The Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association announced its sixth annual Stars of the Industry Awards at a Jan. 10, 2004 banquet at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel held during the group's annual convention. The Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association judged this year's contest. The following is a list of the employee winners and their appropriate categories for hotels with more than 150 rooms: Tania Andres, administrative and clerical for the Millennium Alaskan Hotel; Mario Cordero, banquet for the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel; Keith Saunders, F&B Outlets for the Hotel Captain Cook; David Eury, front office for the Hotel Captain Cook; Eduardo Menesses, housekeeping for the Hilton Anchorage Hotel; Sara Kuhnley, human resources and accounting for the Alyeska Prince Hotel; Dae Joo, kitchen for the Hilton Anchorage Hotel; Alex Nelson, sales and marketing for the Alyeska Prince Hotel and El Llego, security and maintenance for the Millennium Alaskan Hotel. The following is a list of management winners for hotels with more than 150 rooms: Greg Tyrey, banquet for the Anchorage Marriott Downtown; Luke Peroni, F&B Outlets for the Alyeska Prince Hotel; Jason Causey, front office for the Westmark Anchorage Hotel; Lelia Agbayani, housekeeping for the Alyeska Prince Hotel; Brooke McGrath, human resources and accounting for the Millennium Alaska Hotel; Roberto Sidro, kitchen for the Millennium Alaska Hotel; Karen Smith, sales, marketing and catering for the Hilton Anchorage Hotel and Kim White, security and maintenance for Denali Park Resorts. The following is a list of employee winners for hotels with less than 150 rooms: Jovita Esteban, kitchen for the Holiday Inn Express; Deb Leib, F&B Outlets for the Land's End Resort; Neal Pratt, front office for the Hampton Inn; Cynthia Watson, housekeeping for the Springhill Suites Anchorage and Mark St. John, security and maintenance for the Residence Inn. The following is a list of management winners for hotels with less than 150 rooms: Carol Garcia, F&B Outlets for the Land's End Resort; Craig Pester, front office for the Hampton Inn; Brooke Mueller, sales, marketing and catering for the Ramada Inn Anchorage Downtown and Jeff Brabec, security and maintenance for the Residence Inn. The 2003 Outstanding Supplier of the Year was Automated Laundry Systems and Supply, owned by Dick Wells. The 2003 Community Service Achievement Award was given to Mitch and Dennis Lavey of Days Inn Hotel. The Outstanding Member of the Year (150 rooms or more) was the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. The Outstanding Member of the Year (150 rooms or less) was the Residence Inn. All state winners go on to compete nationally in the American Hotel and Lodging Association Stars of the Industry Awards.

Wells Fargo Bank Alaska donated more than $1.5 million in cash to schools and non-profit organizations during 2003. More than 500 different groups received funding via the banking institution. Major funding of $50,000 or more was provided to the following Alaska non-profits: Alaska Pacific University Rural Alaska Native Adult Distance Education Program, the Anchorage School District fpr Bartlett High School building reconstruction, United Way, Sheldon Jackson College, Covenant House Alaska, the Arctic Winter Games to be held in 2006 in the Kenai Peninsula and the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. "Well Fargo is committed to supporting our communities and promoting their long-term success by giving back to non-profit organizations," said Alaska Regional President Richard Strutz. "These charitable contributions are just a part of our corporate giving program in Alaska and do not include our financial education programs and the countless volunteer work our team members contribute to organizations all over the state." Other notable organizations that received charitable contributions in 2003 are: Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, Alaska Dance Theatre, Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alaska Village Initiatives, Anchor Arms, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, Asian Alaskan Cultural Center, Bean's Caf, Boys and Girls Clubs (Anchorage, Fairbanks and Kenai), Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation, Campfire USA-Anchorage, Catholic Social Services, Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Doyon Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Hope Community Resources, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, Kids' Caf, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, NAACP-Anchorage, Nine Star Enterprises, Resurrection Bay Historical Society, University of Alaska Museum, Valley Performing Arts, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and the YWCA. Nationally, Wells Fargo is ranked eighth in giving among companies in all industries by Forbes Magazine and 12th by Business Week.