The Top 49ers: teamwork at the top of the world.

These definitions of teamwork, as set forth in The Webster's New World College Dictionary, aptly describe the 49 leading companies that comprise this year's Top 49ers listing.

To achieve the level of success these businesses have, they must have staff who work together in an efficient manner. They also must have leadership that knows how to lead, knows how to provide for its employees, and knows how to change with the ever-changing market.

2002 has been a difficult year. Nationwide the economy has struggled, as evidenced by the battered stock market. Also news of scandals, such as those at WorldCom and Enron, has created some panic and caused many individuals to wonder who they can trust it they can't trust old faithfuls. All this while the nation recovers from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that shook the world.

It's a tough time to own and operate a business. All the more reason to applaud these 49 Alaskan-owned and -operated businesses that make up this year's top 49ers listing. These companies are honest and provide quality goods and products. They contribute to the state's economy in a positive way.

To qualify as a Top 49er, the company must be operated for profit, have significant operations in the state, and be owned at least 51 percent by Alaskans. Although the majority of Alaska firms are privately held, publicly held firms can be eligible. State-owned businesses and corporations are not eligible. Ranking is based on gross revenue for 2001, and ranges from $1,061 billion for the company in first place, to $13.14 million for the company in 49th position.

Leading the list for the past eight years is Arctic Slope Regional Corp. President and CEO Jacob Adams heads this impressive Native organization, which employs 6,000 individuals worldwide. It has increased revenues by 2.54 percent since 2000 and has had gross revenues that topped $1 billion for two years running.

Coming in second is Cook Inlet Region Inc., also one of the 13 Native regional corporations formed by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Which was passed in 1971 cook Inlet employs 78 individuals and had gross 2001 revenues of $854 million.

Native organizations continue to dominate this list. The 13 Native organizations that comprise this listing are Arctic Slope Regional Corp., Bristol Bay Native Corp., Calista Corp., Chenega Corp., Chugach Alaska Corp., Cook Inlet Region Inc., Doyon Ltd., Goldbelt Inc., Klukwan Inc., Koniag Inc., NANA Regional Corp. Inc., the Aleut Corp. and Upeakgvik Inuipiat Corp. Combined these organizations have gross revenues that total more than $2.9 billion and they employ 14,209 individuals.

The construction and finance/insurance/real estate industries are also well represented on this listing this year. There were eight construction companies that made the rank, with 2001 revenues that totaled $788.2 million. These firms employ nearly 5,000 individuals. There were eight finance/insurance/real estate companies that made this listing, with gross 2001 revenues totaling $611.95 million. These F.I.R.E. companies employ 1,742 individuals.

New to the listing this year or returning after a several year absence are Alacan Electrical and Engineering Inc., Calista Corp., Chenega Corp., Mt. McKinley Bank, Peak Oilfield Service co., Prudential Jack White Vista Real Estate, Roger Hickel Contracting, Superior Plumbing and Heating Inc. and The Alaska Club.

Not returning from last year's listing were Ahtna Inc., Alaska Industrial Hardware Inc., Anchorage Nissan/Jeep/Eagle Inc., Fairbanks Nissan, Mckinley/Capital Management Inc., Northern Sales Co. of Alaska Inc., Sealaska Corp., The Odom Corp. and Unit Co. In the majority of cases, these business were not considered for the listing this year because they chose not to participate by returning the survey required for inclusion

Alaska Business Monthly celebrated the accomplishments of these 49 companies at a special luncheon co-sponsored by Alaska Business Monthly and the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 30 at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel.

Teamwork: 1) A joint action by a group of people, in which individual interests are subordinated to group unity and efficiency, coordinated effort, as of an athletic team. 2)Work done by or with a team. The Top 49ers for 2002 by Employee Breakdown. TRANSPORTATION (10.1%) SERVICES (6.3%) RETAIL TRADE (2.1%) NATIVE ORGANIZATION (51.5%) MINING/OIL (0.4%) INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (4.9%) F.I.R.E (6.1%) CONSTRUCTION (18.1%) WHOLESALE TRADE (0.4%) Note: Table made from pie chart. The Top 49ers for 2002 by Total Gross Revenue. TRANSPORTATION (10.7%) SERVICES (1.9%) RETAIL TRADE (5.0%) NATIVE ORGANIZATION (53.0%) MINING/OIL (0.6%) INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (3.2%) F.I.R.E. (10.6%) CONSTRUCTION (14.3%) WHOLESALE TRADE (0.6%) Note: Table made from pie chart. (1) Arctic Slope Regional Corp.

1230 Agvik St.

Barrow, AK 99723

Phone: 852-8633

Fax: 852-5733

Internet: www.asrc.com

KEY PERSONNEL:

Jacob Adams, Pres./CEO

Oliver Leavitt, Chairman

Conrad Bagne, COO

Employees: 6,000

Year Estab.: 1972

49er Rank Last Year: 1

MAIN BUSINESS:

Native Organization

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

A diversified holding company with businesses in commercial construction, resource exploration and development, petroleum refining and product sales, plastic products manufacturing, automotive merchandise sales, oilfield support, hotel, tourism, engineering, consulting, environmental remediation, telecommunications and cable operations.

