SUMMER 2014
Y Enter the
MILLENNIALS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 11 LIV E.WO R K.P LAY. UP DAT E
CEO Q&A 22
BO SCO ’S JO H N W EDDLETO N
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 26 P S ST R AT EGIES
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F E AT U R E S TO RY
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 3 ENTER THE MILLENIALS 5 C O M M U N I T Y PA RT N E R S 1 0 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 11 I N D U S T RY N E W S 1 2 C H A M B E R A DVO C AC Y 1 4 TO U R I S M O U T L O O K 1 6 H E A LT H 1 8 S C H O O L - B U S I N E S S PA RT N E R S H I P 2 0 N I N E - S TA R S E RV I C E S
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BUSINESS LEADER PROFILE 22 A RT S & E N T E RTA I N M E N T 2 4 M E M B E R S P OT L I G H T 2 6 A M B A S S A D O R O F T H E Q UA RT E R 2 7 A DVA N C I N G B E N E F I T S 2 8 A R O U N D TOW N C A L E N DA R 2 9 CHAMBER EVENTS 30 NEW MEMBERS 32
ON THE COVER:Van Sanders, Magen James, Caleb Kreuzenstein and Corey Hester of the Anchorage Chamber represent the millennial generation shaping the city’s future. Photo/Michael Dinneen/Michael Dinneen Photography
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2014-2015
board of directors 2013-2014 Finance Committee:
Chair: Bob Heinrich
Secretary-Treasurer: Bill O’Leary At-Large: Julie Saupe At-Large: Mike Hayhurst At-Large: Matt Thiel At-Large: Susan Jensen
Immediate Past-Chair: Sandra Heffern Chair-Elect: Janelle Pfleiger Vice-Chair: Julie Anderson Secretary-Treasurer: Bill O’Leary At-Large: Julie Anderson At-Large: Tim Thompson At-Large: Mike Hayhurst Alternate: Christopher Clifford Ex-Officio: George Vakalis
Elected (15 Required; 3 year terms; can serve up to 3 terms) Eden Lovejoy, Yourbusinesslifestyle.com Anne Reed, Read Systems Sandra Heffern, EHD Enterprises Bruce Bustamante, Princess Cruises Bill O’Leary, Alaska Railroad Mike Hayhurst, KPMG Bob Heinrich, ConocoPhillips Colleen Starring, ENSTAR Natural Gas Company Greg Mattson, BP Janelle Pfleiger, RE/MAX Properties Julie Anderson, Alyeska Pipeline Service Chris Clifford, Wells Fargo Susan Jensen, Bayshore Clubhouse Melissa Reiser, First National Bank Alaska Tim Thompson, Alaska Airlines Appointees (Up to 12, Optional; 1-year terms; can serve up to 3 terms as appointed) J.R. Wilcox, Cook Inlet Energy Andy MacLeod, Northern Lights Media DBA KTUU-TV Jan Seglem, ExxonMobil Michael Acarregui, Providence Richard Watts, Safeway Marti Buscaglia, Anchorage Daily News Randy Cunningham, Klebs’ Mechanical Matt Thiel, Hickel Investment Corp. Rochelle Marshall, GCI Andy Coon, Alaska Communications Art Clark, Art Clark – Associate Broker Joy Merriner, BDO USA, LLP
Ex-Officios Col. Duffy, US Air Force, Elmendorf, Installation Commander Col. Anderson, US Army, Alaska, Fort Richardson, Deputy Chief of Staff Col. Kerrigan, Alaska Army National Guard, Deputy Chief Joint Staff Ed Graff, Anchorage School District, Superintendent Rashmi Prasad, College of Business and Public Policy at UAA, Dean Bill Popp, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, President and CEO Julie Saupe,Visit Anchorage, President and CEO Christopher Schutte, Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd., Executive Director Chris Birch, Anchorage Assembly, Assembly Representative George Vakalis, Municipality of Anchorage, City Manager Tom Williams, BP, Past Chairman Bill Evans, Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans, and Filippi, Attorney
1016 W. Sixth Ave., Suite 303 Anchorage, AK 99501 phone (907) 272-2401 fax (907) 272-4117 info@anchoragechamber.org Anchoragechamber.org President/Managing Editor Andrew Halcro Editor Corey Hester Photos submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The Anchorage Chamber reserves the right to edit all information submitted for publication.
Published by
301 Arctic Slope Ave. Suite 350 Anchorage, Alaska 99518 (907) 561-4772 Alaska Regional VP Lee Leschper Managing Editor Andrew Jensen Graphic Artist Derek Schoenfeldt Photographer Michael Dinneen Advertising Coordinator Genevieve Turley Advertising Director Tom Wardhaugh: tom.wardhaugh@morris.com Account Executives Ken Hanni: ken.hanni@morris.com Dustin Morris: dustin.morris@morris.com Jada Nowling: jada.nowling@morris.com
©Shutterstock/LArtifan
2013-2014 Executive Committee:
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Making the Most of Anchorage for Millennials Andrew Halcro President & CEO Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Kids today. That’s what many of us on the tail end of the baby boomer demographic might think, but the reality is Millennials are going to be the dominant demographic in the workforce within six years. So what are we doing to hand off a strong economy and a vibrant community to Generation Y? In this issue of Advancing Anchorage Magazine, we peer into the hopes, dreams and challenges of a few of the 82,000 Millennials living, working and playing in Anchorage. The barriers that face Generation Y need to be addressed, or we stand the risk of losing young talented workers. While the business community commonly talks about the next generation, it’s clear we need to start talking to the next generation. In our Community Partner section, Michele Brown from United Way gives an update on the groundbreaking effort to improve public school outcomes here in Anchorage. The 90% by 2020 initiative seeks to raise both graduation rates and classroom attendance to 90% by the year 2020. The community movement over the last year has been impressive and is being
recognized nationally. Industry News this issue is focused on the insurance industry. Lon Wilson, the President/CEO of The Wilson Agency writes about the three strategies necessary for the insurance industry to stay relevant and profitable. His advice centers on three ways to avoid becoming the Polaroid include taking care of your people and your product lines. Our Live.Work.Play. column by Archana Mishra from AEDC updates readers on the progress being made with the lofty effort to make Anchorage the number one city in America by 2025. The grass roots initiative covers seven areas of focus that seek to improve life in Anchorage in such areas as housing, creative placemaking and trails. In the tourism spotlight, Anchorage tourism guru Julie Saupe, President/CEO of Visit Anchorage, writes about the value of travel along with visitors’ contributions to our community. This summer by all accounts is off to a rousing start, with many cruise ship companies, hotels and car rental agencies predicting the summer season will be a solid one. This month we include a new column on health and fitness. Dr. Heather Moore from the Anchorage Foot and Ankle Clinic writes about the prevalence of ankle injuries sustained during summer activities. She describes the types of injuries and what you should do to treat them immediately. The School Business Partnership column this month highlights the partnership between Wells Fargo and North Star Elementary School. Hundreds of students are learning about savings and budgeting through their Hands on Banking program. We also profile Nine Star Services, a 28-year-old company that provides educational services including English as a Sec-
ond Language instruction. With the growing diversity of Anchorage, the role Nine Star plays in helping bridge education gaps is vital to our community. Arts and Entertainment is always a big draw for Anchorage Chamber members, so this month Jayna Combs of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts writes about their innovative acoustic project and their effort to raise $1.7 million for the design and installation of an acoustic enclosure for the Atwood Hall, and to renovate the Discovery Shell. Our member spotlight highlights PS Strategies, a three-year-old full service advertising and public relations firm. The company has made a concerted effort to recruit Millennials to increase their ability to reach a younger demographic. Our Ambassador of the Quarter is Lacy Moceika, who is a sales consultant with Primary Care Associates. Lacy has been a committed volunteer, and an asset to our ambassador program. In our Advancing Member Benefits section, Anchorage Chamber board member Susan Jensen writes about the benefits of joining a chamber committee. Getting involved with any one of our committees or councils will give you a better insight into Anchorages business and political environment. The Anchorage Chamber calendar is packed this summer with exciting events. From political debates to our Business After Hours, check out our schedule of events. Finally, in our CEO profile we corner John Weddleton, the owner of Bosco’s, and ask him the tough questions about super heroes and baseball cards. John owns one of the coolest shops in Anchorage, specializing in comics, cards and games. We take the opportunity to pin him down on why Archie is getting killed off in July when he still hasn’t even graduated from Riverdale High.
Photo/Shutterstock?cecoffman
letter from the president
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Jason Grenn, 33, is the Marketing Director for the Anchorage Concert Association. Born and raised in Anchorage, he says he is excited about the community that his kids will grow up in.
