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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — As the latest University of Alaska Fairbanks business leader of the year, Andy Warwick is in good company. Based on the nominations he received for the honor, his fellow business leaders are happy to have him.
The nomination of the longtime Fairbanks accountant was backed by a handful of former recipients, including Dan Gavora, Gary Wilken, Steve Frank and David Hale. He was honored at an awards ceremony at a dinner at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel Gold Room.
"Every ship needs a captain with a firm hand on the tiller," wrote Wilken, a local business owner and former legislator, in his nomination form.
"Over the last three decades, I have had the distinct pleasure of sailing with Mr. Andy Warwick."
It's the 39th year the UAF School of Management has presented the award, which is given to a recipient who combines business talent, leadership, community service and educational support. Warwick is a 1966 graduate of UAF's business school.
Warwick, 72, has worked for the past 37 years as an accountant in Fairbanks, a profession that's the biggest piece of a varied resume.
Born and raised in Fairbanks, Warwick spent a year at both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon while pursuing an engineering degree.
After a bumpy academic year as a sophomore, he returned home to earn an accounting degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
He said his family stressed the importance of education, particularly his late mother, Emma Warwick, who graduated from UAF with a business degree in 1938.
"I kind of owe a lot to my mother," he said. "It was not if I was going to college, it was where."
He planned to become a Navy pilot, but broke his wrist during flight training school. He was discharged because of the injury, and went on to a career in politics, as both a two-term legislator and commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration under Gov. Jay Hammond.
After leaving behind politics for the private sector, Warwick and his business partner, Rick Schikora, established Warwick and Schikora, CPAs, more than three decades ago. He was also part of a group that created Fairbanks Sewer and Water, which was formed in 1995 to privatize the Fairbanks sewer and water utilities.
"I've done a little of everything — I'm an ex-everything," he said. "You learn a lot from all of that."
Warwick has a long family history in Fairbanks, dating back to his grandparents arriving on a sternwheeler in 1906. Warwick and his wife, Judy, have been married for more than 45 years and raised their family in Fairbanks.
Although he's at an age when many colleagues are eyeing retirement or moving to a warmer climate, Warwick said he has no plans to stop being a Fairbanks accountant.
"It keeps you relevant, it keeps you sharp, it keeps you up on tax law and politics," he said. "Most importantly, I get to meet with clients who are my friends."
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Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com
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