Alaska Business Monthly articles from May 2005

Alaska Business Monthly archives from May 2005

Alaska's Construction Academy: your time has come.(demand for construction occupations)
May 1, 2005... It's graduation time in the land, a happy season for both family and graduate. For the high schooler, it's the end of 12 or more years of routine and the same old grind. For the proud parents, it's somewhat of a (short-lived) relief. But for...

GeoEngineers: unearthing global opportunities in the oil and gas industry: celebrating 25 years, GeoEngineers is proud of its ongoing presence in Alaska.(oil and gas industry use horizontal directional drilling)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... One of the world's largest energy companies needed to drill under an enormous river in Eastern Europe, and their third attempt failed. They turned to Alaska's own GeoEngineers. After just one week of study, GeoEngineers found an innovative...

SYColeman designated WAVE reseller.(Twisted Pair Solutions Inc. authorized SYColeman Corp. to resell Wide Area Voice Enhancement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Alaska now has a new solution for those hoping to improve communications between disparate systems such as two-way radios, PCs, cell phones, PDAs and push-to-talk devices. SYColeman Corp. of Anchorage, a wholly owned subsidiary of L-3...

AADC offers $5,000 scholarships.(Alaska Aerospace Development Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. has established a $50,000 scholarship program providing up to 10 $5,000 grants this year to graduating high-school students in the Kodiak Island Borough School District. These scholarships will apply to...

West Coast Paper celebrates 75 years.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... West Coast Paper recently celebrated its first 75 years. The company's first sales were of packaging products to merchants in Seattle's Pike Place, Pioneer Square and International District. Soon after its start in 1930, commercial printing...

Product promises to fight Alaska mold and mildew.(new product from Luxury Bath Systems)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... With long, cold and wet winters in Alaska, there can be some problems with mold, mildew and stains in the household, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. A new business, Luxury Bath of Anchorage, says it has the solution. Luxury bath...

Niesens win SBA Small-Business Persons of the Year award: established since 1981, Frontier Business Systems Inc. is growing and expanding, even drawing national attention.(Small Business Administration awards Frontier Business Systems Inc.)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... In October of 1981, Greg and Lenora Niesen decided to strike out on their own. Both employed as field service technicians for IBM, they started a local Alaska company, Frontier Business Systems Inc., to service office equipment in the Anchorage...

SBA programs help small businesses: from mentorships to government contracting to disaster loans, SBA's goal is to keep small businesses healthy.(Small Business Administration)
May 1, 2005... Last spring, my 9-year-old son, Jack, convinced his brothers they could make it big selling fresh eggs. All three boys saved their Christmas and birthday money, purchased a boxfull of peeping chicks at the feed store, and brought them home to...

Portfolio and Classic Woman geared to businesswomen of all sizes: these clothing stores, owned by Jo Michalski, provide quality casual, business and formal wear.
May 1, 2005... Where do many Anchorage women like to shop when they desire the latest styles and something extraordinary? Classic Woman and Portfolio are two such boutiques, located in Midtown Anchorage on the corner of Denali Street and Benson Boulevard....

Are your documents secure? Alaska Archives exists to protect and preserve the privacy of Alaska.
May 1, 2005... Secure document storage and the proper destruction of outdated files can be a nightmare for many businesses, especially during these times when fraud and identity theft are reaching epidemic proportions in America. To that, add new stringent...

May 2005 calendar of events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... Anchorage 2 Blue Jeans Luncheon To kick off the Anchorage Chamber Citywide Cleanup week, businesses and participants are invited to a fun-filled barbecue and rally. Win great door...

Scenery, shopping, sailing--Seward! May 21-22 is the celebrated opening of the Seward Small Boat Harbor. The annual festival kicks off each busy season for the harbor, charter boats, pleasure boaters, fishers and scenery seekers alike.(Alaska this month)
May 1, 2005... It should be a crime to be indoors in Alaska in May, rain or shine. Pick a compass point; travel in that direction; and you will see beauty whether on land or water. If water is calling louder than land this month, however, Seward is a perfect...