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Enter the
MILLENNIALS By Corey Hester Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
Photos/Michael Dinneen/Michael Dinneen Photography
M
ake room for the next generation of Alaskans. Generation-Y, or more commonly referred to as the millennials, are on the rise in the Last Frontier and are on the verge of becoming the bell weather to Anchorage’s economic future. If you were born between the years 1981 to 1998, consider yourself a millennial. And consider yourself the future of Anchorage. The summers in Anchorage always bring about a wave of orange cones, empty gyms, the aroma of downtown hot dog vendors. Every summer it seems as though more and more younger Alaskans and their families are out and about under the sunny days participating in the multitude of outdoor activities and events that the city offers. As the population in Anchorage grows, so does the impact that young professionals are having on a city that needs an infusion of energy and talent. So what is driving the shift in demographics? Perhaps more local college students are choosing to stay and work in Alaska postgraduation? Yes. Perhaps local businesses are attracting more out-of-state young professionals to join the business community of Anchorage? Undoubtedly. Or perhaps it could be that the positive accolades that Anchorage has been amassing have grabbed the interest of the young and the talented? Absolutely. The numbers don’t lie. According to the U.S. Census, in 2000 Census there were 64,999 Anchorage residents age 18-34 years old. In the last 12 years that demographic has swelled, with the
Department of Labor now estimating that almost 82,000 young adults live and work in Anchorage. A gradual and progressive influx of young professionals in Anchorage leads to ask the simple question – why Anchorage? The answers point to one thing; Anchorage is a great place to live. For Jacob Bera, at 23 years old coming to Anchorage with his wife to take a job as an art teacher at Eagle River High seemed liked a good move. “My wife and I were looking for a place to work and start a family. We both came from economically-challenged backgrounds growing up in Wisconsin, and we were looking for a place where we could create a better future for our family,” Bera said. After 12 years, his quest to put down roots in Anchorage has been everything he hoped for his family. “My family loves the relaxed atmosphere, the accessibility of the mountains and backcountry, the fishing, and the opportunities our community provides. We also have wonderful friends and neighbors that have become our second family here in Alaska. They provide the camaraderie and support we sorely miss from our friends and family
back in Wisconsin,” Bera added. He is not alone.
BIG WILD LIFE
Anchorage offers plenty of incentives outside the business climate to live and work here. The vast outdoors scene is hardly comparable as the foothills of Alaska’s mountains offer camping, hiking, fishing and hunting, as well as athletics year round. Alaska has no income tax, Anchorage has no sales tax, and our residents receive a generous check every October courtesy of investments made by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. However, while Alaskans have always had a strong cottage industry of selling Alaska to Alaskans, others beyond the city limits are recognizing the tremendous lifestyle and opportunities that are available here in Anchorage. Over the last three years, Anchorage has been ranked as one of the top cities in the country for such notables as being one of the best cities to start a career, to being one of the 20 most underrated cities for 20 somethings. It seems for every accolade that Anchorage has received, there is a millennial example.
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In 2013, Forbes listed Anchorage as the 18th best place for business and careers. Ryann Swalling, a 31-year-old architectural intern at KPB, is an example of the favorable employment climate Anchorage has for young professionals. “I was fortunate enough to attend college outside of Alaska and to travel to many different cities around the country and Europe. I chose to return because my family is here and I jumped at the opportunity be a part of the revitalization of Anchorage’s built community,” Swalling said. She’s excited about the opportunities of growing professionally in a city that she has called home her entire life. “I want to continue to work on design projects and developments that enhance and enrich the lives and experiences of residents and visitors in Alaska,” she added. To her, there is not much better than having the clients and the end users of a building truly appreciate their new space in a town she loves. It is without question that the baby boomers’ kids are increasing in our city. Some are home grown, some have migrated from other Alaskan cities, and many have crossed both state and international borders for life in Anchorage. For some newly arriving mil-
lennials, Anchorage has been a destination they’ve long desired, “My husband and I are both born and raised Texans, but we had always dreamed about moving to Alaska,” stated Brittany Hyden, 28, a senior geologist with ConocoPhillips who moved to Anchorage in 2012, with her husband who also works for ConocoPhillips. “After three years in Houston with ConocoPhillips, we were ready to get out of hot climates and crowded city. We both started great positions at ConocoPhillips Alaska, and we fell in love with Alaska life immediately.” The attraction to Anchorage is a common story among millennials, fueled by the constant recognition as a great place to live by some of the top publications in the country, such as the highly respected Kiplinger Report who named Anchorage 9th in the “Top 10 Places in the U.S. to Live.” But for many millennials who grew up in Anchorage, staying away was never an option.
HOME GROWN TALENT
For Jason Grenn, a 33-year-old Marketing Director for the Anchorage Concert Association, as being a homegrown product is a source of pride.
“I’m proud to tell people I was born and raised in Anchorage,” he said. “I’m equally proud to be raising a family here. There are a lot of little reasons that add up for choosing this city to be where my wife, kids and I to be our home.” Grenn says it’s hard to narrow it down to a singular “thing.” Like so many people who live here, the blending of the positives from city life and outdoor living is almost perfect. He says put all of those together and it makes the overall quality of life here truly great. “Anchorage’s whole is really greater than its parts,” Grenn added. As far as Kristofer Black is concerned there is no place like home. “I lived out of state for a few years, and the atmosphere wasn’t the same. In the end I want to feel comfortable and grounded in the city I live in. I can see myself continuing to live in Anchorage and make a difference,” said the 23-year-old personal trainer. He says he hears occasionally from his peers how some want to leave the state because there’s nothing to do and everything seems mundane. However Black says that’s where the possibilities come into play. “This state provides a lot of opportunity for growth, and development,” he said. “I
Photos/Michael Dinneen/Michael Dinneen Photography
Ryann Swalling, 31, is an architectural designer at kpb architects. Born and raised in Anchorage, her goal is to work on projects that enhance the experience for both visitors and residents of Alaska.
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think when it comes down to it, I live here because it still feels like a small town but it has the potential of other large cities.” The potential is not only manifested in the quality of outdoor life and recreation, it also has to do with the earning potential for young professionals. Anchorage is one of America’s highest earning cities with an average household income of $75,035. Kiplinger ranked Anchorage, Alaska the 5th Best City in America for Graduates, citing the high $47,600 average salary for new grads and the presence of major employers that offer good pay to their employees. The economic strength of Anchorage has a direct appeal to both single and married young professionals and one of the reasons why Bera jumped at the chance to relocate to Anchorage. Both he and his wife made a commitment that they would not put their children in the trying financial position they were faced with growing up in Wisconsin, so this opportunity provides a means to afford a home, provide for their family, put money away for their education and save for their own future.
Photos/Michael Dinneen/Michael Dinneen Photography
NOT ALL ROSES, SOME THORNS
While employment opportunities create a high level of optimism among millennials, that is tempered with a concern for the most basic need; housing. “Anchorage really needs more housing provided in mixed income developments and neighborhoods. This type of development has numerous benefits to those living in the neighborhood and to the city as a whole, both socially and economically,” Swalling believes. And she is not alone. Studies have shown that Swalling’s demographic hold different views on housing versus their parents. Single-family homes are no longer as desirable as housing developments that create mixed-use residential and business sectors, in close proximity for job opportunities and services. Swalling, like a lot of young professionals want to see more housing migrate into the downtown area to help bring more life and energy to the city’s center. The housing gridlock in Anchorage is becoming a growing problem in keeping and attracting a young workforce. In a recent public opinion poll, nearly half of Anchor-
age residents believe there is not a good supply of housing and 56% know someone who has had difficulty finding quality housing options in Anchorage. Young families, who have outgrown apartments or condos, are faced with a housing inventory that is the lowest in decades. This makes any possibility of moving up, thus making their current residence unavailable for someone else moving up the housing ladder almost impossible, hence the gridlock. The lack of housing has not only impacted residents, but employers as well. At a recent Anchorage Economic Development Corporation Board Meeting, an executive from a major airline said they currently had seven flight attendant trainees living in an old twobedroom apartment. “This is not a place you or I would find desirable,” she said. However for young professionals in Anchorage, there are few options. In Anchorage a family must earn about $100,000 per year to afford the average home. To afford a two-bedroom apartment, they would need to earn over $46,000 per year. For young professionals, if they are in one of the 18 of the most common occutions in Anchorage, such as service, retail or
healthcare industries, they face even steeper challenges. Meanwhile public policy makers have been slow to respond to the housing crisis in Anchorage, instead focusing on futuristic ideas that might never happen or alternatives that would export property taxes instead of broadening Anchorage’s tax base through redevelopment. The need for a laser focus on redeveloping east downtown was a feature in the Anchorage Chamber Advancing Anchorage Magazine’s January issue. The demand for a new look at downtown housing is there, but options being discussed are off the mark.
