Infrastructure Report: Backbone Boost by Rindi White

Congratulations, UAF Scholarship Recipients

JD Steel Co. Inc. by Rachael Kvapil

Congdon Construction, Inc. by Rachael Kvapil

Accupoint, Inc. by David A. James

Alaska Railroad Gets Four New Load Lifters by Kevin Klott

Calendar of Events

President’s Message by Sarah Lefebvre

Executive Director’s Message by Alicia Amberg

New Members

AGC of Alaska Hybrid Annual Conference

AGC of Alaska Annual Report

Meet the 2021-2022 Board of Directors

2022 Legislative Priorities by the Legislative Affairs Committee

Contractors & the Law by Ryan Gilchrist

Human Resources Update by Darci Ahlin-Stieren

Financial Services & Contractors by Kiersten Russell

Safety Report by Rebekah Matar

Member News

Jenith Ziegler
ChemTrack Alaska Inc.

David Haynes
First National Bank Alaska

Pearl-Grace Pantaleone
Cornerstone General Contractors

Sarah Lefebvre
Exclusive Paving

Alicia Amberg
Associated General Contractors of Alaska

Christine A. White
R&M Consultants Inc.

Heather Sottosanti

Rindi White
Editor

Monica Sterchi-Lowman
Art Director

Fulvia Lowe
Art Production

James K Brown
Graphic Designer

BUSINESS STAFF
Charles Bell
VP Sales & Marketing
907-257-2909 cbell@akbizmag.com

Janis J. Plume
Senior Account Manager
907-257-2917 janis@akbizmag.com

Christine Merki
Advertising Account Manager
907-257-2911 cmerki@akbizmag.com

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 2022 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.

he path to each Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska presidency is as unique as the remarkable individuals who have held this seat before me.

Even before the path to AGC presidency there was the path to construction, which is a story I will save for another time, only referencing my brother’s comment, “You’re going to own part of a construction company? But you don’t know how to build roads!”

I still haven’t actually sat in the equipment and “built” a road, but I am part of an incredible team of people that, with all of us doing our part, builds roads, airports, building sites, utilities, and so much more.

ote 2021 as another year for the record books. Honestly, we are all more than ready to leave it there, never to be repeated. On the positive side, conflict almost always reveals new opportunities. We certainly found that to be true at Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska. Despite staring down one obstacle after another, we at AGC of Alaska did what we always do—we led the way for our industry and helped our members successfully navigate threats and barriers.

It wasn’t all bad: 2021 brought with it COVID-19 vaccines for our workforce, allowing many of us to return to a more normal work environment. While it may not yet be time to declare victory over the pandemic, and while the thorny issue of vaccine mandates remains in flux, we are certainly better positioned to fully recover than just one year ago.

021 has been a year when flexibility became a daily exercise. Supply shortages? No problem. Testing requirements and vaccination mandates? We’re on it. Too few employees? We have a plan for that, too.

So when COVID-19 case numbers climbed in the fall and Associated General Contractors of Alaska staff and AGC Annual Conference Committee members discussed what to do about the conference, knowing members were eager to meet in person—safely—but also needed valuable information about state and federal project plans for 2022, the annual conference was split into two: A virtual two-day session where upcoming projects were discussed and a second, in-person event where members will be able to kick up their heels at the dinner/dance, honor the Hard Hat and Volunteer of the Year awardees, and celebrate in person the Excellence in Construction and Excellence in Safety awards.

nyone who has driven more than a handful of miles in Alaska knows pavement does not do well in the North. Despite nonstop efforts from the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, or DOT&PF, to keep highways in working order, frost heaves, erosion, subsidence, and other natural subsurface occurrences are perpetually turning the state’s highways into obstacle courses. Drivers here are well acquainted with the temporary loss of vehicular control that occurs when they suddenly hit an unexpected bulge or pothole. It can be dangerous if they’re moving quickly, especially if the road is icy.

Now imagine what pilots experience when they land a plane at an airport plagued by the same conditions.

