The Alaska Contractor logo
A Publication of the
Associated General
Contractors of Alaska
with Shortages
and Delays
Tournament Assists
Warriors Hockey
Fall 2021
Associated General Contractors of Alaska
8005 Schoon St.
Anchorage, AK 99518
907-561-5354
Fax: 907-562-6118
www.agcak.org
frontdesk@agcak.org
EDITORIAL BOARD
Margaret Empie
Associated General Contractors of Alaska

Jenith Ziegler
ChemTrack Alaska Inc.

David Haynes
First National Bank Alaska

Pearl-Grace Pantaleone
Cornerstone General Contractors

Gary Klebs
KLEBS Mechanical

Aspen Knight
Coldfoot Environmental Services, Inc.

Alicia Siira
Associated General Contractors of Alaska

Christine A. White
R&M Consultants Inc.

EDITORIAL STAFF
Tasha Anderson
Managing Editor

Rindi White
Editor

Monica Sterchi-Lowman
Art Director

Linda Shogren
Art Production

James K Brown
Graphic Designer

BUSINESS STAFF
Charles Bell
VP Sales & Marketing
257-2909 cbell@akbizmag.com

Janis J. Plume
Senior Account Manager
257-2917 janis@akbizmag.com

Christine Merki
Advertising Account Manager
257-2911 cmerki@akbizmag.com

ALASKA BUSINESS PUBLISHING CO. INC
501 W. Northern LIghts Blvd., Ste 100
Anchorage, AK 99503

The Alaska Contractor is published by Alaska Business Publishing Co. Inc. for the Associated General Contractors of Alaska. Contents of the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AGC of Alaska or Alaska Business Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Copyright 2020 by the Associated General Contractors of Alaska. For information about articles in this edition or for permission to reproduce any portion of it, contact Alaska Business Publishing Co.

COVER
Cover photo courtesy of
F. Robert Bell & Associates
Cover: James K Brown
The Alaska Contractor logo
Table of COntents
Features
Making Do by Rachael Kvapil

The Importance of Giving Your Employees CRAP by Rindi White

Let Your Voice Be Heard Nationally by Rindi White

Teaming Up by Matt Nevala

PROFILES
KLEBS Mechanical by Jamey Bradbury

F. Robert Bell & Associates by Nancy Erickson

Environmental Management, Inc. by Kevin Klott

Propel Insurance by David James

Project updates
Working on Waste Options by Jamey Bradbury

Strategy for Safety by Rachael Kvapil

TECHNOLOGY
The Alaska Contractor logo
Table of COntents
Features
Making Do by Rachael Kvapil

The Importance of Giving Your Employees CRAP by Rindi White

Let Your Voice Be Heard Nationally by Rindi White

Teaming Up by Matt Nevala

PROFILES
KLEBS Mechanical by Jamey Bradbury

F. Robert Bell & Associates by Nancy Erickson

Environmental Management, Inc. by Kevin Klott

Propel Insurance by David James

Project updates
Working on Waste Options by Jamey Bradbury

Strategy for Safety by Rachael Kvapil

TECHNOLOGY
Departments, Columns and Other AGC Content
Associated General Contractors of Alaska
8005 Schoon St.
Anchorage, AK 99518
907-561-5354
Fax: 907-562-6118
www.agcak.org
frontdesk@agcak.org
EDITORIAL BOARD
Margaret Empie
Associated General Contractors of Alaska

Jenith Ziegler
ChemTrack Alaska Inc.

David Haynes
First National Bank Alaska

Pearl-Grace Pantaleone
Cornerstone General Contractors

Gary Klebs
KLEBS Mechanical

Aspen Knight
Coldfoot Environmental Services, Inc.

Alicia Siira
Associated General Contractors of Alaska

Christine A. White
R&M Consultants Inc.

