Alaska's Top 49ers: The New Gold Standard of Business.

• Position: Cover story

The dictionary describes gold as "to shine, to gleam," a valuable and precious commodity that is "highly ductile and malleable," as something "regarded as having value, brilliance, etc."

These words all describe Alaska's Top 49ers: The New Gold Standard of Business.

"When we were creating a theme for this year's Top 49ers, we wanted something that described these highly regarded for-profit Alaskan-owned (51 percent or greater) businesses," said Vern McCorkle, publisher. "We kept coming back to gold because of how precious these companies are to our communities."

The Top 49ers provide nearly 49,000 jobs, about 23,000 of which are in Alaska. They provide gross 2005 revenues topping $9.3 billion. They provide benefits to shareholders, contribute to nonprofits and other deserving entities, and bring diversity to the Great Land.

"They range the gamut of industries," said Jim Martin, vice president and general manager. "Everything from Native organizations to construction, to transportation, trade, utilities and much more."

A whopping 18 of the 49 are Native businesses. Of those, 11 of the 13 regional corporations are included on the list. Not included of the regional corporations, formed by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in the early 1970s, were Bering Straits Native Corp. and The Thirteenth Regional Corp. Seven other village corporations are also included.

"We can't deny the power of Native business," said McCorkle. "Those on the 49ers list provide nearly 11,000 jobs to the state, and 34,000 jobs worldwide. Much of their success has been due to 8(a) contracts, but as they graduate from the Small Business Administration program, they are showing they can succeed without the benefits of this government-contracting program, designed for Native organizations and small, disadvantaged enterprise." Topping the list, for the 12th consecutive year, is Arctic Slope Regional Corp., which boasted 2005 gross revenues of $1.6 billion. Seven of the top 10 are Native corporations.

"But that's not to say other businesses don't also deserve recognition and praise," said Martin. "Look at Lynden, First National Bank Alaska, Davis Constructors & Engineers Inc., Matanuska Telephone Company, etc. The list goes on and on."

New to the listing this year or returning after several years of absence are Afognak Native Corp., Airport Equipment Rentals, Alaska Interstate Construction LLC, Bristol Bay Native Corp., Cape Fox Corp., Fairbanks Memorial Hospital/Denali Center, Matanuska Telephone Company, Roger Hickel Contracting, Tatonduk Outfitters Ltd. and the Superior Group.

Not returning from last year's listing, for a variety of reasons (perhaps not returning a survey, not releasing revenue information, or whose revenues are lower than $35.5 million), are Credit Union 1, Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union, Gene's Chrysler, Golden Valley Electric Association, Hickel Investment Co., Kenai Chrysler Center, Morrison Auto Group, Northern Sales Company of Alaska Inc., Peak Oilfield Service Co. and Ribelin Lowell Alaska USA Insurance Brokers.

Alaska Business Monthly, in a joint effort with the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, will recognize these Top 49 companies on Oct. 2 at noon at the Egan Civic and Convention Center.

RELATED ARTICLE: Alaska's Top 10 49ers.

Every year, for the past 22 years, Alaska Business Monthly has made a big to-do about the Top 10 Top 49ers, as they are the Alaskan-owned and -operated companies who provide (in most cases) the most jobs and revenues to the state. This year is no different.

However, in 2006, for our feature companies, we wanted to focus on some of the new or returning companies, or those that show impressive growth or promise. These four companies are Afognak Native Corp., Cape Fox Corp., Northrim BanCorp Inc. and The Superior Group Inc. Stories on these companies begin on page 110.

"Afognak has seen 2005 gross revenue growth of more than 120 percent," said Vern McCorkle, publisher of Alaska Business Monthly. "And the Superior Group, which placed 49th on the listing, has returned after several years' absence, with 2005 gross revenues of more then $35 million and more than 100 employees. Cape Fox Corp showed a 2005 gross revenue increase of 90 percent and Northrim nearly 45 percent."

Still, ABM can't deny the power of the Top 10 49ers. "We wanted to specially recognize them for their financial health and economic contributions to the state," said Jim Martin, vice president and general manager.

Here is a brief profile of each of the Top i0 Top 49ers.

"As you can see, seven of the Top 10 49ers are Native corporations," noted McCorkle. "These companies have a presence in Alaska as well as worldwide and deserve a special salute, as do the other non-Native corporations in the Top 10."

1. Arctic Slope Regional Corp.

   Jacob Adams, president/CEO; 2005 gross revenues of $1.6 billion; 3,139 Alaska employees.

2. Chugach Alaska Corp.

   Barney Uhart, president CEO; 2005 gross revenues of $785 million; 974 Alaska employees.

3. VECO Corporation

   Bill Allen, chairman/CEO; 2005 gross revenues of $665 million; 2,000 Alaska employees.

4. Chenega Corp.

   Charles W. Totemoff, president/CEO; 2005 gross re venues of $643 million, 70 Alaska employees

5. Lynden Inc.

   Jim Jansen, president/CEO; 2005 gross revenues of $550 million, 788 Alaska employees.

6. NANA Development Corp.

   Helvi K. Sandvick, president; 2005 gross revenues of $527 million; 2,000 Alaska employees.

