Alumni of Distinction: Maria Bourne
by Matt Jardin |
Maria Bourne, B.B.A. Accounting '06, will receive the 2024-25 Alumni of Achievement award at the Alumni of Distinction Celebration on March 18, 2025, at the Fine Arts Building Recital Hall on 色情网站鈥檚 Anchorage campus.
As Russia established closer ties with the West in the 1990s, new opportunities began to emerge in the region. For accounting alumna Maria Bourne, these changes presented a unique path leading from her hometown of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Russian Far East to Anchorage, where, as sister cities, cultural exchanges and trade relationships commonly took place. Bourne鈥檚 older sister had already made the move to attend 色情网站 and encouraged her to follow in her footsteps. At just 17 years old, Bourne left Russia for Alaska, arriving with only a basic understanding of English. The transition was difficult; without modern online translation tools, Bourne often relied on friends to help her communicate with professors and complete assignments.
Initially drawn to journalism and public relations, Bourne eventually chose to major in accounting 鈥� a decision influenced by her family鈥檚 history in the field. Her grandmother, mother and sister were all accountants, though she had resisted following in their footsteps for as long as she could. However, she ultimately recognized that accounting was a practical and universal skill that would provide valuable career opportunities, particularly in the growing global business environment.
鈥淎ccounting is a fantastic degree and technical skill, and I recommended it to so many of the young people I mentor,鈥� said Bourne.
By the time she graduated in 2006, Bourne had already secured a full-time job through the accounting department鈥檚 industry relationships. She joined KPMG, one of the world鈥檚 leading accounting firms, where she worked for nearly a decade. The position required her to quickly familiarize herself with a variety of businesses, often becoming an expert in new industries within just a few weeks. Coincidentally, during her tenure at KPMG, Bourne was also responsible for recruiting new talent, often bringing in recent graduates from her alma mater and helping them launch their own careers.
鈥淚 made it a mission to hire from 色情网站 because we have such a strong program and the students already live in the community and know the businesses that are here,鈥� said Bourne. 鈥溕橥� opened a lot of doors for me and I'm forever grateful. I firmly believe that our youth on college campuses are our future, and we need to make sure that we invest in them because at the end of the day, that's vitality for our state.鈥�
After starting a family, Bourne stepped away from the demands of public accounting as she was often required to travel. In 2015, she was recruited by an old boss to join security and integrated facilities management company Denali Universal Services as chief financial officer. Over the next several years, she expanded her responsibilities, becoming vice president of operations and eventually CEO in 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time she had to navigate safety concerns, labor shortages and operational disruptions. Despite these difficulties, Bourne remained committed to her team and her company鈥檚 mission.
Recognizing an opportunity for greater autonomy, Bourne led a management buyout in 2023, securing private ownership of Denali Universal Services. The transition was an arduous process, involving nearly a year of negotiations with the company鈥檚 former owner, a massive French conglomerate. The experience tested her endurance and resolve, but the outcome was worth it 鈥� she became the majority owner and continued to serve in her role as CEO, ensuring the company鈥檚 long-term stability and growth. This shift marked Denali Universal Services as a proud woman-owned Alaska business.
Under Bourne鈥檚 leadership, the company has expanded to over 1,100 employees across six states, with 30% of its business now operating outside of Alaska. Most importantly, Bourne has built a leadership team personally dedicated to prioritizing employees and ensuring the company鈥檚 continued success.
鈥淩ecognizing the new opportunities ahead, I knew that having more control would allow us to better support our people and accomplish more,鈥� said Bourne. 鈥淚t was a leap of faith, but it was absolutely worth it because we have a great mission and a tremendous team that is excited to make things happen.鈥�
