ig things never happen by accident.

The accomplishments that shaped Alaska and our business community demanded adaptation to harsh weather; short construction seasons; and complex supply chains, logistics, labor, and regulatory constraints in a remote place. Progress required breaking uncertainty into manageable parts: action items, deliverables, timelines, milestones, phases, and, ultimately, projects.

Project management serves as a North Star, whether the goal is GCI laying an 800-mile subsea fiber optic cable to improve rural connectivity; ANTHC expanding the Alaska Native Medical Center to meet a growing patient population; the Air Force establishing an F-35 squadron at Eielson Air Force Base; or ConocoPhillips developing the Willow Project to produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day.

In 2026, the Project Management Institute’s Alaska Chapter turns forty.

Back in 1986, leaders from Fluor, VECO, Woodward Clyde, SOHIO, and ARCO helped create PMI Alaska as a hub to sharpen the craft for project managers who lead time-bound efforts to build something new. The chapter began with eight founders and fifty-six members.

The chapter’s early years tracked with the rise of the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, helping define capable project leadership. In Alaska, those standards became practical tools, with PMI Alaska offering seminars and trainings to build shared language, align teams, and deliver complex work.

Today, PMI Alaska has nearly 600 members across sectors, from finance and IT to oil and gas, construction, healthcare, and government. After four decades, the story remains simple: when something big is happening, project managers make change a reality.

Join PMI Alaska’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, May 29, at 5:30 p.m. at O’Malley on the Green. Dinner is included, and an executive from Toyota’s headquarters will share lessons from large-scale programs. We welcome founders and early members. Register at pmiak.org.