Bringing Alaska Manufacturers to the Table: AKMA’s Listening Tour with Senator Sullivan in Mat-Su Valley

Megan Militello
Feb 5
4 min read

A group in a factory examines boot materials on a table. Brown boots, fabrics, and patterns are visible. The atmosphere is focused and engaged.

When Senator Dan Sullivan’s team contacted AKMA to help organize a listening tour with local manufacturers, we saw an opportunity to do more than host a visit. We saw a chance to demonstrate what Alaska manufacturing looks like today—and what it is capable of becoming.

Working closely with AKMA members in the Mat-Su Valley, we coordinated six manufacturing facility tours in a single day, each located within ten minutes of the next. The goal was intentional: to show Senator Sullivan the breadth of Alaska’s manufacturing sector, the markets these companies serve, and the economic value they generate by bringing dollars into the state through innovation, exports, and local production.

Each stop highlighted a different facet of Alaska’s manufacturing ecosystem—from advanced technology and heavy fabrication to consumer goods, environmental solutions, and food production. Together, they told a compelling story of resilience, ingenuity, and opportunity.

A Day of Listening, Learning, and Manufacturing

Montis Corp

Three men converse in a workshop, surrounded by tools and equipment on shelves. One man wears a cap, and there's a fire extinguisher on the wall.

Montis Corp designs and manufactures the Montis Weather Observation System (MWOS), a sophisticated tool used at airports, vertiports, and roadway locations to improve safety and operational efficiency. MWOS integrates 360-degree camera imagery, weather sensor data, ADS-B tracking, and analytics to enhance real-time situational awareness and decision-making.

COO Robert Combs and CFO Taylor Holshouser walked us through the manufacturing process and demonstrated the system in operation. Seeing advanced technology built in Alaska—and deployed nationally and internationally—underscored the role Alaska manufacturers play in high-tech, safety-critical industries.

Alaska Gear Company

Formerly known as Airframes Alaska, Alaska Gear Company designs and manufactures high-quality backcountry aviation and outdoor gear built for Alaska’s toughest conditions. Their product lineup includes fabricated aircraft components, Alaskan Bushwheels, Arctic Oven tents, canvas wall tents, and Arctic-grade sleds.

CEO Sean McLaughlin shared updates on the company’s progress with the iconic Bunny Boot and their efforts to bring more of the manufacturing process in-house at their 100,000-square-foot facility in Palmer, rather than outsourcing production. This shift represents a meaningful investment in local manufacturing capacity and workforce development, while reinforcing Alaska Gear Company’s deep roots in Alaska’s aviation and outdoor communities.

Triverus

People in a warehouse stand near yellow industrial equipment, looking interested. The setting is industrial with gray walls and a large door.

Founded in 2001, Triverus is an Alaska-based company specializing in advanced surface-cleaning, recovery, and environmental-compliance solutions. Originally developed in partnership with the U.S. Office of Naval Research, their patented technology is used by the U.S. military and has since been adapted for commercial, aviation, oil and gas, construction, and infrastructure applications.

CEO Hans Vogel described a unique refurbishment and upgrade program in which equipment is returned to Alaska for rebuilding and enhancements before being sent back to the original customer.

This approach extends equipment lifespans, reduces waste, and reinforces Alaska’s role as a center for high-value manufacturing, repair, and lifecycle support.

Four people in an office meeting around a table with a model truck. A presentation is displayed on a screen. Room is bright and modern.

Tri-jet Manufacturing Services

Tri-jet Manufacturing Services is a full-service fabrication and manufacturing company offering a true “one-stop shop” for projects ranging from equipment repair to full custom builds. Their capabilities include CNC machining, water-jet cutting, engineering and 3D drafting, welding, fabrication, coating, and additive manufacturing.

General Manager Danielle Johnson demonstrated how Trijet supports both Alaska-based and out-of-state companies by partnering early in the design process to improve efficiency and reduce costs. This collaborative approach allows customers to move projects forward more effectively while keeping complex manufacturing work rooted in Alaska.

Three men in a workshop, one speaking and two listening. They are surrounded by machinery and tools. The atmosphere is focused.

Mountain Dog Treats

People inspecting green bottles in a workshop. A woman in a blue apron is in the background. Bottles are neatly arranged on a table.

Mountain Dog Treats is an Alaska-based, family-owned company producing high-quality, single-ingredient dog treats using freeze-drying technology. Founded by Army veteran Kevin Thompson and now led by CEO Hannah Thompson, the company focuses on minimally processed treats informed by veterinary guidance and canine nutrition expertise.

What sets Mountain Dog Treats apart is their use of what would otherwise be waste from local fish processors—wild Alaska salmon—to create a premium product. This model supports local supply chains, reduces waste, and reflects the ingenuity and resourcefulness that define Alaska manufacturing.

Big Dipper Ice Cream

Big Dipper Ice Cream produces ice cream for direct-to-consumer sales through its shops in Palmer and Wasilla, while also serving wholesale accounts from Nome to Ketchikan. Founder and CEO Robert Brown shared how the company has grown steadily and intentionally, remarkably using a single commercial ice cream machine.

Big Dipper has become a destination for visitors from around the world, many of whom seek out its unique flavors immediately after landing in Alaska. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand into e-commerce, allowing its ice cream to be shipped beyond Alaska and introducing an even wider audience to Alaska-made products.

Two people engage in conversation near a "Big Dipper Homemade Ice Cream" mural featuring a bear. Warm lighting and hanging photos adorn the space.

Strengthening Alaska Manufacturing Together

At AKMA, we work to ensure Alaska manufacturers are visible, connected, and heard. Listening tours like this one give policymakers a firsthand look at the innovation happening across the state and the real economic impact manufacturers are making every day.

From advanced technology and environmental solutions to consumer goods and food production, this single day of tours showed the depth and diversity of Alaska manufacturing—and its potential to continue growing strong local economies and communities.

We are grateful to Senator Sullivan and his team for taking the time to listen, and to the manufacturers who opened their doors and shared their stories.

Interested in hosting a facility tour or participating in future listening tours with policymakers and partners?

Join AKMA