Let's Try Something New: On Being a PM for a Build-Out at ANC International Airport
Let’s Try Something New: On Being a PM for a Build-Out at ANC International Airport
Some opportunities begin with expertise. Others begin with the an ask and the will to try.
That was the case when 49th State Brewing opened at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in 2023.
Long before opening day, I had been closely involved in the project, helping develop the winning RFP response, participating in walkthroughs and planning meetings, and working alongside leadership and airport stakeholders as the concept took shape. Because of that, I had become deeply familiar with the project from multiple angles: design, equipment, operations, stakeholder coordination, and the broader vision behind the location.
Then the project took an unexpected turn for me.
With construction time approaching quickly and a summer opening critical to success, I was asked to step into a project management role, coordinating alongside our construction manager who knew the trades and keep momentum moving on a multi-million dollar build-out inside one of Alaska’s most complex operating environments.
Having never managed a multi-million dollar construction project before, I did what many people do in unfamiliar territory: asked a million questions, leaned on experienced colleagues, and, yes, consulted Project Management for Dummies. I recommend it.
We opened a roughly 7,500-square-foot operation spanning pre- and post-security, launching in phases in July and September 2023.
What made the project especially meaningful was that it never sat in just one lane. It called for strategic writing at the front end, project management during the build, communications and earned media around the opening, and operational support during launch. I was on site helping support the brand and operations in the crucial first weeks, while also helping generate public momentum through earned media, including coverage from the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Business Magazine, along with campaigns designed to drive awareness and behavior, including order-ahead promotion and loyalty engagement for Alaska’s frequent flyers.
But beyond the mechanics, there was real weight to the project. This wasn’t just another restaurant opening. It was a public-facing space in Alaska’s largest airport, one intended to act as a front door to the brand and, in many ways, a front door to Alaska itself.
That mattered to me.
There’s a particular satisfaction in being trusted with something outside your normal remit, rising to meet it, and helping bring it across the finish line. This project reminded me how much I value work that stretches across disciplines, where strategy, problem-solving, execution, and a little nerve all have to show up at once.
And honestly, it also reminded me how much I enjoy being in an environment where someone can say, “Want to try something new?” and the answer can be, "Yes!"