“The larger regional-hub certified airport runways serve high-performance jet aircraft,” says Roger Maggard, statewide airport development manager with the DOT&PF. “So, they’re sensitive to minor variations in the runway surface that wouldn’t necessarily cause problems to somebody landing in a Cessna 206—but for these large high-performance aircraft going fast, it does cause problems.”

s you page through our 2021 annual report, we challenge you to ask yourself where your business—or our industry—would be without the force-multiplying efforts and leadership of AGC of Alaska and AGC of America combined. Working through our long-established partners and leveraging our respected relationships with government agencies, we successfully kept construction classified as an essential industry through the height of the pandemic.

The pandemic accelerated our efforts in all areas of our mission of advocating, educating, and promoting our members and Alaska’s construction industry. AGC helped shape the parameters of the national infrastructure bill that’s poised to bring millions of dollars in federal funding to our state. At the local level, we were the first group to expand learning opportunities to our audience in a virtual, more convenient manner to the student. AGC has consistently promoted the message that construction is essential, which has since converted into a state/nationwide workforce development campaign.

his year has been challenging for the Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska and its members—as much or even more so than 2020. AGC leaders took on each challenge, ensuring that AGC members were informed about changes to work-related policies and aware of new programs that might benefit member companies, and ultimately advocating on behalf of members every chance they had.

AGC of Alaska would like to welcome the 2021/2022 executive board and all the members of its board of directors as we embark on a new year of service.

ike Andersen drives. A lot. If the employees of DAMA Industrial—a painting, coating, and lining company Anderson started with partner David Arthun—are working anywhere along Alaska’s road system, Andersen will find his way there.

“I probably average about 30,000 miles a year,” Andersen says. “At least once a week, either [DAMA Project Manager] Aaron McLaughlin or I get out and make a presence. That’s a key part—making sure the owners and contractors see you, and that your employees see you—that makes a huge difference.”

fter the personal and professional disruptions of 2020, the languishing difficulties in 2021 often left businesses wondering if the glass was half full, half empty, or if they should just be grateful to have a glass. This is when tradition shines best because it not only gives us a reason to celebrate, but often gives us a benchmark that adds clarity during uncertain times. For Alaska businesses, that benchmark is the Top 49ers list published every year by Alaska Business. The Top 49ers list consists of locally owned businesses ranked by gross revenue. Each Top 49er must be at least 51-percent Alaskan-owned (i.e. headquartered in Alaska with continuous operations in Alaska). For the purposes of ranking the Top 49ers, assets or assets managed are not calculated into gross revenue.Another reason for celebration: Of the forty-nine companies on the list, twenty-two are Associated General Contractors of Alaska, or AGC, members.

he Alaska Railroad Corporation, or ARRC, prides itself on being the backbone of the Last Frontier, hauling freight and passengers from Seward to Fairbanks since the early 1900s. But part of that pride includes knowing when it’s time to modernize.

Recently, the state-owned corporation welcomed four heavy-duty loaded container handlers, also known as van loaders, to replace its aging and unreliable freight equipment. Two of the new Toyota machines operate in Fairbanks while the other two work in Anchorage.

“The main improvement we see right out of the gate is equipment reliability,” says Scott Byron, ARRC’s trailer-on-flatcar, or TOFC, mechanical supervisor in Fairbanks. “The decades-old LeTourneau van loaders are tired and constantly require attention.”

laska faces some monumental infrastructure challenges. We are a large state with few residents, mostly living in three major population areas and using most of the same roads, with important transportation-related connections between them that must be maintained despite harsh weather that degrades those transportation routes.A March 2021 National Infrastructure report card by the American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE, Alaska section gave the state a C- overall for the condition of its existing infrastructure—that covers everything from aviation and broadband availability to drinking water, solid waste services, roads, bridges, and dams.

Alaska has about 15,700 lane miles of road, 3,737 of which are paved, noted Dave Gamez, an ASCE member and engineer with Lounsbury & Associates, Inc. at a September 29 presentation to Commonwealth North where the infrastructure report card was discussed. Comparatively, Texas, at less than half the size of Alaska, has 675,600 lane miles of paved road.

ealth and safety have always been important within the construction industry, and the pandemic took protocols to the next level. For JD Steel Co., Inc., health and safety are an integral part of keeping workers safe. When lockdowns happened in spring 2020, the company was able to implement a contingency plan that allowed employees to continue working without disruption to their schedule.

