Author: Chris Layton

Great Employee, New Citizen

Citizenship is something that most of us take for granted, but not Anden Owens. On January 24, 2020, Anden was sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. Anden moved to the United States from his home country of Jamaica in 2016 and applied for citizenship in 2018. “I had to go through many interviews,” Anden recalls. “In all, it took me one year and four months to finalize everything.”

Looking back, Anden says, “It’s been a journey.” As he went on, though, he definitely felt the journey was well worth the effort. “Being a citizen of the United States is really a privilege and an honor. A lot of folks dream of being where I’m at or would love this opportunity that I have been given. It is an amazing feeling which words can’t describe.”

Anden has worked for Chugach Alaska Corporation for three years—first with Chugach Government Solutions and now with Chugach Alaska Services. He has done great work for the company in these various business lines. We’re proud to call him an employee, and we would definitely like to be amongst the first to congratulate him on attaining U.S. citizenship.

Chugach Team Receives Prestigious Safety Award

In September 2019, EHS (Environment, Health, Safety) Daily Advisor hosted the Safety Culture 2019 Conference in Denver. Safety Culture 2019 encourages employers to create an engaging and effective safety culture in the workplace that will strengthen safety compliance and engagement, reduce risk for accidents and injury, and avoid costly OSHA fines and litigation.

This is the nation’s only conference focused exclusively on safety culture improvements and sustainable tactics to motivate teams to adopt safety initiatives. The agenda Included four prestigious, operational excellence awards:

  • Best Overall Safety Culture
  • Best Safety Committee
  • Exceptional Progress
  • Moving Beyond Compliance

Thousands of international applications were submitted in each category, and the application for the Chugach Industries, Inc. (CII) Picatinny Contract rose to the top.

CII Safety Manager Tom Hawthorne and the work of CII’s Safety Department and Safety Committee were the recipient of the Moving Beyond Compliance Award. In the application, Tom stated:

“Value and respect for all living things is built into our five Core Behaviors that guide everything we do, including our safety culture. As a company, we are devoted to creating a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. Our primary focus is workplace safety, and we strongly advocate safety as a team effort by empowering the employees to go beyond compliance and stimulate a positive safety culture. CII’s safety program is fundamentally based on human factors and behaviors, and the organization examines the root causes of unsafe behaviors-and the possible failures in management that might permit them. The organization understands that risky behaviors often occur intuitively. They respond to this by going beyond the traditional safety management approach in order maintain a safe environment.”

In response, EHS Representatives stated: “It was clear from the very beginning of their application that Chugach went above and beyond mere compliance within their safety culture. Through their commitment to a better understanding of motivational factors and their impact on decision making, Chugach has built a safety culture that moves far beyond the minimum requirements of safety compliance.”

Having previously received two Chugach Large Project President’s Safety Awards for our outstanding safety initiatives, CII Picatinny has a proven safety track record. “It is no surprise to me that this outstanding team is once again recognized for embodying our motto, Safety today secures tomorrow,” said Tim Hopper, President of Chugach Government Solutions (CGS). “Through empowering our people to maintain a safe working environment, Chugach and Picatinny lead the way and deserve this award.  I am so proud of this safe-minded, well-performing team.”

CII is a CGS subsidiary.

Passion, Dedication & Professionalism Vital to USPTO Process

Speaking at the 2019 International Intellectual Property Conference, Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), stated, “Human advancement has been consistently pushed forward by our inventors. They are our heroes. It is our inventors who will continue to push human development to even greater heights.”

Behind the scenes, a different host of heroes help innovators and entrepreneurs convert their ideas into intellectually protected property, ensuring that products remain the property of those who invented them. Since 2005, Chugach has had the privilege to be involved in this process through a contract with the USPTO. The Chugach employees who perform this work have an extraordinary range of experience, talent and maturity.

Daniel Gladding, Program Manager for Chugach Information Technology, Inc., leads this incredible pool of individuals. “I have the honor of managing the PTO-IAC contract at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. This contract requires that each employee be a former federal employee retired from the USPTO who attained a minimum status of Primary Patent Examiner, though many retired as Supervisory Patent Examiners,” Gladding said. “Most are chemical engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers and mechanical engineers, and many have a Juris Doctorate or law degree.”

