Inside Alaska Business

SMS Equipment

SMS Equipment opened its first Alaska branch, located at 8895 King Street in Anchorage. SMS Equipment will serve as the official Alaska distributer of Komatsu heavy equipment and “strives to be the number one solutions provider to the construction, forestry, mining, and utility markets.” In addition to Komatsu, the Anchorage branch will also carry Fecon, Terramac, Takeuchi, and other equipment, as well as provide service for all the lines of equipment. smsequip.com

USDA Forest Service

The USDA Forest Service signed a decision to implement a fifteen-year, integrated resources management plan for federal lands on Prince of Wales Island with the goal to improve forest health while supporting local communities. The decision contains many actions, including up to 200 miles of instream restoration; up to three recreation cabins; twelve new three-sided shelters; 4,500 acres per year of per-commercial and wildlife thinning treatments; and trail construction and maintenance. www.fs.fed.us

SEARHC

The SouthEast Alaska Regional Consortium (SEARHC) Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital Laboratory recently had its biennial inspection by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). After a two-day visit from a CAP inspector, the Laboratory inspection results showed it to be in the top 1 percent of labs nationwide. SEARHC Director of Laboratories Constance Stager attributes the department’s stellar performance to strong collaborative relationships and a high level of respect that exists between the laboratory and the medical staff, nursing, surgical services, administration, SEARHC clinics, and other hospital departments. searhc.org

Alaska Chamber

The United States Chamber of Commerce awarded the Alaska Chamber with a rating of Accredited for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. The Alaska Chamber joins the top 3 percent of all chambers in the nation that are accredited and one of only six state chambers to hold this distinction. alaskachamber.com

Tiny Gallery

A new gallery opened in April: Tiny Gallery is located at 706 W. Fourth Avenue in Downtown Anchorage and sells products made by Alaskan artists and makers that are certified Made in Alaska. The gallery’s owner, Laurette Rose, is an artist who creates glass pieces, which will be available at the gallery. Other artists whose work will be available at the gallery include Nancy Nolfi Dodge (Pizzazz Fiber Art) and Carol Jones (FireBear Designs). tinygalleryak.com

Chugach | ML&P

One year after Anchorage voters authorized the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) to sell Municipal Light & Power (ML&P) to Chugach Electric Association, Chugach has filed an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) for its review and approval of the acquisition. As part of the filing, Chugach filed an application to expand its service territory under its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to include ML&P’s service territory.

The RCA process is expected to take six months. Following RCA approval, Chugach expects to close the deal within 120 days, estimating the two utilities would become one around February 2020. At that time, all ML&P employees will become Chugach employees and all ML&P customers will become Chugach members. chugachelectric.com | mlandp.com

Surgery Center of Fairbanks

The Surgery Center of Fairbanks was recently awarded the superior CNOR Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute. It is Alaska’s only surgery center or hospital to achieve the certification in 2019.

The CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room) designation focuses on enhancement of quality patient care and recognizes registered nurses who demonstrate professional achievement in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating surgical care. scfairbanks.com

Stantec

Stantec has received the Governor’s Safety Award of Excellence. The award is presented to Alaska organizations—including companies, government entities, and nonprofits—that demonstrate distinction in the safety and health of their personnel, the environment, assets, and reputation that promotes superior corporate citizenship.

The award criteria include the organization’s safety performance, injury/environmental investigation, commitment of both management and employees, and health, safety, and environmental programs. In the past three years, Stantec’s Alaska offices had zero recordable injury and illness cases and zero environmental incidents.

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