EDITORIAL STAFF
Tasha Anderson
Managing Editor

Rindi White
Editor

Monica Sterchi-Lowman
Art Director

Linda Shogren
Art Production

James K Brown
Graphic Designer

BUSINESS STAFF
Charles Bell
VP Sales & Marketing
257-2909 cbell@akbizmag.com

Janis J. Plume
Senior Account Manager
257-2917 janis@akbizmag.com

Christine Merki
Advertising Account Manager
257-2911 cmerki@akbizmag.com

ALASKA BUSINESS PUBLISHING CO. INC
501 W. Northern LIghts Blvd., Ste 100
Anchorage, AK 99503

The Alaska Contractor is published by Alaska Business Publishing Co. Inc. for the Associated General Contractors of Alaska. Contents of the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AGC of Alaska or Alaska Business Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Copyright 2020 by the Associated General Contractors of Alaska. For information about articles in this edition or for permission to reproduce any portion of it, contact Alaska Business Publishing Co.

COVER
Cover photo courtesy of
ASRC Construction
Cover: James K Brown
Winning Bids • Winning Bids • Winning Bids • Winning Bids
Title of article
Note: Winning Bids and Construction Trends
  1. Source from projects advertised in AGC of Alaska Online Plans
  2. Calculations based on date of bid
  3. Supply/Service: Non-Construction bid results are not always advertised in AGC of Alaska Online Plans
  4. RFP results are not always advertised in AGC of Alaska Online Plans
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logoAGC MEMBER
Title of article
Yellow Stroke
2016
Pink Stroke
2017
Cyan
2018
Green Stroke
2019
Purple Stroke
2020
Orange Stroke
2021
Yellow Stroke
2016
Pink Stroke
2017
Cyan
2018
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2019
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Graph
Gary Klebs portrait
Gary Klebs
President
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Swan Song
By Gary Klebs
I

t’s been a hell of a year. Through it all, the staff, board, and committees at Associated General Contractors of Alaska, or AGC, have been relentless advocates for an industry that continues to lay the foundation for an even sturdier Alaska economy.

When the pandemic hit, AGC immediately began lobbying congress, state, and local leaders to categorize construction as an essential service to keep our members working. They created a COVID-19 specific website within the AGC homepage where we housed industry-specific documents and templates for our members, including up-to-date state, federal, and local mandates, as well as safety and travel templates for essential businesses and information on financial relief packages.

Alicia Siira Portrait
Alicia Siira
Executive Director
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Echoing Words of Wisdom
By Alicia Siira
W

hether it was at the office, a company event, or simply out in the community, it has been so refreshing to see our members’ smiling faces again. I have never felt more connected to our industry or its fantastic participants.

It’s no secret that, like much of the world, the construction industry finds itself wrestling with supply-chain disruptions causing material shortages that have resulted in record costs and problematic delays.

“Some of these incidents had only tangential or indirect effects on construction supplies,” writes the Associated General Contractors of America’s Chief Economist, Ken Simonson. “But collectively, they demonstrate the interconnectedness and the fragility of a global supply web on which even purely domestic industries, such as US construction, depend.” Nationwide, prices for lumber and certain steel products have tripled, Simonson adds, and lead times have become completely “unpredictable.”

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Welcome, New AGC Members
From June 1, 2021 through August 18, 2021
GENERAL
Southeast Road Builders
Roger Schnabel, Area Manager
Tim Dudley, General Manager
HC 60, Box 4800
Haines, AK 99827
Phone: 907-766-2833
rschnabel@colaska.com
tdudley@colaska.com
www.colaska.com
Civil construction: blasting, dirt work, utilities, landscaping, snowplowing.
*Member referred by Joel Webb, Colaska*
SPECIALTY
Pioneer Peak Asphalt Services, LLC
Jason Sadlowski, Co-owner
3159 W Middle Ridge Ave.
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: 907-357-2824
Fax: 907-357-2823
pioneerpeak@gmail.com
www.pioneerpeakak.com
Asphalt paving of driveways, parking lots, small roadways, and repair work.
ASSOCIATE
Michael Swalling & Associates LLC
Michael Swalling, Principal
1415 Bannister Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: 907-244-8971
mswalling@swalling.com
Construction consulting.
Calendar of Events 2021
grey square
September 21-23
AGC of America Annual Convention
Orlando, Florida
Schedule TBD
October 13 calendar date
October 13
Dinner Dance Tickets Go on Sale
(Tentative)
8 a.m.
October 13 calendar date
October 13
Executive Board Meeting
Anchorage
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
November 10-13 calendar date
November 10-13
Annual Alaska Conference
Hotel Captain Cook (TBD) Anchorage
Schedule TBD
November 12 calendar date
November 12
Board Meeting
Hotel Captain Cook (TBD) Anchorage
1:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
November 13 calendar date
November 13
Board of Directors Elections
Hotel Captain Cook (TBD) Anchorage
10:10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
December 8 calendar date
December 8
Executive Board Meeting
Anchorage
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
December 8 calendar date
December 8
Member Holiday Party
(Tentative) Anchorage
4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
December 9 calendar date
December 9
Member Holiday Party
(Tentative) Fairbanks
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Event schedules may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit agcak.org for the most up-to-date information.
A Builders Choice boom truck lifts materials into place at a job site. The company has worked hard this season to stock items, but grappled with long lead times on some items and price increases on others.