These individuals comprise the Inventors Assistance Center (IAC). The IAC mission is to address customer inquiries and to provide patent assistance and information concerning patent examination policy, fees, forms, drawings and procedures. IAC staff interface with other departments within the USPTO and regularly direct calls to the proper business unit, technology center and art units. The IAC handles inquiries from every state and most U.S. territories, and from international countries from around the world.

“This team and the inventions they’ve examined come together to form an incredible story,” Gladding said. “Many of the things we take for granted and use in daily life were patented during their tenure at the USPTO.” Gladding goes on to identify one of the most unique aspects of the team he manages. “The average age of IAC workers range from 60 to 85, and they remain sharp as a tack and amazing at what they do.”

The age of his staff is a point of pride for Gladding. “Earlier this month, I had one employee retire with 63 years, 4 months of combined federal and contractor service. He started at the USPTO shortly after college, had a brief military deployment and returned to the USPTO until his retirement in 1998. He then immediately joined the Patent Assistance Center, which was later renamed the IAC.”

The extraordinary career span of IAC staff allows the USPTO to wade through volumes and volumes of applications and provide an effective mechanism to protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. “I’m proud to say that the IAC remains one of the top performing contact centers across the entire USPTO enterprise.”

But it’s not just about work for members of the IAC. One of Chugach’s Core Behaviors is ‘We Build Community,’ which means that, wherever possible, our employees endeavor to be a positive influence in the communities where they live and work. The employees working under the IAC contract definitely uphold this ideal. An overview of their involvement includes:

  • Assisting with lunch service and helping patients at a local nursing home
  • Volunteering for the advancement of individuals with intellectual disabilities
  • Ushering at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts during the summer season
  • Preparing sandwiches for the homeless population in Northern Virginia
  • Transporting donated food to a local food bank
  • Collecting magazines and books for local Veterans Hospitals
  • Distributing toys around the holidays for local shelters
  • Driving people who can no longer drive to medical and other appointments
  • Staffing a hotline taking calls from depressed and suicidal callers
  • Coordinating preparation of large church lunches for funerals
  • Serving on the Board of Directors of a Kiwanis Club
  • Calling bingo at a local nursing home
  • Organizing donations at Easter for 250+ mental patients
  • Working at a county food bank and delivering food to inner-city residents
  • Providing rides for seniors to shop for groceries

While this contract has a very small number of workers compared to the more than 5,700 employees who work for Chugach around the globe, it ranks as one of the largest in terms of skillsets, experience and the mission they fulfil to safeguard the strength and vitality of the world’s economy, and they are definitely doing their share to build community.

“They’re small but mighty in every way,” said Tim Hopper, President of Chugach Government Solutions (CGS). “I’m proud to have each and every one of them as teammates. They retired from Government service, yet continue to provide their expert technical advice and experience to millions.”

Chugach Information Technology, Inc. is a CGS subsidiary. Click here to see the latest Chugach opportunities and see how your talents and skills can fit into the Chugach family of companies.

Highlights of the patents issued by IAC examiners include:

  • Medical-related:
    • MRI (first patent for this imaging technology)
    • Finger clip pulse oximeter (used to check oxygen saturation, known as “pulse ox”)
    • Valved multiple blood sampler (now used every time we have a blood sample taken)
    • Implantable programmable medication infusion systems (stores & delivers medication)
    • Paxil (paroxetine), an antidepressant drug still widely prescribed today
    • Fluorouracil (adrucil), a widely used cancer chemotherapy agent
    • Indacin (indomethacin), an anti-arthritis medicine
  • Cryptographic system (one of the longest suppressed/suspended patents from filing date until issue—1933 – 2000, since encryption was kept a secret from the public and used in the military)
  • Method and apparatus for guilt detection (lie detector machine measuring pulse rate changes)
  • Components of computer disk drives (mechanical and electrical subsystems and parts of a drive)
  • Recyclable plastic cash register receipts (universally used today)
  • Microwave antennas (used in satellite & military communication; e.g., dish, parabolic, horn feed)
  • LED push button illuminated switch (now used in most illuminated switches)
  • Laser technology; picture tube technology; electric arc furnace technology
  • Floor covering with built-in heater (widely used in pre-school locations)

Huntsville Employees race toward a cure for cancer

For the third year in a row, Chugach’s Huntsville Regional Office participated in the 2019 Liz Hurley Ribbon Run to raise funds for Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund. Chugach Government Solutions (CGS), LLC was a Patron Level Sponsor for the event, and CGS employees raised an additional $1,100 in donations.

