Leaders share holiday wishes: caring, sharing, health, wealth and wisdom.

• Author: Bowman, Jessica
• Position: LEADERSHIP

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As 2010 draws to a close, Anchorage's local businesses are recovering from a recent recession that affected all aspects of life-housing, revenue, strategic plans, fiscal year forecasts and more. Anchorage has fared relatively well through the recent global financial crisis, according to the Anchorage Economic Development Corp.'s (AEDC) "Three-Year Economic Outlook."

For example, Anchorage will likely see additional years of stronger population growth before leveling out to normal rates. In addition, employment growth is forecasted to resume in 2011 and continue through 2013, and personal income is expected to grow from 2011 through 2013.

Visitor volume is anticipated to recover based on advance bookings for conventions in 2011 and 2012, and the Energy Information Authority (EIA) expects to see steady price increases in oil in years to come. And notably, housing is forecasted to remain stable as Alaska was named one of the "Top 10 Housing Markets of the Future" by Bloomberg Businessweek.

To delve into more business-based and locally specific forecasts, Alaska Business Monthly polled some of the local leaders in finance, the arts, health care, economic development and telecommunications to find out what businesses are hoping for and looking toward in the coming year. Each leader was asked two key questions:

1 What is your No. 1 "Holiday Wish" for the coming year?

2 Why do you think your wish is an important one?

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Leslie Ellis, President and CEO, Credit Union 1

Credit Union 1's "Holiday Wish" is for our fellow Alaskans to be empowered through compassion and cooperation in the upcoming year. As a not-for-profit organization, our credit union employees devote more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service annually across Alaska. However, our efforts have the most impact when communities also band together to help one another. Together, we can inspire positive change and social progress in our friends' and neighbors' lives.

Alaska families deserve the confidence and support of their communities to live happy, prosperous lives. These needs embody one of our credit union's most sacred values: citizenship. By committing ourselves to true social service in the upcoming year, all businesses and residents of our state can build a healthier and more successful future.

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James Pepper Henry, Director and CEO, Anchorage Museum

Alaska is near the bottom of the spectrum out of all 50 states in...