The Alaska SeaLife Center has been awarded full accreditation by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. AMMPA, founded in 1987 with headquarters in Washington, D.C., is an international association representing marine research and education facilities and is dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals.
The ASLC is the only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility and public aquarium in Alaska housing marine mammals. This accreditation demonstrates the significance of the work being done by the husbandry staff, and reflects the high standards of animal care and research at the center.
Surgery Center opens new outpatient center
Surgery Center of Anchorage has opened as an outpatient surgery center at 4001 Laurel St., Unit A, in Anchorage. Following an inspection by Medicare, the first surgical procedures were performed Dec. 6, the physician owners said.
The new facility is a joint venture between 19 Anchorage area surgeons and Regent Surgical Health, a national surgery center development and management company. The new center initially will provide services in gynecology; general surgery; colorectal; ear, nose and throat; pain; gastroenterology; and urology.
Dr. Carol Mitchell-Springer is president of the center's board of managers.
The Surgery Center is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 563-1800, and the website is www.surgerycenterofanchorage.com.
GCI board authorizes stock repurchasing
The board of Anchorage-based telecom company GCI has authorized management to purchase up to another $100 million of its stock on the open market over time.
The board decision this month raises its total buyback authorization to $200 million. Management already has repurchased $76 million of stock previously owned by Arctic Slope Regional Corp., the Barrow-based regional Native corporation, as part of this program.
In addition, the GCI board authorized raising the buyback ceiling by $5 million per quarter.
"The plan does not have an expiration date," GCI said.
"However, transactions pursuant to the plan are subject to periodic approval by the board of directors. GCI expects to continue the repurchases for an indefinite period dependent on leverage, liquidity, company performance, market conditions and subject to continued oversight by the board of directors."
In March, GCI said it had reached a point with its debt load and debt obligations that it planned to resume buying back its stock on the open market.
Companies typically repurchase their stock when they have more cash flow than they can put to good use internally.
Stock repurchases put upward pressure on the price of a company's stock because they create demand for the stock. That rewards shareholders -- their stock is worth more.
GCI's market value has doubled this year with the news of its stock repurchase program, and it now stands at about $625 million.
GCI -- or General Communication Inc. -- is based in Anchorage and provides local, long distance and wireless phone, cable TV and Internet services across Alaska.
Crowley, Shell come to multiyear agreement
Crowley Maritime Corp. said it has a new multiyear agreement with Shell Oil Products US to supply fuel to eight more Shell-branded gas stations in Anchorage and Eagle River.
Now Crowley's Alaska fuel sales and distribution arm will supply all 17 Shell-branded independently owned gas stations in Alaska, including three that Crowley owns and operates, the company said. Besides Anchorage and Eagle River, Shell stations can be found in Mat-Su and on the Kenai Peninsula, Crowley said.
Crowley will make wholesale purchases of Shell motor fuel and transport, distribute and sell the fuel to the 17 stations, it said.
Crowley has operated in Alaska since 1953. Its headquarters are in Jacksonville, Fla.
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