Photo courtesy of Builders Choice Lumber, LLC

Making Do
Material and labor shortages create delay in construction projects
by Rachael Kvapil
Alaskan Contractors working on a building
A Builders Choice boom truck lifts materials into place at a job site. The company has worked hard this season to stock items, but grappled with long lead times on some items and price increases on others.

Photo courtesy of Builders Choice Lumber, LLC

Making Do
Material and labor shortages create delay in construction projects
by Rachael Kvapil
T

he 2021 pre-construction season started out normally for Chris Reilly, project manager and vice president of Rain Proof Roofing. After surviving an unpredictable pandemic year filled with health mandates, manufacturer closures, and unusual weather patterns, he and his staff began the usual process of ordering materials in the winter so they would arrive at the start of construction season in spring.

Reilly had already noticed a price fluctuation in several categories of raw materials. However, it wasn’t until May when the real surprise hit—several suppliers told him it might take up to three months to fill his orders.

The Importance of Giving Your Employees CRAP
Kortes delivers proven strategies for boosting retention and loyalty
By Rindi White
Jeff Kortes headshot
Jeff Kortes will deliver the keynote address at the Associated General Contractors of Alaska convention November 10 to 13 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Kortes

J

eff Kortes knows the construction industry. During his twenty-five years in human resources, he worked in a variety of industries including construction, providing HR duties for companies large and small.

“We built cooling towers for refineries and power plants for organizations all over the Lower 48,” he says.

He’s also a US Army veteran. He says the basis for employee retention is the same wherever the job is: you retain quality employees by showing them Caring, Respect, Appreciation, and Praise, or CRAP. That’s the funny acronym Kortes uses to help companies shift their focus to a people-first mentality.

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
KLEBS Mechanical
Looking Ahead
KLEBS Mechanical finds success through pre-planning and innovation
By Jamey Bradbury
The preconstruction and construction team at KLEBS Mechanical is proud to be a part of the Aloft Hotel project being constructed at 36th and C Street.

Photo by Chris Arend Photography

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
KLEBS Mechanical
preconstruction and construction team at KLEBS Mechanical
The preconstruction and construction team at KLEBS Mechanical is proud to be a part of the Aloft Hotel project being constructed at 36th and C Street.

Photo by Chris Arend Photography

Looking Ahead
KLEBS Mechanical finds success through pre-planning and innovation
By Jamey Bradbury
M

ike is our visionary,” says Heath Martin, co-owner of KLEBS Mechanical, Alaska’s largest full-service residential and commercial plumbing, sheet metal, and mechanical services contractor.

In 2018, Mike Klebs joined forces with Martin to buy KLEBS Mechanical from his father, Gary Klebs, who started the company in 1986 as a commercial sheet-metal contractor. Since then, it has been Mike Klebs’ vision that has kept KLEBS Mechanical steady through the Alaska economy’s ups and downs.

Growing to Meet Client Demand
Early on, Gary Klebs ushered his company to success by growing his one-man sheet-metal shop into a full-service mechanical company. Clients in remote locations across Alaska and those working on federal government projects for Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson helped the company thrive.
Grill & Chill
group of people taking a picture together
serving food at an event
group of people standing around talking
T

he end of July means a chance to do a little networking at the Construction Leadership Council Grill & Chill event. Held in the Associated General Contractors of Alaska parking lot, the Grill & Chill is an opportunity for CLC members, AGC members, and prospective AGC members to gather in one spot, have a burger and a beer, and maybe win a door prize.