MAKING A GREAT CITY GREATER Even though Anchorage has garnered numerous notables as a great place to live work and play, the effort to make our city even greater is a constant effort. As the population of young talent continues to cultivate and develop within the Anchorage business community, organizations have recognized the demand for professional groups targeted for same-age, motivated, and professional individuals looking to surround themselves with like-minded cohorts.
Brittany Hyden, 28, is a senior geologist with ConocoPhillips who moved to Anchorage with her husband in 2012, who also works for ConocoPhillips. She says they were ready to get out of the hot, crowded city of Houston and “fell in love with Alaska immediately.”
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ship base of close to 800 young, motivated, and hard-working blend of students from all different majors and a diverse group of backgrounds. “Alaska’s NSLS is a great way to gain a competitive advantage for young professionals during college and after graduation, as we network with, and eventually enter the business community in Anchorage,” says Marilyn Alvarenga, President of Alaska’s NSLS. In October of 2013, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce launched its inaugural Young Professionals Group, to meet the needs of a growing demographic. “It’s a great way for young professionals to participate in the chamber, build networking skills, and lay a foundation for a successful career,” says Matt Thiel, Chair of YPG and Anchorage Chamber Board Member. “There’s really nothing like it in Anchorage.” The YPG hosts some of the most talented and community-driven leaders from all different industries, collaborating together to make a positive impact in the greater Anchorage community. YPG is open to young professionals ages 21-39 that are members of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s
vast membership base, representing well over 1,100 different companies and upwards of 60,000 employees throughout the city of Anchorage. Their goal is to support the growth of young professionals in Anchorage. YPG provides useful resources for their diverse group of citywide colleagues of all professions, while creating a sustainable and viable environment in Anchorage where their fellow young professionals can excel and grow. Through a combination of unique professional development, strategic networking, and skills building these young, talented leaders aim to give back to the community.
THE FUTURE OF THEIR CITY
Anchorage’s millennials share a common view for what they’d like their city to become in the future. They want a community that is diverse, respects individual rights, while adapting to the demands of a new generation. For Jacob Bera, the young teacher imported from Wisconsin, his vision for Anchorage in the next 10 years is clear.
Photo/Michael Dinneen/Michael Dinneen Photography
Several of these groups have progressively established themselves as the key groups to join for those young professionals out in Anchorage looking to meet other young professional, and collaborate on business or community service projects, while networking and developing themselves professionally or personally. Currently the largest and fastest growing student-run organization in the state is Alaska’s National Society of Leadership & Success. The organization is a cross between a prestigious honor society and a leadership organization. Alaska’s NSLS, also known as “UAA’s National Society of Leadership & Success”, is open to all part-time, full-time, and graduate students within the University of Alaska system statewide. Their mission is, “We Build Leaders Who Make A Better World” as they help their fellow college students discover and obtain their goals. This statewide collegiate organization is 100% student run. At only two years old, the society has grown its presence in more than 15 communities throughout Alaska, with the majority residing at the University of Alaska Anchorage. In total it has a member-
Jacob Bera moved to Alaska when he was 23 to take a job as a teacher at Eagle River High. Twelve years later, he says, “my family loves the relaxed atmosphere, the accessibility of the mountains and backcountry, the fishing, and the opportunities our community provides.”
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“I would like my community to continue growing closer together, while also respecting each person’s individual choices and privacy. I want to live in a community that is safe, especially for women and children.” Bera says he’d like to see a public school system that provides a well-rounded education for every child. “This was my path out of poverty, and I want to be a part of providing that same opportunity for every child,” he says. Lastly, he hopes that in 10 years his community is influenced in a positive way by his family’s contributions. For Ryann Swalling, the homegrown architect, she’d like to see Anchorage continue to be a collection of diverse residents. She envisions a city where, “Residents are driven by their ideals, cultures and ambitions to help our city grow and evolve.” Looking to the future, Anchorage’s millennials see a bright future. The numerous accolades that Anchorage has received for being a desirable place to live and work are nice, but maintaining a healthy vibrant economy for those young professionals who already call Anchorage home, is critical. “I’m a firm believer that Anchorage’s best days are still ahead and am excited about the community my kids will grow up in,” says Grenn the homegrown marketing director. But he recognizes that Anchorage is at a critical crossroad when it comes to issues like land use and what we’re doing to attract young people to city. “Instead of waiting to see what other communities are doing in regards to urban planning and technology, let’s lead the way,” he suggests, “Let’s celebrate what makes our city unique and use that to benefit us in the future.” For Anchorage it is time to embrace what makes our city special. It’s also time to recognize that we need more than just talk about the next generation. Education, housing and a strong sense of community belonging is what is critical to attracting and retaining the best and the brightest young professionals. Enter the Millennials.
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community partner By Michele Brown President, United Way of Anchorage Some call it the 90% by 2020 Community Partnership. Some call it an education revolution. Whatever the nomenclature, Anchorage is using cutting-edge practices to improve cradle to career education outcomes. Since the Education Issue of the Advancing Anchorage MAG exactly one year ago, top leaders from business, education, community and philanthropy have raised the bar on how the community of Anchorage will achieve better student outcomes, and strengthen the civic infrastructure so necessary for a healthy community and economy. For some time, Anchorage has been focused on one student outcome – the high school graduation rate. In the last year, that rate increased from 72% to 76%, from a dismal 59% less than a decade ago. Which goes to show — that a community with all hands collaborating on deck can sail further, faster. But the Anchorage community is not content to be on track to meet a 90% by 2020 graduation rate goal. In the last year, the 90% by 2020 partnership adopted cradle to career outcomes, with an ultimate focus on workforce readiness. The partnership also upped the ante by using data more rigorously to drive collaborative action and accountability. Rather than looking outward and telling others what to do, these leaders are looking inward to challenge their own organizations to deeply and truly collaborate with one another, with deep shared commitment to improving these particular outcomes: • percent of kindergarteners who enter school ready • percent of 3rd graders who are proficient
Anchorage’s Education Revo lution and better in reading • percent of 8th graders who are proficient or better in math • percent of 9th graders who are on-track to graduate • percent of high school students graduating on time – ready to be successful • percent of students accessing and completing postsecondary training or college The Anchorage School District is a key partner. The Destination 2020 goals for 90% proficiency in reading, writing and math align directly with this work. However, there is recognition that many ingredients for student success are found outside schools. For this reason, engaging businesses and communitybased organizations as work partners is critical and necessary. One key is strategically involving the partners with the most experience in data-driven processes. The 90% by 2020 partnership operates with data-driven principles very familiar to the business community: a laser focus on clear, measurable results; reliance on local data, along with research and expert opinion to guide decisions and action; and of a commitment to continuous improvement – define, measure, analyze, implement, control. In recent months, a treasure trove of local data and national research has been assembled to guide the work. Three outcomes and indicators along the cradle to career pipeline have been prioritized. Networks of partners committed to these principles have formed to develop action plans around the priority areas of Ready for Kindergarten and 8th grade math. A third network is forming around ensuring our future workforce is ready. The networks include practitioners from multiple sectors including schools, non profits, public agencies and more. They are using local data to identify specific geographic areas and student populations to focus their work on for the most impact. And they are examin-
ing program results to find the bright spots so “practices that work” can be spread through the network, to increase the percentages. Over 40 Anchorage leaders, many of them from key corporations, have signed on to actively support this approach. Their role is to provide the opportunities that will make this possible and remove the barriers that can thwart this level of collaboration. Tom Barrett, President and CEO of Alyeska Pipeline, recently stepped to the plate in support of 90% by 2020. He offered an Alyeska employee’s time to participate in the Ready for Kindergarten network, in a very targeted way — to provide industry expertise in systems change and data-informed continuous improvement. This level of expertise is something few in the early childhood arena have experienced. And this is invaluable. Nelson Carpluk is that employee. He is a business analyst, originally from Mountain Village, which is northwest of Bethel on the Lower Yukon River. “At Alyeska, I work with a lot of data, making sense of it and using it to guide our planning and budgeting,” he said. “I’m able to bring a different set of eyes to the process of making sure kids have the best chance possible, from the very start. That really hit home for me.” Anchorage Chamber of Commerce President Andrew Halcro has said that, “Community cannot expect lawmakers to solve the public education challenge. Instead, through collective impact efforts, we can strengthen education, thus advancing Anchorage and advancing business.” By harnessing the strength of all of Anchorage’s assets in a coordinated way, we can make a real difference — first, for our children, and ultimately, for our whole community. If your business is interested in more information, call June Sobocinski, Vice President Education Impact at United Way of Anchorage, 907263-3824
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Live. Work. Play.
