t’s not meaningful, but it is a fun coincidence that Alaska Business Publishing Co. was organized as a company the year I was born, in 1984. It may shock you that I was not a part of that initial process, but it’s true: it took me a few years to find my way here (after learning to walk and read and various other life skills).

But the first issue of Alaska Business (then Alaska Business Monthly) was published in January 1985, which means this month marks our 40th anniversary of publishing. We’ve already started celebrating the occasion, referencing (though not replicating) our original cover: Betsy Lawer, First National Bank Alaska board chair, CEO, and president, struck a pose similar to her father, Dan Cuddy, who graced that inaugural 1985 cover when he was the bank’s board chair and president. The articles tied to the cover also have a few similarities. The 1985 cover article focuses on how First National’s “conservative” approach to investing and issuing loans had led to financial success. In the cover article for this month’s issue, located in the Junior Achievement of Alaska special section, Betsy Lawer shares how her father’s leadership influenced her and many others at the bank. She continues his legacy of focusing on community and employees—and trusting that the money will follow. Thus far, the family’s policy has proven to be profitable.

For the rest of 2025, we will have at least one 40th anniversary article per month, looking at what we’ve published in the past and how it ties to today. As much as Alaska has seen incredible change and growth, some issues and industries remain constant. Other headlines on our first issue reference bush aviation, mining, and an economic outlook; these topics and more that were important then are still filling our modern pages.

In this issue, we are excited to launch a new feature that was far beyond the realm of practicality in 1985: This Alaska Business, a video series featuring small Alaska businesses. To give ourselves a starting guideline, we defined “small business” by our own employee count: twelve or fewer. Once a month, located on the same page as Inside Alaska Business (which now has additional content) at the back of the magazine, you’ll find a brief introduction and a QR code linking to a video profiling a small Alaska business. While individually they are little, small businesses form the backbone of our economy, and their influence is huge. We know you’ll enjoy getting to know them better.

Not every feature this publication has launched has lasted forty years, but through your support, our flagship print magazine, Alaska Business, is still going strong. Thank you for sharing your insights as sources, thank you for taking opportunities to advertise, thank you for reading our articles and features, and thank you for sharing your copy of Alaska Business with others, giving them access to Alaska’s premier business coverage.