This year’s race raised more than $325,000 toward the purchase of a 3D tomosynthesis mammography machine for the Madison Hospital Breast Center. Rachael Harvey, CGS employee and seven-year cancer survivor, served as Captain for Team Chugach. Twenty people made up Team Chugach with family members on hand to encourage and support the team.

Kathy Grimes and Angie Astle, Anchorage-based employees and runners, flew down to Alabama to join Team Chugach and take part in the race. “It was magical to meet our colleagues’ families after hearing about them for years,” said Kathy. “Liz Hurley stood at the finish line and greeted every runner. I run in the Alaska Run for Women which is exclusively women. I was impressed to see so many male participants, nearly 2,000 out of 6,500 runners total!”

This was the race’s 15th year and is the largest 5K in North Alabama. CGS is proud to sponsor an event that brings together community and that champions a cause close to our employees’ hearts. Team Captain Harvey had high praise for her team, “I greatly appreciate everyone in the Chugach Family for their support, donations and kind words. Thanks again.”

At Home in the Middle of the Pacific

Since the United States took possession of Wake Island in 1899, the island has had a long and rich history with the U.S. military — from being a prominent World War II battlefield to a mid-ocean refueling station and, most recently, a missile defense testing site. Sitting in the middle of the Pacific next to the International Date Line, the motto of the island is ‘Where America’s Day Really Begins.’ For nearly 25 years, Chugach has been one of the first to rise with each day and support the military’s mission on Wake. Most recently, additional support to that team is delivered by Chugach Shareholder Deserae Stellwag.

Like the history that Wake Island has enjoyed with the United States, Deserae has had a long history with Chugach Alaska Corporation. Deserae grew up in Tatitlek. Her parents are Loretta Stellwag and Kevin Gregorieff and she is the granddaughter to Jack and Irene Kompkoff. As with many of the individuals from the Chugach region, Deserae spent a number of her childhood summers at Nuuciq Spirit Camp. “That was before there were many cabins, and participants slept in large tents,” Deserae recalled. “My favorite part of Nuuciq was meeting the different kids from the region and learning traditional arts and crafts together.”

This enthusiasm to meet people and learn would be the first steps toward a career. Beginning in 2002, Deserae joined Chugach as a member of Shareholder Services. “That was my first office job,” Deserae said. “It was fun working with everyone at the office and learning what Chugach did.” Deserae remembers this time as working at the “new building,” the headquarters that Chugach occupied on Anchorage’s 36th Avenue prior to the eventual move to JL Towers.

While going to college, Deserae returned to work for Chugach Industries, Inc. (CII). From 2005 until 2008, she served as CII’s first Administrative Intern, working for Tim ‘Hoops’ Hopper, who was then CII’s President; Bill Martz, who at the time was CII’s Construction Division Manager; and CII’s Project Manager Randy Randolph.

In her role at CII, her duties went beyond Administrative Assistant to learning about Federal Acquisition Regulations and, at Hoops’ insistence, how Chugach’s procurement system operated. This learning process brought her to Fairbanks and Las Vegas to train with the individuals piloting Chugach’s Corporate Procurement.

The next leg of Deserae’s Chugach journey was a transition to Chugach McKinley where she worked with Matt Hayes and Chris Viramontes. Shortly thereafter, Deserae served on the Board of Directors for Falcon International, a Chugach subsidiary that pursued commercial construction opportunities, the most notable of these pursuits was work to build up infrastructure for the World Cup in Qatar.

In 2017, Deserae took part in Chugach’s Training Without Walls (TWOW), a two-year set of classes offered to Chugach shareholders and descendants designed to build up social and professional skills. Halfway through TWOW, Deserae joined Chugach Federal Solutions, Inc. (CFSI) to serve as Wake Island’s Administrative Assistant.