economic development
An economic imperative to progress community development
©Shutterstock/spirit of america
By Archana Mishra Live. Work. Play. Director, AEDC Everyone wins when Anchorage becomes the No. 1 city in America to Live, Work and Play! In 2010, the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors developed a vision for Anchorage. The vision is to make Anchorage the No. 1 city in America to Live, Work and Play by 2025. Onae might think it’s an odd vision for an economic development organization. However, when you dig down to the foundations of our economy, you will find some unexpected building blocks that are vital to our ability to grow that economy. As the AEDC President and CEO Bill Popp says, “The view of AEDC is that business can’t be just about dollars and cents. It has to be about the arts or trails. It also has to be about schools, the diversity of our people, or how safe our community is.” The LWP initiative is driven by several different moving pieces. The only way to know if Anchorage has reached the status of being number one is through data. AEDC developed a set of quantitative metrics that compares Anchorage to the largest city in each state, including Washington, D.C. The data points fall into three different categories: Live, Work, Play. Each year AEDC releases the results, and in Jan. 2014, Anchorage ranked 16th for Live, 5th for Work and 14th in the Play category. To improve the metrics, the LWP initiative brought together many different part-
ners in the community that represented businesses, organizations and government agencies. Theses partners identified seven “areas of focus” for the LWP initiative. The areas of focus are: EDUCATION: encompasses the entire spectrum from early learning to work ready education, training, and work force development. HOUSING: addresses all issues affecting cost and accessibility of housing needs in Anchorage. WORKPLACE WELL-BEING: establishes and cultivates a focus on creating workplace cultures in Anchorage, where total well-being is supported for both employees and their families. Through this, we see higher performance, continued advancements in safety, greater productivity and decreased costs associated with providing benefits for workforce populations. COMMUNITY SAFETY: allow citizens to pursue and obtain the fullest benefits from their social and economic lives without fear or hindrance from crime and disorder. TRAILS INITIATIVE: brings economic vitality to the community by revitalizing neighborhoods through increased property values, and enhances quality of life, a critical factor in attracting and retaining businesses to Anchorage. C R E AT I VE P L AC E M AK I N G : places artists and art at the center of economic development planning, execution and activity in which partners from public, private, nonprofit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of Anchorage around arts and cultural activities including local fairs and festivals. ONE ANCHORAGE, ONE ECONOMY: to make Anchorage a city that em-
braces all cultures and communities, including the LGBT community, as a source of economic power. This group’s goal is to create and strengthen business partnerships to foster the commerce of equality. ENGAGE ANCHORAGE: although not an area of focus, Engage Anchorage is also a part of LWP, and exists to get young professionals more involved in the unique events and activities that make our city a great place to Live, Work, and Play. By exposing this generation of leaders to the best Anchorage has to offer, we help them become more grounded in our community and sustain their contribution to Anchorage’s economy. As the Live. Work. Play. areas of focus mature and our metrics improve, all of Anchorage wins. I am very pleased to write that LWP is making great progress with a number of new partners committing to the initiative. It is exciting to see new partnerships developing. If you are interested in more information on the Live. Work. Play. initiative, please go to www.AEDCweb.com/Live-Work-Play or follow “Anchorage Live. Work. Play.” on Facebook. The last plug is for the Live. Work. Play. Instagram account, “I Love Anchorage.” On our I Love Anchorage Instagram a different Anchorage resident hosts the account each week, sharing through photos how they live, work and play in our great city! I hope you will join us in this effort, and I encourage you to engage at any level you would like to. Learn more and contact AEDC by going to www.AEDCweb.com or call the AEDC office at (907) 258-3700. We cannot make Anchorage the #1 city in America to live, work and play without your support!
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industry news
By Lon Wilson President/CEO, The Wilson Agency When people ask me what is the most pressing topic in the insurance industry and employee benefit industry, in particular, most are expecting me to respond with something around health care reform. And, yes, that is a big issue for us and our clients. In fact, it’s driving many of our business activities but it’s really only part of the story. The biggest trend in our industry right now is familiar to many other businesses — that of margin compression and how to continue being relevant in a time of increasing regulation and commoditization. Most employers in Anchorage know that we have a very tight labor market, coupled with a low vacancy rate for office space, which puts significant pressure on expenses that are already the biggest line item on an Income Statement. Basic economics dictates that a scarcity of resources will drive prices higher. We are certainly seeing that with both salaries and rent. On the other hand, even though the price of technology continues to decrease, the need for it and its growing complexity puts even more load on the budget. Furthermore, the cost of government regulation on businesses overall and the insurance industry in particular, increases the need for staffing, education and technology. Our clients are experiencing many of the same pressures as we are and therefore are demanding more services at a lower cost. All of these put together create pricing pressure that compresses profitability. As a result, there continues to be an ongoing trend of market consolidation within the insurance industry. The number of large firms continues to grow and the number of smaller firms continues to decrease. I personally believe that local, indepen-
3 Strategies to Profitability for the Insurance Industry dent, client-focused businesses are a good thing for Alaska. The profits stay in our community, are reinvested in our community, grow jobs and develop people. Therefore, over the years, I have positioned our firm to continue staying relevant so that Alaskan business have a viable option to work with Alaskans. Here are three strategies we are using, which most businesses can replicate, to overcome the challenges described above, give more value to our clientele and make us more competitive in the marketplace. Invest in your people. Having a solid leadership team is mission critical during any phase of business, but especially critical when the environment has large changes and competitive pressure is high. Additionally, the changes happening in employee benefits require a more sophisticated skill set from all staff. We are making sure our people are attending webinars, conferences and seminars to keep their expertise proficient and relevant. We are constantly working on building a strong values-based culture that attracts the kind of smart, connected, service-oriented people we want on our team. Invest in technology and then leverage it. Technology has always been a driver of innovation, transformation and productivity, but only when strategically applied. Otherwise, you have technology for technology’s sake rather than creating the value it’s meant to. When we assess our investment in this area, we consider three perspectives: our staff, our clients, and our clients’ staff. The administration of ben-
efits is time-consuming and complex. When we find technology that reduces that time commitment and complexity for any of those three perspectives, we consider it worthy of our dollars and time to implement. One of the ways we are leveraging technology is through “Big Data” — data sets that are so large and complex that it’s too difficult to process without the use of computers. In the employee benefits industry, these data sets come in the form of claims data, biometric data, wellness data and more. We are bringing these data sets together to help our clients build a population health management strategy, which will bring costs down and productivity up. Integrate fringe products and services. The smartphone is a perfect example of integrating seemingly different products. Is it a phone or a camera or a gaming system or any of the other endless possibilities for which people have thought up to use it? In the same way, our industry is becoming more and more integrated with payroll and human resources. We are actively seeking, developing and creating partnerships with these other industries to make sure we continue to provide cutting edge solutions rather than become as irrelevant as the Polaroid. I believe these strategies will help to overcome the challenges we face in our industry in particular and the local business environment in general. And, if you still want to talk about health care reform, call my office. We can have a nice long discussion about how to overcome those challenges in specific detail. Lon Wilson is the President/CEO of The Wilson Agency, a strategic employee benefit firm based in Anchorage that serves Alaskan employers.
