President's Message
David Wight, President and CEO

Building Relationships that Matter

When I moved to Alaska four years ago, I immediately recognized the uniqueness of the pipeline and the people of this great state. People were informed and aware of the pipeline's historical significance. I was struck by Alaskans’ eagerness to get involved, through discussion and action. Because of the relationship between the people and the pipeline, I knew there would be an element of public involvement, but I didn't know it would come with such great reward.

To better connect me to the community, I quickly engaged in two programs. The first program is the Alyeska President's Community Panel. When structuring this panel, we looked for a diverse group that reflects a cross-section of Alaska’s communities and industries. Panel members have a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds and offer fresh perspectives about the oil industry and the public's overall perception of the pipeline. I refer to these people as "thought leaders" because of their insights about a wide range of issues. The panel meets quarterly in such places as Anchorage, Valdez, Cordova and Fairbanks, in addition to taking a daylong pipeline and operating facilities tour.

The second program is our Alyeska community breakfast meetings. Since April 2000, I've met with more than 300 Anchorage community, business and civic leaders. These meetings generally include informal introductions, a brief overview of Alyeska history, an open discussion about Alyeska's current challenges and questions and concerns voiced by our guests. Similar meetings are held quarterly in Fairbanks and Valdez. These meetings give me a direct link to the communities we serve and provide an effective forum for communicating the latest Alyeska news.

I absolutely value and appreciate my relationships with the individuals who participate in these meetings and bring significant diversity of thought to the table. For such a large state, we really are small in that we can quickly and eagerly establish meaningful relationships.