Vol. 2, No. 2 • February 02, 2007
Business as basketball
Helvi Sandvik
NDC President
The people in the NANA region love basketball. The school gyms are gathering places for the entire community and everyone plays, from four-year olds, to elders. As I sat watching one of the recent games I reflected on how business is very much like basketball.
First, business is all about team work, and in NANA's businesses we depend on our team members to work closely together to achieve a common goal winning in the world of business by delivering tremendous service and meeting all of our commitments every single time we engage with a business client.
Second, we play both home and away games in our businesses, conducting some of our activities in our own headquarters and also serving our clients in their facilities. When we're "away," we’re in a foreign environment. But just like in basketball, we can use the challenge of the away court to our advantage and make sure we're properly motivated, well prepared, and fundamentally sound in our execution.
Third, every now and then in business, we too need to call a time out and make sure that our team remembers our training. We need to catch our breath, to go back to basics and fundamentals, and then re-enter the game with a renewed energy and sustained momentum to carry us to a win. When we call that time out, we talk about NANA's values; we talk about carrying the values of our shareholders into that client environment; we talk about making sure we respect those who have come before us and paved the way, and then play hard when we get back into the game.
Finally, we're out to win in business, but winning isn't everything. How we play the game is equally as important as winning. We want to be known for honoring commitments and living up to the values of our shareholders. We also want to be known as much for how we play the game of business as for the outcome.
Our commitment is to increase profits. The profits we earn pay for critical social, cultural and land management programs as well as for dividends that are so important to our shareholders. Our commitment to ourselves is to play the game of business with the utmost of integrity and with the respect for our other team members, our partners, our competitors and our customers.
By Tim Bradner Oil and gas gears up
William Cromer of The Cromer Group talks about Alaska's relationship with the oil companies. "Its like a marriage," he said. "Sometimes good, sometimes bad, and always changing."
Several NANA employees recently heard an overview of the oil and gas industry at the annual Alaska Support Industry Alliance "Meet Alaska" conference in Anchorage. Presentations included discussions on why industry activity in Alaska has increased so dramatically and how major oil and exploration companies are planning for 2007 and beyond. Chevron announced plans for developing four new exploration wells on the North Slope, their first Alaska exploration in 25 years; ConocoPhillips Alaska and BP Alaska discussed current slope development activity and the importance of the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline; and ExxonMobil reviewed the status of U.S. natural gas markets and talked about why new Alaska gas supplies are important to meet future demand.
The conference also provided an opportunity to learn about the economic impact of the oil industry. NANA Operations Manager Carolyn Smith said she was especially interested in the discussion about Alaska's Permanent Fund and its impact on Alaskan families. Governor Sarah Palin discussed her plan to restart talks with producing companies about the gas pipeline, adding that she will work to encourage new companies such as Shell, Pioneer Natural Resources and Talisman Energy to explore. Officials with Canadian regulatory agencies updated the audience on the right-of-way permitting status for an Alaska pipeline, adding that they will issue approvals for a pipeline 18 to 20 months after receiving a complete application from the industry.
Manager Profile
Bob Malkowski, President, TKC Technology Solutions
Bob Malkowski, President, TKC Technology Solutions
Fishing on the Kobuk River.
As President of TKC Technology Solutions—a subsidiary of Qivliq, LLC—Bob Malkowski has already set a very high bar for himself, growing the company from one employee in 2004 to 120 professionals who today design, integrate and implement technology solutions that bring in over $50 million for NANA.
With offices in Anchorage and Fairfax and Suffolk, Virginia, TKC Tech services include: architecture and enterprise systems, IT security, telecommunications and wireless systems, Wi-Fi development and deployment, special purpose IT programs, financial analysis, and construction management and SCIF build-outs.
A key to Bob's success and getting the most out of his team can be attributed to his belief that challenged employees are motivated and productive employees, and that a good manager leads by example.
"Most people want to do good work and want to be part of something exciting in their work that can add value," he says. "The trick is to give people work that stretches them a little from their real capabilities and create that environment of excitement."
Bob claims he has never had a "job" in his life. Going to work for him is like getting paid to do his favorite hobby. "To top it all off," he said, "The proceeds support a group of Americans that have been historically ignored. What could be a better job?"
Bob has been with the NANA family for five years. Before accepting this position, he was Program Director, then VP of Operations for TKCC. As an electrical engineer, he has an extensive resume that includes having his own consulting company, working for the White House Communications Agency and various positions with the Coast Guard before retiring from there.
There is no substitute for actual experience, he says. As a 21-year-old Ensign on a ship, he often went to the crusty chiefs for guidance. "I remember one time telling the chief something I had heard and asking his opinion. He told me in very salty language that, 'They're all liars, everybody that tells you something is a liar. You should believe what you see with your eyes, or experience with your hands first, you should believe what you read second, what you hear last—and only if absolutely necessary.' I responded with, 'If everyone is a liar and I shouldn’t believe what they tell me, then I guess I shouldn't believe you?' He answered, 'Especially me.'"
Besides his academic and professional experiences, he feels fortunate to have had the influence of middle-class, hard-working, supporting parents, and to have worked with some of the best professionals in his industry. "Some of these people were my bosses, some my peers and many my subordinates. People are full of lessons if you look and listen," Bob says. "I take a piece of all of them with me through each day."
Berries are for picking
Recently, this headline appeared in a newspaper: $4 Million Award in BlackBerry Car Accident. The story went on to tell how a 71-year-old woman will receive $4.1 million because a van driver ran a red light and crashed into her while he was looking down at his BlackBerry to try to find his destination. Later in depositions, he could not even recall if the light was green or red when he went through it, though witnesses testified that the light was red.
Increasingly, states are passing laws limiting the use of hand-held IT devices such as cell phones and the popular BlackBerry, recognizing that using electronic devices while driving is as dangerous as drinking while driving.
It is NANA's view that there should be no electronic device use while driving.