volume 35 issue 7 raven’s circle august 2010 New AIC-constructed road opens in Anchorage Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. expected to ease Tudor Road congestion C “We actually completed our part of the project on Nov. 26,” said Curt Scoggin, ion LL AIC project manager. “We were even able to complete extra work they had given t uc r us and still finish early.” onst Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. connects Elmore Road and Boniface Parkway state C er nt and runs along the northern edge of Far North Bicentennial Park. AIC won the contract with a competitive bid and is the primary contractor on the project. laska I f A esy o t Scoggin attributes the successful early project completion to several factors, chief ur o of which is AIC’s expertise in a variety of fields. mage c I “We do our own paving and have our own paving equipment and asphalt plant at the Eklutna gravel pit,” said Scoggin. “We were able to pave on our schedule, not someone else’s. We also constructed our own 96-foot bridge. It makes a big difference to have control over something like that.” The bridge, which includes four traffic lanes and a pedestrian lane, is a distinctive feature of this project. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.’s location next to the recreational park shaped its development. The bridge crosses over the Tour of Anchorage trail and a wildlife crossing. It features decorative fencing and A notable feature of Alaska Interstate Construction LLC’s (AIC) $24 million project extensive landscaping. to construct a new road in Anchorage was the steady excavation and construction that occurred throughout the winter. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. opened to AIC also had two other projects it was working on for the Municipality of traffic Aug. 4. Anchorage at the same time as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Alaska Interstate Construction LLC (AIC) completed its $24 million contract with the Municipality of Anchorage to construct a new Anchorage road, Dr. “We wanted to keep the same crew rotating between different projects,” said Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., ahead of schedule. The new road opened Scoggin. “We didn’t have to stop and regroup – we were able to keep the momentum going.” Wednesday, Aug. 4, and is expected to carry 20,000 vehicles each day. continued on page 6 Save the Date! Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge CIRI looks forward to upcoming fall renovation completed potlatches Updated day lodge on Fox Island streamlines traffic Kenai Friendship Potlatch Saturday, Sept. 25 flow and reflects beauty of surrounding wilderness Kenai Middle School, Kenai, Alaska CIRI Alaska Tourism Corp. (CATC) 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. completed its renovation of the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge located on Fox Anchorage and Northwest Island in Resurrection Bay within Kenai Friendship Potlatchs Fjords National Park in advance of the Date, location and time will be 2010 summer season. Situated 12 published in the September nautical miles from Seward, Alaska, the newsletter. day lodge hosts visitors throughout the summer traveling on the Kenai Fjords To ensure that CIRI provides Tours day cruises. The popular lodge is enough food, please RSVP for often a trip highlight for visitors who Kenai no later than Sept. 20 by come to enjoy the remote lodge’s The Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge completed calling (907) 263-5191 or 1-800-764-CIRI and selecting spectacular views, wildlife, and all-you- renovations in May 2010. option 5. can-eat grilled Alaska salmon, king crab and prime rib buffet. CIRI shareholders interested in displaying or selling arts The renovation allows the day lodge to accommodate 300 visitors at a time with an increased and crafts at the potlatches should contact Justina Meyer emphasis on comfort. The renovation features an expanded kitchen facility, a new gift shop at [email protected] or (907) 274-8638. area and an open floor plan where all guests can effortlessly view a large screen for the daily park ranger demonstration. continued on page 6 Learn more about Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge at www.kenaifjordslodge.com PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2 SPOTLIGHT 3 OUR BUSINESS 5 contents OUR BUSINESS 2 GOLF CLASSIC 4 CONDOLENCES 6 SHAREHOLDER NEWS 3 ARCTIC STUDIES CENTER 5 raven’scircle 2 A word from the president Good corporate citizenship requires sustainable business practices By: Margie Brown, CIRI president and CEO CIRI and its employees have a well-deserved reputation for supporting a filling market (public) needs. The wide variety of nonprofit and social service organizations that improve profit motive is an incentive that the quality of life for Alaska Natives and other community members. encourages private investment, Toward this end, one of my jobs and privileges as CIRI’s president and which supports jobs, economic chief executive officer is to represent the company and its shareholders at development and other events that support and celebrate community