Denali National Park and Preserve is implementing an opportunity for private vehicles to access usually restricted portions of Denali Park Road during the 2021 summer season via a reservation system. This opportunity is in response to ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing daily through September 12, 2021, the public will have access to the Park Road beyond the Savage River Check Station (mile marker 15) to the Teklanika Rest Stop (mile marker 30) using a $25 permit called the Teklanika Road Permit. The Teklanika Road Permit is available for reservations through recreation.gov. This system allows the public to reserve one of a limited number of daily scheduled entries to the Park Road by private vehicle. nps.gov/denali | recreation.gov

3-Tier Alaska, a land surveying and civil engineering company, and Travis/Peterson Environmental Consulting have joined forces. The merger expands and deepens the combined company’s civil, environmental, land surveying, and water system design services across Alaska. 3-Tier Alaska, founded by Jim Ringstad in the early ’80s, specializes in land surveying and civil engineering for land use projects across Alaska. In 2018, Ringstad’s son, Nick, took over and grew the company from two to twelve full-time employees. Travis/Peterson, founded in 1998 by Michael Travis and Larry Peterson, specializes in environmental engineering and consulting. The company has seven full-time employees including professional engineers, biologists, geologists, and environmental scientists, as well as seasonal staff. 3tieralaska.com | tpeci.com

Less than a year after launching Alaska’s first 5G wireless network, GCI completed 5G upgrades to a wireless tower along the Seward Highway, south of Anchorage, improving mobile data speeds and enhancing voice service between Bird Point and 20 Mile River. This is GCI’s 77th 5G-capable wireless site. The upgraded site provides 5G service as well as provides a boost to LTE service in the area. That means GCI customers don’t need a 5G phone to get the benefits of GCI’s next generation network upgrades. Each 5G-capable site is outfitted with five radios to utilize GCI’s low-band and mid-band radio spectrum, driving improvements in speed and coverage, particularly in-building coverage. gci.com

Alaska Airlines became the 14th member of the global alliance, oneworld, just eight months after receiving a formal invitation in July 2020. “Joining oneworld is joining a family of the best airlines in the world,” says Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines’ CEO. “Being a part of the alliance allows us to provide fantastic global connectivity, a seamless travel experience, and more valuable loyalty offerings for our guests. This alliance transforms Alaska into a truly global airline, connecting our strong West Coast network and destinations across North America with the worldwide reach of our oneworld partners.” For Alaska Airlines and its guests, oneworld provides a global network of flights to as many as 1,000 destinations across more than 170 countries and territories. With its membership in the alliance, Alaska Airlines will add seven new airline partners and enhance its six existing partnerships with oneworld members. alaskair.com | oneworld.com

The College of Business and Public Policy announced the winners of its 2021 Business Plan Competition: Telequana Outdoor Journeys, which recently changed its name to Qizhjeh Vena, took the Grand Prize for its plan to provide Indigenously-influenced ecotourism experiences in the Lake Clark area. Business partners include Kiana Till, a student at Alaska Pacific University; Karen Evanoff, a cultural anthropologist with Lake Clark National Park; and Danielle Stickman. They also tied for the People’s Choice award, garnering the group a grand total of $7,250 in prize money. Aimee Hassell, a UAA student and employee, won second place and tied for People’s Choice with Tiny Haven, her start-up that endeavors to build a community of tiny homes to provide affordable student housing during the school year and accommodations for tourists in the summer months. Her two awards totaled $3,750. business.uaa.alaska.edu