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! 

Motorcoach departs from front of Westmark 

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 

Time 

Agenda Item 

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 

Break 

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 

5:30pm 

Alaska Business Summit Reception 
 
Sponsored by Usibelli Coal Mine and Explore Fairbanks 

Morris Thompson Center 

Thursday, October 10th – Westmark, Gold Room 

Time 

Agenda Item 

8:30am 

9:00-11:00am 

Noon 

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