The following are past and recent press releases and appearances from our clientele.

Gonzalez Marketing

Gonzalez Marketing recognized as 2011 Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy by of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alaska Chapter.  Watch highlights from this event.

Anchorage, AK, November 30, 2011:  

2011 OUTSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS IN PHILANTHROPY AWARD
The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alaska Chapter, selected Gonzalez Marketing to receive the 2011 Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Award. This award was presented at the Alaska Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 18, at the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska.

EVENT & AWARDS
This annual, state-wide event recognizes outstanding philanthropic and volunteer contributions by Alaska companies, foundations and individuals. Award categories include: Outstanding Business/Foundation, Outstanding Small Business, Outstanding Philanthropist(s), Outstanding Volunteer(s), Outstanding Youth/Group, and Outstanding Professional. The Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Award is presented to the business or corporation with 25 or fewer FTE employees which has demonstrated leadership through monetary contributions and civic responsibility, and by encouraging volunteerism and dedication to Alaska by supporting the good works of nonprofit organizations throughout the state.

Gonzalez Marketing

Gonzalez Marketing LLC Places in Top International Awards – 2011 Summit Creative Award

Anchorage, AK, June 7, 2011:  Gonzalez Marketing LLC is a silver and bronze winner in the 2011 Summit Creative Award® competition for its creative work for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska.

“We’re pleased to be able to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska through our production work. In each interview conducted for this project, I was able to see dedication and results. I am happy to be a part of it and being recognized for our creative production is icing on the cake,” said Gonzalez Marketing, President Stephen L. Gonzalez.  “We look forward to continuing our production services for this agency.” 
Gonzalez Marketing LLC’s “Big Brothers Big Sisters Fundraising Video” received a Silver award for “Cause related/Sponsorship PR program” and a Bronze Award for “Not-for-profit Video”.  The video is a 10 minute interview series from matched “Bigs” and “Littles” that describe the activities and emotional bonds between matches. The video was unveiled during Big Brothers Big Sisters annual fundraising event, Dream Big to members of 12 communities around the state of Alaska. In turn, nearly $350,000 was raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska.

Alaska Medicare Clinic

Alaska Medicare Clinic opens doors to Anchorage Medicare patients.

Anchorage, AK, June 1, 2011: We are pleased to announce the opening of the Alaska Medicare Clinic, Inc; a non-profit primary care doctor’s office designed for Medicare part B beneficiaries. Conveniently located on Old Seward Highway, medical care is available by appointment to all Medicare Part B beneficiaries who need medical guidance in managing their blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol or other primary care issues.

Alaska is faced with an inadequate number of primary care physicians. Of those, many are not able to accept new Medicare patients. These facts, coupled with the exponentially growing Medicare population gave impetus to the idea of the Medicare Clinic. In 2008, Dr. George Rhyneer, Sr. in concert with members from Alaska Physician and Surgeons, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, Alaska State Medical Association and Providence Health and Services Alaska secured a feasibility study. The study bore out the need for medical services. The group then sought funding for the project and kept moving forward.

Related stories:

• Healthcare Options Expanding for Medicare, Low-Income - KTUU
• Medicare-Only Clinic Opens in Anchorage - KTBY
• Medicare-Only Clinic Now Operating in South Anchorage - KTVA
• New Medicare clinic opens - Anchorage Daily News

Gonzalez Marketing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mark Robokoff Joins Gonzalez Marketing LLC
Press Release - January 4, 2011

ANCHORAGE, AK — Longtime local producer and talent Mark Robokoff has joined Gonzalez Marketing LLC as Associate Producer/Account Manager.

Mark has over 15 years experience in Alaska media including media marketing positions at KTVA, KTBY and KYES, eight years as Producer/Director of The Alaska Real Estate Showcase, and most recently as an Internet Marketing Consultant specializing in real estate, construction and finance marketing.

Mark is a talented and respected local actor, has written, directed and appeared in many local television commercials and theater productions, and recently appeared in major films Everybody Loves Whales and Ghost Vision.

At Gonzalez Marketing, Mark will focus on real estate, construction and finance industry consulting, media marketing and production programs including web site and digital media, virtual tours, and social media management.

“With the changing nature of media consumption and industry advertising, we recognize the importance of new media in achieving branding and communications goals for our clients” says agency president and founder Steve Gonzalez. “Mark’s creativity and extensive career in media and real estate marketing adds a new dimension to our ability to develop and offer highly specialized media, marketing and production services to Alaska and Pacific Northwest clients. We look forward to having Mark on our team.”

Gonzalez Marketing LLC was established in 2001 by Stephen L. Gonzalez and is a full service advertising, PR and media production firm serving clients in health care, seafood processing, restaurant, regional native, utility, real estate/construction and non-profit sectors.

Agency services include strategy and media plan development, media placement and management, event production, and complete production services including website and interactive, audio for phone messaging and radio, print for magazine, newspaper, display and collateral, and HD video production for commercial television, PSA, documentary and corporate communications.