“It definitely was a new challenge for us,” says Scott Hamilton, JD Steel’s vice president and Alaska regional manager. “We credit our employee-owner leadership and communication philosophy. By communicating needs and expectations, we’ve been able to manage our way through COVID. We put our employees’ health and safety first, and our clients ended up winning.”

tate and federal vaccine mandates have significantly impacted the construction industry nationwide. While Alaska is one of a number of states suing the federal government for its vaccine mandate, until there is resolution through the courts, the current mandates remain in place and enforceable.

This article does not consider the merits of the mandates or a suit against them but instead provides insight into what contractors can do to protect themselves and preserve claims when their existing projects are impacted by vaccine mandates. Contractors have been affected in varying ways including—but not limited to—labor shortages, supply chain impacts, delays in permit processing and inspections, increased costs, and time for providing employees required time off to get the vaccines and recover and/or required COVID-19 testing for those employees who remain unvaccinated.

oug Congdon, president and owner of Congdon Construction, Inc. understands what it takes to run a generational company. He and his sister, Katalla Fairbanks, both of Fairbanks, took the reins in 2010 from their father, Carl “Jim” Congdon. They know the best way to further grow the company is through recruiting fresh talent and new ideas. Though Congdon Construction is a smaller company, they have developed a well-defined niche market that has led to success in rural Alaska.

“We mostly construct housing units, commercial buildings, and civil projects in remote locations,” says Doug Congdon. “We fully understand the logistical challenges of working with barges, air freight, and trucking to get materials and crews to rural communities on time and in a cost-efficient manner.”

ere we are, two years out from the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. I don’t know about you, but Space Mountain at Walt Disney World pales in comparison to this ride. One of the greatest shifts our country has experienced through this journey has been related to employment.

With our country’s labor market in a precarious position, getting people back to work is top of mind for every business. I recently met up with a group of leaders representing a variety of industries. The subject of “the great resignation” was raised, piquing curiosity around the table. I spent the next hour sharing ideas and best practices to mitigate turnover, strengthen organizations, and improve leadership as a result.

eeping construction workers safe is not a proprietary issue. The safety committee at Associated General Contractors of Alaska, or AGC, now offers members and non-members access to a new and improved database housing a wide range of safety-related documents.

AGC made the switch to Procore Technologies’ construction safety database this summer. The new database is much more user-friendly than the previous software program, says AGC Events and Communications Coordinator Kimberley Gray.

“It is now much easier to upload new documents, update documents already in the database, and add new users as well,” Gray says.

ave you ever wondered what a banker looks at when reviewing financial statements? If you have applied for a loan before, you’ve probably been asked to provide a copy of your financials. A banker will review these documents and compute a variety of ratios to determine the financial health of a company. Various internal (managers) and external (bankers, bonding companies) users utilize financial statements to make informed decisions about a company’s future and to understand how a company has performed. Financial ratios can be broken down into four main categories—profitability, liquidity, leverage, and efficiency.

t can be confusing to try to determine what is the most important component of a safety program. I believe that all components of a safety program are important and are designed to work together. Two key components are good leadership and discipline. When used in the right way, discipline by good leadership can establish a company’s commitment to safety.

When using discipline in your safety program, you have the potential to transform negative behavior into positive behavior. Most people think of discipline as a punishment, which portrays it in a negative light. If used correctly—with good leadership—discipline can be a process in which supervisors encourage employees to demonstrate proper workplace safety, forming positive motivation and reinforcement.

he digital revolution has brought dramatic advances to nearly every industry in the past twenty years, including industrial construction. Software, machine control devices, GPS units, drones, and other tools have allowed contractors to increase productivity and precision while reducing costs. Companies that embraced these technologies are able to offer bids that reflect this savings. And while this was a competitive advantage two decades ago, now it’s a necessity for any contractor bidding on major projects.

Anchorage-based Accupoint, Inc. has been at the forefront of providing these systems since 1986, a time when most contractors had yet to conceive of the ways high tech could improve efficiencies and outcomes.

“Accupoint is a construction technology resource,” says Nelson Hays, a construction technology engineer with the company. “We offer hardware, software, training, and consulting on everything related to civil construction.”