Alaska’s top business symposium, the Alaska Chamber’s Alaska Business Summit (formerly Fall Forum) attracts business leaders from all across the state. The Summit will highlight business issues of statewide importance, host the Premier Business Awards presentation, and set our 2025 advocacy agenda.
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 4th.
AGENDA
(This draft agenda is tentative and subject to change)
Tuesday, October 8
Time
Agenda Item
Room
9:00am - 1pm
Local Chamber Executives Roundtable The Future of AI and Chambers: Understanding the fundamentals and how you can implement AI to work smarter, not harder. Speaker: Carlos Machuca, MBA, AI Resource Program Director, SBDC Sponsored by: Alaska Oil and Gas Association This session is for local chamber executives only.
2 - 4pm
Alaska Chamber Board Meeting Open to current and onboarding board members and invited guests.
Yukon Room
2pm
Optional Tours Open to all Alaska Business Summit attendees!
Kinross Fort Knox Mine Tour
OR
Commercial Drone Tour with UAF at Fairbanks International Airport RSVP’s required – Email lydia@alaskachamber.com to secure your tour slot.
Motorcoach departs from front of Westmark
5:00pm
Departure for opening reception For board members or attendees that were unable to participate in the tours, hop on the second bus to attend our opening reception!
5:30pm
Opening Reception: Pints & PACs
Tour participants will meet up with the rest of the Business Summit attendees for a private reception. Contributions to the Alaska Business PAC and Alaska Miners Association PAC are welcome!
Sponsored by: Samson Tug & Barge
Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling
7:00pm
Depart for Westmark
Dinner on your own!
Silver Gulch
Wednesday, October 9th - Westmark, Gold Room
7:30 a.m.
Welcome Desk and Breakfast Buffet Open
Sponsored by: Hilcorp Alaska
8:00
Opening Remarks
Joe Balash, Board Chair, Alaska Chamber
William A. Egan Alaskan of the Year Presentation Award Winner: Jeff Cook Presenters: Kara Moriarty and Marilyn Romano
Video address by Senator Murkowski
8:15
The Future of Work Stephanie Ferguson, Director, Global Employment Policy & Special Initiatives, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Joey Crum, President & CEO, Northern Industrial Training
Facilitated by: Kara Moriarty, President & CEO, Alaska Oil & Gas Association
From barriers to employment, birthrates to immigration reform, and generational divides among employees; an update on today’s workforce shortage, and how employers should prepare for the next ten years. In addition, a primer on SkillBridge, a veteran-hire program all employers should know about.
9:00
Strategic Leadership in the age of AI: From Vision and Challenges to Impact Carlos A. Machuca, AI Resource Program Director, Alaska Small Business Development Center Mike Satre, Director of Governmental Affairs, Hecla Mining Company
Ellie Booth, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon
Facilitated by: Laura McDonnell, Small Business Owner, Caribou Crossings
Additional speakers to be announced soon!
What are the strategic challenges of implementing AI in your organization and how can you safely embrace and manage the technology. Hear from a leading expert in the field to Chamber members and how they’re embracing AI, from setting company policy to managing their daily schedules.
10:00
Break – Refreshment Break Sponsored by: Transportation Institute
10:15
Ballot Measure 1: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Rebecca Logan, CEO, Alaska Support Industry Alliance Michael Cervantes, Owner, The Banks Alehouse Additional speakers to be announced soon! A primer on the so-called minimum wage measure on the statewide ballot this year and why your business, regardless of size or type, should care.
10:45
Bill Bivin Small Business of the Year Presentation
Award Winner: Northern Industrial Training, LLC
11:00
11:30
Foot on the Gas: Trucking LNG from Prudhoe to Fairbanks Andrew Limmer, Vice President, Harvest Alaska Elena Sudduth, General Manager, Interior Gas Utility First delivery of Prudhoe LNG is expected to arrive in Fairbanks in early 2025. An update on the Harvest-IGU project.
Break
Noon
Local Chamber of the Year Presentation Award Winner: Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce Presenter: Holly Meyer, Aspen Hotels of Alaska
Video presentation by Senator Sullivan
Luncheon Keynote Fireside Chat
Rich Nolan, President & CEO, National Mining Association Mike Satre, Director of Governmental Affairs, Hecla Mining Company
Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association
Sponsored by Donlin Gold
1:30 p.m.
It's Your Business: Wins and Losses of the 2024 Legislative Session and a look ahead to 2025
Joe Balash, Santos, Alaska Chamber Chairman Kati Capozzi, President & CEO, Alaska Chamber Kari Nore, Director of External Affairs, Alaska Chamber
2:00
Tipping Point: The Cost of Living, Working, and Playing in the Last Frontier
Dr. Brett Watson, Assistant Professor of Applied and Natural Resource Economics, ISER
Akis Gialopsos, Deputy Executive Director, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Commissioner Heidi Hedberg, Department of Health, State of Alaska
Alethea Gomez, Colorado Executive Director, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC)
Facilitated by: Stacy Barnes, Director, Governmental Relations and Public Affairs, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
While jobs and GDP are up in Alaska, the cost of housing, childcare, and groceries are hurting employers’ abilities to attract and retain workforce. Is relief on the way?
2:45
3:00pm
Elections 2024: Hot Takes
Matt Larkin, Owner, Dittman Research Nicole McCleskey, Partner, Public Opinion Strategies
Facilitated by: Renee Reeve, VP of Government and Community Relations, Cruise Line International Association Alaska (CLIA) With 50 legislative races, two ballot measures, a Congressional seat, and a rollercoaster of a Presidential campaign, hear the perspectives and predictions of two pollsters who are the best at what they do, both in-state and nationally. Less than a month until election day!
Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year Presentation Award Winner: Trident Seafoods Presented by: Scott Habberstad Champagne Toast: Sponsored by CLIA
Alaska Business Summit Reception Sponsored by Usibelli Coal Mine and Explore Fairbanks
Morris Thompson Center
Thursday, October 10th – Westmark, Gold Room
8:30am
9:00-11:00am
Breakfast Sponsored by Santos
Policy Forum – Open to Alaska Chamber members only
Our annual advocacy agenda-setting event! Learn about, discuss, and cast your vote on policy positions submitted by members for the Alaska Chamber’s advocacy agenda.
To include as many members as possible, this will be a hybrid event. If you are a member and do not plan to attend in person, contact kari@alaskachamber.com to register and receive your secure link to attend virtually.
Congressional Candidate Forum Congresswoman Mary Peltola - confirmed
Nick Begich – confirmed
Co-hosted by the Alaska Chamber and Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce
The Alaska Business Summit will conclude at 1:00p.m. sharp.
Hotel and Airfare Discounts
Westmark Hotel
Rate: $109/night
Code: AKCHAM
Valid: October 6-12
Alaska Airline Code for 7% Discount
Meeting Fare Code: ECMK811
Departure City(s): Any Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air US city
Meeting City: Fairbanks, Alaska
Not Included: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska; Hawaii, Canada, Mexico or Central America
Beginning Travel Date: October 4, 2024
Last Travel Date: October 13, 2024
Registration Closes Friday, October 4th.
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