The Alaska Chamber of Commerce has unveiled the winners of its prestigious Premier Business Awards for 2025. These honorees include:
Bill Bivin Small Business of the Year: Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal
Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year: STG Inc.
Local Chamber of the Year: Kenai Chamber of Commerce
William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year: John Hendrix
Selected from a pool of statewide nominees by the Chamber’s Executive Committee, these recipients will be celebrated for their exceptional contributions to Alaska's economy at the Alaska Business Summit on Oct. 9, 2025, at the Alyeska Resort.
The categories and criteria for nomination and awards are:
Established in 1993, this award acknowledges independently owned and operated Alaska businesses with fewer than 100 employees that exhibit leadership and community involvement. Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal (the Terminal) stands out as the sole cruise ship dock in Sitka and has revolutionized the visitor industry in Southeast Alaska.
Founded by Chris McGraw, the Terminal was built without guaranteed cruise line contracts, instead relying on vision and entrepreneurial risk-taking. Today, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, providing essential infrastructure that powers Sitka's economy and supports local jobs.
In addition to dock operations, the Terminal offers space for small businesses, including bars, restaurants, retailers, and tour operators. It has become a cornerstone for Sitka’s tourism sector, stimulating economic activity that generates sales, property, and head tax revenues for the city. The Terminal has also demonstrated strong civic leadership, spearheading community-led efforts to protect local businesses from harmful ballot initiatives.
Established in 2018, this award honors companies with more than 100 Alaska employees that epitomize leadership in their industry and consistent community involvement. STG Inc. is a leader in rural infrastructure development, constructing projects in some of the most remote and weather-challenged regions of Alaska. Their work includes significant contributions to telecommunications, fiber installation, and structural foundations, such as their pivotal role in GCI’s TERRA network connecting Western Alaska.
STG is renowned for its deep cultural awareness and commitment to local communities. They prioritize local hiring and mentoring, often transforming trainees into long-term team members. Beyond project sites, STG invests in communities by donating goods, supporting elders, and participating in local volunteer efforts. The company also supports statewide organizations, including the Scotty Gomez Foundation and Calista Education and Culture Fund. Internally, STG cultivates employee well-being with competitive benefits and a culture rooted in collaboration and generosity.
This award recognizes local chambers for consistent community involvement and strong reputations for business support. The Kenai Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center has flourished under the leadership of Executive Director Samantha Springer, evolving into a trusted, dynamic, and forward-thinking organization. In 2024, the Chamber played a crucial role in revitalizing the Kenai Cultural Center, reinstating monthly rotating exhibits for the first time since 1993. It also launched the Kenai Chronicles Lecture Series, expanded scholarship programs, and created the Kenai Peninsula Cultural Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to historical preservation, education, and community restoration. The Chamber regularly hosts community-wide events like the Fourth of July Parade, Christmas Comes to Kenai, and a new Haunted Chamber attraction, offering residents opportunities to connect and celebrate what makes Kenai unique.
The Chamber fosters regional collaboration, recently partnering with the Soldotna Chamber on shared programming and campaigns. Its initiatives promote economic sustainability, youth development, and civic pride, positioning it as a vital force in the Central Peninsula.
Established in 1964, this award honors an individual who has made substantial and continual contributions of statewide significance in the private sector. John Hendrix is celebrated for his entrepreneurial spirit and decades of contributions to Alaska’s energy sector. A civil engineer with over 40 years of international and local experience, Hendrix chose to channel his expertise back into the state where he grew up.
Hendrix has held leadership roles at Apache Alaska, BP, Schlumberger, and NANA, and served as oil and gas advisor to the governor’s office. More recently, he founded HEX, LLC and acquired Furie Operating Alaska, which operates offshore platforms in Cook Inlet and supplies natural gas to communities in Southcentral Alaska. Beyond his professional achievements, Hendrix has devoted his time and resources to supporting education, youth sports, and community organizations across the state.
The Alaska Chamber is a non-profit founded in 1953 with the mission of promoting a positive business environment in Alaska.
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