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chamber advocacy
By Andrew Halcro President/CEO, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce By the year 2020, a full 40 percent of America’s workforce will be between the ages of 18 and 34. In Anchorage, the demographic trends mirror the rest of the United States. According to the Alaska Department of Labor, over the last 12 years, that particular demographic has grown over twenty percent and currently there are almost 82,000 young adults living and working in Anchorage. Enter the Millennial Generation. A recent study by the Intelligence Group, a company that analyzes Millennial consumer preferences and trend forecasting, found that there is a significant desire by Millennials to make life better, well beyond the four walls of their office. Sixty-four percent of them say it’s a priority for them to improve the world, while 88% of them want “work-life” integration, given how technology now allows work to permeate their personal lives. With regards to work environment, they feel working together is more beneficial, as a full 88% of them prefer a collaborative work-culture rather than a competitive one; 74% of them want flexible work schedules and 72% would like to be their own boss, while 79% of them want their current boss to serve as a coach or mentor. In short, Millennials are looking to make a difference in both their careers and their community. In
Sarah Oates is a Business Registration Examiner with the State of Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board. a recent interview, Janie Gutfreind of the Intelligence Group says smart organizations are recognizing the growing wave of Millennials and are taking actions to attract the best and brightest. “We need to teach them the expectations [of our organizations] in a way that makes sense to them,” Gutfreind told Forbes Magazine. Here in Anchorage many companies have recognized the traits of the next generation and are taking steps to foster them. Some have created favorable environments such as improving office spaces to promote more open work environments and collaboration, while others have facilitated young professional groups to offer peer support and community engagement. On the ground floor of the building where the Anchorage Chamber’s offices are located is a company representative of the millennial age. Axiom Science Data, a software engineering company that manages atmospheric and oceanic data, was started in a local garage by Rob Bochenek six years ago and today boasts a work force of a dozen software engineers. Behind the floor to ceiling windows in a secure office, Millennials stand at their desks with banks of monitors, donning headphones while they disseminate data for their clients. “We have found that a collaborative and flexible work environment promotes more effective problem solving,” said Bochenek. His employees are representative of the consistent trends attributed to Millennials. The bike racks are full outside of their office, their work schedules are flexible and in interviews they all expressed a desire for a closer community feel. It’s clear that the at-
traction to Anchorage is the quality of life, including the close proximity to recreational opportunities. Here in Anchorage, Millenials face a critical issue with the lack of housing. With the new generation, their housing desires no longer mirror that of prior generations. Young professionals and families here in Anchorage want to live closer to downtown and recreation opportunities while living in a diverse and vibrant community. They are shunning the single family home for more dynamic and engaging lifestyle, in particular mixed use development. Judging from the current proposed development policies, we need to stop and think about the future and how we are going to meet these demands of a changing demographic. Currently there is no coherent vision for increasing housing opportunities in downtown, which would transform one of Anchorage’s most underutilized areas, while meeting the needs of both seniors and young professionals who want to live closer to the city’s center. With the baby boomers on the verge of moving out of the work force, it’s time for government to do more than just talk abstractly about the next generation and their housing woes. To remain competitive, private employers are already responding to the needs of Millennials in order to attract the best and the brightest. Now it’s time for public policy to reflect that same desire to retain the best workforce.
Photo/Michael Dinneen/Michael Dinneen Photography
Building for the Next Generation
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tourism outlook
By Julie Saupe President/CEO,Visit Anchorage For most of us, “travel” invokes the idea of boarding a plane or cruise ship, or as Alaskans maybe loading a cooler, tent and fishing pole into the back of a pickup. Travel is an important part of our country’s economic health, and on a more literal level, travel is an amazing health regimen, providing benefits
to our bodies and minds, in the workplace and for our family relationships. First, jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that after the recession, travel recovered faster than other sectors of the U.S. economy. Travel has restored 111 percent of the jobs lost to the recession while the rest of the economy has only recovered 90 percent. Even if you don’t work for the airlines or own a hotel, that rebound is significant. Travel is among the top 10 employers in 49 states, directly employing about 8 million people with a payroll of $209 billion. Throw in jobs supported by travel and the number almost doubles to 15 million workers: one of
every nine American jobs. For Alaska, that ratio is about one in 10 to 13 jobs, depending on time of year. Domestic travelers and international visitors now pump more than $28,000 per second into cash registers across the country. It adds up to an annual $2.1 trillion economic impact, contributing more than $130 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues. It’s interesting to note that every household in America would have to pay about $1,100 more in taxes annually to make up what the travel industry brings to our schools, roads, search-and-rescue teams and other public programs.
File Photos/Michael Dinneen/Alaska Journal of Commerce
Business and Leisure Travel: Good for the Economy … And So Much More
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In Anchorage, the accommodations (aka “bed tax”) and car rental taxes combined total over $28 million annually. Much of this stays within the municipal general fund, supporting essential services for our residents. Many in Anchorage don’t realize that the bed tax, not property taxes, funds the operations and bond debt for two of our key public buildings — the Dena’ina and Egan Centers. Finally, one-third of the bed tax (just over $7 million in 2013) is reinvested in tourism marketing to continue the industry’s impact to our city government and economy. ■ Travel is not all about leisure. Visit Anchorage also focuses on business travel with meetings, conventions and corporate sales efforts. Business travel is an economic engine in its own right: ■ Business travel boosts profits. One study found that every $1 a business spent on travel drives nearly $3 in profit—a 300percent return on investment after adjusting for cost. ■ Travel weathers economic storms. Sectors that decreased business travel during the recession were more likely to see profits slow or drop, while industries that amped up business travel grew faster. ■ Even Uncle Sam travels smart. Government meetings — where private-sector partners converge for information, contracts and networking — add $24 billion a year to the U.S. economy. Despite being just 0.2 percent of budget expenditures, government meetings post an impressive 34 percent ROI. The fiscal benefits of travel are important, but travel does much more than just grow our economy and boost our productivity. I love that travel’s positive effects go far beyond the balance sheet. It’s a boon to our physical, social and emotional health. Travel connects us as people and makes us happy, and its effects on a personal level might surprise you.
■ Looking for lasting love? Couples that travel together are more likely to make it past the five-year mark and less likely to divorce. They’re also more likely to share goals and be better able to overcome their differences. ■ Want a closer family? More than 90 percent of kids see family vacations as a chance for “quality time” with their parents. Kids who travel are more likely to earn a college degree and have a $5,000-higher median income as adults. ■ Feeling down? People who travel are less stressed and happier at work. Eight in 10 seniors say travel makes them feel energized. ■ And our travel memories stay with us: studies show that into our 50s and beyond, we remember childhood trips more vividly than birthday parties or other special occasions. I have fond memories of cross-country trips with my parents, two siblings, one dog, one small car and a pop up tent-trailer. Among the scenic vistas and endless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, there were, no doubt, many challenging moments: blown
tires, leaking tents and tears when we visited attractions that had a minimum height requirement that I didn’t meet (yes, it happened often enough that it is a part of our vacation stories.) I even smile when I remember the fishing trip where my brother stored the dirt-covered nightcrawlers, freshly harvested from our back yard, in our drinking water tank. These moments, trying at the time, have evolved into family memories that bring warm smiles each time they are shared. As employers, give time off the esteem it deserves. Americans leave 429 million paid days off unused every year. We give lip service to time spent with family and friends, yet one in three workers gives up paid leave. That culture needs to change and research shows that workers who actually take their vacation days, are more productive than workers that do not use their vacation time. Take a few minutes this week to think about how you can support and encourage travel — perhaps as an employer, maybe as a leader in Anchorage or even just for you and your family. It’s worth our investment, and the travel effect pays back in spades.
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health & fitness Ankle Injuries Increase Along with Summer Activities Dr. Heather Moore Podiatric physician, Anchorage Foot and Ankle Clinic A pair of runners nears the finish line in the Mount Marathon race in Seward. of the three lateral ankle ligaments may become partially or fully torn. Surrounding soft tissues may become torn or stretched and tendons may become inflamed or even develop small tears within them. This can result in significant swelling, bruising, and pain. The patient may not be able to bear weight on the affected limb immediately without the assistance of crutches or other ambulatory device. They may have instability of the joint such that it will feel like it wants to roll again. In some cases, there may be numbness around the ankle and pain that radiates up the lateral leg or down the lateral side of the foot towards the little toe. In these types of injuries, RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) should be started immediately. Pain and/or anti-inflammatory medication, such as Ibuprofen, should be administered as needed and the ankle should be stabilized with an ankle brace, taping, cast boot or similar device. Once the patient is able to tolerate weight bearing without assistance, physical therapy is initiated to improve strength, stability, range of motion and proprioception (ability of the brain to recognize where body parts are in space). Continued ankle bracing or taping may be necessary for an indefinite period of time, though the ultimate goal of therapy is to return the patient to sport and full activity as quickly
(and safely) as possible. If the ankle remains chronically unstable, surgery to stabilize the ankle may be warranted. The surgery includes removing any loose pieces of bone or cartilage from the joint, repairing or drilling cartilage defects where bone is left exposed, and repairing the ligaments back to their pre-injury length and positions. The most severe ankle sprain happens when the ligament(s) actually tear off a piece of the ankle bone(s). In this instance, the ligaments themselves remain intact but their attachment sites are disrupted along with the bone. This result is severe ankle instability, loss of joint integrity, damage to surrounding soft tissues and tendons, and damage to, or loss of, cartilage that may ultimately result in post-traumatic arthritis. Surgical intervention is often required to repair the disrupted bone, clean out the ankle joint, repair or drill areas of cartilage loss, and reduce the ankle joint back to its pre-injury configuration. Following surgical repair and, as a part of recovery, physical therapy is performed and ankle bracing is recommended during sport or other high-impact activities for an indefinite period of time. If you have experienced an ankle injury, please make an appointment to see me at Anchorage Foot & Ankle Clinic LLC. Let me help you get back on your feet.