Deserae instantly became enamored with the island and felt like she had discovered a new home and as with her previous roles with Chugach, Deserae’s duties have grown well beyond her administrative position. “One of the best things about being on a site like Wake Island is having the ability to support other departments and wear many hats,” Deserae said. “I’ve been able to support tanker operations, biosecurity for supply barges, fill in for the production control lead, and slowly transition into the environmental side of the house and train toward a tech position.”

Beyond the many opportunities offered on Wake, transitioning to life in the nautical environment on the island was a natural fit for Deserae. “If you replace all the snow and cold weather with sunshine and sand, living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is very similar to living in Tatitlek. It’s remote and surrounded by water, but you feel connected through the friendships you make with coworkers and the other island residents.”

Reflecting back on a career that has spanned nearly two decades, Deserae stated, “Chugach has always been the best company to work for and has always taken care of me. Chugach cares about building their workforce and I’ve always appreciated that.”

One of Chugach’s Core Behaviors is ‘We Empower People.’ At the heart of this behavior is the question ‘where do you want to go and how can we help you get there?’ Deserae Stellwag and her career path through Chugach’s many subsidiaries is a shining example of empowerment and how this question is answered.

“Deserae has always been willing to take on the next challenge and take on more than she’s asked to,” Hoops said. “Chugach’s success is due to this kind of commitment and dedication, and I would like to thank thank Dez for all the outstanding work she’s performed over the years and her dedication to Chugach’s Core Behaviors.”

Like Deserae, Hoops has served in many capacities during his time with Chugach. He currently serves as President of Chugach Government Solutions (CGS). CFSI is a CGS subsidiary. With more than 5,700 employees worldwide, CGS is always looking for new team members. Click here to see the latest opportunities.

“I would highly recommend exploring the jobs that Chugach has to offer, especially in the contracts we have throughout the Pacific,” Deserae encouraged. “If you grew up in or enjoy living in a small, outlying community, you’re an ideal candidate to join the Chugach teams working in remote locations.”

Chugach Superheroes

This year, Alaska Business Monthly’s Top 49er List was built around a comic book theme. Corporateville recognized the top performing businesses in Alaska, and through the efforts of a whole host of superheroes, Chugach placed at the top of the list.

Chugach Alaska Corporation would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to our business partners and our more than 6,000 employees. Alaska Business just released the Top 49er list of Alaska owned businesses, and Chugach took 5th place! With more than 949 million in revenue, Chugach earned its place in the top five for 2018, and we owe it all to the hard work and dedication of employees and the companies we work with.

One of Chugach’s Core Behaviors is ‘We Build Community,’ and that community starts with our partners and every employee who wears a Chugach badge from the distant shores of our contracts throughout the Pacific Ocean, across Alaska and the continental United States to eight countries across the world.

Alaska Business has celebrated Alaska’s Top 49ers since 1985. There are multiple ways to measure success, but the best standard in any industry is if the business is making money. While all of the Alaska’s Top 49ers provide quality products and services, create job opportunities, and support their communities, gross revenue decides who makes the list.

Together, we have much to be proud of in this recognition. We look forward to future success and, once again, we’d like to thank all of the people who will make it happen.

Coast Guard Saves The Day

For Chugach, we believe community extends beyond our employees, friends and families, especially in Prince William Sound. We’d like to thank the men and women of the United States Coast Guard for the vital role they play in safeguarding the waters that have been our home for more than 5,000 years.

In late 2018, Tom Karshekoff, a longtime Chugach employee, experienced a medical emergency while working on Nuchek Island. This remote and isolated island sits at the entrance of Prince William Sound (PWS). In the best of conditions, PWS offers some of the most tranquil and majestic scenery in the world; but in the winter, PWS can be dangerous and unforgiving.

That was case when the emergency call went out. Seasonal storms had hammered the area for more than a week, winds and cloud cover restricted air travel and seas were too rough for small boats. But the United States Coast Guard lives by the motto Semper Paratus (Always Ready), and they definitely lived up to their motto in October of 2018.

The crew of the Coast Guard’s Chandeleur heeded the call and immediately set sail. Stationed in Valdez, the 110-foot cutter came to the rescue and was anchored in Port Etches, just off the coast of Nuchek, within an hour. Crewmembers then came to shore on a rubber raft and stabilized the Nuchek caretaker for medavac to Cordova. Tom stayed at the Cordova Hospital overnight and was released the following day.

