2025 Alaska Chamber Premier Business Award Winners Announced
John Hendrix poses on a Cook Inlet platform with his daughter Lauren Hendrix, who recently joined the HEX family of companies as director of marketing. The Alaska Chamber Executive Committee selected John Hendrix as the William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year.
Photo Credit: HEX/Furie
What do a Southeast cruise terminal, a major statewide general contractor, a chamber of commerce, and the only Alaskan-owned oil and gas producer have in common? They are all being recognized by the Alaska Chamber through its 2025 Premier Business Awards.
Summit of Achievement
The Local Chamber of the Year Award, established in 1994, recognizes local chambers for consistent community involvement and strong reputations for business support. The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center has elevated its role as a trusted, dynamic, and forward-thinking organization under the leadership of Executive Director Samantha Springer.
In 2024, the Kenai Chamber was instrumental in revitalizing the Kenai Cultural Center, bringing back monthly rotating exhibits for the first time since 1993. It also launched the Kenai Chronicles Lecture Series, expanded scholarship programs and created the Kenai Peninsula Cultural Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) organization focused on historical preservation, education, and community restoration. The chamber fosters regional collaboration, recently partnering with the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce on shared programming and campaigns, positioning it as a vital force in the Kenai Peninsula.
Current Issue
January 2026
Bill Bivin Small Business of the Year: Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal
The Bill Bivin Small Business of the Year Award, established in 1993, recognizes independently owned and operated Alaska businesses with fewer than 100 employees that demonstrate leadership and community involvement.
Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal is the only cruise ship dock in Sitka and has transformed the visitor industry in Southeast. Founded by Chris McGraw, the terminal took shape without guaranteed cruise line contracts, relying instead on vision and entrepreneurial risk-taking. Today, the terminal welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, providing critical infrastructure that fuels Sitka’s economy and supports local jobs.
Beyond dock operations, the terminal provides space for small businesses, including bars, restaurants, retailers, and tour operators. It has become an anchor for Sitka’s tourism sector, spurring economic activity that generates sales, property, and head tax revenues for the city. The terminal has also shown strong civic leadership, including organizing community-led efforts to protect local businesses from harmful ballot initiatives.
Kenai Chamber of Commerce announced its recognition by the Alaska Chamber in a September 25 web post.
Photo Credit: Kenai Chamber of Commerce
Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year: STG Inc.
Established in 2018, the Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year Award honors companies with more than 100 Alaska employees that exemplify leadership in their industry and consistent community involvement.
STG Inc. is a leader in rural infrastructure development, building projects in some of the most remote and weather-challenged regions of Alaska. Its work includes major contributions to telecommunications, fiber installation, and structural foundations, such as its foundational role in GCI’s TERRA network connecting Western Alaska.
STG is known for its deep cultural awareness and commitment to local communities. Company leaders prioritize local hiring and mentoring, often transforming trainees into long-term team members. Internally, STG fosters employee well-being with competitive benefits and a culture rooted in collaboration and generosity. The company also supports statewide organizations, including the Scotty Gomez Foundation and Calista Education and Culture fund.
William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year: John Hendrix
Established in 1964, the William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year award is presented to an individual who has made substantial and continual contributions of statewide significance in the private sector.
This year, the chamber celebrates John Hendrix for his entrepreneurial spirit and decades of contributions to Alaska’s energy sector. A civil engineer from Homer with more than forty years of international and local experience, Hendrix invests his expertise back into the state where he grew up. Hendrix has held leadership roles at Apache Alaska, BP, Schlumberger (now SLB), and NANA, and served as oil and gas advisor to the governor’s office.
Lately, Hendrix is busy with the company he founded, HEX, which acquired Furie Operating Alaska to produce natural gas from offshore platforms in Cook Inlet. Beyond his professional achievements, Hendrix has devoted his time and resources to supporting education, youth sports, and community organizations across the state.
The Premier Business Awards nominations are reviewed and selected by the Alaska Chamber’s Executive Committee, composed of industry leaders across the state. The chamber will honor the award winners for their accomplishments and contributions to the statewide economy at the Alaska Business Summit on October 9 at Alyeska Resort.
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We’re honored again this year to celebrate our partnership with Junior Achievement of Alaska, a nonprofit that educates local youth about enterprise, business, money, and financial literacy. In the special section, three Junior Achievement of Alaska students weigh in on their experience with the exceptional volunteers and teachers involved with the program.
And in Industry Support, we explore the range of varied services that industry in Alaska requires, from mancamps to spill response to off-grid energy solutions.
Outside the special sections, make sure to check out the 2026 Economic forecast, where Alaska leaders share their insights on what may lie ahead in the coming year. Enjoy!