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pebble-stitch
sweater, a knit blanket, and a new fleece jacket. CIRI merchandise and order
forms are featured in the new catalog as well as on the CIRI web site at www.ciri.com.
All orders must be accompanied by check or 
credit
card payment. CIRI provides this service at shareholder's request and does
not make a profit off the merchandise. 
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Hotels & Resorts (Westin's parent). "We have been anxious to increase our presence in the Phoenix/Scottsdale resort market where our Phoenician resort has had phenomenal success. Starwood's investment in both expansion and renovation of The Phoenician, recently announced, and The Westin Kierland Resort is proof positive that we believe in this market."
As the centerpiece of the 730-acre Kierland community, the 750-room hotel will be situated on a 33-acre site surrounded by the existing 27-hole Kierland Golf Club course, which will be integrated into the resort operation. The hotel will feature first-class accommodations, including 26 suites and 52 guest units in a casita village; more than 50,000 square feet of indoor function space and extensive outdoor function space in distinctive courtyards with fountains, pools and lush landscape; multiple food and beverage venues; and a full service spa and fitness facility.
Balconies on the high-rise main hotel building will offer views of championship golf in the foreground, rugged mountains and desert landscape in the distance, and sparkling city lights at night. The casitas or low-rise style bungalows will be surrounded by the golf course, cool gardens and extensive water features. Construction of the resort hotel will be managed by Phoenix-based Woodbine Southwest Corporation, a subsidiary of Woodbine
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Development and developer of the Kierland master planned community, which was launched in conjunction with the Herberger Interests of Phoenix in 1989.
The Herberger family, well-known longtime Phoenix residents, have land holdings throughout the state and have successfully developed retail centers, single-family homes and luxury apartments throughout the area. The Herbergers contribute generously to the community, placing their name on schools, parks and university endowments, as well as the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix.
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Since 1991, Kvasnikoff's client base has expanded to include CIRI as well as the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Salamatoff Native Association, Seldovia Native Association and private landowners. With his expertise and the logging industry on the Peninsula growing side by side, he's gained insights that make it possible to fine-tune his clients' operations, targeting the bottom line. Combining his forestry experience and familiarity with the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Regulations, he aims at finding ways to "cut costs by eliminating what isn't necessary."
One of Kvasnikoff's goals is "to make state bureaucracy less burdensome when dealing with timber on the Kenai Peninsula." As an example, he points to the number of separate inspections required by the Forest Practices Act. Three, sometimes four, agencies are required to make inspections, such as those needed for activities relating to culverts, roads and bridges. He is actively campaigning for a change that would allow one inspector to do the job of several.
Unique qualities of Peninsula forests have attracted the attention of scientists from other areas and Kvasnikoff is currently monitoring a 12-year reforestation study on CIRI and NNAI lands. Dr. Mike Newton, from the University of Oregon School of Forestry, brings other scientists to the Peninsula with him each summer to conduct research on spruce seedlings.
Spruce bark beetles selectively target white lutz spruce. Kvasnikoff has turned that devastation into an opportunity to experiment with other varieties of trees while also replanting the white lutz. During 1998, he organized the planting of 10,500 lodge pole pine, half on NNAI lands and half on CIRI lands. During the 1999 planting season, some 20,000 Sitka
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spruce and 150,000 white lutz spruce dug their roots into the Kenai's soil.
Individual shareholders also benefit from Kvasnikoff's involvement in the logging industry. Among his achievements, he points to increased employment opportunities for shareholders. Just one contractor alone has gone from zero to 34 percent shareholder hire. During the summer of 1999, ANRCI worked with CIRI, Cook Inlet Tribal Council and Southcentral Foundation to organize the Ninilchik Youth Camp, an opportunity for some 100 campers to participate in planting 60,000 spruce seedlings.
In 1998, Kvasnikoff was recognized by the Society of American Foresters for outstanding forestry practices. He has served on the Kenai Peninsula Borough's Spruce Bark Beetle Task Force and his knowledge of the Kenai Peninsula recently gained him an appointment by Governor Knowles to serve on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Brown Bear Task Force.
Clearly aware of the logging industry's sensitive nature, Kvasnikoff playfully takes advantage of the situation. On the windowsill beside his desk sits a box of "Spotted Owl Helper." Pair that with the poster giving detailed step-by-step instructions for correctly planting trees and you can't miss the good-natured balance in his approach.
Critics of logging say it's a short-lived industry. Not if Kvasnikoff has anything to say about it. "The logging industry will be around for quite awhile. We haven't even made a dent in the resource." Judging by his family's commitment to keep the Kenai Peninsula their home, we can be sure Kvasnikoff is doing all he can to use the resource wisely.
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