Pros
I have been with Akima in a variety of roles for more than seven years. During this time, I’ve supported a number of functions within the company and through internal promotions am currently in a senior management role. There were two important reasons I initially came to Akima, both of which are still true today. First, the federal missions supported by Akima are important to our country; the individuals performing these missions help make our country safer and more secure, they help us explore the universe, and they help address natural disasters like the recent storms in Texas and Florida.
Second, but of no less importance, I came to Akima because of the organization’s and the CEO’s resolute focus on our shareholders. Shareholders, which are not nameless investors on Wall Street, but individuals based in eleven communities north of the Arctic Circle that rely on Akima to help support the long term stability and continuity of their culture. Unlike most corporations, all of Akima’s profits go directly to support these shareholders and their goal to sustain their culture and an ancient way of living. Taken together, I can’t think of a better reason for an organization to exist or for employees to go to work every day with pride and a smile.
I don’t typically spend much time responding on social media, but felt that recent negative comments regarding Akima were at best ill-informed. To me, the recent Two Wheels One Spirit event was an extension of Akima’s support for our cultural mission. Rather than a group of senior executive “cronies”, as noted in a previous post, the event included individuals from our IT Help Desk, Project Analysts, and Program Managers. Yes, our CEO did participate, but take a minute to think how often the rank and file in other companies have the opportunity to spend 5 days with their CEO supporting one of the company’s core missions. The diversity of the group that participated shows that our CEO is approachable and interested in the thoughts of employees at all levels. What a great opportunity to spend time with executive management.
Additionally, there has also been some chatter about the luxurious nature of this event. Anyone that has been through this part of Alaska knows that neither the roads, the lodging, nor the weather are especially comfortable. If this was a trip for fun, there are safer, drier, significantly more comfortable places the riders could have gone. However, they choose this route not for comfort, but because it traveled through Alaska, where our corporation is based. Ultimately, it allowed them to end the trip in Anchorage, where business operations are headquartered, in order to present the check to the corporate Board in person.
Speaking of the Board, a member of the Board called personally to thank me for my donation to this important event. Like the riders time with our CEO, how many individuals in other companies, irrespective of that company’s size, get a call from a Board member? I think this call is representative of our organization overall, with individuals at all levels interacting to ensure the best possible results for both our business mission supporting the nation and our cultural mission supporting our Shareholder’s important way of life. Since starting at Akima, I have always been and continue to be proud to work with individuals that daily make a difference supporting two very differently but equally important missions.
Cons
Akima has the same challenges as any growing company, but is focused on continually growing it's talent base, improving it processes, and adding technology where appropriate to supporting the evolving enterprise.
