!+ 7! #/..%#4)/.EXPLORING THE ALASKA-WASHINGTON CONNECTION. 2012 goinside :: AFF builds new freight facility in Alaska :: Diverse transportation sector spurs trade :: King Tut exhibit tops Seattle attractions The Alaska-Washington Connection 3 Aspen Hotels DAILY, WEEKLY, AND MONTHLY RATES Stay with us – you will be glad you did! “You will LOVE our rooms!” ASPEN SUITES HOTEL Juneau t Soldotna t Kenai t Anchorage 1-866-GUEST4U (1-866-483-7848) www.aspenhotelsak.com 4 The Alaska-Washington Connection Alaska-Washington Connection CONTENTS Released Aug. 28, 2012 Alaska-Washington Connection is an annual publication of Business to Business Magazines, a division of Anchorage-based Petroleum Newspapers of Alaska LLC, which publishes the weekly newspaper Petroleum News, online at www.petroleumnews.com MARY MACK CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CLINT LASLEY GENERAL MANAGER MARTI REEVE SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR BONNIE YONKER BUSINESS TO BUSINESS 13 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Cover: A Bowhead Transport Company barge loaded with cargo leaves the port of Seattle, Washington for its voyage north to the remote villages of TOM KEARNEY Arctic Alaska. Photo courtesy of Bowhead Transport Company, a subsidiary ġ PRODUCTION DIRECTOR of Ukpea vik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC). ROSE RAGSDALE EDITOR (CONTRACT) OVERVIEW STEVEN MERRITT COPY EDITOR 6 Making a Difference HEATHER YATES BOOKKEEPER IN BRIEF SHANE LASLEY 18 Alaska Airlines wins industry service award IT CHIEF 33 Fort Knox, Pogo match funds for center DEE CASHMAN CIRCULATION REPRESENTATIVE 34 Opti Staffing launches talent network FEATURES 7 Diverse sector keeps Alaska cargo moving To order additional copies of this magazine, email [email protected] Dynamic industry that supplies Alaska with consumer goods and construction materials adapts, grows with customers’ To advertise in the 2013 edition of this magazine, contact Bonnie Yonker changing needs at [email protected] or call her in Seattle at 425.483.9705. 9 Freight-forwarder designs new digs Printed at Alaska Printing in Anchorage, AK. American Fast Freights builds 30,000-square-foot Anchorage facility with customers, energy efficiency and environment in mind. 11 Freight spurs 2012 growth for railroad P.O. Box 231647, Anchorage, AK 99523-1647 Key federal funding allows unique carrier to continue pro- Ph 907.522.9469 | Fax 907.522.9583 gram of service enhancements while major projects boost Email: [email protected] Web page: www.petroleumnews.com business traffic The Alaska-Washington Connection 5 14 CONTENTS 33 13 Bowhead sails toward future growth local spending to make substantial impact on 120 Transportation company marks 30 years of providing Alaska Alaska communities North Slope communities with oceangoing commercial freight 28 Villages feel impact of Pebble outreach services. Mine project’s $4 million in grants aids Southwest Alaska 15 Lynden family moves mountains of goods communities in securing more than $26 million in state and Diverse organization serves customers, environment and federal funds community across shipping, logistics spectrum in AK-WA trade 29 Providers market new high-tech services 17 Alaska Air makes new cargo connections Rapidly changing industry offers Alaska businesses Air freight carrier expands nationwide network, prepares to numerous opportunities to maximize the potential of upgrade and enhance service as Washington-Alaska shipping telecommunications advances volumes soar 35 Seattle: 50 years since world’s fair 20 Hydro projects promise affordable energy King Tut exhibition tops anniversary offerings that include new Decade-long development process for remote facilities on Ferris wheel, star-studded lineup of performing and cultural arts Susitna, Allen rivers will include multi-year construction projects. 41 Things to do in Seattle: Dramatic arts 23 Mining makes a difference in Alaska The Emerald City offers visitors a potpourri of live entertainment, Industry provides thousands of high-wage jobs, millions in including some of the nation’s finest theatrical experiences Don’t miss another golden opportunity! To advertise in next year’s Alaska-Washington Connection please contact Bonnie Yonker, Marketing Director at: Phone: 425.483.9705 Email: [email protected] Turbine blades were trucked up to the site of Golden Valley Electric Association’s Eva Creek Wind generation project after being offloaded from the Alaska Railroad in Ferry, Alaska The blades were manufactured in Little Rock, Ark. and transported to Seattle by modified railcars. Photo courtesy Courtesy of Golden Valley Electric Association INTRODUCTION Alaska-Washington Connection 2012: Making a Difference By Rose Ragsdale vide to Alaskans, while going out of their underscore the