Inside Alaska business

The Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium is working to plan, develop and support access to engineering academies for all Alaska public high school students. The consortium is an Alaska industry-based workforce development nonprofit. On this project it is working with the University of Alaska, the state Department of Education and Early Development, and the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The goal is to interest more students in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers in Alaska industries, the consortium said. A next step is to raise money for the program. Shell Oil is the first company to contribute, the consortium said.

Chamber speakers to take look at Alaska health care

"Costs and Trends of Health Care in Alaska" is the topic of the next Anchorage Chamber of Commerce forum, noon-1 p.m. Monday, Dena'ina Convention Center. Jennifer Bundy-Cobb from the Wilson Agency; Jeff Davis from Blue Cross Blue Shield; Linda Hall, director of the State of Alaska Division of Insurance; and Robert Gootee, president of ODS Alaska, will discuss current trends of insurance costs and how the industry establishes these prices, and share thoughts on health care reform. RSVP, 272-2401 or www. anchoragechamber.org.

Parnell names, reappoints council and board members

Gov. Sean Parnell has made the following appointments to state councils and boards: Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. -- Larry Hartig, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. He replaces Emil Notti, commissioner of the state Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.

Alaska Safety Advisory Council -- Phillip K. Galloway of Parker Drilling Co. from Wasilla and Douglas A. Tansy of Norcon Inc. from Delta Junction. Reappointed: Herb Everett of Westmark Hotels Inc. from Anchorage, Daniel R. Monteleone of the Municipality of Anchorage, Robert S. Peterson of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 from Juneau, Michael E. Schowen of BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. from Anchorage and Zebulon J. Woodman of Laborers Local 942 from Fairbanks. The 14-member council seeks to reduce the risks of accidental death and injury in Alaska.

Alaska Workforce Investment Board -- Larry Bell of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 from Wasilla. Reappointed: Martin T. Anderson Jr. of Alaska Technical Training from Sterling, Jim L. Lynch of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Bonnie Jo Savland of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. from Anchorage and Frederick A. Villa of the University of Alaska from Fairbanks. The board develops and manages a comprehensive state system designed to result in better job education and training programs.

ACS announces new store on Palmer-Wasilla Highway

Alaska Communications Systems has opened a new retail store in Wasilla at 1733 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, directly in front of the Fred Meyer store.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. The ACS store at 1590 E. Financial Drive in Wasilla is now closed, the company said.

Old-style barbershop is open for business again

George K. Griffin has returned after a yearlong illness to reopen Big City Barbershop, an old-style barbershop, at 404 E. Fireweed Lane, No. 104. Before Griffin's illness, the business had operated in Anchorage for more than 20 years. The business is open 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursday-Monday. The shop is closed Tuesday and Wednesday Call 764-6750 for more information.