ountainhead Development Inc., (FDI) has more than 600 rooms spread across three distinctive Fairbanks properties: Sophie Station Suites, Wedgewood Resort, and the Bear Lodge. Sophie Station, for example, is ideal for business travelers, with its proximity to the airport and spacious, apartment-style accommodations. Offering 148 fully-appointed suites, it provides many of the comforts of home, including a full kitchen, living room, and separate bedroom.

Sophie Station also features beautiful landscaping and one of the best restaurants in town: Zach’s, which is known for its innovative cuisine. It also has a first-class bar—the Express Room Lounge—a relaxing space with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and overstuffed leather chairs. “We’re truly local and independent,” says Bobby Hanson, Operations Manager of Fountainhead Development. “This enables us to personalize service to our guests in a way that they don’t get at other hotels.”

Fountainhead Development’s hotels are part of a complex operation of businesses encompassing multiple states. Established in 1985, the company is headquartered in Fairbanks and primarily engages in real estate development, management, and operation in Alaska.

Washington-based Fountainhead Northwest, provides Class A office space to tenants such as Blue Origin, Alaska Airlines and Lockheed Martin. In addition, Fountainhead manufactures equipment through another related entity: Equipment Source Inc. (ESI), which has locations in Fairbanks and Anchorage; Tukwila, Washington; and Williston, North Dakota. The company excels at building equipment for extreme environments. “We’re Alaska-born and -raised and built Arctic-tough,” says Tim Cerny, President of FDI and ESI. “If you want a generator that will operate at 60 below zero, you should come talk to us.”

Fountainhead Development, which conducts substantial design-build work, can handle all aspects of its business in- house, from design to construction, back-office accounting to housekeeping, and concept to production. This independence allows the company to have greater control over projects and work more efficiently. “We pride ourselves for bringing projects in on time and under budget,” Cerny says. “In the last twelve months, we have worked our way through 220,000 square feet of multi-tenant office and retail leases in Washington and Fairbanks.”

However, Fountainhead doesn’t just build businesses to sell them. Cerny explains: “We continue to operate them, and they become part of our portfolio. We’re committed to staying for the long haul and helping build viable communities.”

As such, Fountainhead supports various community initiatives, including Tanana Chiefs Conference Housing First, educational tours at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, a wildlife sanctuary at Wedgewood Resort, and the Cripple Creek Restoration Project.

Fountainhead Development is also strongly committed to its employees and customers. The company—which has 170 to 350 employees, depending on the season—is focused on training the next generation to ensure it continues to be an important part of Alaska’s business community. It’s also concentrating on always being available for customers. “We’re locally-owned and -operated,” Cerny says. “Our customers can connect with us seven days a week.”

Tim Cerny, President
1501 Queens Way Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
(907) 456-7143
www.fountainheadhotels.com
www.equipmentsourceinc.com