growing importance of Alaska-Washington Connection way to give back to the Alaska communi- the mining sector to Alaska. Numerous ties where they do business. Udelhoven exploration ventures and mining sup- elcome to the “The Alaska- Oilfield Systems Services Inc. and Opti port companies, including Taiga Washington Connection – Staffing are Alaska- Ventures, Modular Making a Difference.” W based enterprises that Transportable Housing The dynamic relationship have taken their “It also showcases companies Inc., Calista Corp., between Alaska and Washington born uncommon commit- that not only overcome the Udelhoven Oilfield with the advent of the Alaska Gold Rush ment to providing qual- Systems Services Inc. in 1896 continues to serve the increas- major challenges they face in ity services and and NC Machinery, add ingly complex needs of the Last Frontier. an uncertain economy, but also expanded their opera- to the mix, creating More than 116 years later, the economic, work to make a difference in tions to Washington thousands of high-pay- social and political ties between these State and beyond. the lives of their clients, ing jobs and providing two regions are more critical than ever employees and neighbors.” much-needed revenue to their mutual well-being. Public invest- Reinforcing the and civic support to ment in infrastructure and alternative connection local communities across the state. energy projects along with strong oil, gas This activity is also an important life- and mining sectors continue to fuel This year, telecommunications and line for the Puget Sound and for numer- Alaska’s economy and by extension, the mining are driving forces in Alaska’s ous Alaska and Washington transporta- economy of the Pacific Northwest. economy, bringing not only jobs, capital tion companies such as Lynden Inc., 2012 marks the fifth consecutive year investment and tax revenue to the state Bowhead Transport Co., Alaska Air that Petroleum News has published an but also business and community devel- Cargo, Alaska Railroad Corp., American annual portrait of the dynamic and opment initiatives that are being felt Fast Freight, Pacific Alaska Freightways enduring business relationship between even in the remotest corners of the state. and TransGroup Logistics. Alaska and Washington. Alaska Communications, AT&T and Other Alaska businesses, including This edition features a look at some of Futaris are expanding and improving Aspen Hotels, Opti Staffing Group, the outstanding transportation compa- their products and services in sync with Kenworth Alaska and Seekins Ford in nies that serve in Alaska-Washington the latest advancements in communica- Fairbanks, have unique ties to trade. It also showcases companies that tions technology. Washington State that enhance their not only overcome the major challenges The state’s six producing mines, Red ability to service the Alaska marketplace. they face in an uncertain economy, but Dog near Kotzebue, Fort Knox near Most of these companies also provide also work to make a difference in the Fairbanks, Pogo near Delta, Greens Creek goods or services to Alaska’s oil and gas, lives of their clients, employees and and Kensington near Juneau and Nixon retail, tourism, fishing, and service sec- neighbors. PNW Equipment and Fork near McGrath, along with advanced tors. Yet perhaps their most effective and American Fast Freight, for example, are mine projects such as Pebble in unheralded contributions are the many Washington-based businesses that strive Southwest Alaska, Donlin Creek in west- ways in which they give back to their for excellence in the services they pro- ern Alaska and Livengood in the Interior communities. ◆ The Alaska-Washington Connection 7 Diverse sector keeps Alaska cargo moving Dynamic industry that supplies Alaska with consumer goods and construction materials adapts, grows with customers’ changing needs By Rose Ragsdale This newly constructed parlor car is perched atop Alaska Marine Lines’ containers in the Seattle Alaska-Washington Connection yard. The car is built to mimic the vintage 1890s rolling stock original to the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad when it began carrying miners from Skagway to the Klondike gold fields. It is ransportation companies operating one of three that Alaska Marine Lines barged from the Seattle dock to Skagway this spring to be in the Alaska-Washington trade are as used on the historic railroad, which is now a tourist attraction. Provided courtesy of Lynden diverse as the shipping needs of (Copyright Lynden Incorporated 2012) T their customers. The sector boasts carri- ers such as Lynden Inc., the Alaska Railroad Corp., Pacific Alaska Freightways, Alaska Air Cargo and Bowhead Transport and specialists like American Fast Freight, TransGroup Inc., Pacific Northwest Equipment Inc.