FERC 'open season' regs favor Alaska gas projects: ANS producers defer on competition.(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
May 1, 2005... One key position provision of FERC's open season provisions is that the regulations must promote competition in the exploration, development and production of Alaskan natural gas. That competitive nature extends to rules regarding future...

Valdez escort system at risk: the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 does not require escorts for double-hull tankers.(Exxon Valdez oil spill)
May 1, 2005... Alaskans have the best tanker escort system on earth in Prince William Sound. Our waters are about as safe from a repeat of the Exxon Valdez spill as is reasonably possible. But that may not last. Regulators and the oil industry are...

The ultimate oilfield services list.(Alaska Business Monthly's 2005 Oil & Gas Services Directory)(Directory)
May 1, 2005... This is the second year Alaska Business Monthly has produced the Oil & Gas Services Directory. We sent surveys out to more than 200 companies that are involved in oilfield exploration, service and support, and supply and equipment in Alaska. We...

New cargo agreement increases cargo traffic in Alaska; the Alaska Air Cargo Flexibility provision became law in December 2003 and furthers Alaska's position as an international air cargo hub and allows the carriers to better serve the needs of their customers.
May 1, 2005... From support response for the Aleutian Island oil spill to a new cargo agreement between Northwest Airlines and Korean Air--air transportation in Alaska continues to fly high in 2005. Cargo Alliance Alaska's pivotal geographic location...

R & M Engineering.(R & M Engineering Inc.'s Michael C. Story awarded)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The 2004 Engineer of the Year is Michael C. Story, PE, the American Society of Civil Engineers nominee. Story is the president of R & M Engineering Inc., a Juneau-based engineering firm with more than 20 employees. The 2004 Engineer of the...

Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. of Barrow named John Dittrich as chief financial officer. Dittrich will oversee all corporate financial issues, supervising a team of accounting personnel with vice presidents of finance at each of UIC's business lines:...

RIM Architects.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... RIM Architects hired Krista Phillips, Stacy Hansen and Stefanie Pribula as intern architects to its Anchorage office. Phillips brings 10 years of architectural experience from Anchorage, Oregon and Australia. She graduated from the...

Alaska Attorney General.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Gov. Frank H. Murkowski recently announced the appointment of David W. Marquez as attorney general, who replaced Attorney General Gregg Renkes due to his resignation. Marquez, 59, is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University...

AeroMap U.S.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The AeroMap U.S. Flight Department entered the Medallion Foundation's aviation safety program in January. The mission of the Medallion Foundation is to reduce accidents in Alaska by fostering a new safety culture and by promoting higher safety...

Ribelin Lowell Alaska USA Insurance Brokers.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Randy Pugh was appointed president and chief executive officer of Ribelin Lowell Alaska USA Insurance Brokers, the company recently created by the acquisition of Ribelin Lowell and Company Insurance Brokers by Alaska USA Federal Credit Union....

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport recently named John Parrott to the position of deputy director. Parrott has been in the position of acting deputy director since May of 2004. In addition, David Tullis was promoted to captain from...

HDR Alaska.(Right move)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... HDR Alaska has expanded its services to Alaska clients with the addition of several new staff. Rosetta Alcantra is a new public outreach specialist with HDR. She has 10 years of experience in public relations and office management. Prior...

The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce hired Bridget Broderick to focus on membership retention as membership development coordinator. Broderick is responsible for maintaining communication and feedback with Anchorage Chamber members, ensuring...

Ocean Policy Cabinet.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Heather Brandon was named the state ocean policy coordinator. Brandon will aid in coordinating the state's outreach efforts and response to federal fisheries and ocean-related legislation. The new coordinator position will be based within the...

The Alaska Symphony of Seafood.(Right Moves)(Chicago People's Choice Award)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Alaska Symphony of Seafood announced that Morey's Seafood International LLC was awarded the Chicago People's Choice Award for Morey's Marinated Wild Alaska Salmon. Morey's Seafood, headquartered in Minneapolis, specializes in the...

Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union.(Right Moves)(Denali Alaskan Mortgage Co)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Beth Galea joined Denali Alaskan Mortgage Co. as the new production manager. Galea previously worked as a loan originator at Wells Fargo and Residential Mortgage. She brings nearly 10 years of real estate experience to the company and has...

AT&T Alascom.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Arthur Corliss recently joined AT&T Alascom as a senior systems administrator. Corliss recently worked for ACS as the senior UNIX systems administrator in corporate IT, and has more than 15 years in IT/technology fields, with five of those in...

Credit Union 1.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Darrell Aldridge was promoted to information technology network and security manager at Credit Union 1. Aldridge has worked at Credit Union 1 since 1998 and has more than 20 years of computer, electronics and networking experience. He is a...

North Slope Science Initiative.(Right Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ken Taylor is the new executive director for the North Slope Science Initiative. Taylor will oversee the initiative, which will integrate inventory, monitoring and research activities across the North Slope. The state, Minerals Management...

Another great year for construction in Alaska: construction spending in Alaska should surpass $5.9 billion this year.
May 1, 2005... Construction in Alaska is facing another banner year in 2005. In part to the traditional leaders like oil and gas, home building in the private sector, and Uncle Sam's Defense Department in the public sector. The construction spending in our...

Pogo construction continues in 2005; gold production by 2006: now, with Pogo construction well on its way and gold prices steadily climbing back up, the Goodpaster River valley is one of the state's exploration hot spots.
May 1, 2005... Construction crews working to build the newest underground, hard-rock mine in Alaska will be making their final big push this summer at the Pogo project, located about 40 miles northeast of Delta Junction in the Interior. With a work force...

AGC: a collective voice for Alaska's construction industry: the Associated General Contractors of Alaska promotes the construction industry and works to better it.
May 1, 2005... Alaska prides itself on the unity it maintains among its communities. This unity can be found in many facets of work all across the state, where people come together in an effort to unify one sole, distinct voice. A good example of this unity...

Alaska Railroad extension benefits military, minerals sector: thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, an EIS will be prepared for an 80-mile rail extension from Eielson Air Force Base to Fort Greely.(environmental impact statement)
May 1, 2005... Entering its 20th year of state ownership, the Alaska Railroad Corp. has started environmental review work this spring to consider impacts of a proposed 80-mile extension of the system's 500-plus mile rail network in the Last Frontier. ...

Managing your wealth: it's important to build accounts early in life and to review your accounts at least once a year.
May 1, 2005... Most of the rules of the road in life are simple, but not always easy to follow. The same adage holds true for managing wealth. "Buy low, sell high" sounds good, but like in life, nothing is 100 percent foolproof. Stocks, bonds, trusts,...

Managing your Web site: most companies should revisit their content on their Web sites at least a couple times a year to update staffing, billing, phone numbers or other critical information.
May 1, 2005... If you visit the Web site of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, you'll find colorful imagery, magnificent photos of Alaska and an engaging design. You also will find hundreds of Web pages that require constant monitoring, updating and...

You're fired! Letting an employee go isn't easy for any manager. But if you must, take steps to protect yourself and your business.
May 1, 2005... Although it's fun to hear The Donald say the phrase to eliminate his underlings, those two words can be nearly as difficult for a boss to utter as they are for the employee to hear: you're fired. Beyond the emotional issues, disciplinary...

For the brave at heart: paragliding with Chugach Paragliding offers thrills, excitement and adventure to Alaskans and tourists.(Chugach Tandem Paragliding)
May 1, 2005... Paragliding has been Mark Ryan's primary business for the last seven years. The experience provides a great way to see the beautiful scenery of Alaska. A complete package gives you the ability to learn to fly by yourself. A 10-Minute...

Unemployment rate in Alaska.(ALASKA TRENDS FOR MAY)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... The state of Alaska's unemployment rate increased from 7.6 percent in December to 8.4 percent in January. This increase is inconsistent with the rest of the United States. The unemployment rate for the United States in January of this year was...