Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 October 2003
• Author: Orr, Vanessa

2003 Top 49er Ranking: 11

Position Last Year: 15

2002 Revenues: $117.72 million

Number of Employees: 400

When Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. was formed in 1973, little did the people of Barrow know that 30 years later, it would be the largest of Alaska's village corporations-boasting 400 employees, $118 million in revenues and offices in Barrow, Anchorage, Seattle and several other cities in the Lower 48.

With business interests ranging from construction to engineering to real estate development and now tourism, the corporation has grown through diversification. It owns a number of subsidiaries, including Barrow Technical Services Inc., LCMF, Bowhead Holding Co., Bowhead Transportation, Bowhead Eagle, Harpoon Construction Group Inc., UIC Construction, Ukpik Mechanical, Rain Proof Roofing, Nuvuk Construction, Emerald Consulting, UIC Development Co. and Umialik Insurance Co.

Max Ahgeak, president and CEO, credits the company's success to both the eiders who established the corporation and to the shareholders who keep it running. "I thank the leaders who came ahead of us for giving a direction to the company and for staying faithful to our Inupiat values," he said. "I also thank our shareholders, who are our No. 1 resource...