Top 49ers executive summary: visions for the arctic.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: 2016 Top 49ers - Cover story

For many years Alaska's North Slope has been the end of the road, both literally and figuratively. As the northern sea ice melts possibilities for transportation and additional Artie resource development only grow, and building up those industries creates potential for a wide range of economic development. Alaska is rich with companies that have developed what infrastructure and industry already exists, and that expertise and history in Alaska's Arctic will only be a boon to the state and the country as the world develops new visions for the Arctic.

And who better to envision that future than Alaska Business Monthly's Top 49ers, businesses that have proven it can be done, and it can be done well, and it can be done responsibly.

This year the Top 49ers have reported gross revenues of $14.8 billion, a slight drop from last year's $15 billion. In total, they employ 72,639 people, and approximately one third of that workforce, 22,271 employees, are Alaskans. Both worldwide and Alaska employee figures have also trended down this year, with 3,680 less Alaska jobs reported.

Looking north, there's no company more fitting to come in at Number 1 than Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, which reports 2015 revenue of $2.5 billion, accounting for nearly 17 percent of the total $14.8 billion revenue. Arctic Slope Regional Corporation employs nearly 10,000 people worldwide, including 3,696 Alaskans.

Alaska Native Corporations

Consistent with years past, the Last Frontier's Alaska Native Corporations comprise the bulk of the Top 49ers list, with twenty-one Regional and Urban corporations accounting for approximately 75 percent of the total Top 49ers revenue. Collectively they report $11,057,726,561, approximately $18 million less than 2014 reported revenues. They employ 15,316 Alaskans, in total 62,455 people worldwide. We're glad to welcome back Bethel Native Corporation and Tyonek Native Corporation, which had been counted among the 49ers previously in 2013.

Transportation

Alaska's transportation industry continues trucking on, with three companies reporting $1.1 billion in 2015 revenue, a slight drop from last year's $1.3 billion; however, Ravn Alaska has graduated from the Top 49ers. Not counting Ravn Alaska's revenue last year brings the total to approximately $1.1 billion, which indicates steady revenue as opposed to a dip. In total Lynden, Inc., PenAir, and Tatonduk Outfitters Ltd. employ 3,653, of which 1,634 are Alaskans.

Industrial Services

Over...