Leaders Global Food Alaska 2009

Grower/Harvester/Direct-Marketer:  An individual, who has demonstrated leadership that grows, harvests or markets Alaska food, beverage or bio products.

William Barker, President of Olga Moser Bays Seafood Producers Alliance
Michael East, Owner, Kahiltna Birchworks
Bill Webber, Owner, Gulkana Seafoods-Direct

Manufacturer/Processor:  An individual who has demonstrated leadership that processes or manufactures Alaska food, beverage or bio products.

Alaska Champion: (Food Service, Restaurant, Distributor, Wholesaler, Broker or Retail partner:  An individual that has played a significant role in pulling Alaska food, beverage or bio products into the marketplace (local, national or international).  

Rob George, President, The Crabbroker        
Dave Lesh, Owner, Gustavus Inn at Glacier Bay          
Bob Sullivan, President, Plitt Fish

About The 2009 Semi-Finalists

William Barker, President of Olga Moser Bays Seafood Producers Alliance
Bill, who runs a family set net business on Kodiak Island, set out to educate buyers by teaching them how the wild salmon is harvested, by whom, and the differences between wild and farmed salmon. Not only did Bill decide to target buyers with his educational presentations, he also spoke directly with those who work face-to-face with the final consumer to create a positive, educated chain of salmon sales. This direct delivery of information to the market creates a growing demand for the high quality, wild salmon that only Alaska can provide. With nutritional information increasing and a successful knowledge chain, the market will be sustainable for this family business.

Ron Christianson, Vice President Retail Sales, Ocean Beauty
Founded in 1910 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Inc., is one of the largest seafood companies in the Pacific Northwest. Ron created the first high quality, all natural brand of smoked wild salmon broadly available in the US in 2001. Seven years later, this brand was in a dead heat for the top brand in the US. Rather than just providing an excellent product, Ron has also stressed the importance of presentation by providing top quality packaging. Not only has Ron had a great success with his product, his work has encouraged others to join the market and even his competitors are growing. Creating a substantial new niche for Alaskan salmon gives the processors another reliable sales outlet for quality seafood.

Michael East, Owner, Kahiltna Birchworks
Located in Palmer, Alaska, Kahiltna Birchworks is the largest producer of pure birch syrup in the world. In 18 years, Michael has succeeded in growing their company 2,150%. Kahiltna promotes ecologically integrated food systems, reverse osmosis and plans to introduce tubing and vacuum technology to reduce fuel costs. Through sustainable efforts and a three-year-cycle on tree tapping, Kahiltna will be able to harvest sap from these trees indefinitely. Michael has single-handedly created the infrastructure for his remote operation and because he maintains strict standards in quality, he has ensured the highest quality product. Through use of Kahiltna’s birch syrup, many Alaskan companies have been able to create niche market products that highlight the bounty of Alaska. 

Adam Galindo, Vice President, Taco Loco Products, Inc.
Adam co-owns a family manufacturing facility of tortillas sold to restaurants, grocery and food service customers.  Their year round manufacturing plant, located in Anchorage contributes to more then 20 year round direct jobs.   In addition to manufacturing a variety of tortillas and chips and providing traditional Hispanic food in their retail store, Taco Loco has collaborated with a local fish processor to create a heart-healthy salmon wrap; which is now in the Alaska school lunch program. Taco Loco has achieved an 85% share in the Mexican restaurant market in Anchorage and has its products in all major grocery outlets. Adam and his sister, Anabel, utilize long-term relationships with employees, restaurants and retail outlets as a foundation for innovation and sustainability.

Dave Lesh, Owner, Gustavus Inn at Glacier Bay
Third generation bed and breakfast located in the heart of Glacier Bay. Dave promotes local businesses to his guests and employs people from Gustavus.  Throughout his years as innkeeper, he has been a vocal advocate of Alaska's food products.  His guests  include many influence-makers in the food industry who have experienced the full menu of Alaska's rich resources through their Gustavus Holiday. Due to the remoteness of his operation, Dave has needed to adapt by creating a wastewater treatment plan, on-site gardens and greenhouses and installing energy conserving appliances. Visitors can expect to be fed on all homegrown produce and fish caught, almost literally, in the backyard. Guest never leave without a solid introduction to the merits of Alaska's food bounties.    Through Dave’s self-reliance and sustainability, he has been able to overcome the challenges of operating in rural Alaska.