Around fifty people attended the after-work event: Northrim Bank sponsored the door prizes, AGC of Alaska provided food, and Broken Tooth Brewing donated the excellent beer.

group of people standing around talking
Group of people at a BBQ
people playing cornhole
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Project
Update
Working on
Waste Options
Solid Waste Services projects aim to extend life of Anchorage landfill
By Jamey Bradbury
A southeast view of the partially framed tipping building where commercial and residential customers will dispose of trash on the tipping floor. The new building will be fully enclosed to improve safety while preventing noise, litter, and odors.

Photo courtesy of Anchorage Solid Waste Services

A southeast view of the partially framed tipping building where commercial and residential customers will dispose of trash on the tipping floor. The new building will be fully enclosed to improve safety while preventing noise, litter, and odors.

Photo courtesy of Anchorage Solid Waste Services

Working on
Waste Options
Solid Waste Services projects aim to extend life of Anchorage landfill
By Jamey Bradbury
A

nchorage is running out of space for its trash. The city’s existing central transfer station, or CTS, started life as a garbage shredder and was never meant to serve as a waste transfer station. Meanwhile, the municipality’s 275-acre regional landfill is steadily filling—and once it does, there’s no place for a new landfill site.

That’s why Anchorage Solid Waste Services, or SWS, is working on several projects that will extend the life of the regional landfill by twenty years or more and provide recycling and waste diversion options that will save Anchorage residents money in the long-term.

“It behooves us to take care of the landfill we have because once it’s gone, solid waste costs will increase,” says Mark Spafford, SWS general manager.

2021 AGC Sporting Clays Shoot
2021 AGC Sporting Clays Shoot Banner
2021 AGC Sporting Clays Shoot - Shooter using shotgun
2021 AGC Sporting Clays Shoot Shooter in red jacket
2021 AGC Sporting Clays Shoot
T

he Grazzini Brothers & Company team—and Gerald Atol from that team—will have their names engraved as 2021 winners on the AGC of Alaska Sporting Clay Tournament plaque, on view at the AGC of Alaska office. The annual Sporting Clay event, held August 6 at the Birchwood Recreation & Shooting Park, drew about 100 participants.

Competition for “top shooter” spots was pretty tight. Atol won with a score of 97, followed by Chad Schonbeck on the Granite Construction #1 team with a 96. Third place was a tie between Jack Hanson on the BSI Equipment team and Todd Pulis, also on the Grazzini Brothers & Company team, who both scored 94 points. Attendees paused for a moment during the event to recognize former AGC of Alaska Lifetime Member George Tuckness, who died in 2020 and was a founding member of the Sporting Clays Shoot Committee.

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
F. Robert Bell & Associates
Adapt to Thrive
Bell & Associates embraces new technology, retains customer focus to build a record of success
By Nancy Erickson

F. Robert Bell & Associates survey crews focus on a monument high in the Brooks Range in Alaska’s Arctic region.

Photo courtesy of F. Robert Bell & Associates

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
F. Robert Bell & Associates
F. Robert Bell & Associates survey crews focus on a monument high in the Brooks Range in Alaska’s Arctic region

F. Robert Bell & Associates survey crews focus on a monument high in the Brooks Range in Alaska’s Arctic region.

Photo courtesy of F. Robert Bell & Associates

Adapt to Thrive
Bell & Associates embraces new technology, retains customer focus to build a record of success
By Nancy Erickson
T

he ability to assess, adapt, and overcome the many challenges surveying in Alaska can present—and do so safely—are just a few of the qualities in which F. Robert Bell & Associates employees and staff take pride.

The company’s unparalleled safety record attests to that: zero lost time accidents this millennium and no recordable injuries for more than seventeen years.

Change Is a Constant

Not only has technology changed in the forty-plus years since Bob Bell founded the company in 1974—so has the terminology.

