Alaska Business Monthly articles from September 2007

Alaska Business Monthly archives from September 2007

Clarification.(Correction notice)
September 1, 2007... In the July 2207 issue, in an article titled "The Beat Goes On" regarding the proposed natural gas pipeline, mention was made of the $500 million contribution to the project from the State. Additional information, for better clarification, is...

Open season on Alaska.(From the Publisher)
September 1, 2007... It's true. A good offense is also a good defense. Perhaps that is why Alaska is the state folks love to hate in the Lesser 48. We're bigger, potentially richer (certainly in resources and prospects) and Outsiders get downright jealous of our...

AVTEC debuts new high-tech facility.(EDUCATION)(Alaska Vocational Technical Center )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward opened its new $2.6 million Connected Education Center. The new facility provides technology which officials hope will boost student enrollment via online and videoconference classes. "AVTEC...

Nerland Agency's UA advertising campaign earns national accolades.(APPLAUSE)(University of Alaska)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The University of Alaska's statewide advertising campaign received six awards in two different national advertising contests. UA won a gold medal award and two silver awards for its uareelworld. com advertising campaign from the Council for...

Alaska Airlines maintenance training honored.(TRANSPORTATION)
September 1, 2007... Seattle-based Alaska Airlines has received its sixth consecutive Diamond Award for maintenance-training excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration. This marks the third year in a row in which the airline received special recognition...

ACVB, students create geocache trek around anchorage.(TOURISM)(Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau and Central Middle School have developed a geocaching adventure to explore city landmarks. Geocaching Journeys combines global positioning systems technology with riddles, puzzles, geography and sleuthing...

CIRI Alaska Tourism expands Seward offerings.(TOURISM)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kenai Fjords Tours added another vessel, the 150-passenger Aialik Voyager, to its Seward fleet this summer. The tour company is owned by CIRI Alaska Tourism Corp., the tourism division of Alaska Native Corp. Cook...

Seward Trolley shuttles visitors.(TOURISM)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Seward Trolley Car Co. this summer began operating seasonal public transportation between the town's cruise ship terminal, the Alaska Railroad depot and various downtown Seward locales. The company, owned by Tom...

From go to slow: Cook Inlet oil and gas exploration and development dismal: on the one hand there are several large fields discovered in the 1960s and 1970s that were the "anchor" discoveries, essentially paying for the infrastructure. On the other hand, there are several small fields, most also discovered in the 1960s and 1970s. Medium-sized fields are missing from this mix.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Political factors are now looming large in industry's consideration of further Cook Inlet oil and gas development, and there are now major uncertainties facing companies that work in the Inlet. It's a dramatic change...

Taking the Road less traveled: tourists, commercial drivers share space on the Dalton Highway.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many adventurous travelers dream of visiting the Last Frontier and exploring its cities, villages and out-of-the-way places. But for the truly hardcore tourist, there's nothing like the thrill of driving the James B....

Web site security, design and development: caution is key when building and maintaining web sites: sensitive information can now be carried around on a key chain and the majority of these timesavers does not encrypt any of the data. If lost or stolen, it could be disastrous to the company, its employees and its customers.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A few years back, a group of University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) business students were assigned a presentation for board members of a hypothetical company. Many of the class dazzled us with brilliant digital...

From project 80s to the present: resurgence of construction in Anchorage recalls earlier time.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Back in the early 1980s, Alaska underwent a building boom, funded by oil royalties gleaned from the newly constructed trans-Alaska oil pipeline. As millions of dollars poured into communities, much of that money went...

Close quarters: higher-end office space is in demand, but in short supply. New construction will change that.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Searching for higher-end office space in Anchorage? Good luck. "There wasn't any multi-tenant office space constructed in Anchorage between 1986 and 2003," said Chris Stephens, a partner in Bond, Stephens & Johnson,...

Solstice Advertising.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... Amy Sparck Dobmeier was hired as marketing coordinator at Solstice Advertising. Dobmeier will be responsible for marketing the agency's services, with specific emphasis on Native corporations and Native-owned businesses. Also joining the...

NACLink.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... Roslyn Mitchell was hired as general manager of NACLink, the freight-forwarding division of Northern Air Cargo. Mitchell has 16 years of operations and customer service experience in the Alaska transportation industry. She leads NACLink...

