A diverse client portfolio

What do the fields of healthcare, tourism, and petroleum production/distribution have in common? 

Like your business, all must communicate clearly in order to thrive. 

Mark Skok, Principal of Skok Communication Services, has helped businesses in numerous industries connect clearly and consistently with their stakeholders. Following are examples of his activity.

Koniag, Inc.

Koniag, Inc. is an Alaska Native corporation with significant investments in commercial real estate, securities, and operating companies. From 1988 through 1996, Mark wrote and produced Koniag's newsletters and annual reports, and provided other editorial support. 

Given the broad scope of Koniag's holdings, Mark was responsible for conveying to shareholders an overview of organizations that have ranged from a manufacturer of high-speed rail to an energy management company. And, with Koniag's cultural home along the Gulf of Alaska, the client provided numerous opportunities for immersion in the state's spectacular rural areas!

Alternatives Community Mental Health Center

Mark wrote the initial grants that resulted in certification and funding of this community mental health center. In 1996 the Anchorage-based nonprofit organization began providing services to children with severe emotional disturbances. Within nine months, Alternatives expanded from a staff of five to a payroll of 100, with a $4 million budget. 

As Deputy Director, Mark was responsible for developing policies and procedures, hiring and supervising accounting and human resources staff, and developing and coordinating outreach activities with sister agencies and the Anchorage School District. He wrote additional grants and served as de facto ombudsman for staff, which involved significant communication and mediation. 

He also served as interim executive director following the sudden departure of the executive director in 1997.

Skok Communications

Following a stint at a full-service public relations agency, Mark established his own company, Skok Communications, in 1984. There he produced and wrote numerous annual reports, newsletters, articles and other promotional materials for clients in a spectrum of industries. 

He worked with company CEOs and other executives to assess, develop, and deliver messages they wished to convey to key audiences. For annual reports and newsletters, he selected graphic artists and photographers, and supervised their work. In many cases he took the pictures. He worked closely with graphic artists to ensure a dovetail among overall document design, photography, and copy. 

Client industries included petroleum (Exxon, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Petro-Marine Services), Tourism (Alaska Division of Tourism and private businesses), corporate (Koniag), public relations (Mystrom Public Relations, Brennan & Brennan), and non-profit (Alternatives Community Mental Health Center).

Petro Marine Services

The ice curtain thawed rapidly. 

It was 1990, and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was seeking opportunities for a deeper relationship with the West. For decades, travel between Alaska and its neighbor across the Bering Strait, the Russian Far East, had been blocked by Cold War politics. Now, however, U.S. and Soviet officials were approving flights between Alaska and cities in eastern Russia. 

Curious about life - and business opportunities - in that long-closed region, Mark booked a flight from Anchorage to Magadan, Russia. Then came a connection with the local authorities responsible for ensuring adequate supply of gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products. He returned to Anchorage with a proposal to ship a tanker-load of gasoline to Magadan. 

Petro Marine Services, one of Alaska's largest fuel distributors, was interested in expanding its business across the Bering Strait. Given this expertise and partnership, they could begin negotiating a sale. Considerations included finding an American refinery that could produce the grade of gasoline required by the Soviets. Petro Marine had to offer a better price than vendors currently being used by the Soviets. And, they had to locate a tanker available to ship the gasoline. 

The negotiation process involved five trips to Magadan and Moscow (the final purchase and payment authorization had to come from the upper echelon of the Soviet fuel authority). Ultimately, no tanker was available in time for delivery before the Magadan port was blocked by winter ice. However, the next year Petro Marine sold a tanker load of gasoline to Russia, and followed this with several other sales.