Junior Achievement Alaska Business Monthly Hall of Fame laureates: Pat Walsh: this matriarch of advertising could be named 'success'.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SPECIAL SECTION

As the stock market began to collapse into what would become known as Black Monday--and one of the worst stock market crashes in U.S. history--Pat Walsh patted herself on the back. At a time when taking a career risk couldn't have made much less sense, just before the 1986 New Year, she traded her comfy corporate digs and senior position as an advertising manager for a home office and the chance to see if she had what it took to be a business owner.

"I figured if I could start a business during a time like that--and stay in business--then I must be doing something right," she says looking back and marveling at even herself.

And for almost 25 years she's continued to do something right. Today, as one of Alaska's most admired women business owners, Walsh has grown her one-woman sole proprietorship, The Walsh Agency, to Walsh Sheppard, a family owned and managed full-service marketing firm and among the most well-regarded businesses in Alaska's advertising and public relations industry. From the agency's trendy 6,200-square-foot downtown complex that also houses audio and video production studios, about 20 full-time employees build the agency portfolio with advertising campaigns for big name clients such as Gov. Sarah Palin, the Denali Commission, NANA Regional Corp., Matanuska Telephone Association, Matanuska Electric Association and Spenard Builders Supply.

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Shortly after launching into business for herself, her sons Jack and Tony relocated to Anchorage from Seattle to help with special projects, both ultimately becoming partners in the early '90s, along with Kirsten Newby Sheppard, Jack's wife and the fourth partner.

MATRIARCH REIGNS

"I am the matriarch of a family business that has been successful for 25 years," Walsh says, explaining how privileged she feels to be able to contribute to the Alaska economy with her family by her side, and at the same time to be publicly recognized for these achievements. "I have been so fortunate to have the dedication, loyalty, mutual respect and trust and understanding that it takes to make a business run. If you're going to build a company and serve clients like we do, you need the help and talent of others whether they're related or not."

In addition to her family business partners, Walsh says her behind-the-scenes husband, Tom Dawson, continues to be a key contributor to the company's success. When she first started the business, she says, they were presented with the opportunity...