Photos courtesy of Associated General Contractors of Alaska

HB 160 Is Signed!
Associated General Contractors of Alaska is proud of its partnership with Governor Mike Dunleavy and Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to pass HB160, which codifies the Construction Manager/General Contractor procurement method as another tool in the DOT&PF toolbox

Photos courtesy of Associated General Contractors of Alaska

HB 160 Is Signed!
Executive Board Vice President Sarah Lefebvre, Rep. Grier Hopkins (Fairbanks) and Sen. Robert Myers (North Pole)
A

ssociated General Contractors of Alaska is proud of its partnership with Governor Mike Dunleavy and Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to pass HB160, which codifies the Construction Manager/General Contractor procurement method as another tool in the DOT&PF toolbox. We look forward to further collaboration with DOT&PF as best practices and standards are implemented for this method so it will benefit our state and contracting community.

AGC of Alaska would like to extend a thank you to the many AGC members who testified and wrote letters of support on this bill, especially Executive Board Vice President Sarah Lefebvre, as well as our partners at DOT&PF and Rep. Grier Hopkins (Fairbanks) and Sen. Robert Myers (North Pole) for pushing it across the finish line before the end of session.

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
TECHNOLOGY
A Multi-Million-Dollar Idea
PND Engineers’ Alaska-grown OPEN CELL SHEET PILE system goes global
By Heather A. Resz
PND Engineers, Inc. designed an OPEN CELL bulkhead to replace the existing tied-back sheet pile bulkhead at the Crowley Fuels Dock in Kotzebue, giving the maritime logistics corporations deeper draft and increased dock space for safe handling and storage, among other benefits.
PND Engineers, Inc. designed an OPEN CELL bulkhead to replace the existing tied-back sheet pile bulkhead at the Crowley Fuels Dock in Kotzebue, giving the maritime logistics corporations deeper draft and increased dock space for safe handling and storage, among other benefits.
A Multi-Million-Dollar Idea
PND Engineers’ Alaska-grown OPEN CELL SHEET PILE system goes global
By Heather A. Resz
T

There are good ideas. And then there are multi-million-dollar ideas. PND Engineers, Inc.’s patented OPEN CELL SHEET PILE system, or OCSP, is an example of the latter.

The company has designed more than 200 projects valued at more than half a billion dollars since company co-founder Dennis Nottingham came up with the design and tested it on a pair of temporary bridge abutments built on the North Slope for Atlantic Richfield Company in 1980.

PND President Jim Campbell says contractors like Construction and Rigging, Inc. (now West International Group) and Swalling General Contractors, LLC deserve a lot of credit for agreeing to build the first projects using the OCSP system.

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
Environmental Management, Inc.
Trained Up for Cleanup
Environmental Management, Inc. performs waste cleanup and trains others too
By Kevin Klott
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
Environmental Management, Inc.
men at a construction site working
Trained Up for Cleanup
Environmental Management, Inc. performs waste cleanup and trains others too
By Kevin Klott
W

hen it comes to providing the best service for its clients, the secret to success for Environmental Management, Inc., or EMI, can be summed up in two words: flexibility and adaptability.

“We don’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions,” says EMI co-owner Shayla Marshall. “We strive to find creative solutions to meet our client’s needs.”

Environmental Management, Inc. is an Anchorage-based company that has specialized in environmental consulting, engineering, and training services since 1988. While the bulk of EMI’s projects are located in Alaska, Marshall says it also provides professional services across the United States and internationally.

Let Your Voice Be Heard Nationally
Being a national Associated General Contractors committee member may mean input without a huge time investment
By Rindi White
Let Your Voice Be Heard Nationally
Being a national Associated General Contractors committee member may mean input without a huge time investment
By Rindi White
C

an you spare six to eight hours over the course of a year? If pressed, most people could probably find a way to free up that small amount of time, particularly if it meant including unique-to-Alaska input into policy decisions on a national stage.

Tom Krider is a lawyer at Seattle-based firm Oles, Morrison Rinker Baker, LLP, which has been an Associated General Contractors of Alaska member since 1991 and operates an Anchorage office. Krider says he has spent the better part of the twenty-three years he has worked at Oles handling cases for Alaska clients.

Krider has for the past several years served on the Associated General Contractors’ ConsensusDocs Drafting Council. ConsensusDocs is a contract document platform overseen by a coalition of twenty organizations in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. The goal of the group is to help industry members develop contracts that protect the best interests of the project.