Clients include Alaska Lasik Center, American Hyperbaric Center, Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants, AMP Pharmacy, Pacific Harvest Seafood, Bering Fisheries, Aleut Corporation, Coastal Villages Region Fund, The Tatitlek Corporation, Pizza Hut, Red Robin, CaptrivateM, Plato’s Closet and Once Upon and Child.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Thomasson at jennyt@gonzalezmarketing.com or Steve Gonzalez at steveg@gonzalezmarketing.com.

Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants

Healy health care provider earns state honor
December 27, 2010 / by Kris Capps / Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

FAIRBANKS — Alaska now knows what Healy has known for years.

John Winklmann, Alaska’s Physician Assistant of the Year, is an incredible health care provider.

“Dr. John,” as he is affectionately dubbed, is an institution in Healy and the other Denali Borough communities he has served for more than 30 years.

Part owner of Canyon Clinic in the Denali area, Winklmann has a long history of helping local residents.

He was one of the original seven physician assistants in Alaska, and except for a one-year sabbatical, he has spent his entire career working in Healy. He is the only one of those original seven who is still working and living in Alaska.

As the sole health care provider in the Healy area for many years, he found himself on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.

“He never turned a patient away, ever,” said his colleague Lindsey Roberts. “I don’t know how many home visits he has done, thousands probably. He has always been available.”

Winklmann has a special knack for his profession.

“He always seemed to have this gift,” said Roberts. “Even when he didn’t know exactly what was wrong with somebody, when there wasn’t apparently anything wrong that you could see, he has a sixth sense of knowing that something is wrong and pursuing it.

“Thereby, he has picked up some pretty obscure diagnoses,” he said. “He’s got a real gift for that. He is an outstanding practitioner.”

“If I’m right about something, I feel lucky,” said Winklmann. “If it’s a good outcome, it doesn’t matter how we arrived at it. The good thing about working in the medical profession is, most of the outcomes are good.”

The privately-owned clinic in Healy, operated by he and his wife Pat until just a few years ago, was the longest running clinic of its kind in the state.

He didn’t realize when he came to Healy, with his bride in 1973, it would become his permanent home.

He had been a Green Beret and worked as a medic in Vietnam. He continued studying medicine after his military service and came north for some hands-on clinical work.

The United Mine Workers subsidized a medical clinic in Suntrana for Usibelli coal miners at the time, and he applied to work there.

“Our plan was to stay for a couple years,” he said. “We were young, with some wanderlust and thought we’d take off for the South Sea Islands.”

Of course, that never happened.

“In the end, I consider myself real lucky because I had the opportunity to grow up with a community that was really in its infancy,” he said.

He watched the area grow from a series of camps — power plant workers at Otto Lake, railroaders in Healy, miners at Suntrana —  to cohesive communities and eventually a borough.

“It was kind of nice,” he said. “It still is kind of nice, actually.”

Along with Bill Nordmark, Winklmann helped start emergency medical services in Healy. He is the longest-running member of the Healy Lions Club and has held many positions on Lions board.

He helped found the Healy Hockey Association and coaches youth teams.

Besides helping run the Canyon Clinic, he works at the medical clinic at Clear Air Force Base and every year he takes twice the amount of continuing education required for his profession.

His colleagues say he is “currently semi-retired,” but that doesn’t mean he has slowed down.

He serves on the Denali Borough Assembly and devotes many hours to local government.

Winklemann has been tireless in promoting and defending his profession.

“I think it would be fair to say he has been a fierce advocate for quality medical care, including emergency care for the borough,” said Roberts. “He has done extensive training of emergency medical technicians in Healy. Also, over the years, he has been a proctor for many, many students from the medic program.”

When Winklmann started working as a P.A. in Alaska, the profession was not licensed by the state. He was instrumental in chartering the Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants, at the first national conference for P.A.s. He served as president of both organizations.

Winklmann defers credit to others, especially the many volunteers who provide emergency medical services boroughwide.

“We wouldn’t be successful without them,” he said.

Throughout his career, his wife Pat has been by his side and an integral part of providing health care in the Denali Borough.

“We are all dependent on somebody else,” said Winklmann. “My wife has been a huge help over the years. It would have been impossible to be successful without help from her.”

Winklmann will reach age of 65 soon, but he has no plans to change his life or retire.

“I can’t imagine myself not working as a physician assistant,” he said.

Red Robin

Reporter, family flock to Red Robin for sneak preview
December 11, 2010 / by Andrew Wellner / Frontiersman

WASILLA — Between loading up the baby and finding my boy a clean pair of jeans, my wife and I almost didn’t make it to the sneak preview opening of Red Robin Saturday.

But by the time we left, happy and a little drowsy from all the food, we were glad we made the effort.

