The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David Landes.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
Catch up on local and national news, go for a run or a bike ride (time permitting), then have a relaxing dinner with my wife.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Tahiti.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
I have no interest in domesticating wild animals, but if required, a Bengal tiger.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (audiobook) and We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy by Kliph Nesteroff.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
The ACLU… Planned Parenthood… a number of homeless initiative.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
Say hello to my cats, which is more their choice than mine.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
My sweetie and I are planning a bucket list trip to Ireland, which I’ve always wanted to go to my entire life, and France.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
Without a question, red pandas.
Off the Cuff
nce each, if anyone was wondering how many times Chugach Electric Association CEO Arthur Miller has seen Death of a Salesman and The Crucible by the same-named playwright.
After more than thirty years with the state’s largest electric utility, Miller stepped up to become number-one man in 2022. He comes to the industry with a degree in regulatory economics, which he applied at the Baby Bell telecom now named Qwest before he moved to Alaska in 1990.
Miller had a good dream, once, of becoming an emergency room physician, drawn by the fast-paced, high intensity environment while helping people at the same time. Now he helps people sixty times every second—the frequency of alternating current that Chugach Electric steadily supplies for its member-customers and Railbelt counterparts. Overseeing such a complex operation and ensuring its reliability and affordability is a duty Miller takes seriously.
Arthur Miller: I enjoy reading, boating in Prince William Sound, kayaking, mountain biking, running, hiking, meeting up with friends, mechanical tinkering.
AB: Is there a skill you’re currently developing or have always wanted to learn?
Miller: I have always wanted to learn how to weld, especially with aluminum. Building an aluminum boat, making specialized tools, and making metal artwork would be a lot of fun.
AB: What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
Miller: I climbed Denali when I was 18 years old. We started from Wonder Lake, crossed the McKinley River, and hiked 20 miles to the base before starting up the mountain. It took thirty-three days round trip to the top and back, with a five-day storm delay that resulted in us camping in a crevasse at 16,400 feet. Our provisions were running very low, but, in the end, the storm passed and we made it to the summit in 18 hours from that point.
AB: Have you had a supernatural experience?
Miller: Several friends and I hiked to a saddle well above tree line between two mountain peaks, and a thunderstorm rolled in. Our ice axes started humming—a high-pitched buzzing sound—and then our hair started standing on end.
AB: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
Miller: Little Italy.
AB: Dead or alive, who would you like to see perform live in concert?
Miller: U2.
AB: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Miller: Traveling to a foreign country with my wife and exploring the countryside, with no constraints or commitments.
AB: What’s your best attribute and worst attribute?
Miller: I am an eternal optimist with a positive attitude. I am passionate about work and the drive for continual improvement. I am always excited to start the day early, recognizing that the number of hours in the day is limited. My strengths can also be my worse attributes, and I recognize that it’s critical to strike the appropriate balance, depending on the situation.
