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 Summitt 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.  

Bus Departs from front of Westmark 

4:30pm  

Departure for opening reception 
If unable to attend the Kinross Fort Knox or UAF drone tour, hop on the second bus to attend our opening reception! 

Bus Departs from front of Westmark 

5:30pm  

Opening Reception: Pints & PAC’s 

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 

8:15  

The Future of Work 
Stephanie Ferguson, Director, Global Employment Policy & Special Initiatives, U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

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. 

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 

 
What are the strategic challenges of implementing AI in your organization and how can you safely embrace and manage the technology. 

10:00 

Break  
 

10:15 

Ballot Measure 1 and the Impact on Business 

An explainer into 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 

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. 

Noon                       

Local Chamber of the Year Presentation 
Award Winner: Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce 

Lunch Keynote Address 

Rich Nolan, President & CEO, National Mining 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 

Ted Stevens Public Service Award Presentation 
Award Winner: Jeannie Monk 

2:00 

Tipping Point: The Cost of Living, Working, and Playing in the Last Frontier 

While jobs and GDP are up in Alaska, the cost of housing, childcare, and groceries are hurting employers’ abilities to attract and retain workforce. What’s the solution?  
Speakers to be announced very soon! 
 

2:45 

Break 

3:00pm 

Elections 2024: Hot Takes 

Matt Larkin, Owner, Dittman Research 
Nicole McCleskey, Partner, Public Opinion Strategies 
 
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 

Bar Sponsored by 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.  

Congressional Candidate Forum 
Congresswoman Mary Peltola - confirmed 

Nick Begich – confirmed 
 

Co-hosted by the Alaska Chamber and Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce