Meanwhile in Corporateville... Heroism Abounds.

• Position: TOP 49ERS SPECIAL SECTION

What is a heroic trait? It depends on who you ask. Ask a teenager and the answer will more than likely be x-ray vision or flying. Ask a fully-grown adult and the answer will still more than likely be x-ray vision or flying.

But in a more broad (and reality-based) sense, the definition of a hero is one who goes above and beyond the norm to help others. This certainly holds true among the 2019 Top 49ers--they made the list because of their ability to garner revenue in even the toughest of financial environments, but their true power and value lies in their super-sized philanthropic abilities.

When we asked each of the Top 49ers to reveal their most heroic traits, their answers formed a profound tapestry of pride, tradition, and preservation. And what's more heroic than establishing an enduring legacy of empowerment, giving, and cultural pride that can be passed from generation to generation? Here we present the Top 49ers'--unmasked.

Alaska Business: What is your company's most heroic trait?

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation: Inupiaq know hard work at a cultural level. In our faces, you can see the strength, determination, and inventiveness that flows from the very roots of our Inupiaq culture. ASRC combines this with disciplined business practices to deliver high levels of performance and returns.

Bristol Bay Native Corporation: Continuously providing meaningful employment, educational, and financial benefits to our growing shareholder base year after year; our commitment to land stewardship and ensuring the world's largest wild sockeye fishery in Bristol Bay remains for future generations.

NANA: Inupiat Ilitqusiat is that which makes us who we are. Our traditional values are the foundation of NANA. We embody these values in our words and actions.

Lynden: We are always ready to respond to a logistics challenge!

Chugach: Chugach's five core behaviors reflect our most heroic traits: we do things the right way, we create meaningful value, we empower people, we build community, we leave things better than we found them.

Afognak: Courageous stewardship--Our early leaders showed courageous stewardship by making the disciplined decision to save timber dividends to fund future business ventures, which afforded our start in government contracting. Today, our leaders and workforce steward our success with an eye toward future sustainability.

Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation: The ability to remain objective, strategic, and overcome adversity.

Sealaska...