2021 Anchorage Invitational Golf Tournament
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2021
Anchorage Invitational Golf Tournament
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2021
Anchorage Invitational Golf Tournament
T

hank you to all the golfers, sponsors, companies, and individuals who donated door prizes—and to our volunteers who made this year’s tournament a success.

People driving a golf cart
Hole # 4
Men’s Closest to the Hole
Sponsored by Davis Block & Concrete
Winner: Joe Pavlas
Alaska Steel Co.
Hole # 12
Women’s Longest Drive
Sponsored by Pacific Environmental Corp. (PENCO)
Winner: Jessica Tramp
Davis Constructors & Engineers, Inc. on the Alaska National Insurance Company team
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Project
Update
Strategy for Safety
Great Northwest, Inc. project first of four to improve safety along Richardson Highway
By Rachael Kvapil
Mile 353-357 of the Richardson Highway is a 4-mile stretch of road first identified as an area of concern in 1983. With a statistical history of crashes, the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities has worked on a way to address access control since 1983. Several in-progress and upcoming projects will address areas of concern near Fairbanks.

Photo courtesy of Josh Lowman

Mile 353-357 of the Richardson Highway is a 4-mile stretch of road first identified as an area of concern in 1983. With a statistical history of crashes, the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities has worked on a way to address access control since 1983. Several in-progress and upcoming projects will address areas of concern near Fairbanks.

Photo courtesy of Josh Lowman

Strategy for Safety
Great Northwest, Inc. project first of four to improve safety along Richardson Highway
By Rachael Kvapil
S

ometimes, small changes can significantly increase highway safety. In October 2020, Great Northwest, Inc. completed a project that addressed a four-mile hotspot along the Richardson Highway. A corridor study first identified Milepost 353-357 as fast-growing and problematic in 1983.

Since 1993, the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, or DOT&PF, has worked to address access control along the Richardson Highway between Smithson Street and the Old Richardson Highway. After many years of project development, public involvement, and right-of-way acquisitions, this stretch of road has been modified to reduce potential vehicle conflict.

Teaming Up
Contractors and Camo hockey tournament assists Challenge Alaska, Alaska Warriors hockey
By Matt Nevala
Alaska Warriors forward Mia Carson of Eagle River was recognized for her work ethic, kindness, giving nature, leadership, and hope in adversity with a Valor Value Salute award earlier this year. The honor was bestowed on her at the Hendrickson Foundation Hockey Festival in Minnesota the night before the Alaska Warriors won their division championship.

Photo courtesy of Challenge Alaska

hockey game
Alaska Warriors forward Mia Carson of Eagle River was recognized for her work ethic, kindness, giving nature, leadership, and hope in adversity with a Valor Value Salute award earlier this year. The honor was bestowed on her at the Hendrickson Foundation Hockey Festival in Minnesota the night before the Alaska Warriors won their division championship.

Photo courtesy of Challenge Alaska

Teaming Up
Contractors and Camo hockey tournament assists Challenge Alaska, Alaska Warriors hockey
By Matt Nevala
M

ia Carson may be indecisive about her playing status early next year when it’s time for the 2022 Contractors and Camo three-on-three hockey tournament.

“I’m on the [tournament] board, so I guess I’ll be involved in some way,” Carson says jokingly. “I hope to bring some creativity, help with visuals and on social media.”

Whether or not she gears up for the charitable event hosted in Anchorage by the Associated General Contractors of Alaska, Challenge Alaska, and the Alaska Warriors program, one thing is clear for Carson and dozens of other Alaska-based military veterans like her: Skating with the Warriors and supporting one another on and off the ice is worthy of a million Facebook likes and Twitter retweets.

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
Propel Insurance
Finding
the Best Fit
Propel Insurance pairs Alaska contractors with the right insurance carrier
By David James
Workers create Badami Ice Road, a Cruz Construction project for which Propel brokered coverage.

Photo courtesy of Cruz Construction

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Member Profile
Propel Insurance
Icey road
Workers create Badami Ice Road, a Cruz Construction project for which Propel brokered coverage.

Photo courtesy of Cruz Construction

Finding the Best Fit
Propel Insurance pairs Alaska contractors with the right insurance carrier
By David James
A

ny building project is complex on multiple levels. But for contractors conducting large scale operations—especially those working in Alaska’s remote locations under extreme climate conditions—countless details must be attended to.