State of Alaska.(Right Moves)(appointment of Kathy Matsumoto at Alaska Board of Parole)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Kathy Matsumoto was appointed executive director for the Alaska Board of Parole. She most recently worked as a parole board administrator with the Arizona unit. In her 17-year career with the Alaska State Department of Corrections, Matsumoto...

Federal Government.(Right Moves)(appointment of Henri Bisson )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Henri Bisson was chosen as acting senior advisor to Interior Department Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. Bisson replaces Drue Pearce, whom President Bush nominated as federal coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. Bisson will...

ASCG Inc.(Right Moves)(appointment of Christa Besing )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Christa Besing was hired as a structural engineering intern for the Anchorage office of ASCG Inc. Besing earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master's degree...

Patton Boggs LLP.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... Walter Featherly was chosen managing partner of Patton Boggs LLP's Anchorage office. The law firm, based in Washington, D.C., has offices nationwide. Featherly spent more than 25 years focusing his practice on Alaska Native corporations and...

WorkSafe Inc.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WorkSafe Inc. has hired Tom Englehart as its new director of operations. Englehart previously worked at Magellan Health Services in Anchorage, where he served as an account executive, then later as director of...

Venture Development Group LLC.(Right Moves)(appointment of Matthew Fairbanks at Anchorage Rental Car Center Facilities)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Matthew Fairbanks was chosen manager for the Anchorage Rental Car Center Facilities at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The commercial car rental facility, which opened in mid-summer, is run by Venture...

Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.(Right Moves)(appointment of Anthony Edwardsen)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anthony Edwardsen was chosen president and chief executive for Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp., an Alaska Native village corporation based in Barrow. He was appointed for a three-year term. Edwardsen has served on the UIC...

URS Corp.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... Kim Onstad was hired as an environmental scientist at URS Corp. in Anchorage. She has worked on several Chevron projects nationwide, from Texas to Philadelphia to Southeast Alaska. In her new role, Onstad will work on the Chevron refinery...

Crowley Maritime Corp.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... Bob Cox joined Crowley Maritime Corp. as general manager of the petroleum distribution group. Cox is based in Anchorage. He is responsible for Crowley's 14 Alaska marine and aviation petroleum terminals, which have a combined fuel capacity of...

Holmes Weddle & Barcott PC.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... Jeffrey Waller joined the law firm of Holmes Weddle & Barcott PC. Waller recently returned to Alaska after seven years practicing law in Texas and American Samoa. He earned a law degree from Texas Tech University. Before attending law school,...

Bernholz & Graham Inc.(Right Moves)(appointments of Amy Cockerham and Tara Stevens and promotion of Gary Scott )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Amy Cockerham has rejoined Bernholz & Graham Inc. public relations firm as senior account manager. She worked for the company from 2002 to 2005 and most recently served as director of news services for Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma,...

Anchorage Economic Development Corp.(Right Moves)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Anchorage Economic Development Corp. hired Erin Ealum as business and economic development director. Ealum recently worked as program manager in the Anchorage office of S&K Aerospace. She has experience in...

ABCs of pensions and retirement: retirement plans help retain and attract employees, and a multitude of options makes it easier for employers to provide them.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As financial institutions and lawmakers have realized the changing needs among America's work force, employers can select from more retirement plans than ever before, which presents the challenge of picking the best...

Banking on the future: checkbooks are becoming a backpack staple for school students.(Wells Fargo Bank N.A. joins patnership with Elementary schools)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Here's a quick checklist for your junior or senior high school student who's rushing out the door on his or her way to school in the morning: * BOOKS * NOTEBOOK * PENCIL/PENS * IPOD * CELL...

Music, motion and memories: blues train combines fall scenery with vibrant tunes.(Alaska This Month)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Soulful, melodic strains of live music accompany the steady rhythmic swaying of the Alaska Railroad Corp. train as it treks along Turnagain Arm. Then the tour winds through autumn alpine meadows enroute to...

September events calendar.(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... ANCHORAGE 1-2 and 8-9 Saturday and Sunday Market Alaska's largest open-air market with a variety of goods, including fresh Alaska Grown produce and seafood, spectacular works of art and more. Every week, experience eclectic blends of...