7. Afognak Native Corp.

   Dusty Kaser, president/CEO; 2005 gross re venues of $521 million; 363 Alaska employees.

8. Bristol Bay Native Corp.

   Hjalmar Olson, president/CEO; 2005 gross revenues of $321 million; 351 Alaska employees.

9. Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.

   Max E. Ahgeak, president/CEO; 2005 gross revenues of $267 million; 486 Alaska employees.

10. Chugach Electric Association Inc.

    Bill Stewart, Interim CEO; 2005 gross revenues of $227 million; 360 Alaska employees.

    1 Arctic Slope

    Regional Corp,

    P.O. Box 129

    Barrow, AK 99723

    Phone: 852-8633

    Fax: 852-5733

    Internet: www.asrc.com

    TOP EXECUTIVE: Jacob Adams, Pres./CEO

    Worldwide Employees: 6,600 Alaska Employees: 3,139 Year Established: 1972 49er Rank Last Year: 1 REVENUE: (Millions $) 2005 1,587.00 2004 1,318.00 2003 1,016.00 2002 973.67 2001 1,061.00 Change From 2004 20.59% MAIN BUSINESS:

    Native Organization

    PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

    Energy services, petroleum refining and marketing, engineering and construction, government services, resource development, commercial lending, tourism and communications. ASRC also participates in various partnerships, joint ventures and other business activities.

    SUBSIDIARIES:

    ASRC Energy Services Inc., Petro Star Inc., ASRC Federal Holding Co. LLC, Alaska Growth Capital Bidco Inc., Eskimo's Inc., Tundra Tours and ASRC Construction Holding Co. All subsidiaries are wholly owned by ASRC. Several subsidiaries have locations in Alaska that are focused on serving local demand for goods and services and on providing capital support for economic development in rural Alaska. Through its subsidiaries, ASRC operates in most states in the United States as well as in several foreign countries.

    2 Chugach Alaska Corp.

    560 E. 34th Ave. and 561 E. 36th Ave.

    Anchorage, AK 99503-4396

    Phone: 563-8866

    Fax: 563-8402

    Internet: www.chugach-ak.com

    Info E-Mail: bwelty@chugach-ak.com

    TOP EXECUTIVE: Barney Uhart, Pres./CEO

    Worldwide Employees: 6,411 Alaska Employees: 974 Year Established: 1971 49er Rank Last Year: 2 2005 785.00 2004 700.00 2003 546.00 2002 354.36 2001 278.64 Change From 2004 12.14% MAIN BUSINESS:

    Native Organization

    PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

    Government service contracting, construction and construction management, environmental management services, vocational training and job placement, temporary employment services, hazardous material (oil) spill response services, information technology, telecommunications and civil engineering.

    SUBSIDIARIES:

    Chugach Development Corp., Chugach Management Services Inc., Chugach Support Services Inc., Chugach Systems Integration LLC, Chugach Telecommunications and Computers Inc., Chugach McKinley Inc., Chugach Industries Inc. and Chugach Government Services Inc.

    NOTEWORTHY EVENTS IN 2005:

    Nuchek Spirit Camp is held every summer and allows shareholders and their decedents the opportunity to learn traditional subsistence skills, story telling, crafts and the preservation of their culture.

    3 VECO Corporation

    3601 C St., Suite 1000

    Anchorage, AK 99503

    Phone: 264-8100

    Fax: 264-8130

    Internet: www.veco.com

    Info E-Mail: veco@veco.com

    TOP EXECUTIVE: Bill Allen, Chairman/CEO

    Worldwide Employees: 4,200 Alaska Employees: 2,000 Year Established: 1968 49er Rank Last Year: 6 2005 665.00 2004 323.00 2003 323.00 2002 505.00 2001 501.00 Change From 2004 105.88% MAIN BUSINESS:

    Industrial Services

    PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

    Engineering, construction, procurement, operations and maintenance.

    SUBSIDIARIES:

    VECO Alaska, VECO Canada, VECO International and VECO USA.

    NOTEWORTHY EVENTS IN 2005:

    Exxon Sakhalin project, ConocoPhillips Alpine expansion, ConocoPhillips engineering, BP O&M contract, Alyeska Pipeline Engineering, Alyeska reconfiguration project, Barbados fuel-distribution project, Barbados prison EPC, Rosneft, Vankor project and Governor's Exporter of the Year for 2005.

    4 Chenega Corp.

    3000 C St., Suite 301

    Anchorage, AK 99503

    Phone: 277-5706

    Fax: 277-5700

    Internet: www.chenega.com

    Info E-Math jhueners@chenegacorp.com

    TOP EXECUTIVE: Charles W. Totemoff, Pres./CEO

    Worldwide Employees: 3,000

    Alaska Employees: 70

    Year Established: 1974

    49er Rank Last Year: 3

    2005 643.00

    2004 481.00

    2003 234.00

    2002 117.00

    2001 43.43

    Change From 2004 33.68%

    MAIN BUSINESS:

    Native Organization

    PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

    Professional services contracting for the federal government, including information technology, military base work, security services, logistics, training, Intel and military operations, telecommunication, environmental services, light manufacturing and hotel management.

    SUBSIDIARIES:

    Chenega Technology...