Christine Hopkins Named Small Business Person of the Year for Alaska
The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Christine Hopkins, President, CEO and Managing Owner of ASCI Family of Companies (ASCI), as the 2025 Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Alaska. This prestigious recognition highlights Hopkins’ strategic vision and unwavering commitment to strengthening Alaska’s small business ecosystem and driving sustainable economic growth across the region. Each year, the SBA recognizes outstanding small business owners from across the nation during National Small Business Week (May 4-10, 2025). Hopkins, who along with ASCI are AMA members, will be honored at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 5. “I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the SBA,” Hopkins said. “This award is a testament to the resilience of our team at ASCI and our commitment to supporting federal and commercial supply chain operations while fostering economic opportunities for small businesses.” Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, driving job creation and innovation. According to 2024 Small Business Statistics from the SBA:
n There are 34 million small businesses operating across the United States. n Small businesses accounted for two-thirds of net new jobs over the past 25 years.
n More than half of the U.S. labor force either works for or owns a small business. Hopkins’ leadership at ASCI aligns with this national trend, fostering economic growth, workforce development, and diversity in Alaska and beyond. Under Hopkins’ leadership, ASCI has grown into a leading provider of supply chain and asset management solutions for federal and commercial clients. In addition to securing multiple federal contracts, the company has expanded its women-owned small business (WOSB) certifications and played a crucial role in advocating for veteran and military spouse employment through partnerships such as the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) and the SkillBridge program.
Gold Prices Surpass $3,000 an Ounce for First Time
Gold prices passed $3,000 an ounce for the first time March 14, driven higher by a central bank buying spree, economic fragility worldwide and President Donald Trump’s attempts to rewrite the rules of global trade by imposing tariffs on allies and strategic rivals. The move through the psychological $3,000 level drives home gold’s centuries-old role as a store of value in turbulent times and as a gauge of fear in markets. In the last quarter century, the price has risen 10-fold, outperforming even the S&P 500, the benchmark for U.S. stocks, which quadrupled over the same period. As traders braced for tariffs, U.S. prices for gold surged above other international benchmarks, prompting dealers to rush bullion into America in large volumes before the levies come into force. More than 23 million ounces of gold, worth about $70 billion, flowed into the depositories of New York’s Comex futures exchange between election day and mid-March. The influx has been so vast that it helped drive the U.S. trade deficit to a record in January. Jumps in the gold price typically track broader economic and political stress. The metal breached the $1,000 an ounce mark in the aftermath of the financial crisis, and passed $2,000 during the Covid pandemic. Prices fell back
towards $1,600 after the pandemic, but began to rise again in 2023, driven by central banks, who bought bullion to diversify away from the dollar, over fears that the currency made them vulnerable to punitive action from the U.S. In early 2024, the market leaped again, driven by buying in China, where worries about the country’s economy were growing. The rally gained further momentum after the U.S. election, as markets absorbed the new administration’s aggressive trade policy. Gold’s recent rally has come despite what would typically be headwinds: higher interest rates and a strong U.S. dollar. When bonds or cash in the bank give a solid return, gold, which doesn’t generate interest, becomes less appealing. The U.S. dollar is the main currency in which gold is bought and sold. When it becomes more expensive to holders of other currencies, that typically leads to selling pressure on the metal. The new U.S. government’s trade policy has been the most important driver for gold in 2025. President Trump has enforced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the European Union, and imposed duties on Chinese goods, and on all imports of steel and aluminum. — Bloomberg News
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I March 2025
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