Chugach Alaska Corporation and the Karshekoff family would like to express our gratitude to the crew of the Chandeleur and the United States Coast Guard support personnel for all their help, and for their dedication and service.

“We hope that someday the ship’s crew can make a stop at Nuchek in better weather for a tour and a little rest and relaxation,” said John F. C. Johnson, Chugach’s Vice President of Cultural Resources whose department manages the historical site. “The door is always open.”

In response, Lt. Merrill Gutowski, Commanding Officer of the Chandeleur, stated, “We were very happy to have been able to assist in the medevac from Nuchek Island. Thank you very much for reaching out.”

Lt. Gutowski went on to commend his crew mates. “First and foremost, the crew of the Chandeleur work as a team. Beyond that the two members of the small boat crew were: BM1 Joseph Whallon and BM1 Kyle Casey. They were instrumental in bringing our small boat ashore in this unfamiliar port, quickly locating Tom and safely escorting him back onto the ship.”
“Finally, BM2 Jesse Lloyd played a role in Tom’s medical care through the process. He accompanied our ship’s boarding team ashore, quickly assessed that it was safe to move him to the ship, and then closely monitored him during the four-hour journey back to Cordova. Thank you again for following up. It was a privilege to be able to help him in his time of need.”

Tom Karshekoff is an Army veteran with a passion for the outdoors, and he’s been a winter caretaker and a traditional subsistence teacher at Nuuciq Spirit Camp for many years. Tom is from the village of Nondalton where he used to hunt moose while navigating the area’s deep snows and frozen lakes via dog sled. Prior to his time with Chugach, he was a big-game guide and commercial fisherman for most of his life.

Chugach Lends Assistance During Hurricane Hector

Due to the remote location of a number of Chugach contracts, being a good neighbor is vital part of our goal to foster community. That is especially the case on the many contracts we manage in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. Army Vessel Worthy, operated from Kwajalein by Chugach Management Services, Inc. (CMSI), recently evacuated four U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) personnel from Johnston Island in response to a U.S. Coast Guard request for emergency assistance. The Worthy was in route to a west coast shipyard for maintenance when they received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard to evacuation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel due to Hurricane Hector projected path through Johnston Island.

The Worthy’s crew were able to rescue the USFWS field crew and transport them safely to Honolulu. “We’re just glad to be in a position that we could provide some help,” said Captain James Rowe. Assuming a different course, the vessel remained approximately 260 nautical miles from the storms epicenter while traveling to Hawaii. The field team spent 6 days on the Worthy and stated that they, “could not have asked for a more hospitable rescue.”

The CMSI Kwajalein Project Manager, Mr. Robert Raines, received a letter of thanks from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “Please relay our heartfelt gratitude to your U.S. Army Vessel Worthy crew and leadership team. The families of the rescued biologists are also grateful for the care provided while aboard the ship. The support of our Department of Defense partners is vital to our ability to work in these remote places to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.”

Alaska Job Corps Students honor memory of Martin Luther King

Chugach employees strive to be a positive influence in the communities where they live and work. We have the privilege of managing a number of Job Corps Centers around the United States, and it’s inspiring to see the students strive toward the same goal. That is definitely the case at the Alaska Job Corps Center.

During the week that Americans celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Alaska Job Corps students honored his memory by volunteering their time to help the hungry and homeless in both Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. A total of 31 students and five staff members participated in community service activities, as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service national initiative, by volunteering at Bean’s Café and at the Mat-Su Valley’s ninth annual Project Homeless Connect.

On the morning of Jan. 18, 15 students and three staff members from the Center traveled to Bean’s Café in downtown Anchorage, where they sorted and organized toiletries and other essentials, stocked and organized the food pantry, and prepared and served food to hundreds of clients in the café. Most of the students who volunteered at Bean’s Café are active members of a student organization, called Youth2Youth Partners4Peace (or Y2Y), dedicated to preventing and eradicating bullying and youth violence.

The spirit of service in the name of Martin Luther King, Jr. continued on Jan. 23 when 16 students and two instructors spent their entire day volunteering at Project Homeless Connect, an annual event organized by the United Way Mat-Su to provide information and resources to thousands of homeless and underserved people in the Valley.