Rob George, President, The Crab Broker
The Crab Broker is a company supplying fresh Alaskan crab to the US and Canada. Through his passion and lust for knowledge, Rob shows seafood buyers why Alaska's crab is supreme over competitive products. Rob stresses the importance of relationships with both buyers and suppliers to emphasize the importance of sustainable harvesting practices and high quality standards. The Crab Broker fills a niche that was previously unoccupied by providing fresh, uncooked crab and using all parts of the crab. Rob personally invites chefs and seafood buyers on an annual Crab tour.  During the visit Rob spotlights production areas of Alaska resulting in an increased confidence in sourcing Alaskan product and long-term customer loyalty to the Alaska species.

Geoff Larson, Owner, Alaskan Brewing Company
Geoff, an engineer by training, works tirelessly to innovate new processes and products that have resulted in  22 successful years of manufacturing.   The Alaskan Brewing Company, located in Juneau, has won over 33 awards for their beers, both national and international and employs over 60 people year-round.     Geoff has succeeded in producing and distributing an internationally recognized, quality product with the economic challenges of manufacturing in a remote location. Geoff leads the charge for constant innovation and quality improvement and safety from the product and supply chain systems to the physical plant.  Beyond the commercial success of it's beers, Alaskan Brewing was the first craft brewer in the nation to install a carbon dioxide recovery system, which captures and reuses the greenhouse gases of the fermentation process.  Geoff's innovations in reducing energy dependency on the local power grid, also proved to be helpful in light of the recent area power outages.     Geoff and Marcy have demonstrated their leadership more recently with their foundation, Coastal Code, to support the health of the Pacific Ocean.

Bob Sullivan, President, Plitt Fish
Plitt Fish pulls Alaska premium-caught seafood product such as halibut, salmon  and black cod into both U.S. and European markets. Upon purchasing the company in 1985, Bob eliminated the middleman of the old business model of Plitt and began selling directly to restaurants as well as providing customer specific innovations such as "emergency delivery”.  At the same time, he strengthened his relationship directly with Alaskan harvesters. Not only does Bob host Alaskan tours for Plitt customers, he also continues to work with harvesters on best practices and communications of those practices to end user/buyers.    With Bob Sullivan at its head, Plitt Fish has won the Inc. Magazine, award for fastest growing company in North America three times in the last ten years.

Bill Webber, Owner, Gulkana Seafoods Direct
Bill Webber is a commercial fisherman who sells his catch directly to customers in the continental US and now the US Virgin Island.  Bill has created higher quality standards and markets his product as Processed At Sea, which is his proprietary processing technique to provide sea-fresh salmon.   Bill is now embarking on an even more advanced pressure bleeding system that no doubt will revolutionize the gillnet and set net fisheries.   To monitor packaging reliability and shipping methods, Bill includes a temperature monitoring device is placed in each order.  Bill has spent 40 years improving upon his harvest, processing and distribution  techniques to realize the highest quality salmon for his high-end clientele.    Beyond operating his two related businesses - Gulkana Seafoods Direct and Webber Marine, Bill serves on many boards of industry-related associations and yet is always available to talk to his clients or other harvesters seeking to advance their efforts in quality harvesting/direct marketing.

The Global Food Alaska Recognition of Achievement Award is designed to acknowledge and profile the efforts of the Alaskan entrepreneur(s) who has persevered to build a sustainable and competitive business in food, beverage or bio products.  These are leaders who have succeeded or beat the odds – in making commercial success of Alaska’s bounty and made a positive difference.  

Award winners will be will be recognized for creating a successful business through the application of commitment, dedication, hard work, ingenuity and innovation while meeting Alaska’s challenges of remoteness, geography, weather, technical know how, limited population base and infrastructure.

Final award winners will be announced and presented at a special awards reception on June 10, 2009 at Global Food Alaska – 2009.