One of the most important is insurance. Finding the right carrier can be a major job in itself, as the purchased coverage needs to include not just the many potential liability exposures that contractors know they face but even ones they might not have considered.

This is where Propel Insurance comes in. Propel offers services that can take the burden of choosing the best policy off of the contractor. Propel is an insurance broker specializing in matching clients in construction and other industrial fields with providers best suited to the unique needs of individual projects. They don’t sell policies; they help clients find the best policy at the best price. And according to sales director Brent Heilesen, the company specializes in helping Alaska contractors.

Headshot of Stephanie Haydn
Stephanie Haydn
Dir. of Business Development People AK
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Human Resources Update
Headshot of Stephanie Haydn
Stephanie Haydn
Dir. of Business Development People AK
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Human Resources Update
Better together: An inside look at consolidation of two talent-focused businesses
By Stephanie Haydn
R

ecently I sat down with Paula Bradison, CEO of Bradison Management Group, or BMG, and Alaska Executive Search, or AES, to discuss her work with contractors in Alaska.

Following a long career in healthcare, Bradison founded BMG. At the time, she focused her expertise on supporting a variety of industries, working with organizations to develop lean processes and enhance operational efficiencies. She purchased AES, a forty-year legacy Alaska firm, in 2016. Both organizations have a history of championing Alaska businesses.

As a fourth-generation Alaskan, Bradison knows what it takes to live and thrive in Alaska. After five years of leading both organizations, and following the challenges brought on by the pandemic, Bradison decided it was time to employ the methods she uses to support her clients and develop her own team.

Chris Ross headshot
Chris Ross. CSP, CPLP
President
The Engagement Effect
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Safety
Report
Chris Ross headshot
Chris Ross. CSP, CPLP
President
The Engagement Effect
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Safety
Report
Insight into the improved CHASE program
Q&A with Donald Farwell, CHASE Program Director
by Chris Ross
A

ccording to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2002, the overall accident rate for the construction industry in Alaska exceeded the national average. This accident rate was deemed unacceptably high by the Alaska Department of Labor, Alaska Occupational Safety and Health, or AKOSH. The Construction Health and Safety Excellence Program, or CHASE, was developed to address this issue.

I sat in on a recent presentation on the CHASE program, delivered to the local chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals and then had the opportunity to interview Donald “Donnie” Farwell, the CHASE program director for AKOSH, about the current CHASE program in Alaska.

1st Place Net winners, Equipment Source, Inc.
1st Place Net winners, Equipment Source, Inc.
1st Place Net winners, Equipment Source, Inc.
Congratulations to the Winners of the 42nd Annual
AGC Fairbanks Golf Tournament
July 8th and 9th at Fairbanks Golf Course!
Congratulations to the Winners of the 42nd Annual
AGC Fairbanks Golf Tournament
July 8th and 9th at Fairbanks Golf Course!
1st Place Gross winners, Johnson River Enterprises
1st Place Gross winners, Johnson River Enterprises
2nd Place Net winners, CMI team #1
2nd Place Net winners, CMI team #1
1st Place Gross
Johnson River Enterprises
2nd Place Gross
KLEBS Mechanical, Inc.
3rd Place Gross
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
In Memoriam

C. (Carl) John Eng, 74, a leader in the Alaska construction industry and co-founder of Cornerstone Construction Company, died unexpectedly June 23 of natural causes at his home.

Despite his great success as a general contractor, he was probably better known as a mentor, community leader, wonderful host at his spacious Hillside home, and philanthropist with a great sense of humor and a relentless curiosity about all things around him. He loved to both read—up to fifty books a year—and give books he found interesting to almost anyone who would take one.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn Ann Eng of Anchorage; two sons, Jason and Geoffrey; and his sons’ mother, Marilyn Jane Cady. He is also survived by two younger sisters, Carol Eng and Sandra Henson Brim and her husband Billy Brim.

