Sue Taylor: Ahtna Construction & Primary Products Corp.

• Author: Stomierowski, Peg
• Position: Interview

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Sue Taylor, raised in the Copper River Basin near Chitina, is president/CEO of Ahtna Construction & Primary Products Construction (AC&PPC) in Anchorage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ahtna Inc., the regional Native corporation in Glennallen.

In 1985, Taylor began working as a receptionist for Ahtna, then worked for the firm's land and resource department and for operating subsidiaries. Studying at night, she earned an associate's degree and rose to become chief operations officer before taking a sabbatical.

These were hard times for Ahtna, and Taylor chose not to return to her old job. Instead, she ran for the board and led it for a couple of difficult years. During this time, she worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior, but eventually left to start her own business, consulting with tribes to manage restricted Native lands and to work on her B.A. degree in business management.

A year ago, she returned to manage AC&PPC, which received its 8(a) certification in 2000 and Hubzone status in 2001. The company, certified in oil-spill response, also is involved in highway and building construction, electrical and mechanical services, rock crushing, and selling processed materials.

ABM: How's the view from the top?

Taylor: Having spent most of my 23-year career in Native organizations (ANCs) and now becoming one of the eight subsidiary presidents in Ahtna, with its several hundred employees, I've learned that having authority does not make a leader. As president/CEO of Ahtna's only union subsidiary, I strive to limit my leadership role to influencing others to accomplish common objectives. The challenge is to continually share with my people a clear vision so that they can contribute, too.

Being invited to manage a company that's been in business some 30 years comes with a huge sense of responsibility and stewardship--not only to shareholders, but also to all of those who worked to get here. I'm still learning what works and what doesn't. There's a daily lesson in every area, including people, project and financial management.

ABM: What have been your greatest lessons and/or surprises?

Taylor: One surprise was being asked to do this job. I asked "Why me?" The answer was "Why not you?"...