Business Voices

What does it take to keep a local business thriving in Juneau for 40 years? On this episode of Business Voices Juneau, host Becca Parks, Juneau Chamber Executive Director is joined by Charlie Williams, owner of Valley Paint, to talk about the unexpected path that led him from painting contractor to longtime local business owner. Charlie shares how he opened Valley Paint in 1986 after Juneau was left without a dedicated paint store, how he learned business through experience, and why customer relationships have become one of the most important parts of the work.The conversation goes beyond paint colors and home projects. Charlie talks candidly about the realities of doing business in Southeast Alaska, from freight costs and thin margins to rising property taxes, credit card fees, hazardous waste disposal, and the challenge of keeping prices fair for local customers.Valley Paint has become such a valuable resource for homeowners, contractors, artists, schools, and generations of Juneau families. From tracking paint colors for customers over decades to helping people avoid costly project mistakes, Charlie makes the case for why local expertise still matters.Whether you are a homeowner, a small business owner, or someone who cares about the future of Juneau’s local economy, this episode offers a practical and personal look at resilience, service, and the value of doing business face-to-face.

On this episode of Business Voices Juneau, host Becca Parks, Juneau Chamber Executive Director, talks with Cliff Dumas, who owns the Juneau Media Center radio stations with his spouse, Lisa Dumas, through their company, Alaska First Media. Their stations include KINY, MIX 106, TAKU 105, KXJ, The Hawk and KJNO in Juneau along with 2 in Ketchikan and 2 in Sitka.Becca talks to Cliff about his 40-year award-winning career in radio and television, the long road to officially launching Alaska First Media, and why local radio still has a powerful role to play in Juneau and Southeast Alaska.Cliff shares how a summer job at a local radio station turned into a lifetime in radio, television, country music, and community storytelling from Toronto and San Diego to building a new media future in Juneau. He also opens up about the recent transition from the previous ownership group, the creation of the new Juneau Media Center, the importance of rebuilding workplace culture, and the investment being made in studios, transmitters, news, digital advertising, and local content.The conversation also looks ahead: expanding News of the North, supporting local musicians through Southeast Sounds, developing new digital tools like True Geo, and exploring the possibility of an Indigenous radio station for Southeast Alaska. At its core, this episode is about community and how trusted local media can help businesses, artists, leaders, and residents stay connected.

On this episode of Business Voices Juneau, host Becca Parks, Juneau Chamber Executive Director, talks with Lisa Dumas, who owns the Juneau Media Center radio stations with her husband, Cliff Dumas, through their company, Alaska First Media. Their stations include KINY, MIX 106, TAKU 105, KXJ, The Hawk and KJNO in Juneau along with 2 in Ketchikan and 2 in Sitka.Lisa shares her remarkable journey from small-town radio in Canada to major-market broadcasting, entrepreneurship and community leadership in Juneau. In this candid conversation, she discusses overcoming anxiety through yoga therapy, building meaningful connections through Rotary and the Juneau Symphony, helping lead the Juneau Media Center, and the importance of staying present through life’s challenges.It’s an inspiring story of resilience, personal growth and finding purpose through service and community.

On this episode of Business Voices Juneau, host Becca Parks, Juneau Chamber Executive Director, talks to Ron Flint of Nugget Alaskan Outfitters. For more than five decades, Nugget Alaskan Outfitters has been a fixture in Juneau. In this episode, owner Ron Flint shares the remarkable story of how his family helped shape the Nugget Mall, evolved a department store into one of Southeast Alaska's premier outdoor retailers, and adapted to changing markets, tourism, and consumer trends. Ron reflects on community involvement, business lessons learned, the importance of long-term employees, and what's next as he begins planning for the future of NAO. 

On this episode of Business Voices Juneau, host Becca Parks, Juneau Chamber Executive Director, talks with Susan Bell of Huna Totem for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, economic development, Alaska Native corporations, tourism, community relationships, and the future of downtown Juneau. Susan shares her journey from Nome to Juneau, including her work in the visitor industry, McDowell Group, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, and now Huna Totem. She reflects on the value of good data, the importance of listening to communities, and the unique opportunities that come from building a career in Alaska.The conversation also explores Huna Totem’s Auk Landing project, including its potential to reduce downtown congestion, improve passenger movement, support local businesses, and bring environmental benefits through dockside efficiencies and future shore power capability.Along the way, Susan offers her perspective on mentorship, Alaska Native corporations, regional growth, the importance of community, and why Juneau remains a place where relationships, resilience and opportunity still matter.

On this episode of Business Voices Juneau, host Becca Parks, Juneau Chamber Executive Director, talks with Jessica Russell, founder of Juneau Cleaning, about entrepreneurship, adaptability, and building a service business in a uniquely local market.Jessica shares how moving to Juneau, her background in short-term rental management, and a simple market need led her to launch Juneau Cleaning. What began with flyers, a basic website, and a willingness to take action has grown into a team serving residential, commercial, and seasonal clients across the community.The conversation explores the lessons of starting before everything is perfect, the value of strong systems, the importance of communication, and how Jessica’s military background shaped her habits, work ethic, and standards. She also talks about balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, hiring in Juneau’s challenging labor market, using local tools such as bulletin boards and Facebook groups, and building a business with a long-term exit in mind.It’s a practical and inspiring look at how one Juneau entrepreneur turned a gap in the market into a growing local company rooted in responsiveness, organization, and service. 

In this episode of Business Voices, Juneau Chamber Executive Director Becca Parks sits down with Rain Coast Data Director Meilani Schijvens for a wide-ranging conversation about business, entrepreneurship, and the power of good information.Meilani shares how an early business failure helped shape the discipline and focus behind the company she runs today, a data and economic publications firm focused largely on Southeast Alaska. The conversation explores how data can help communities cut through the noise, understand where the economy is headed, and make better decisions about housing, tourism, health care, the workforce, and long-term planning.The episode also gets into the realities of running a business in Juneau: taking the leap, building trust, relying on relationships, doing excellent work, and creating a reputation so strong that opportunities begin to come through the door.From AI and federal data interruptions to Juneau’s evolving economy and the very different housing challenges facing Southeast Alaska communities, this episode is a reminder that numbers are not just numbers. In the right hands, they tell the story of who we are, what is changing, and what we need to pay attention to next. 

In the first episode of Business Voices, Juneau Chamber Executive Director Becca Parks sits down with Eric Forst of the Red Dog Saloon, one of Juneau’s most recognizable businesses and a cornerstone of the downtown visitor economy.Eric shares the long and colorful history of the Red Dog, from its early days as a postwar saloon with sawdust floors to its move down Franklin Street and its evolution into one of Alaska’s best-known destination bars. The conversation follows Eric’s own path to Juneau, how he and his wife first became involved with the business, and what it has taken to preserve the Red Dog’s character while continuing to grow.This episode is also a thoughtful look at tourism, local business, and the balance between tradition and change. Eric talks about the importance of employees, the value of keeping the guest experience personal, and why the Red Dog has resisted becoming too polished or too automated.From Wyatt Earp’s gun and old piano recordings to winter prime rib, cruise season crowds, and the role tourism plays in supporting Juneau’s broader economy, this conversation captures the story of a business that is more than a saloon. It is part of Juneau’s identity. Compelling Title Choices