Eugene Mallette: Taking to the skies.

• Author: Basden, Casey
• Position: People - Alpine Air chief executive officer

Eugene Mallette, chief executive officer of Alpine Air, is a paradox. At turns prickly, emotional and humorous, his personality takes as many twists, turns and manuevers as the vintage fighter plane he pilots for fun.

Originally from Shelby, MT, Mallette, 52, followed a circuitous route into the business world. After graduating from Carroll College in Helena, MT in 1971 with a degree in business administration, Mallette went to work as a bartender and cement truck driver. He worked odd jobs for four years, then moved to Idaho Falls in 1975 and took a position as company accountant with Red Baron Flying Service. During that period, he "sold a couple of airplanes by accident," beginning a successful career.

In 1979, Provo-based Alpine Air offered Mallette the position of general sales manager. He reversed the company's fortunes by erasing a negative net worth of $250,000. In 1986, he was promoted to CEO.

Today, Alpine Air has 23 airplanes shipping mail and small packages to seven states: Washington, South Dakota, Montana, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. All of Alpine's airplanes are leased through two leasing companies that Mallette owns and declines to name. Speaking of this arrangement, Mallette says, "I look at it as a real safety net, an insurance policy, if you will, for the airline." But Mallette can't provide a safety net for Alpine when the unexpected happens.

September 11 initially had a tremendous effect on the company. Alpine lost several of its runs after being shut down for six days, but picked up others in an attempt to recover the loss in revenue. "It made our earnings flat for the year, not only our gross sales, but our net income as well," he explains. "It killed our fourth quarter" To compound this setback, fuel costs...