Aves Thompson.

• Position: OFF THE CUFF

Aves Thompson has served as Executive Director at the Alaska Trucking Association (ATA) for the past twelve years. Prior to joining ATA, Thompson served as chief and director of the State of Alaska Division of Measurement Standards. This year he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Conference on Weights and Measures.

Alaska Business: What is your favorite pastime?

Aves Thompson: I like to travel. I like to fish, though I don't as much as I should. I'm on the executive committee of my Veteran's group and I'm still doing volunteer work there. The 2nd Infantry Division has a memorial on Constitution Avenue in Washington DC that was erected in 1936 as a memorial to the deceased from the 2nd Infantry Division in WWI. It was modified in 1962 to recognize WWII deceased veterans and Korean War deceased veterans. As we came upon the 100th anniversary of the 2nd Division it seemed important to recognize the fallen veterans from DMZ Korea (post 1953), Iraq, and Afghanistan. So I was able to work with our congressional delegation, Don Young, Lisa Murkowski, and Dan Sullivan. After about three years we finally got authorization to modify the memorial to include these veterans. You know how some people say, "Oh that would take an act of Congress to get done." Well, this took an act of congress. I was told it would never get done, but it's in the works. And it doesn't cost the government anything; we'll raise the money. All we needed is the permission do it. It's very exciting. And it's pretty much what I've been doing in my spare time.

AB: Is there a skill or talent you've always wanted to learn?

Thompson: I'm thinking about buying a piano. I took piano lessons as a kid and I always regretted not following up on those.

AB: What's your go-to comfort food?

Thompson: Peanut butter and toast. Skippy Chunky.

AB: What is the most daring thing you have ever done?

Thompson: When I was sixteen I went to work for a concessionary at the carnival. I made $40 a week and slept in a...