Photo/Marc Thiessen/AP
As a podiatric physician, I need to educate my patients about their foot conditions in order to not only give them a better understanding of their problems but also to have them take more interest in their own care and recovery. With the summer months approaching, and outdoor activities becoming more available, foot and ankle injuries will most likely rise. One of the most common injuries is the ankle sprain, which affects millions of people each year and accounts for significant time lost from participation in sports and other daily activities. What follows is a brief overview about these injuries and their treatment. The most common ankle sprain is the lateral ankle sprain affecting one or more ligaments on the lateral part of the ankle (i.e. the side of the ankle by the little toe). In this type of injury, the foot rolls inward while the leg twists (rotates) around the ankle. In a mild sprain, the patient normally experiences minimal, transient pain and swelling, but this is usually short-lived and the patient is able to walk unassisted and possibly even to return to sport immediately. Ligaments that stabilize the ankle, and the surrounding soft tissues and tendons, may incur little or no significant damage. Oral antiinflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen and application of ice and resting the ankle until the pain is resolved are the only recommended treatments and usually cause no long term disability. In a more severe sprain injury, one or more
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school business partnership
Business Partners Become Teachers for a Day happiness to students, books for teachers, and helps us share our Vision and Values with our community," said Claudia. "One of our volunteer readers, Michelle Froehle, was at the grocery store when a kindergartener recognized her and exclaimed, 'You read to me!' and introduced Michelle to her mother. The impact that these volunteers make is evident. Junior Achievement has been a School
Business Partner since 1973 and with the help of more than 250 volunteers representing many local businesses, they reach up to 4000 students in the Anchorage School District each year. For more information on volunteer opportunities in the Anchorage School District call the Anchorage School Business Partnership at 339-7278 or visit their website at www.asdk12.org/depts/sbp.
Photo/Courtesy/Junior Achievement of Alaska
Seventeen brave Anchorage Wells Fargo team members took over teaching duties at North Star Elementary School during the sixth annual "JA in a Day" on April 22. The financial education outreach effort was part of Teach Children to Save Month and Student Financial Education Week. "Our goal is to help young Alaskans learn how to save and spend money responsibly so they can make smart, confident personal financial decisions throughout their lives," said Alaska Region President Joe Everhart. "We hope North Star students develop life-long positive financial habits as a result of what they learn during JA in a Day." More than 400 North Star students learned important lessons about saving and budgeting through our Hands on Banking program, and team member volunteers presented Junior Achievement civics and economics curriculum. Wells Fargo has maintained a schoolbusiness partnership for the last four years with North Star that includes 14 volunteers reading to kids every week as part of Wells Fargo's Reading First program.That's more than 240 books read to hundreds of kids! The School Business Partnership is led by Claudia Holmes in Mortgage Servicing. Claudia and Mortgage Loan Administration Manager Josh Vandagriff also volunteer as mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska. "Our Wells Fargo readers love to visit the classrooms and share their love of reading with kids. Reading First brings
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Nine Star provides educational services including English as a Second Language instruction. es Refugee Resettlement Program. Eventually, most non-English speaking residents make use of Nine Star’s classes which are available to them without charge. Nine Star places nearly 5,000 people in productive employment annually for various partners and employment is the company’s largest and most economically significant service in Anchorage. As a leader in working with the low-income population, Nine Star’s personnel have been invited to work with agencies and services in other communities to inform groups including recent immigrants, persons who lack a sec-
Nine Star Education and Employment Services 730 I Street , Anchorage, AK 99501
AP Photo/Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News
Photo/Courtesy/Junior Achievement of Alaska
Nine Star has operated in Anchorage since 1976.We provide intensive case management services, to include life skills training, to individuals who are underemployed or unemployed in the Anchorage community with the goal of locating employment opportunities for clients of agencies such as the Division of Public Assistance. Additionally, Nine Star provides educational services including English as a Second Language instruction wherein the orientation of the instructors is work related. This is because Anchorage is a destination community for the Immigration and Naturalization Servic-
ondary credential and persons in need of further vocational training and, at the moment, Nine Star’s Education staff provide distance delivery and on site contractor reading, writing, and math instruction to the Aleutian Pribilof region and the Mat-Su region under the auspices of both Employment Security and Business Partnerships in the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Nine Star has been an active member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce for an extended period and supports the economic development efforts of the Chamber and of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation.
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business leader profile
CEO Q&A With Bosco’s John Weddleton John Weddleton was born squalling on a bright sunny day in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1958. He did not stay there long. After a nomadic life traveling across the country including several years in Istanbul, Lugano and Fairbanks, he chose to settle in Anchorage. He is raising two non-nomadic children ages 15 and 18. He is educated with an M.S., Economics, from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1986 and a B.A. in Political Science from Tulane University 1980. He plied his trade as an economist from 1983 through 1993 but finding that it is indeed “the dismal science” he sought more meaningful work. Since 1987, John has been the owner of BOSCO’S Comics, Cards and Games.
starting to realize that some stories are too big for just words. This is a great time to be a comic reader. As the market has grown there is more money to be made and that has drawn more and better talent to the business. The variety of stories told in comic form has grown. The quality of the art and writing has improved. It’s not just capes and tights anymore.
You started your professional career as an economist, and now you’re in the comics, cards and games business. When did you decide that the demand curve for Superman was inelastic? Sort of like Bruce Banner transforming into the Hulk, I started the transition from economic consulting to comic retailing in 1987. I did my last economic study in the early 90s. The decision to dive into a fledgling business during the late 80s economic downturn might tarnish my economic credentials, but it turned out great.
Over the last 30 years, how has your workforce developed? We’ve had some great people at BOSCO’S over the years but the current team is the best ever. Both store managers, Marc Hess and Eric Helmick, have been here over 15 years. BOSCO’S sports card manager, Pat Moe, is the envy of the industry. These guys know their stuff and have done a great job picking staff, training them and setting them loose to do great things.
The popularity of comics continues to grow, what do you attribute this to? More and more people of all ages are
Is Amazing Spider-man really that amazing, or does he just have a great public relations person? Spider-Man does have a great public relations person, it’s Peter Parker. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time for the perfect picture.
What type of challenges does your business face? These days, we have at our fingertips so many ways to be entertained it’s amazing. Every moment or dollar spent on internet
gaming is time and money not available for BOSCO’S. Online “digital” comics are getting better all the time. EBay and Amazon are quick and easy and sometimes cheaper than a brick and mortar store can be. We compete with the entire world now. There was a time when we could see a new fad brewing six months before it hit Alaska. Now it is just a tweet away. We live in a blazing fast world with an amazing variety of entertainment choices. We have to be as fast as The Flash to keep up. Our generation grew up on a steady diet of Archie comics. How weird is it to see Archie carrying a cell phone at Riverdale High? Archie has always been a great example of how comics reflect the culture of the time. The Archie graphic novels that reprint the greatest Archie comics of the decades are among our best sellers. The clothes, the vernacular and the underlying themes in Archie hold a mirror to the era. You call BOSCO’S a kaleidoscope of pop culture swirling around comics, cards and games. What are some of the pop culture trends that have influenced your business over the last five years? One of the bigger trends is lots more people playing games that provide face to face interaction. Fun games with real people. Deck building card games like Magic: The Gathering, and Yu Gi Oh; board games
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like Settlers of Catan, Carcassone and Descente; role playing games like Munchkin, D&D and Pathfinder are all becoming main stream. Japanese manga and anime continue to be popular and draw in some really lively creative people. Renewed interest in simpler video games has led to a resurgence in sales of vintage games and systems. The sports card side of the business has improved with a more sensible array of products and a focus on the search for autographs and pieces of memorabilia in the packs. Who on the planet wouldn’t like to get a Michael Jordan or Mickey Mantle autograph? These are in a pack somewhere on our shelves. Alaska was recently named the secondmost nerdiest state in America. Did BOSCO’S help move the needle on this lofty distinction? That honor was based on an analysis of Facebook trends for each state. There were 12 “nerdy” categories: Star Trek, cosplay, Harry Potter, Star Wars, anime, D&D, LARPing, Doctor Who, fantasy literature, Lord of the Rings, Magic: The Gathering, and comic books. All of these are part of the BOSCO’S experience. By giving people who love these things a place to call home, I do think BOSCO’S has a part in the ascendance of nerd and geek culture. We’re not happy with second place, though. We are just now gearing up a campaign for No. 1. This year BOSCO’S turns 30 years old. What does the next 30 years hold for BOSCO’S? The fundamentals will never change. We’ll listen to our customers, get what they want, and sell it to them. You won’t find fancy fixtures and razzle dazzle displays at BOSCO’S. We’re about the people and the products. Our product mix will continue to change. As our customers wander the huge world of pop culture entertainment, we’ll be right beside them.
