Corporate celebrates its 10th year. (2002 Corporate 100).

The following pages list 100 of Alaska's most notable companies. Some are among the biggest and the most profitable organizations operating in the state; others have found their little niche in the business world. But all are the best examples that show the world that Alaska is a competitor in the global market.

For 10 years, Alaska Business Monthly has published the Corporate 100. They are companies that create jobs, pay taxes and support communities through donations and by encouraging employees to volunteer for service.

Many of these organizations have been constant residents of the Corporate 100 over the years. Others have grown to become a part of the list.

The Corporate 100 continues to be a reflection of Alaska business. Much has changed since the 1990s, a time when many of the state's industries were struggling to recover from the economic downturn of the late 1980s. Our first list (see page 32) showed this by the lack companies under the heading of construction, and that of finance, insurance and real estate. The companies under those two headings this year have tripled in number.

The state's economy survived on seafood and timber in the '90s. Representatives of those industries dominated our list under the "Manufacturing" heading then. This year has nothing of either industry.

In the last decade, Alaska business has become more diversified, adding to its collective portfolio. Where oil, timber and fish once dominated, the state's economy has spread out to include technology, retail and a host of support services.

"How we did business 10 years ago looks nothing like how we do business today," said Deborah Sedwick, commissioner of the state Department of Community and Economic Development. "We've focused on how to compete and how to do business differently. And the more we can diversify, the better off we'll be."

Sedwick credits much of that diversification to Alaska Native corporations. For the past decade, Native regional and village corporations have shown tremendous success in many different industries, she said, with combined revenues that soared from the millions of dollars 10 years ago to billions of dollars today. That, Sedwick said, helps all Alaskans.

"The regional corporations are an incredible economic engine for Alaska," she said. "They hold diverse portfolios, doing business all over the world. They have Alaska, especially rural Alaska, in their hearts, and that is critical to Alaska's future."

Other industries in Alaska are growing. In the last 10 years, health care, retail and the air cargo markets have seen increased revenues and better known company names operate here.

Overall, business in Alaska has been good. Of the corporations to disclose 2001 revenues for the Corporate 100, nearly half showed increases. The success of these businesses has allowed the opportunity to share the wealth through charitable giving and volunteerism. Businesses and their employees last year donated more than $9 million and thousands of hours to United Way alone, that organization reports.

United Way of Anchorage President Dennis McMillian said that donations from Alaska Native corporations are increasing more rapidly than any other industry in the state. That has helped give United Way of Anchorage a special honor: The organization raises more money per capita than any other United Way in America, McMillian said.

"Corporate leaders recognize it helps employee morale," he said. "It helps employees feel connected beyond their jobs, connected to the community."

Community involvement was an essential element in developing the Corporate 100 list. The diversity of the charitable organizations listed throughout the following pages is as diverse as Alaska's business.

What will the next 10 years hold for the Corporate 100 list? Will we see more Alaska-based businesses with offices in Asia or Europe? Or will they do it all from home using computer technology?

Most believe Alaska business will continue to diversify and to hold its own in worldwide competitive markets. After all, who knows cold-weather technology better than Alaskans? And then there's seafood, oil, natural gas. Will Alaskans use modern technology to find more and better ways to export that knowledge? On a personal level, Sedwick thinks these things are necessary.

"Everything we do in how we do business needs to be discussed and debated again," she said. "Everyone needs to figure out how to compete in a global market. If we don't do that, we'll get left behind. We have got to set ourselves up to compete."

Alaska Business Monthly mailed hundreds of surveys to businesses across the state offering participation in the 2002 Corporate 100. Every effort was made to ensure surveys were returned--if they weren't sent back, they weren't considered for the list. It was tough to select only 100 for profit organizations, but the scales tilted in favor of those you'll see.

The Corporate 100 has in the past 10 years become a way for businesses to promote themselves and to demonstrate their acceptance within their communities. And Alaska Business Monthly will continue to annually recognize Alaska's best.