Eleven security and protective services students, led by instructor Wes Rath, woke up at 5:00 a.m. and got to the Curtis Menard Center by 7:00 a.m. These students greeted and guided clients and volunteers, and provided security services throughout the day, and did not return to the Center until almost 5:00 p.m. Five culinary arts students, led by instructor Helena Rodriguez, prepared soup and sandwiches and served lunch to nearly 200 volunteers at the event.

Anthony Henry, a culinary student who prepared the broccoli cheddar soup, says he enjoyed the event because he knows how important it is for individuals in the community to be able to access these resources.

“I can understand—from my own personal experience—how people really need these resources,” said Henry. “I never had more than three pairs of socks growing up. I talked to one guy who came into the event, and he told me ‘it is a brand new day, because now I have a brand new pair of socks.’ This is really valuable for people.”

Two of the security and protective services students who volunteered at Project Homeless Connect were also part of the group who volunteered at Bean’s Café a few days earlier. Both of these students, LiAnne Fenumiai and Jackie Wassillie, are members of Y2Y. As part of Y2Y, they know how important service is to not only the community, but also to their own personal development.

“Sometimes we get so stuck in our own worlds,” said Fenumiai. “We don’t always realize how much others may be struggling. But, for me, it felt really good to not think of anything else except helping someone else. I enjoyed spending both days not doing anything for myself, but instead just doing something for others.”

Y2Y plans and holds one service activity or campus/ community event every month. For their February service activity, 10 Y2Y students will be jumping into an icy lake in the Mat-Su Plunge, to be held on Saturday, Feb. 9. The students raised $1,000 from the Alaska Job Corps Student Government Association, and although the funds will directly benefit the Mat-Su Sertoma Club, the Y2Y students are jumping to raise awareness of the problem of bullying and youth violence.

“At Alaska Job Corps, we know how important it is to serve our communities so that we can make them a better place to live and work,” said Malyn Smith, Center Director. “I am proud of the spirit of service shown by all of these students who dedicated their time and effort to great causes in both Anchorage and the Valley.”

The Alaska Job Corps Center is a federally funded career training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and managed by Chugach Educational Services, Inc. The Center is committed to providing the highest quality programs for young adults by offering instructions in academics, trades and life skills through innovative methods that respond to the unique individual and group needs of today’s youth.

Alaska Job Corps Culinary Arts Students earn People’s Choice Award

One of Chugach’s Core Behaviors is We Build Community. Simply translated it means that we play an active role in the communities where we live and work. Under a number of our contracts, we work with Job Corps students across the United States, and these young men and women constantly teach us a thing or two about building community.

Aaron Isaac, a culinary arts student at the Alaska Job Corps Center, prepared the winning soup entry in the Empty Bowl Fundraiser held by the Kids Kupboard on Dec. 5, 2018. Several culinary arts students from Alaska Job Corps served the southwest-inspired soup, called “Fiesta Soup”, at the fundraiser organized to raise monies to help feed hungry children in the Mat-Su Valley.

During the fundraiser, guests selected handmade pottery bowls and then filled them with different soups provided by the volunteer cooks, like Isaac and the Alaska Job Corps students. After they sampled the soups, the guests dropped tokens at each station to vote for the best soup. Isaac’s soup earned first place, garnering the culinary arts students the “People’s Choice Award” at the annual event.

Instructor Helena Rodriguez led Isaac and the other students—Jackie Williams, Du Yang, Walker Daunning and Hailey Copeland—as they prepared for and served at the event. According to the executive director of Kids Kupboard, several volunteer soup-makers were forced to drop out of the event because of the earthquake on Nov. 30, but the Job Corps students still prepared and served the soup despite the challenges faced by many people in the Mat-Su Valley in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Dec. 14, 2018, was Isaac’s last day in his training program, and beginning the following week, he actively began applying for jobs in the culinary field.

The Alaska Job Corps Center is a federally funded career training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and managed by Chugach Educational Services, Inc. The Center is committed to providing the highest quality programs for young adults by offering instructions in academics, trades and life skills through innovative methods that respond to the unique individual and group needs of today’s youth.