t’s a no-brainer that all businesses need some type of insurance, but it is crucial for companies to choose coverage that not only fits their budget but offers ample protection against unforeseen risks and potential financial setbacks. Whether a company is a small startup or a large, well-established entity, understanding the intricacies of commercial insurance is essential for supporting long-term business success.

Every company is unique and faces different risks, so a one-size-fits-all approach will not suffice. The first step is for the company to assess its specific situation and identify risk, according to Christopher Pobieglo, president of Business Insurance Associates in Anchorage. “Most business owners know what their risks are, but what we are talking about is formalizing the process of identifying risks. This will include looking at things like your contacts, leases, and site inspections,” he says. “A lot of times, there are very unique risks that require specific coverage.”

n 1964, Alaska was hit by the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the state, which left huge swaths of destruction behind. One of the hardest-hit areas was the Turnagain neighborhood in Anchorage, a subdivision built in the ‘50s, where huge chunks of the neighborhood fell into the ocean. Although the area was rebuilt, its history remains, notably in the home of Mark and Desiree Pfeffer.

Mark Pfeffer, founder of the firm KPB Architects, designed the house himself. “When we broke ground, we found the ruins of houses from the ‘50s that had slid onto this lot during a landslide, so the concept was to rejuvenate those structures and fill in the gaps around them with new construction,” he says.

Because the original houses had three different types of siding, including shiplap, board and batten, and asbestos shingles, Pfeffer incorporated board and batten into the exterior of the house as well as in the interior.

uring a late autumn sunrise, Charles Marohn walked through Anchorage’s Fairview neighborhood. Marohn, perhaps the most famous traffic engineer in the country, had been to forty-nine other states, and his tour finally brought him to Alaska. What he saw, he said afterward, made him sad.

Gambell Street and Ingra Street, bisecting Fairview, are part of the Seward Highway junction with the Glenn Highway. Along narrow sidewalks, traffic roars by at 35 miles per hour.

Marohn quipped, “Is it spelled ‘gamble’ because you’re gambling to cross it?”

omelessness was a business-related issue that Brittani Clancey, the owner of FashionPact, dealt with daily when her resale boutique was located near downtown Anchorage. The thrift shop—which donates a percentage of its sales to local charities—served a variety of customers, including those experiencing homelessness. About half of these customers visited the store without any negative incidents; the other 50 percent were rude or intoxicated, says Clancey, who once had a shopper collapse from a medical emergency.

The homelessness situation not only elevated Clancey’s concerns about staff security but also reduced customer foot traffic, as some people did not feel safe shopping in the neighborhood. “I fear that our downtown will become similar to Seattle and San Francisco, and businesses will choose to relocate because they can’t afford the cost of operating downtown,” Clancey says.

What charity or cause are you passionate about?
Rotary Club of Fairbanks… I really value their focus not only on community needs but the international presence of spreading world peace and public health awareness.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
I take my dog Copper for a walk every night with either my husband, neighbors, or girl friends.

What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Italian Alps or the Andes in Argentina.

If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
I think maybe a fox would be fun to take on walks in the woods.

good leader is a good learner, says Tracy Vanairsdale. She combined her love of art with what she learned from her father, a general contractor, and her mother, a public health nurse, to design more than thirty clinics and hospitals around Alaska.

“There was no doubt I was going to be an architect by the time I hit junior high,” she recalls, having played with her dad’s cast-off blueprints. Vanairsdale joined Bettisworth North in 1997, and, following founder Charles “CB” Bettisworth’s long-range succession plan, she was elevated to president last summer.

Born and raised in Fairbanks, Vanairsdale calls herself a “river person,” so sailing the ocean on her husband’s boat out of Valdez takes some adjustment. They both enjoy downhill skiing, though, so they explore slopes all over the world.