Valley residents not fortunate enough to have received an invitation to the sneak preview will have to wait until the grand opening tomorrow.  That is, if there are any Mat-Su-vians who didn’t get an invite. Judging by the crowds when we arrived just before noon, and taking into account that the restaurant has been holding these events since Wednesday, it seems Red Robin wasn’t stingy with them.

I was not surprised to see so many of my neighbors had taken Red Robin up on its offer. We tend to make a big deal out of grand openings for national chains around here. Anyone who doubts that need only remind himself of the appearance Sarah Palin made (prior to becoming a national celebrity but during the time when she was still a very popular governor) at the festivities when our Wal-Mart blosoomed into a Super Wal-Mart.

For the restaurant this sneak preview was a training exercise, to work the bugs out of the system. Apparently the RSVP process served Red Robin well since, despite the crowds, we did not have to wait for a table.

“So should we pretend to be mean, too, so you get the practice?” my wife, Amber, asked our server soon after we sat down.

“Of course,” our server replied.

“I want a damn Coke!” I growled, jokingly pounding my fist on the table.

Being a nurse, healthcare is never far from the front of Amber’s mind. Later, she joked that maybe she’d pretend to choke or fake a heart attack, to test them on that front.

Kidding aside, from what I could tell the restaurant could easily have just thrown its doors open on Wednesday. The prompt service and the fact that my glass remained full, despite the heroic amount of soda I was imbibing, led me to believe that the dry run was largely superfluous.

Which is good. I was worried after I read a colleague’s story on Nov. 20 saying that the staff roster was only half what it needed to be. There was no shortage of staff Saturday.

Amber ordered the BLTA Croissant (the “A” is for avocado) and I had the A-1 Peppercorn Burger. Gabe, our son, surprised us both and ordered baby carrots as the side dish for his corn dog.

Everything was just as we remembered it from Anchorage. (Though if you’re going to follow Amber’s lead, maybe tell them to go easy on the mayo.)

For his part, Gabe was more than pleased at the free ice cream drinks that magically appeared at our table. Anyone who gives that kid a Rookie Magic shake (or anything with Oreos, really) is his friend for life.

He and I spent the bulk of our time playing a game wherein I tried to take his picture to accompany this article and he protested and ducked out of the shot.

By the time my burger was gone I was ready for a nap. But I wasn’t off the clock yet. I still had another story to report.

“I am poop,” Amber said. Or maybe she didn’t. Gabe got hold of my notebook somewhere along the way.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270. 

Bering Fisheries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A newly formed LLC led by Siu Alaska Corporation and Copper River Seafood’s acquires idle Dutch Harbor plant formerly known as Harbor Crown Seafood
Press Release - August 10, 2010

ANCHORAGE, AK — A new company known as Dutch Harbor Acquisitions LLC has purchased the assets of the Harbor Crown processing plant located in Dutch Harbor. Dutch Harbor Acquisitions LLC is led by Siu Alaska Corporation and Copper River Seafoods, who have formed the LLC in order to create a seafood company that reflects the strength and experience of both entities.

Siu Alaska Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC). NSEDC is a private, non-profit Community Development Quota corporation which represents fifteen member communities in the Norton Sound Region including over 8,500 residents. NSEDC owns quota for red king crab, snow crab, and golden king crab, as well as halibut and sablefish IFQ and CDQ quotas. NSEDC and Siu also have ownership interests in a number of Bering Sea vessels including Pollock at-sea catcher processors, a cod freezer-longliner and crab vessels. NSEDC uses the profits from these activities to provide support to the subsistence and commercial fisheries, education, employment and other economic development activities in the Norton Sound region.

Copper River Seafoods, Inc. is participating in Dutch Harbor Acquisitions, LLC, through Western Alaska Ventures LLC., which is a partnership between Copper River Seafoods, Inc., Anchorage, AK, Stuart and Benett Kozloff owners of International Seafood Ventures LLC, Seattle, WA., and James Gonzalez owner of Pacific Harvest Seafood, Bellevue, WA. Copper River Seafoods is a significant producer of fin fish, primarily salmon, halibut and cod products with five operating companies and plants strategically located in Alaska’s Southeast, Central, Togiak and Bristol Bay regions. They are world renowned for the prized Copper River Sockeyes.

Regarding the purchase of the plant, which currently sits dormant, Scott Blake, President of Copper River Seafoods states: “We are excited about the opportunity to expand into the Bering Sea and Aleutian chain regions with such strategic partners. This allows our group total access to Alaska’s vast resources.”

John Eckels, President of Siu, stated: “The joining of these entities gives us a unique perspective and delivery mechanism through the supply chain and gives us a solid foothold for future expansion in the largest seafood landing port in the world. It will also provide job opportunities and further economic stability to our member communities in the region.”

The plant will operate under the trade name Bering Fisheries LLC and will be purchasing and processing halibut, cod, black cod and crab with plans to be open and operating by the end of 2010. The plant will be the only 100% Alaskan owned and Alaskan operated plant in Dutch Harbor.

For further information, contact info@beringstarfisheries.info.