This article originally appeared in the Anchorage Daily News, presented by First National Bank Alaska. See the original article HERE.
In the depths of Alaska’s winter, when temperatures plunge to below zero and work on the North Slope continues without pause, reliable equipment can be the difference between progress and shutdown. That’s where Equipment Source Inc. (ESI) comes in.
Led by President Tim Cerny and Vice President Nick Ferree, ESI designs, builds and delivers industrial equipment specifically engineered for arctic conditions. From mobile heaters and generators to water pumps and specialty machinery, the company’s motto says it all: Built Arctic Tough.
“Everything we do is focused on building equipment that performs where others can’t — in Alaska’s extreme conditions,” said Ferree. “We know the climate, we know the logistics and we know what it takes to keep other industries growing with our products.”
Expanding to meet Alaska’s needs
What began as a small shop supporting oil and gas operations has grown into a diversified enterprise serving Fairbanks, Anchorage, Seattle, the North Slope and other locations with extreme cold-weather climates. Its flagship heater, the ES700, is a common sight on the North Slope, with more than 1,000 units in operation.
ESI has also expanded into power generation, building mobile and stationary diesel-fueled generators that provide everything from backup electricity for rural locations that are off-the-grid to powering up mountaintop communication sites.
“No one else builds this type of equipment to handle 40-below temperatures on a remote mountaintop in western Alaska,” Ferree said.
Beyond manufacturing, ESI also operates as a dealership for heavy equipment, tractors and construction gear. Its lineup includes Kubota tractors, JCB equipment, Fat Truck all-terrain vehicles, Avant loaders, and other equipment lines that serve everyone from homeowners to major contractors to large oil and gas companies and everything in between.
Just as important as the products is ESI’s approach to providing an excellent customer experience and long-lasting service for their products. ESI offers end-to-end support, stocking parts for decades-old equipment, ensuring customers are never left stranded and their investment lasts. ESI guarantees its products, and if customers do experience issues, ESI is there to fix the problem, usually within hours.
“We don’t just sell a piece of equipment and walk away,” Ferree said. “We’re here for the long haul. Customers know they can count on us.”
Growth through resilience
The company’s growth hasn’t come without challenges. The 2015/2016 oil price crash forced ESI to diversify its customer base beyond the North Slope. While heaters had long been their primary product, the downturn spurred investments in serving a broader customer base across the state.
With the help of First National Bank Alaska, ESI expanded its focus to include power generation, insulated water pumps designed for extreme cold and specialty equipment for remote projects.
“Our relationship…evolved from capital needs to ancillary services such as treasury management, depository and credit card services,” said First National Vice President and Regional Branch Manager Pam Wentz.
Today, ESI is a trusted partner for many industries and continues to grow its customer base in energy, mining, telecommunications, construction and agriculture. Its reach extends beyond the United States, with customers based in Canada and Chile.
ESI’s commitment to reliability has matched that ability to adapt and grow. When equipment fails in the field, it can halt operations and cost thousands of dollars a day. ESI’s facilities in Alaska allow staff to respond rapidly to their customers’ urgent needs. For example, ESI prides itself on same-day shipping, which is not just a critical advantage in a state where logistics can be daunting, but a genuine need for its customers with a diverse and often challenging geographic range.
Local roots, global reach
ESI’s steady growth is fueled by its long-standing relationship with First National Bank Alaska. The bank combines a strong local community focus with the global capabilities ESI needed to expand. Their connection began decades ago when ESI was in the start-up phase. Since then, it has evolved into a multifaceted enterprise that includes loans, credit lines, treasury management services, fraud protection and so much more.
“First National Bank Alaska has been with us through both the growth and the challenging times,” said Cerny. “That trust and support have been crucial to our success.”
For a company with operations across Alaska and beyond, banking flexibility is key. First National provides ESI with solutions ranging from credit card and merchant services to fraud prevention tools and banking solutions that make it easy for staff to manage banking across multiple sites, especially when a business is in its growth phase.
“On the day-to-day side, it’s the basics that really matter — moving money easily, wiring funds, online portals that are simple to use. First National makes that all seamless,” said Ferree.
First National truly lives by the principles of flexibility while providing top-quality solutions, all while treating customers as family.
While First National is Alaska’s largest locally owned bank, its services extend well beyond state lines. That balance of community connection and capability has proven critical for companies like ESI, which now operates not just in Alaska but also in Canada and the Lower 48.
“First National can serve Tim just as effectively in Seattle as we can in Fairbanks,” Wentz said. “We’re Alaska’s bank, but we have the tools to support clients wherever their business takes them. … First National is truly a relationship bank; we want to be there for our customers from start to finish.”
For ESI, that relationship has created stability during unpredictable cycles. Cerny continues to feel comforted knowing he has a partner in First National that is woven into the fabric of his business.
“There is a comfort level that comes with First National understanding our business, having made the effort over the years to know where we’re going,” Cerny said.
Trust built over decades
First National leaders describe their relationship with ESI as more than transactional — it’s rooted in shared values and a deep understanding of Alaska’s business climate.
“I’ve watched ESI grow from a small shop to an enterprise business,” said Cecil Cocom, Senior Business Development Officer and Treasury Management Consultant at First National. “Their adaptability is remarkable, and our role has been to anticipate their needs while providing tools that evolve with them.”
That forward-thinking approach includes frequent conversations with ESI to assess fraud risks, as well as introduce new services and emerging financial tools.
“We’re constantly on the edge of evolving financial changes, and we make sure ESI is aware of areas that we can assist in,” said Cocom. “When you have a trusted banking partner, you can focus on your work instead of worrying about financial logistics.”
Innovation in banking, innovation in equipment
Just as ESI prides itself on building equipment that lasts for decades, First National invests in long-term solutions for its clients. Fraud prevention, merchant services and treasury management tools all help ESI operate more efficiently. Lines of credit and financing give the company flexibility to seize new opportunities.
ESI’s story is about building something that lasts — for its customers, its employees and its community. And that’s exactly the kind of business First National is proud to support.
For Wentz, supporting clients like ESI is deeply personal, too.
“When working with customers like Tim, Nick and ESI, helping them achieve their goals, you become not only their banker, but a friend,” she said.
As Alaska’s economy continues to grow in industries like energy, mining and telecommunications, ESI is positioning itself to meet those demands with equipment that can withstand the state’s toughest conditions. And with First National Bank Alaska by its side, the company has the financial backing to keep innovating.
That philosophy reflects the long-term perspective both companies share. ESI isn’t just building equipment — it’s building resilience, opportunity and community across Alaska. And First National isn’t just providing banking services — it’s investing in the future of Alaska’s economy.
With plans to support resource development, telecommunication and other projects across Alaska and beyond with “Built Arctic Tough” products, ESI and First National continue to show what “making it” truly means.
First National Bank Alaska has been Alaska’s community bank since 1922. We’re proud to help Alaskans shape a brighter tomorrow by investing in your success as you take the leaps of faith, large and small, that enrich communities across the state.
