Arctic O&G Directory Fall 2020 - Ahtna provides state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary support to oil & gas industry

A modern corporation guided by traditional values of hard work and integrity

Petroleum News

Q. What is the official name of your company?

A. Ahtna, Inc.

Q. Is your firm a subsidiary or affiliate of other companies? If so, please name those firms and their relationship to your company.

A. Ahtna, Inc., is an Alaska Native Regional Corp. parent company. Ahtna’s holding company, Ahtna Netiye’, LLC, provides strategic direction and corporate structure stability for the Ahtna family of companies that is aimed at long-term growth and success. Netiye’ is an Ahtna Athabascan word meaning “our strength.”

Q. What do you most want people to know about your company?

A. We have a strong and vested interest in ongoing oil and gas production in the state. Ahtna laid the first section of pipe on the Trans Alaska Pipeline System which passes through 197 miles of Ahtna’s traditional lands.

Q. Where is your company located?

A. Ahtna’s Corporate headquarters are based in Glennallen, Alaska. We have project locations across the country and other main offices are located in Anchorage, Palmer and Fairbanks, AK; West Sacramento, Irvine, Oakland, Monterey and Pleasant Hill, CA; and Renton, WA.

Q. What year was the company founded and by whom?

A. Ahtna, Inc. is one of 13 Alaska Native Regional Corporations established by Congress under terms of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. Ahtna was formally established in June of 1972. Ahtna Inc. is owned by more than 2,000 shareholders, the majority of whom are of Ahtna Athabascan descent.

Q. What is your company’s primary business activity?

A. Our multi-disciplinary staff of professionals provides civil and vertical construction, construction management, aggregate production, geomatics, environmental services, engineering, operations and maintenance, spill response and prevention, facilities management, logistics and security support to the oil and gas industry.

Q. Are there important projects the company is currently a part of or has done recently?

A. Our latest endeavor is acquisition of 23 acres of North Slope pad space situated within the Prudhoe Bay Unit which is available for leasing. The pad footprint is strategically located less than five miles from the Deadhorse airport with 15 acres of gravel and ideal space for a laydown yard or equipment, rig, or camp storage.

Q. How many employees does your company have?

A. We have over 1,300 employees worldwide with nearly 400 based in Alaska.

Q. Is your company expanding any of its operations or locations?

A. We have purchased an office in Monterey, California where we have successfully operated for over 20 years and opened a regional hub office in the Renton area of Seattle. Our acquisition of vessels and equipment from a leading dredging and civil construction firm has opened new possibilities in Florida. The acquisition is part of our overall investment strategy which is focused on companies that increase our service offerings, provide shareholder value and diversify our customer base. Our Fairbanks environmental services staff has moved to a larger office and our Anchorage-based staff has increased and we have moved some of our subsidiary staff to a neighboring building to accommodate the growth. The purchase of a new storage warehouse in midtown Anchorage has allowed us to securely store our subsidiaries’ equipment in a centralized location.

Q. What is your company’s main strength or its edge over the competition?

A. We are a modern corporation guided by traditional values – values that define our corporation and the way we do business. Thousands of years ago, the Ahtna Athabascan people built a home in a harsh Alaska environment. For generations, they survived and thrived through teamwork, hard work, community, loyalty and integrity. Respect – We appreciate our connectedness to all; Unity – We are One Team, One Ahtna; Safety – Safety first, the right way, everyday; Quality – We exceed expectations through excellence; Integrity – We do the right thing.

Q. What new markets, clients, partners or projects did your company attract in the last year?

A. We continue to form new companies and our six-fold bonding capacity increase since 2017 to $300 million has allowed our subsidiaries to pursue larger government and commercial contracts.

Several subsidiaries have established new program partnerships over the past year through the Small Business Administration mentor-protégé program. Merrick & Company of Denver has been supporting us in developing geospatial expertise for the energy market sector. A newly developed partnership with Stantec, Inc. continues to grow and create new opportunities in the Alaska Oil and Gas markets and government contracting. Our joint venture with Great Lakes Environmental & Infrastructure is pursuing work with the US Army Corps of Engineers. We are excited about a new relationship with M.A. Mortenson Company, a Minneapolis-based construction company, that will expand our services in the Midwest. We now have three joint ventures with CDM Smith, a global engineering and construction firm. Levee work in the Midwest under our Klutina River Contracts JV with CDM Smith has grown beyond our expectations.

Q. What is the most challenging work/contract the company has undertaken?

A. This year the construction and environmental work being done by one of our subsidiaries in the Aleutians has been a real challenge. We have a proven track record in successfully completing projects in these logistically challenging locations. Risk mitigation plans had to be developed to address the concerns from the COVID-19 virus and assure all parties involved that we could conduct our projects safely and on schedule.

Q. What are the biggest obstacles to completing work your company undertakes?

A. Many of the projects we have in Alaska are seasonal and are impacted by logistics and weather. Normally our projects are bid with a certain amount of weather delay days, but couple that with transportation schedules and restrictions and you can run the risk of delaying a project by a year.

Q. What do you see as your company’s biggest challenge in the next five years?

A. Continuing to grow our Alaska work to accommodate a shareholder workforce that is growing. Oil tax initiatives such as the “Fair Tax Act” continues to create uncertainty and run the risk of potentially delaying projects.

Q. Does your company have an anniversary or other landmark event coming up?

A. Next year, 2021, will mark the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and we will celebrate 50 years of business in 2022.

Q. What is your company’s safety record? What steps does the company take to ensure a safe work environment?

A. Ahtna is committed to a safe and productive work environment. Our occupational illness and injury rates are well below the current national average despite extreme inclement weather and remote operations. Currently, our Experience Modification Rate of 0.59 is well below the construction industry national average.

Our site health and safety plans ensure hazards are identified and mitigated, specific site-safety reviews are continuously conducted, and daily safety and work plans are held.

Our specialists bring many years of regulatory compliance experience in all facets of environmental engineering, construction, waste-management and other types of safety-related experience in both government and private-sector arenas.

Q. Has your company been involved in any community projects or charity events?

A. As an Alaska Native corporation, Ahtna constantly seeks to enhance the overall well-being of our shareholders through employment, educational opportunities, monetary dividends, and other benefits. We are not focused solely on profitability, but also the provision of vital shareholder services and programs aimed at preserving our cultural identity, developing our resources, protecting our land and enhancing the lives of our people. Ahtna specifically supports non-profit organizations in the Ahtna region that address quality of life issues, culture, environmental stewardship, safety, and education.

Q. What is the address of your company’s Web site?

A. www.ahtna.com