C. John Eng, pictured with his wife, Lynn
C. John Eng, pictured with his wife, Lynn
Lori McCaffrey smiling
LORI McCAFFREY
AK Market Pres, & Comm. Banking Lender, KeyBank
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Financial Services & Contractors
Lori McCaffrey smiling
LORI McCAFFREY
AK Market Pres, & Comm. Banking Lender, KeyBank
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Financial Services & Contractors
Financing Energy Efficiency Upgrades
By Lori McCaffrey
R

educing energy costs is a major consideration for many businesses and government entities because lower energy costs translate into improved profitability and cash flow, and investments in sustainability can add significant value to assets.

In fact, studies show that sustainable technologies such as infrastructure control systems, building envelopes, and solar power can reduce utility bills by 50 percent or more. In some cases, sustainable construction isn’t even an option—it’s a mandate.

However, the initial investment required for sustainability projects is often a deal-breaker. Often, businesses that are interested in energy efficient upgrades, retrofits, or projects are unsure how to pay for it.

Kristen Connors headshot
Kristen Connors
Client Relations Manager Beacon OHSS
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Occupational Health
Kristen Connors headshot
Kristen Connors
Client Relations Manager Beacon OHSS
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Occupational Health
Charting a Course for Getting Back to Business
By Kristen Connors
I

t has been more than a year and a half since the World Health Organization, or WHO, declared the COVID-19 outbreak an international public health emergency. As outbreaks continue to ebb and flow, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, along with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, and the US Department of Transportation, or DOT, continue to evaluate best practices and issue guidance for employers aiming to keep our employees and workplaces safe as we chart a course to get back to business.

Infection Prevention Programs

One of the most foundational points for employers looking to push through pandemic challenges and reduce risk of exposure to their team is a continued layer of control with basic infection prevention measures.

These have proven to be cost-effective solutions and can mean the difference between smooth operations and production delay:

  • Continue to use transparent shields or solid barriers to separate workers from other people where social distancing cannot apply to fixed workstations, such as reception areas and cash registers.
  • Use masks and face coverings in indoor environments with high traffic and areas where several people occupy the same space.
  • Ensure employees and job sites are well-stocked with hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies.
  • Continue to respect social-distancing guidelines.
  • Increase ventilation where possible.

With students back in school and the onset of the annual cold and flu season, these measures are equally effective at preventing the spread of the more innocuous illnesses that can also cause lost time for businesses.

Eric P. Forner headshot
Eric P. Forner
Attorney, Oles Morrison
Rinker & Baker LLP
Alix K. Town headshot
Alix K. Town
Attorney, Oles Morrison
Rinker & Baker LLP
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Contractors & the law
Eric P. Forner headshot
Eric P. Forner
Attorney, Oles Morrison
Rinker & Baker LLP
Alix K. Town headshot
Alix K. Town
Attorney, Oles Morrison
Rinker & Baker LLP
The Associated General Contractors of Alaska logo
Contractors & the law
Huge Amounts of Federal Money Potentially Slated for Alaska
Contractors should be prepared to navigate federally funded projects
By Eric P. Forner and Alix K. Town

The $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill has been approved by the US Senate and is headed to the House of Representatives to be voted on this fall.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is focused on investment in new and existing roads, utilities, and broadband internet throughout the country. The bill was sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators—including Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican—and includes a significant amount of money earmarked for Alaska across a wide variety of project categories. Examples of the funding specifically earmarked for Alaska projects are provided in the frame at right. For a more exhaustive list, read the bill at https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684.

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Member News
AGC of Alaska Welcomes Fairbanks Branch Manager
Emily Braniff smiling
Emily Braniff

Associated General Contractors of Alaska would like to welcome Fairbanks Branch Manager Emily Braniff, who joined the AGC crew this summer. Braniff was born and raised in Fairbanks. She says her father moved to Alaska in 1959 as a young man in the US Air Force. He met her mother in Dawson City in 1974 and the two have since been inseparable. Like many Alaska students, Braniff left Alaska to attend college, but she returned home to be nearer her family. In Alaska, she earned a Certified Municipal Clerk certification while working as Deputy City Clerk II for the City of Fairbanks. Braniff has a son who recently graduated high school and is working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Braniff says she has a hearty respect for the construction industry, is proud to be a part of building Alaska, and is proud her son is working in the industry too. When she’s not working, she loves to garden and spend time with her dog and her family. Braniff says the 42nd Annual AGC of Fairbanks Golf Tournament was a wonderful jump-right-in kind of event for her.

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