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Now Hear This
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts AcousticProject By Jayna Combs Director of Development and Marketing, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts With the opening of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts 25 years ago, musicians, singers, actors and dancers had access to a world class facility in which to perform. Patrons flocked to this spectacular facility to enjoy the many and varied performances. But a serious artistic shortcoming became very obvious. The acoustic enclosure (shell) used in the Atwood Concert Hall was actually designed and built for the Discovery Theatre. Because of budget restraints, the shell was modified and has been used in the Atwood all these years. This shell does not suit the Atwood either acoustically or visually. As a significant and meaningful way to mark and celebrate the Center’s 25th Anniversary, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts Inc. has undertaken the job of raising the $1.67 million to design and build a whole new acoustic enclosure for the Atwood Hall and refurbish the Discovery Shell and move it back to that theatre. The new Atwood Shell will significantly improve the acoustics in that hall and add to the artistic process for adults and children
alike. Sherri Burkhart Reddick, Executive Director of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra said, “We believe the new shell will ensure that the audiences will better hear and experience everything that occurs on stage. It will enable musicians to hear each other better and heighten their performances.” The Atwood acoustic enclosure is being constructed in Minnesota; it will be shipped in July to the Center where it will be commissioned and tuned by our acoustician with the help of many Alaskan musicians. The unveiling of the new acoustic renovations and upgrades in the Atwood Hall will take place during a memorable performance of classical music by the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and will feature renowned Russian pianist Olga Kern on Sept. 27, 2014. Though the Acoustic Project fundraising is still ongoing, thanks to the generosity of many individuals, businesses and foundations, we have raised the majority of the needed funding. We would like to thank all of our donors including our lead donors, The Rasmuson Foundation, The Atwood Foundation, and The Murdock Charitable Trust. Nancy Harbour, ACPA president said, “We are thrilled by the support we have received for this project. The Acoustic Project truly is a lasting gift for the entire community and a fitting way to begin the next 25 years of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.”
Rendering/Courtesy/Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
arts & entertainment
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member spotlight
PS Strategies By Anchorage Chamber of Commerce The story of PS Strategies began in late 2011, when two people had a very similar conversation with their spouses about the idea of taking their experiences and forming a full-service advertising and public relations firm. Co-founded by Mary Ann Pruitt and Dave Stieren over a few cups of coffee at a small Anchorage coffee shop, PS Strategies was designed to partner with clients, challenge them, and in turn, ask to be challenged. What followed was the formation of Alaska’s most dynamic and energized firm. Since the founding, the agency has been steadily growing, largely by adding talented members of the Millennial generation, who provide important perspective and energy, enabling PS Strategies to focus on the core needs of the client and deliver results. A longtime Alaskan, co-founder Mary Ann moved to the Last Frontier at a young age, fell in love with the state and has never looked back. An alumni of the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in Marketing and Economics, combined with her tenure as a senior sales executive for some of the largest media outlets in the country, Mary Ann’s extensive experience and knowledge allow her to provide media relations, strategic marketing planning, and apply her skills as an award winning copywriter to any and all clients to help them grow and achieve goals. Mary Ann currently serves on many
boards and commissions including Chair of the State of Alaska’s Vocational Rehabilitation Commission and Board. She has served a variety of clients in successful community outreaches and campaigns; this includes statewide ballot initiative planning, general public outreach campaigns, retail consumer marketing, and sales generation processes. Dave Stieren moved here from Nebraska in 1994 after studying broadcast sales at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Dave set his roots deep in Alaska, mostly as a creature of habit. His first commercial flight was on MarkAir, who became his employer two months after his arrival. In 18 months, he had been hired, given a raise, got married, got a pay cut, and prepared the hanger for a bankruptcy auction. Most folks would have fled the state on the first flight south, but not Dave. He decided that his story continues here, along with his wife Darci Ahlin Stieren, PS Strategies Client Services Director, and their children Blake and Hannah. As a partner in PS Strategies, Dave brings his experience in operations, as well as insight gained from interacting with the largest radio audience in Alaska on a daily basis. Based on the numbers following his entry into the radio market, no one has reached more Alaskans, nor interacted with such a broad range of listeners to the level Dave has. This experience has proven invaluable to PS Strategies and their clients. Every day on the radio, Dave is challenged to look at issues and present them from a different
point of view. This too, is a valuable tool for clients of the firm. Dave’s previous experience in management of skilled and semi-skilled staff at the Ted Stevens International Airport for 14 years has given him unique insight to the challenges faced by employers in Alaska. In an industry regulated by the FAA, Dave has dealt with the damaging impact of bad decisions made, not only by the young, but by senior staff who should “know better.” Since 2011, PS Strategies has steadily added Millennials to round out the Creative Department as well as to create dedicated account teams that are able to focus on individual or small groups of clients for maximum attention. Some of the clients that are well served by this organizational structure include Central Plumbing and Heating (they didn’t write it, but you can blame them for keeping that jingle stuck in your head), Parliament Chiropractic, Body Renew Alaska and Body Renew Northwest, the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, and CH2M Hill Alaska. Together, the experience and knowledge of the founders combined with the talent and vigor of their Millennial staff, this dynamic team sets the perfect balance for clients of any size. Adept at finding opportunities to help develop your public relations and consumer marketing plans through research and development, strategic planning, and tracking of results, PS Strategies is excited to work with Alaskan businesses as a full-service marketing and communications agency.
Photo/Courtesy/PS Strategies
The Agency of Tomorrow, Today!
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ambassador of the quarter
Lacy Moceika The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce congratulates Lacy Moceika for being the Ambassador of the Quarter. The Ambassador Council is a group of hardworking volunteers who work together to maintain contact with other chamber members. Lacy credits her success to having a positive attitude no matter the situation and always trying to leave people better off for knowing her.
Lacy moved to Alaska in 2007 with her husband who is in the Air Force. She joined Primary Care Associates in 2008, and worked as a front desk receptionist, Employer Service Coordinator, and now Sales Consultant. The drive she has brought to her employer, she has brought to the Anchorage Chamber’s Ambassador Council. She is thankful for a career with an organization that promotes from within. Lacy earned an associate’s degree in science at Weber State University and currently back in school for her bachelor of science in business administration, with plans to get her master’s. In five years, she hopes
to be working as a human resources director at a firm in the medical industry. She joined the Ambassador Council to get more involved with the Anchorage Chamber, and according to her, it has returned twice the benefit of what she has put in. She enjoys going the Business After Hours and the Anchorage Chamber Train Ride and now with an expanded role of the Ambassador Council, she is excited to help plan events among other volunteer opportunities. In talking about her Anchorage Chamber experience, she stated “they offer education, support and a reliable network to use as a resource as I build my career.”
