Spring brings new growth in more ways than one.

• Author: Harrington, Susan
• Position: FROM THE EDITOR - Geographic overview

We don't need apple blossoms to tell us it is spring. The longer daylight hours let us know winter is over, even though it might be Independence Day before all the snow is melted and everyone can put away their sump pumps and big fans, and use their skiffs for fishing instead of side-street navigation. We'd like our readers to navigate to the two special sections we've put together this month--the annual Corporate 100 and Alternative Energy--as well as the rest of the magazine.

Corporate 100: Top Citizens of Industry is by far the largest special section of the two. We congratulate these 100 companies for being driving forces in the Alaska economy--some do business nationally and internationally as well. In addition to the listing, we've included a leadership article speaking to the importance of having a succession plan, not just for top leadership, but for all key employees--sound principles for business growth. Plus there are features on three of the Corporate 100, focusing on these companies' leaders and corporate contributions to Alaska's economy and communities: Alaska Airlines, Alaska Housing Finance Corp., and Alyeska Resort.

The other special section, Alternative Energy, might be small, but provides an enormous amount of information on a sector of the economy that is growing. We are working on expanding coverage and plan to include an Alternative Energy Directory of firms doing business in Alaska in a future monthly issue as well as the next Power List. For now, we've included information about some high profile hydro, wind and solar projects.

One article features the Susitna...