Meanwhile in Corporateville…
Heroism Abounds
What is a heroic trait? It depends on who you ask. Ask a teenager and the answer will more than likely be x-ray vision or flying. Ask a fully-grown adult and the answer will still more than likely be x-ray vision or flying.
But in a more broad (and reality-based) sense, the definition of a hero is one who goes above and beyond the norm to help others. This certainly holds true among the 2019 Top 49ers—they made the list because of their ability to garner revenue in even the toughest of financial environments, but their true power and value lies in their super-sized philanthropic abilities.
When we asked each of the Top 49ers to reveal their most heroic traits, their answers formed a profound tapestry of pride, tradition, and preservation. And what’s more heroic than establishing an enduring legacy of empowerment, giving, and cultural pride that can be passed from generation to generation? Here we present the Top 49ers—unmasked.
Alaska Business: What is your company’s most heroic trait?
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
Iñupiaq know hard work at a cultural level. In our faces, you can see the strength, determination, and inventiveness that flows from the very roots of our Iñupiaq culture. ASRC combines this with disciplined business practices to deliver high levels of performance and returns.
Bristol Bay Native Corporation
Continuously providing meaningful employment, educational, and financial benefits to our growing shareholder base year after year; our commitment to land stewardship and ensuring the world’s largest wild sockeye fishery in Bristol Bay remains for future generations.
NANA
Iñupiat Iļitqusiat is that which makes us who we are. Our traditional values are the foundation of NANA. We embody these values in our words and actions.
Lynden
We are always ready to respond to a logistics challenge!
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December 2024
Chugach
Chugach’s five core behaviors reflect our most heroic traits: we do things the right way, we create meaningful value, we empower people, we build community, we leave things better than we found them.
Afognak
Courageous stewardship—Our early leaders showed courageous stewardship by making the disciplined decision to save timber dividends to fund future business ventures, which afforded our start in government contracting. Today, our leaders and workforce steward our success with an eye toward future sustainability.
Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation
The ability to remain objective, strategic, and overcome adversity.
Sealaska
Investing with Native Values. We are a Native institution owned by 22,000 shareholders. Over the past six years we have worked together as a team to refocus our business strategy to better reflect traditional ideals and values to secure a better future for shareholders and communities.
Bering Straits Native Corporation
We strive to empower our people as leaders in the development and protection of the Arctic region.
Ahtna
Our values of respect, unity, safety, quality, and integrity allow us to act with intention even during challenging times to fulfill our company mission: Wise stewardship of Ahtna lands and responsible economic growth for future generations of Ahtna people.
Goldbelt
Building a brighter future for our shareholders—the leaders of tomorrow.
Olgoonik
We always come through when we’re needed.
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Three Bears Alaska
What we give back to our communities by employing fellow Alaskans and through charity work by both the company and our employees in support of the military, veterans, first responders, and children in need.
Chugach Electric
We provide reliable, affordable power for more than 68,000 Alaskans.
First National Bank Alaska
Since 1922, First National Bank Alaska has believed in Alaska, demonstrating an unswerving and genuine interest in the success of Alaskans. Perhaps that belief shows itself most notably in our support of the communities we serve. Through contributions of time and treasure, the bank has always sought to make The Great Land a better place than it was yesterday. For nearly a century, that commitment to Alaska has been an essential part of who we are and what we do.
Bethel Native Corporation
Perseverance in this tough Alaska economy.
Matanuska Electric Association
MEA’s most heroic trait is truly being a member-first cooperative. Whether it’s our courageous lineman working through a winter storm or a 7.0 earthquake to safely and quickly restore power; our clearing crews downing more than 3,000 spruce bark beetle kill trees to reduce outages and hazards; providing outage communications 24/7; or the kind, friendly voice on the line when you call, MEA employees always put our members first. Our commitment to providing safe and reliable power ensures stronger, connected communities today and tomorrow.
Tanadgusix Corporation
Blending the culture of the Aleuts of St. Paul Island with the expertise to compete head-to-head in modern industry and still retain our identity.
Sitnasuak
Manufacture of tactical products, gear, and uniforms to support our US military—proudly made in America.
Davis Constructors & Engineers
In 2019, Davis held the Third Annual Anchorage Barefoot Mile, raising awareness and more than $196,000 to fight human trafficking. Since 2017, Team Davis has raised $620,000 in support of the cause.
Construction Machinery Industrial
Donating and supporting to Alaska Native groups, as well as local schools and churches.
Colville
We look to the future and innovate solutions that deliver value to our employees and our customers.
Choggiung
Our values.
Usibelli
Usibelli Coal Mine restores every acre of disturbed land back to natural habitat. We started doing this in 1970, years before the law required it. Our goal is to leave Alaska as we found it—wild and beautiful. In 2019, the land reclamation crew at Usibelli Coal Mine planted 27,000 trees by hand on more than 200 acres of coal mining land.
The Kuskokwim Corporation
TKC and its board of directors are unafraid to go above and beyond what ANCSA requires of Native Corporations to improve the lives of our shareholders. TKC’s subsidiary operations are doing well nationwide, bringing in profits for dividends and operations. This allows TKC’s Alaska staff to focus on projects like rural stores to help lower the cost of living for shareholders and creative energy and housing solutions. The bravery to “cut a path to a better future” for TKC shareholders is The Kuskokwim Corporation’s most heroic trait.
Cape Fox Corporation
Our willingness to support the Southeast Alaska community, our shareholders, and employees in times of need.
Credit Union 1
Loans save lives at Credit Union 1! CU1’s Uplifting Others Fund helps individuals whose shelter, food, or health is at risk and is supported by donations on behalf of members who finance loans with us. For every consumer loan financed we donate $5, and for every real estate loan we donate $10.
Vitus Energy
Resolve.
Udelhoven Oilfield System Services
Integrity.
Great Northwest
Quality work, effectiveness, and safety on all work sites.
Roger Hickel Contracting
Heroic traits run deep in Roger Hickel Contracting’s team. We all sprang to action after the November 30 earthquake and were able to get twenty-nine Anchorage schools back up and running in ten days!
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative
Our field technicians hop around the state in the worst of weather conditions to keep the lights on—particularly harrowing when you’re dodging storms and flying roofs!
Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group
Fundraisers for many causes.
Systemcenter Promotes Alaska Market General Manager
Hawai’i-based commercial furniture and storage dealership Systemcenter promoted Aukai Allen as Alaska Market General Manager.
HDR Promotes Alaska Operations Manager
Nebraska-based architecture, engineering, and construction firm HDR appointed Anna Kohl, a certified environmental professional, as its new Alaska Operations Manager.
UIC Becomes Majority Owner of Delta Solutions & Strategies
Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation acquires a majority interest in Delta Solutions & Strategies, a Colorado-based defense and space services contractor.
