Business Briefs

Area chambers set schedule

Chambers of commerce speakers for the upcoming week include:

Rep. Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, will speak at the Nikiski Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon today at North Kenai Baptist Church. For more information, call Judene Van Cleave at 776-5551.

The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon Tuesday at the Riverside House. Ron Lucia, general manager, and Dennis Smith, board president, of the Peninsula Oilers will speak. For more information, call Shanon Hamrick at 262-9814.

Kenai Mayor John Williams will give an address on the state of the city at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon Wednesday at Paradisos. Lunch is $10.50. For more information, call 283-7989.

The Nikiski Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon June 3 at North Kenai Baptist Church will feature Doug Lentsch of Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response Inc. For more information, call Judene Van Cleave at 776-5551.

Vendors and parade entries sought

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce is seeking entries in the Fourth of July Parade and accepting applications for vendor booths. The theme will be "Celebrating 50 years Kenai Chamber, Hooked on Kenai." Applications can be picked up at the chamber cabin at 402 Overland St. For more information, call 283-7989.

Era Aviation adds amenities to Internet booking

Era Aviation has added hotel and rental car booking to FlyEra.com. Through affiliate TravelNow.com, travelers can now book amenities in destination cities through the airline's Web site.

Online booking options include destinations to Southcentral and 17 Western Alaska villages for flights originating from Bethel. Era Aviation is an Alaska Airlines code share carrier that also serves Cordova, Homer, Kodiak, Valdez and Kenai.

Aspen Hotels installs wireless Internet

Aspen Hotels is installing wireless Internet, provided by TelAlaska, in all of its Alaska properties. The technology will allow guests to access the Internet from anywhere on the hotel property, including guest rooms. The service will be provided free of charge.

Guests will need a laptop or personal digital assistant (PDA) with a wireless network card or built-in wireless fidelity (wi-fi) capability to use the service.

The service is available at the hotel's downtown Anchorage location and will be available at its Soldotna location in June. The company's Juneau, Fairbanks and Valdez properties will have the service by the end of summer. The service will be available at the chain's newest property in midtown Anchorage when it opens this summer.

Creative Memories consultant advances

Carrie Henson of Soldotna has advanced a leadership level in her Creative Memories career. She became a unit leader in April.

Henson started her Creative Memories home-based business in 2000. Consultants who achieve the unit leader level have recruited six or more consultants into their unit, maintained a consistent level of personal sales and provided ongoing training, leadership and recognition to unit members.

With this promotion, Henson has advanced into the top 5 percent of Creative Memories leaders. Henson will receive national recognition this year at the Creative Memories National Convention in Minneapolis.

Creative Memories is an international company offering photo-safe scrapbook albums, supplies and hands-on workshops. Consultants teach people how to organize their photographs and memorabilia, chronicle their family history and create safe and meaningful family scrapbook photo albums.

Edward Jones representative honored

Indy R. Walton, a Soldotna investment representative for the financial services firm Edward Jones, was one of 50 representatives honored at a business management forum in Tempe, Ariz., earlier this month.

Walton was recognized for demonstrated business management skills. In addition to being honored at the forum, Walton met with other representatives to discuss ideas for increasing office efficiency, improving customer service and increasing investment knowledge, particularly in the area of estate planning.