Lowry. The new center is at 320 Fireweed...

Cynthia Schebler. (Biz Buzz).(Personnel Plus Employment Agency adds branch in Fairbanks, Alaska)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Cynthia Schebler, president of Personnel Plus Employment Agency at 3335 Arctic Blvd. in Anchorage, 563-7587, has announced the establishment of a branch in Fairbanks at 3437 Airport Way. Call 452-7587 for Val Colfield, branch manager in...

Paul Ayres. (Biz Buzz).(customer retention rates for traditional, online checking accounts)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... "One of the axioms in the (banking) industry" according to Paul Ayres, senior vice president of Key (Bank) Electronic Services, "is that banks lose up to 20 percent of their checking account customers every year. With online banking, we're...

Bowhead Manufacturing Co. LLC (BMC), formerly the catalog group at Foss Environmental Service Co., has been purchased by Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Bowhead Manufacturing Co. LLC (BMC), formerly the catalog group at Foss Environmental Service Co., has been purchased by Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. BMC's entire customer base at Foss moved with the separation of the two companies and continues its...

Natchiq Inc., the Global Energy Services Division of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., recently announced the acquisition of Enviance ASP. (Biz Buzz).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Natchiq Inc., the Global Energy Services Division of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., recently announced the acquisition of Enviance ASP, an Internet-based compliance management tool with the capability of allowing Natchiq to meet the standards set...

Charlie Cahill. (Biz Buzz).(WestCoast Hotels Inc. acquires Red Lion Hotels Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... WestCoast Hotels, with properties in Anchorage and Ketchikan, has announced the acquisition of Red Lion Hotels. The company now owns, manages and franchises more than 90 hotels in 16 states, according to Charlie Cahill, senior vice president of...

UNOCAL Alaska. (Biz Buzz).(UNOCAL Alaska Resources will use Kenai Kachemak Pipeline L.L.C.'s new gas pipeline in Alaska)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... UNOCAL Alaska hopes to begin delivery of natural gas to Enstar by Jan. 1, 2004 via the Kenai-Kachemak Pipeline. The line, to be built by Kenai Kachemak Pipeline LLC, runs between Anchor Point and Kenai and would be owned by subsidiaries of...

Frigid North Co. (Biz Buzz).(named distributor for "CATtrax" continuous cable support system)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Frigid North Co. has become the local distributor for the "CATtrax" continuous cable support system. 3309 Spenard Rd., Telephone: 561-4633; Fax: 563-0836.

James Akerelrea. (Biz Buzz).(WAVE Wholesale emerges from bankruptcy as New Wave L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... WAVE Wholesale has emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and now operates as New WAVE LLC. James Akerelrea is general manager. The location has not changed: 9401 King Street, Anchorage; Telephone: 349-3101.

Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. (Biz Buzz).(Honeywell Space Systems provides grant for new Range Safety System)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Kodiak Launch Complex of Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. is to receive a $3 million Range Safety System through a grant from Honeywell Space Systems. ViaSat Satellite Ground Systems of Carlsbad, Calif., will install the apparatus that...

May Alaska Trends.(economic data)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... May Alaska trends Units Period GENERAL Personal Income -- Alaska Millions of $ 3rdQ01 Personal Income -- United States Billions of $...