NEWS | NSBA Celebrates SBA Win for Leadership Council Member Christine Hopkins

Owner of ASCI Services, based in Anchorage, NSBA's Leadership Council Member Christine Hopkins is SBA's Small Business Owner of the Year for Alaska.

Often shaken, but never deterred, Christine Hopkins' journey in Small-Business ownership can be summed in one word: resilience.

Coming in at a close second is 'persevered,' which is how Christine continues to serve the Small-Business community through her involvement in the Alaska Women's Chamber and NSBA's Leadership council, all while running a full plate at the reins of her oil and gas, supply chain, and federal contract services company ASCI.

A picture of American achievement, Christine is also a Military wife and daughter, committed to supporting employment for spouses moving across the country through their family's service deployment.

And if this weren't enough, Christine is the Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Owner of the Year for the State of Alaska.

NSBA Members Christine and Ken Hopkins meet with Alaska Congressman Nick Begich to celebrate ASCI and Christine's win as SBA's Small Business Owner of the Year for Alaska.

Bearish to some, Christine is not afraid to grab any bull by its horns to lead and empower her entire team. Growing success for the federal and commercial jobs her Small-Business supports every day, if it involves shipping, storing, driving, or managing work, ASCI prides itself on delivering quality services at the highest level of performance - with Christine providing a personal touch for each one of her contracts and clients.

This week, during National Small Business Week, Christine and her husband Ken traveled to Washington, to receive her award and recognition from the SBA for her achievements with ASCI.

NSBA Leadership Council Member Christine Hopkins, owner of ASCI, based in Anchorage, receives her award for Small Business Owner of the Year for Alaska from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Balancing her work team with her husband and son at home, NSBA is honored to have Christine as part of our advocacy family, and we are looking forward to continuing to grow our influence for more productive Small-Business policy for her business and the 70 million we are fortunate to represent as America's first and only nonpartisan Small-Business advocate.

Ahead of her D.C. visit, NSBA caught up with Christine to discuss her success and the winding path its proven to be. Join us for our inaugural Small Business Conversation below, and check back soon as the celebrations continue with a feature from NSBA's second SBA winner and Veteran honoree, Jeff Anderson, owner of ATEK Distribution!:

01:17 - Why Christine won what she did: Resilience Through Adversity

01:34 - How Christine came to own ASCI (ascillc.com)

02:13 - Christine’s Small-Business story of surviving COVID

03:22 - From zero funds, to survival through PPP and SBA support

03:45 - ASCI starts generating revenue, March 2023

04:09 - What does ASCI stand for? What does ASCI do?

05:17 - Who would benefit from ASCI’s services? How would they find ASCI?

05:38 - Match.com sets big things in motion for Christine and the Small-Business owner she’s become

06:01 - What are some advantages you’ve found being a Small-Business owner?

06:21 - Real talk on working with customers and managing on-site culture

06:38 - ASCI’s philosophy sets them apart: Make the Customer More Efficient

06:44 - Small-Business advantages over bigger enterprises and competition

07:10 - Any advice for Small Businesses looking to compete for federal contracts?

07:13 - “Find your swim lane, and stick to it.”

7:30 - “When you’re first entering, your reputation is all you have.”

07:43 - How do you juggle being a woman, wife, mom AND Small-Business owner?

08:37 - How Christine is raising a responsible teenage to become a productive, contributing member of society

09:10 - What are the growth plans for ASCI?

09:12 - ASCI at its height, with $20-25 million in annual revenue

09:20 - ASCI at is smallest, poised for its biggest comeback

09:27 - ASCI today, at approx. 50 employees and $7.5 million in annual revenue

09:37 - ASCI’s big plan to stay small and why

09:58 - How Christine and ASCI measure Small-Business success

10:04 - ASCI’s darkest moments and the CHART OF DEATH

10:13 - Christine’s winning approach to employee retention: Too Much Transparency

10:41 - Christine’s personal metric of success: Overcoming Adversity Without Attrition

10:54 - Christine and ASCI’s investment in the Military and Veteran community

11:03 - ASCI and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership.

Learn more at: msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil/msep

11:17 - How are you handling the recent Executive Orders coming from D.C.?

11:22 - Confidence in federal contracts continuing

11:36 - No one doing it better than Small Businesses!

11:40 - Good news for ASCI from the White House

11:50 - Common sense is good for cuts to contract requirements under President Trump’s recent Executive Orders

11:58 - Executive Orders from Washington mean good news for ASCI as a Small Business serving a federal contract from Alaska

12:19 - “Things change when Administrations change. Be strategic. Don’t just react.”

12:32 - Christine’s advice on Small-Businesses navigating federal contracts

12:40 - “They’re cutting it back. …We all know it needs to happen.”

12:44 - “It’s going to be uncomfortable, we probably won’t like the way it happens…especially if you’re in the area being cut, but they’re cutting.” And it’s a good thing, says Christine.

13:03 - Outlook looks good for Small Business, since cuts to federal staffing means more opportunity

13:21 - How should s Small-Business owner develop their federal contracting strategy?

13:23 - “Don’t whipsaw and react.”

13:28 - How can Small-Business owners become Small-Business leaders?

13:33 - Join with other Small-Business owners and have your voice heard!

13:42 - Looking to get involved in the Small-Business community? Join NSBA, like Christine.

13:49 - Politics aren’t all bad, especially when it comes to influencing positive change for more productive federal Small-Business policy

14:11 - Christine’s NSBA story

14:26 - Christine and Congressman Nick Begich (AK-At Large-R), featuring husband Ken and NSBA Government Affairs Manager Jack Furth

14:35 - Thank you to the Small Business Administration (SBA)

14:39 - Thank you to the Alaska Women’s Business Center

14:45 - Thank you to NSBA

14:52 - Thank you to the Human Resources Certification Institute

14:57 - Thank YOU, Christine, for all you do for Small Business and the opportunities you’re continuing to create through your influence of more productive Small-Business policy!