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advancing benefits
Make Most of Membership Through Chamber Committees By Susan Jensen, MPA General Manager, Bayshore Clubhouse What would you like to get out of your membership in the Anchorage Chamber? One way to gain tremendous benefit is by serving on a chamber comwmittee. Benefits include getting to know fellow chamber members, learning about issues of importance in Anchorage, and having the opportunity to make a difference in your community. In addition to being a Chamber Board Member, I am involved in three committees. My advice to you is to choose one or more committees of interest and jump in! The first committee I joined several years ago was the Municipal Business Committee. The chairman at the time was George Vakalis, Anchorage’s Municipal Manager. Dynamic committee meetings were full of items of interest regarding business in Anchorage. I was hooked. For the past two years I have served as co-chair of the committee, now renamed the Anchorage Business Committee with Colleen Starring, President of Enstar Natural Gas. The Anchorage Business Committee tackles important issues to Anchorage employers such as education and housing. Our overall work plan strategy for 201314 included: ■ Interview of Anchorage Chamber members on characteristic of workplace readiness;
■ Collaborative efforts with United Way’s 90% by 2020 and AEDC’s Live. Work.Play initiative; ■ Coordinate findings with partners and ASD to create/monitor metrics; ■ Integrate committee work with All for One initiative to gain 5-star rating for Chamber; ■ Survey membership on education in Anchorage; ■ Review Municipal & ASD Budget; ■ Create municipal candidate questionnaires and host lunch forums on same; ■ Identify local issues that affect members; ■ Monitor local legislative and economic issues; and ■ Utilize social media & webcasts to raise exposure for committee and value for members Another committee I have been involved with is the Legislative Committee, currently headed up by co-chairs Randy Cunningham of Klebs Mechanical and Matt Ellis of Stewart’s Photo. This is a hopping committee actively engaged with advocacy. The mission is to gather all proposed legislation at the local, state, and national level that may impact businesses in Anchorage and work with the Anchorage Chamber board of directors and members in an effort to develop advocacy actions that will ensure a successful business climate. Legislative Committee members travel to Juneau each year to advocate for Chamber priorities.While there, members meet individually with Anchorage Caucus members, top representatives of the House and Senate as well as the Governor. The Anchorage Chamber is non-partisan and the focus is on specific issues. We are well
received in Juneau. I traveled with the committee in 2013 and again in 2014. Do you like finance or want to learn more? Member of the Finance Committee are appointed. While serving on this committee, I have enjoyed the leadership of our esteemed committee chairman Bill O’Leary, President and CEO of the Alaska Railroad. Believe it or not, this committee is a favorite for me. You might think accounting is “dry” but nothing could be further from the truth! We have fun working through the finances of the chamber during our monthly meetings. The most rewarding experience for me is as a Chamber Board Member. Bob Heinrich,Vice-President of Finance for ConocoPhillips Alaska, heads up our meetings as the 2013-14 Chair.We hear from committee chairmen, get updates from Chamber President Andrew Halcro, and hear from important visitors. The board is made up of small business leaders, non-profit leaders, and leaders of industry in Anchorage. One of the most informative portions of the meeting is at the close when each board member has the opportunity to share something of interest in their respective field. Any chamber member can attend a board meeting as a guest. Call the office to make arrangements. In closing, please know that it has been my distinct honor to serve as your representative on the Board of Directors, as co-chair of the Anchorage Business Committee and a member of the Legislative and Finance committees. Please contact me with any questions you have about being on a committee or any other chamber matter. I welcome your call and encourage you to get involved!
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around town calendar Alaska State Fair, Aug. 21-Sept. 1, Palmer
July 19, 2014 Noon to 6 p.m. • Anchorage Museum Quad Don’t miss out on this fun filled day in Downtown Anchorage with a festival celebrating one of Alaska’s most valuable resources, wild Salmon, as well as local Alaskan artists and galleries.
Live After Five Concert Series featuring Air Force Band of the Pacific
July 25, 2014 5-8 p.m. • Town Square Park Live After Five is a weekly Friday night concert series in Town Square Park. This fun event is a perfect gathering place for you and your friends after work. Come downtown, enjoy the outdoor seating and tables, kick back with your beverage of choice.
They can be seen in growing numbers everywhere from the city to remote wilderness as Alaskans pursue a lifestyle in one of the fastest growing custom home segments in America.
Dog Days of Summer Block Party
August 16, 2014 Noon to 4 p.m. • Peratrovich Park and E Street Event-goers can enjoy a Stupid Pet Tricks contest, canine-related products & service exhibits, rescue organizations demonstrations, demos and more!
Big Wild Life Runs
August 16, 2014 until August 17, 2014 Various times • Downtown Anchorage The Big Wild Life Runs offer races for runners and walkers, serious and recreational runners, kids and adults, short distances or a full marathon. Participants are treated to spectacular Alaska scenery along the course.
Alaska State Fair
Arctic Thunder Air Show, July 26-27, JBER
Arctic Thunder Air Show & Open House
July 26, 2014 until July 27, 2014 9 a.m.-5 p.m. • Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson will open its doors for the biannual Arctic Thunder Open House, featuring performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Aerial Demonstration Team. Info: jber.af.mil 907-552-7471
Alaska Log Home Show August 1, 2014 until August 03, 2014 Fri. 2-7 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dena’ina Convention Center Alaska has long been known as “The Last Frontier” and log homes and log cabins as well as timber frame construction fits right in with this mystique.
August 21, 2014 until September 01, 2014 Alaska State Fairgrounds The Fair celebrates its 78th anniversary in 2014! The heart of the Fair still centers on the things the original colonists started with — agriculture, produce, lots of food, flowers, friends and family, and an old-fashioned, good time.
TESLA Concert
August 26, 2014 7 p.m. • Alaska State Fair Multi-platinum-selling rock band TESLA has won over fans old and new with their blues metal sound and melodic songs like “Love Song,” “What You Give,” “Signs,” “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi.”
First Tap Thursday featuring Brand New
September 04, 2014 Doors open at 8 p.m., opening act at 9 p.m.; Brand New at 10 p.m. Bear Tooth Theatrepub Celebrate the release of a new Broken Tooth Brewing ale with live music from Brand New. 21 & Over.
Alyeska Mountain Bike Festival
September 05, 2014 until September 07, 2014 Alyeska Resort This festival offers an array of mountain biking events including a freestyle competition, downhill bike race, cross country race, pond skim and a skills competition. Don’t miss the after parties and live music!
2014 Fall Wedding Show
September 14, 2014 Noon • Alaska Native Heritage Center Please join us for an exciting afternoon showcasing local wedding-related products and services. The event will include fashion shows, door prizes, free admission to the public and more! Info: www.alaskanative.net 907-562-9031
Alaska Women’s Show
September 26, 2014 until September 28, 2014 Sullivan Arena Vendors celebrate everything that makes Alaska women unique. The show features financial seminars, fashion shows, jewelry, health care information and much more. Info: www.SullivanArena.com 907-562-9911
Signature Chefs Auction
October 2, 2014 6 p.m. • Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center This gourmet extravaganza will feature the skills and creativity of 12 of the finest chefs and most popular restaurants in the Anchorage area, who present their signature dishes in taste size portions. Guests will enjoy fabulous cuisine and drink, an incredible silent auction and an opportunity to bid on amazing culinary experiences hosted by our Signature Chefs, all while raising significant funds in the fight against premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Info: www.anchorageconventioncenters/dena-ina 907-276-4111
Make It Alaskan Festival
October 3, 2014 until October 5, 2014 Fri. noon-8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. • Sullivan Arena
(State Fair) Photo/Michael Dinneen/Alaska Journal of Commerce, (Air Show) Photo/Andrew Jensen/Alaska Journal of Commerce
Salmon Daze
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chamber events
Ballot Initiative Debate JULY
Monday Forum – Democratic Lt. Governor’s Debate Monday, July 14 – Dena’ina Center • Noon – 1pm
Monday Forum – Legalizing Marijuana Monday, July 21 – Dena’ina Center • Noon – 1pm
Monday Forum – Ballot Initiative 1 Debate (oil tax repeal) Monday, July 28 – Dena’ina Center • Noon – 1pm
Member Orientation
Wednesday, July 30 – Anchorage Chamber Boardroom 3:30–5 p.m. AUGUST
Monday Forum – Korean Ambassador hosted by Sen. Mark Begich Monday Forum – U.S. Senate Debate Monday, August 11 – Dena’ina Center • Noon -1pm
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowsi
Monday Forum – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
Ambassador Council Meetings
Monday, August 18 – Dena’ina Center • Noon – 1pm
4 p.m. • Second Wednesday of the Month
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Membership Committee
Legislative Committee 3:30 p.m • First Monday of the month
Military Committee 7:30 a.m. • First Thursday of the Month
7:30 a.m. • Second Thursday of the Month
Anchorage Business Committee 3:30 p.m. • Third Wednesday of the Month
File Photos/Michael Dinneen/Alaska Journal of Commerce
Monday, August 4 – Dena’Ina Center • Noon – 1pm
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new members ANCHORAGE FOOT & ANKLE CLINIC, LLC (907) 344-2155 | anchoragefootnankle.com VISIONS MEETING EXPERTS (907) 786.0130 | www.visionsus.com PIONEER DOOR, INC. (907) 344-2212 | www.pioneerdoorak.com HOSPICE OF ANCHORAGE (907) 561-5322 | www.hospiceofanchorage.org TRAILERCRAFT, INC. (907) 563-3238 | www.trailercraft.com HARD ROCK CAFÉ ANCHORAGE (907) 903-4012 | www.hardrock.com COMFORT SUITES (907) 243-8080 www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-anchorage-alaska-AK026 NEW YORK LIFE (907) 257-5202 | www.alaska.nyloffices.com
Stefan Wilson of Wasilla designed the winning art chosen by Hard Rock Café for its Anchorage restaurant. Wilson's artwork will adorn T-shirts and pins created for the grand opening of the Hard Rock Cafe in the spring of 2014
ALASKA GASLINE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (907) 330-6300 | www.agdc.us
Image/Courtesy/Hard Rock Café
ALASKA CENTER FOR DENTISTRY, ANCHORAGE (907) 562-2512 | alaskacenterfordentistry.com
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