The official newsletter of the MADE IN ALASKA program

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The official newsletter of the MADE IN ALASKA program

APRIL

2010

Insulfoam Manufacturer of the Year 2009

On March 31, 2010 the prestigious Made In Alaska Manufacturer of the Year Award for 2009 was presented to long time Made in Alaska permit holder, Insulfoam. The award was presented by Commissioner Emil Notti, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, and accepted by Daryl Sobek, General Manager of Insulfoam.

Insulfoam was selected as Manufacturer of the year for providing high quality products for Alaska's construction and remodeling industries that successfully compete with lower quality and cheaper products made outside; thus, providing jobs for many Alaskans.

Insulfoam has been manufacturing highperformance insulation foam at their Anchorage facility since 1973 and has been a Made In Alaska permit holder since the program's start. They've reinvested in Alaska numerous times.

Insulfoam is widely used in Alaska for numerous commercial, industrial and residential applications such as road & highway base, railroad base, plazas & parking structures, ice rinks, drill pads and mud pits, waterlines & septic systems, foundations, roof & wall insulation due to its many advantages. Insulfoam possesses great thermal properties that allow it to remain stable over its entire service-life versus the rapid deterioration of insulation value in competitors' products. Insulfoam is environmentally friendly; the product contains no formaldehyde or ozonedepleting substances. Insulfoam is waterresistant; it does not readily absorb moisture

from the environment, which makes it highly desirable for road and runway underlay. Insulfoam is locally produced providing reduced lead times and freight costs.

Insulfoam is accepted and used by numerous Alaskan institutions and public companies. Some entities of note are: FHWA, Alaska DOT, Army Corps of Engineers, Municipality of Anchorage, Mat-Su Borough, Conoco Phillips, Alyeska, AWWU, and FAA.

To date, the company employs 17 full time year round employees and an additional 18-20 Alaskans during the summer construction season. Many of the employees have worked for Insulfoam since the company's start.

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Insulfoam is a great example of how the Alaska economy benefits from local businesses, by providing high quality affordable products for local use while generating in-state jobs. Congratulations to Insulfoam on receiving the Made In Alaska Manufacturer of the Year Award! We appreciate your hard work.

Insulfoam Manufacturing Facility 628 Western Drive Anchorage, AK 99501 T 907.279.9407 F 907.279.9011

General Manager Daryl Sobek; dsobek@ Customer Service Contact Helena Riske; hriske@ Website:

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Workshops and Webinars 2010

The 2010 Made In Alaska workshops were held in 7 cities throughout Alaska including Kodiak, Wasilla, Homer, Soldotna, Glennallen, Delta Junction, and Fairbanks. Each workshop was a great success and a lot of fun. Numerous attendees showed up for each workshop, consisting of both Made In Alaska permit holders and non Made In Alaska permit holders interested in the several business topics presented. Attendees gained an abundant amount of business information on marketing, direct mail campaigns, online media, and digital photography. Furthermore, the workshops provided a great opportunity for attendees to meet and network with other small business owners in their community.

Thank you to all the workshop participants, it was a great opportunity for the Made In Alaska program to meet some of its permit holders and see and photograph their products.

Dana Reese, Program Administrator Olya Semiryazhko, Administrative Coordinator Bill Webb, Program Manager

On April 14, 2010 from 1:00-2:00pm Bill Webb will be presenting a webinar on Product Distribution in Alaska. Please email dana@ if you would like to participated in Made In Alaska's last webinar of the season.

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2010 Digital Photography Workshop Photos

Olya Semiryazhko presented the Digital Photography and Online Media workshops and webinars.

Dana Reese presented the Postcard Marketing workshop and webinar.

Bill Webb presented the Marketing Basics workshop and webinar, and will be presenting the Distribution webinar April 14, 2010.

Delta Junction

Fairbanks

Glennallan

Soldotna

Homer

Wasilla

Kodiak

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2010 Digital Photography Workshop Photos

The following photos were taken at the 2010 Made in Alaska Digital Photography workshops.

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Alaska Showcase 2010

On February 16, 2010 the Made In Alaska program

held Alaska Showcase 2010 at the Dena'ina

Civic & Convention Center in an attempt to introduce buyers and managers of large chain retailers in Alaska to Made In Alaska, Silver Hand and Alaska Grown permit holders and their products in hopes that more Alaskan Made products would be added to the shelves of local chain retail stores. Governor Parnell and his staff assisted Made In Alaska in this effort by sending out a personal invitation from the Governor to numerous buyers and managers of retailers. Included were Costco, Sam's Club, Kohl's, Fred Meyers, Home Depot, Three Bears, Holland America, New Sagayas, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Three Bears, and several more.

Unfortunately, even with Governor Parnell's personal invitation many of the buyers failed to attend Alaska Showcase 2010. A lot of work, time and effort were put

in to making this show a success by both participating permit holders and Made In Alaska's staff.

Alaska Showcase 2010 consisted of 48 Made In Alaska permit holders offering a wide variety of unique and high quality products. According to an initial vendor survey many participants very much liked the atmosphere, cost, and the goal of the show. Although, the majority of the participants didn't make a sale at the event, many made good contacts and learned what some chains wanted. Others did make sales. Made In Alaska will follow up with these chains as well as existing wholesale shows to make sure Made In Alaska permit holders and big chain buyers continue to be able to meet each other and do business together.

We thank all who participated in Alaska Showcase

2010.

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