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AMDS - Alaska Mining & Diving Supply was founded in 1976 in
Anchorage, Alaska by Dudley Benesch and Steve Herschbach. Dudley and
Steve started the company while in high school because of a shared
interest in gold prospecting. The business began as a supplier of gold
dredges and related diving equipment, hence the company name. The price of gold began to rise and the company's
fortunes rose with it. However, it became clear that mining was a seasonal
business, and so the company added product lines. These product lines
evolved naturally from the original mining and diving concept. Woodstoves
were added to heat the miner's cabin. Chainsaws were added to fill the
woodstove. Boats were added to transport divers, and outboards to power
the boats. Snowmobiles were a key addition in keeping the company busy
in the winter months.

AMDS Today - Sales, Service, & Shipping FacilitiesSo it continued over the years, and as sales have
grown, the staff and facilities have expanded to fill the customer's
needs. AMDS has become what is now Alaska's
premier supplier of outdoor power equipment. The product lines are unique
and comprehensive. While many of the products fill recreational needs,
they are also critical to life in rural Alaska, and so the company has
become expert in supplying Alaska's remote towns and villages.
Dudley and Steve were also quick to recognize the
benefits the internet would offer not only their customers in Alaska
but those in other states as well. The
www.akmining.com
website was established in 1998, making it one of the older existing
websites on the internet. The site concentrates on providing useful
information. The
www.akmining.net website was added
later as a dedicated online store.
In 2010 another step was taken in the evolution of
the company. Dudley and Steve transitioned the company to an Employee
Stock Ownership Plan. Alaska Mining & Diving Supply, Inc. is now an
employee owned company!
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