Tennys Owens: Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureate, JA: Artique Ltd.

• Author: Martin, Michelle J.
• Position: Junior achievement - Cover Story

In 1971, Tennys Owens and her partner were determined to start the first art gallery in Anchorage. Initially displaying collected artwork in a 900-square-foot gallery, today Artique Ltd. has developed into a business with a total of 8,500 square feet of space, boasting a retail gallery, as well as publishing and corporate departments. In 1985, Owens became the sole owner, and has since achieved a business with sales in excess of $1 million. Artique Ltd. now represents artists statewide, selling work to galleries around the state. The gallery also works with churches and schools in producing art they can use for fund-raising; providing the same service to businesses for charitable or special events.

Owens is quick to state it is her employees who have blessed her business with their expertise. "Artique Ltd. is so unique. We have been in business for 33 years, and we have employees who stay," said Owens. "There are five full-time employees, who together have a combined service of 114 years, and seven part-time employees with a combined total of 50 years in the gallery." Certainly Owens' personality and management style are the main motivating factors for her employees to strive to be the best.

"Owning Artique has been such an amazing opportunity," said Owens. "It has taken us into so many interesting and wonderful avenues in the community." Owens is constantly amazed at the amount of people they can touch with their work. "We watch our artists evolve, and through their work touch so many facets of the community." Owens also works hard to give back to the community that has given so much to Artique Ltd.

Artique Ltd. donates to up to 80 charities per year from their art stock. Owens donates a percentage of sales from designated prints, which can be viewed on their impressive Web site, to charitable causes in the community. Owens also founded Breast Cancer Focus Inc., a nonprofit corporation established to provide a forum for fund-raising for local breast cancer education, research and advocacy. The objective of BCFI is to support activities of Alaska organizations whose goals coincide with those of BCFI by raising funds to provide matching grants. "It is important that businesses in the community work as a team. When people work collectively, results are a lot stronger," said Owens.

Owens also feels participating in economic decisions for Alaska's future creates a sense of...