Tower of strength: once a village health aide, Quintavel takes the reins of large corporation.(Alaska Native: BUSINESS NEWS)(Arctic Slope Regional Corp.)(Bobbi Quintavell)(Viewpoint essay)
September 1, 2007... She's as confident as the day is long. But her humble beginnings are a constant reminder that keeps this Native leader in check and well-grounded. She is also feeling optimistic and energized. "I have a great staff and a great board...

Native regional corporations top $5 billion mark: most show double-digit growth.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... Business is booming for Alaska's 13 Native regional corporations, thanks to increases in oil and metal prices, growth in the government and commercial contracting sector, and strong returns realized in investment portfolios. Cumulatively,...

Breaking the billion dollar mark: two native corporations earn more than $1 billion in FY2006/2006.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For many companies, breaking the billion-dollar mark calls for a major celebration. Yet two Alaska Native corporations that recently earned in excess of this amount in the past fiscal year or early 2007 (fiscal years...

2007 Alaska native regional corporations directory.(Directory)(Statistical table)
September 1, 2007... 2007 ALASKA NATIVE REGIONAL CORPORATIONS DIRECTORY Ahtna Inc. Ken Johns, President and CEO Mile 115 Richardson Hwy. Glennallen, AK 99588 Phone: 822-3476 Fax: 822-3495 E-mail: brebne@ahtna.net WWW: ahtna-inc.com Shareholders:...

Partners of choice: native corporations attract mining companies to their lands for a win-win situation.(Alaska Native: BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rusty-colored, crumbly rocks and dirt sporadically mixed with small chunks of white quartz freshly uncovered immediately caught the attention, and the geological interest, of Jeff Pontius, a long-time gold prospector...

Knowledge management and ANCs: a cultural match: finding new ways to efficiently capture and transfer knowledge faster than competitors.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... Knowledge Management has been an established discipline since 1995, but it roots can be traced farther back and some of the most common and tangible examples come from some unlikely business origins-the U.S. military. The U.S. Army's use of...

Budding 8(a)s: as Native-owned businesses "graduate" from the SBA 8(a) program, many form new spin-off companies that qualify for special exemptions.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Karen Forsland, Alaska district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration, calls the SBA 8(a) program a success in Alaska, and says it is heavily weighted by Alaska Native regional and tribal corporation...

Reach for a dream: Effie Kokrine Charter School Early College Program gives Native students a head start on advanced education.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)(Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Students at the Effie Kokrine Charter School in Fairbanks are working on their college degrees while still in high school under a program that aims to bridge the divide between the two for students who have a high...

Pipeline jobs promised to natives under section 29: twenty percent Native hire is the goal of Alyeska.(Alaska Native BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On paper, the Section 29 requirements of the federal Agreement and Grant of Right-of-Way for the trans-Alaska oil pipeline and corresponding Alaska Native Utilization Agreement (ANUA) are spelled out in dry legalese....

Creature comforts: pet food warehouse celebrates two decades of fulfilling needs.(PetZoo & Animal Food Warehouse)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alaska Business Monthly 106 Lions and tigers and bears... oh my! Don't expect to see any of those ferocious animals at any of the PetZoo or Animal Food Warehouse locations, unless they happen to be a part of the...

Recall sparks fear and anquish: pet owners cautious and curious.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Earlier this year, a nationwide pet food recall sparked deep concern and fear into many pet owners. In February, the recalled foods came to the attention of Menu Foods, as reports of kidney failures became...

CEO/board basics: ways to help organizations become better: quick tips for better operations.
September 1, 2007... The CEO of a mid-sized organization is on the phone telling me about an e-mail from one of her board members. The board member wanted to know why the CEO was trying to censor him for speaking out on a community issue. The e-mail went on to say...

The technology gap: how can a small-business manager make certain the computer network is being managed correctly without becoming a technology expert?
September 1, 2007... Many management methods that are taught in business schools or found in books are out of touch with the reality of managing a small business in Alaska. Most business managers need to maximize the time they spend working on their core business...

12 month trend in unemployment: Alaska Trends, an outline of significant statewide statistics, is provided by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development and sponsored by American Fast Freight.(Alaska Trends for September 2007)
September 1, 2007... The unemployment rate tends to follow a predictable seasonal trend, hitting lows in the summer, and highs in the winter months in between. This trend is reflected at all levels, from the national level down to a city level. [GRAPHIC...