Forty years ago, Don Zimmerman started doing real estate in Alaska the way he believed it should be done by knowing the market, telling the truth, and staying until the job was finished.

Since then, he's helped more than 1,200 Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage families buy and sell property. He's closed deals that fell apart for other agents. He's sat across the table from investors, developers, and attorneys - and made sure his clients walked away wit...