service organizations and community benefits. projects. During the first week of August alone I spoke on behalf of CIRI at the grand opening of Cook Inlet Housing Authority’s Eklutna Estates In pursuing profits, reputable Margie Brown senior housing project, co-hosted a fundraiser for the Alaska Native companies develop projects responsibly so that others do not have to bear Heritage Center and hosted CIRI’s annual golf tournament that raised the cost of environmental harm. They treat employees, business partners, money for the United Way of Anchorage education programs, Anchorage customers and others fairly and respectfully so that these stakeholders Schools Foundation and the Alaska Center for the Environment’s Trailside continue to work and do business with the firm. And finally, responsible Discovery Camp. corporate citizens support nonprofit and charitable projects and organizations that benefit their communities. At these events and elsewhere I often hear community leaders and others compliment “. no company can contribute After considering all of these factors, I CIRI as an outstanding corporate citizen remain proud of CIRI because it rates high because of its charitable activities and the to its local economy through on the corporate citizenship scale. CIRI’s volunteerism of CIRI staff. This praise for business practices aim to benefit its CIRI, of course, fills me with pride for our wages, dividends, taxes and other shareholders and the rest of the company. However, it is based on a very community for generations to come. It narrow view of citizenship. spending (including charitable develops profitable projects such as Tikahtnu Commons in east Anchorage that Charity and volunteerism are part of being donations) if it is insolvent.” is benefiting the entire region by creating a good corporate citizen, but many other new shopping, entertainment and business factors including profitability, business ethics and fair trade practices, opportunities, jobs, tax revenues, etc. CIRI works hard to treat its corporate governance, efforts to protect the environment and political employees, business partners, customers and others fairly and respectfully activities should be included in the calculation that rates the quality of to maintain and grow its business relationships into the future. CIRI is corporate citizenship. developing responsible projects, from a green office building at its 11000 C Street project in south Anchorage to an environmentally responsible Good business practices and profitability are keys to sustaining corporate underground coal gasification development that will include carbon citizenship because no company can contribute to its local economy management on the west side of Cook Inlet and a renewable wind energy through wages, dividends, taxes and other spending (including charitable development on Fire Island, near Anchorage. And, of course, CIRI donations) if it is insolvent. It concerns me that capitalism and the profit strongly supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations and projects motive have fallen out of favor in the American dialog and are that benefit Alaska Native and other community needs. increasingly viewed with suspicion. I think it serves the public’s best interest when corporations invest in projects that earn fair profits by In Memoriam On behalf of CIRI’s Board of Directors and staff, I express my deepest Sen. Stevens left an indelible mark on our nation, our state and the lives of sympathies to the families of former Sen. Ted Stevens, Bill Phillips, Terry Alaska Native people. It will take far more time and space than I have here Smith and Dana and Corey Tindall for their losses in the recent airplane to pay appropriate tribute to his accomplishments and service. He played a crash near Dillingham. I also extend my ardent wish for the full and rapid crucial role in crafting and enacting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement recovery of the crash survivors, Willy Phillips, Sean and Kevin O’Keefe and Act that mandated the creation of CIRI and other Alaska Native Jim Morhard. corporations. He revolutionized the structure for delivering healthcare services to Alaska Natives. CIRI’s 39-year history is intertwined with Sen. As an Alaskan I am well aware that air travel in our state entails both Steven’s 40-year Senate tenure in ways that provided great benefit to our benefit and risk. I understand that accidents occur, but that does not company and its shareholders. For all of his hard work, I am grateful and reduce my sorrow when tragedy strikes. honor Sen. Stevens’ memory. After this accident I particularly mourn the loss of William (Bill) D. Phillips. He was a good friend and an integral member of our company’s federal legislative team since he left his position as Sen. Stevens’ chief of staff in the mid-1980s to work as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist. CIRI was among Bill’s first clients and through the years he worked with various CIRI teams to plan and execute our company’s legislative strategy, including the initiatives that enabled CIRI’s extremely successful Margie Brown VoiceStream telecom investments.