SUBSIDIARIES:

Alaska Growth Capital, Arctic Slope Construction Inc., Eskimos Inc., Natchiq Inc., Alaska Petroleum Contractors, Houston Contracting Co., Houston/NANA JV, Global Power and Communications LLC, Omega Services Industries Inc., Natchiq Sakhalin LLC, Petro Star Inc., Sourdough Fuel, Valdez Petroleum Terminal, Petro Star Valdez Refinery, Kodiak Oil Sales and Services, Puget Plastics Corp., SKW/Eskimos Inc., ASRC Constructors Inc., Tundra Tours Inc., Top of the World Hotel, ASCG Inc., ASRC Aerospace, Arctic Slope World Services.

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REVENUE (Millions $) 2001 1,061.00 2000 1,034.00 1999 885.47 1998 887.51 1997 662.80 Change From 2000: 2.54% (2) Cook Inlet Region Inc

P.O. Box 93330

Anchorage, AK 99509-3330

Phone: 274-3638

Fax: 279-8836

Internet: www.ciri.com

E-Mail: webmaster@ciri.com

KEY PERSONNEL:

Carl Marrs, Pres./CEO

Barbara Donatelli, Exec. VP

Mark Kroloff, COO

Employees: 78

Year Estab.: 1972

49er Rank Last Year: 4

MAIN BUSINESS:

Native Organization

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

CIRI's investments currently focus on telecommunications, tourism, construction services, oilfield support, real estate, natural resources and other investments.

SUBSIDIARIES:

Peak Oilfield Service Co. (see separate listing below at No. 10), Alaska Interstate Construction LLC, Cook Inlet/Voice Stream PCS, Anchorage RV Park, Kenai Fjords Tours, Prince William Sound Cruises and Tours, Seward Windsong Lodge, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort-NV, The Westin Kierland Resort-AZ, Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas-NV.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2001:

CIRI president and CEO Carl H. Marrs was the recipient of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce 2001 William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan Award.

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REVENUE (Millions $) 2001 853.98 2000 379.69 1999 297.06 1998 251.00 1997 186.00 Change From 2000: 55.54% (3) VECO Corporation

3601 C St., Suite 1000

Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone: 264-8100

Fax: 264-8130

Internet: www.veco.com

E-Mail: veco@veco.com

KEY PERSONNEL:

Bill Allen, Chairman/CEO

Pete Leathard, Pres./COO

Roger Chan, Exec. VP/CFO

Employees: 4,150

Year Estab.: 1968

49er Rank Last Year: 2

MAIN BUSINESS:

Construction

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

Engineering and design, construction, equipment, operations and maintenance and oilfield services.

SUBSIDIARIES:

VECO Alaska, VECO Canada, VECO International and VECO Continental U.S.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2001:

BP's Northstar modules completed in Anchorage, installed and commissioned, Design/build of several COGEN facilities in Western Canada. Major design/build of Canadian refinery and completion of Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline study.

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REVENUE (Millions $) 2001 501.00 2000 518.00 1999 325.00 1998 316.00 1997 291.00 Change From 2000: -3.39% (4) Lynden Inc.

6641 S. Airpark PI.

Anchorage, AK 99502

Phone: 245-1544

Fax: 245-1744

Internet: www.lynden.com

E-Mail: info@lynden.com

KEY PERSONNEL:

Jim Jansen, Pres./CEO

Jon Burdick, COO

Dave Haugen, VP

Employees: 1,450

Year Estab.: 1954

49er Rank Last Year: 3

MAIN BUSINESS:

Transportation

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

Trucking (less-than-truckload and truckload), scheduled and charter tug and barge transportation, scheduled and charter Hercules L-382 air cargo operations, air and ocean forwarding, dry and liquid bulk material transfer and transport, sanitary (food grade) bulk transport and Bush Alaska construction projects.

SUBSIDIARIES:

Alaska West Express, Alaska Marine Lines, Lynden Air Cargo, Lynden Air Freight, Lynden Transport, Lynden Logistics, Lynden International, Knik Construction, NANN/Lynden Logistics, Alaska Hovercraft, Bering Marine, Alaska Marine Trucking, Alaska West Training Center, Alaska Railbelt Marine.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2001:

Began container-over-railcar service in March 2001.

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REVENUE (Millions $) 2001 420.00 2000 388.00 1999 330.71 1998 305.00 1997 284.00 Change From 2000: 7.62% (5) Brady & Company Inc.

P.O. Box 107502

Anchorage, AK 99510-7502

Phone: 276-5617

Fax: 276-6292

Internet: www.bradycompany.com

E-Mail: info@bradycompafly.com

KEY PERSONNEL:

Carl Brady Jr., Chairman/CEO

Charles Anderson, Pres./COO

David Taylor, Exec. VP/CFO/CAO

Employees: 59

Year Estab.: 1977

49er Rank Last Year: 6

MAIN BUSINESS:

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

Insurance brokerage services, risk management and employee benefits coverages.

SUBSIDIARIES:

None

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2001:

Anderson-Brunton Insurance Brokers Inc. joined Brady & Co. effective June 1, 2001.

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REVENUE (Millions $) 2001 279.00 2000 181.00 1999...