Southeast Conferences Announces Southeast Alaska Business and Community of the Year, Along With New Board Members

In This Issue
Annual Meeting Huge Success
Business of the Year
Community of the Year
New Board on Board
$17,000 in Scholarship Money Raised
Conference Presentations
News Roundup
Resolutions
Legacy Sponsors
AVISTA
First Bank
Ketchikan Gateway Borough (AMHS)
Haines Borough (AMHS)
City of  Ketchikan (AMHS)
State of Alaska (AMHS)
 
Benefactor Sponsors

Alaska Electric Light & Power
Alaska Committee  (AMHS)
Lynden Inc. (AMHS)
City and Borough of Sitka (AMHS)
Gold Sponsors
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Petersburg Borough
Alaska Airlines
Holland America Group/Princess Cruises
 
Silver Sponsors
(AP&T) Alaska Power & Telephone
Southeast Alaska Solid Waste Authority
Southeast Road Builders
Vigor Alaska (AMHS)
Ketchikan Marine Industry Council (AMHS)
Municipality of Skagway (AMHS)
 
Bronze Sponsors
Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
Coeur Alaska Kensington Gold Mine
University of Alaska Southeast
Alaska Marine Lines
Madison Lumber & Hardware (AMHS)
Best Western Landing Plus (AMHS)
City of Unalaska (AMHS)
City of Cordova (AMHS) 
Event & Project Sponsors
AVISTA
City & Borough of Juneau
City & Borough of Wrangell
City of Craig
McDowell Group
Moffatt & Nichol
Ocean Market Gardens
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
PeaceHealth
Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEPA)
Wells Fargo Bank
Constantine Metal Resources
Balanced Accounting Solutions, Shee Atika
Wostmann & Associates
Huna Totem (AMHS)
Travel Juneau (AMHS)
Inter-Island Ferry Authority (AMHS)
City of Pelican (AMHS)
Petersburg Economic Development Council (AMHS)
City & Borough of Wrangell (AMHS)
Masters Mates & Pilots Union (AMHS)
Cordova Chamber of Commerce (AMHS)
Hyder Community Association (AMHS)
(SWAMC) Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (AMHS)
City of Thorne Bay (AMHS)
City of Cordova  (AMHS)
Board of Directors
Chelsea Goucher - President
Jan Hill - 1st VP Haines
Dennis Watson - 2nd VP Craig
Stephen Bradford - Ketchikan (sec)
Alec Mesdag - Juneau (treasurer)
Garry White - Sitka (past pres)
Carol Rushmore - Wrangell
Bryce Dahlstrom - Klawock
Liz Cabrera - Petersburg
Rorie Watt - Juneau
Graham Neale - Jnu & Ketchikan
Marcos Scheer - Sitka
Dennis Gray Jr. -  Hoonah
Staff
Shelly Wright-Executive Director
Cheri Lancaster-CFO
Robert Venables- Energy & Transportation Coordinator

 

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Petersburg Annual Meeting Huge Success
Petersburg laid out the red carpet for over 200 members of
S outheast Conference participating in the organization's 2016 Annual
Meeting.  

Particular focus was given to the group discussion o n the conference's Alaska Marine Highway Reform Project. The Annual Meeting doubled as a working meeting of the AMHS Reform Project Steering Committee to review a ferry governance analysis. A special thank you is extended to Lt. Governor Byron Mallott for his inspiration and leadership to bring real change and sustainability to the ferry system as well as his recognition of our work on the statewide Marine Highway System Reform Project during his keynote remarks.
Click here to download
 
Other highlights included the release of our annual   Southe ast by the Numbers report prepared by Rain Coast Data , a review of the new Southeast Alaska 2020 Economic Plan , a Maritime Works panel discussion, the roll out of new community energy planning tool, energy efficiency and project highlights  from around the region, along with many great presentations on a variety of topics ranging from mariculture to education to mining. (Scroll down to view and download all the presentations). 
Business of the Year: Alaska Airlines
Alaska Air Scott Habberstad, Shelly Wright, KC Hostetler and Tim Thompson
 
The award of Southeast Alaska Business of the Year was given to Alaska Airlines for their exemplary service to the people and communities of our region, and leading our region to a record number of air passenger arrivals in 2015. "Alaska Airlines is honored to have received the Business of the Year Award from Southeast Conference," said Marilyn Romano, regional vice-president. "Like many places in Alaska, we realize the important role air transportation plays in keeping our Southeast communities economically vibrant. We take our commitment seriously and appreciate the recognition of so many that mean so much to us. Thank you on behalf of all of our employees that call Alaska home."
Community of the Year: Ketchikan
Glen Thompson, Stephen Branford, Bob Sivertsen, Chelsea Goucher and Shelly Wright
 
Ketchikan was awarded the Southeast Alaska Community of the Year award in honor of their enthusiastic and meaningful support of the Alaska Marine Highway Reform Project both through individual participation and financial support. Ketchikan was also selected to host the 2018 Southeast Conference Annual Meeting. 

New Board on Board
 
The Annual Meeting is the time for changes in the Board of Directors' lineup, and this year there were quite a few; six new board members were elected!
President - Chelsea Goucher of Ketchikan
First Vice President - Jan Hill, Mayor of Haines
Second Vice President - Dennis Watson, Mayor of Craig
Secretary - Stephen Bradford of Ketchikan
Treasurer - Alec Mesdag of Juneau
Past President - Garry White of Sitka
Director - Bryce Dahlstrom of Prince of Wales Island
Director - Carol Rushmore of Wrangell
Director - Liz Cabrera of Petersburg
Director - Rorie Watt of Juneau
Director - Graham Neale of Juneau and Ketchikan
Director - Mark Scheer of Sitka
Director - Dennis Gray Jr. of Hoonah 
 Ketchikan's Chelsea Goucher is our new president. Goucher, 29, took over as president, succeeding Garry White of Sitka as president. Goucher first became involved with Southeast Conference as the executive director of the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, but has since taken a job in Ketchikan with Alaska Marine Lines. Via the KDN "She sees her role in two ways - keeping Southeast Conference on mission in phase two of its project, which will create a 25-year operating plan for the ferry system, and keeping its membership united during the Alaska Legislature's 2017 session."
$17,000 in Scholarship Money Raised
Each year, Southeast Conference members hold an auction to raise money for local college student scholarships. This year we are proud to announce that our members contributed $17,000 for education at our annual event.
A portion of the funds will go into the University of Alaska Southeast fund and the rest will go into the Southeast Conference Student Assistance fund. Want to apply? The scholarship  is open to Southeast Alaska residents. Click here for an application  Southeast Conference believes an educated workforce and opportunities for lifelong learning are critical to the region's future.
Conference Presentations

By popular demand, we are getting all of our presentations out to you early this year! Click below to view any of the many fantastic presentations that were delivered at our Annual Meeting:

Economic Presentations
Ocean Products
Southeast Conference in the News

Can't get enough Southeast Conference? Catch up on our latest stories in the news! (23 unique regional and statewide stories in the last two weeks)
 
Southeast candidates suggest a range of state budget fixes By Joe Viechinicki, KFSK

Mayor on connections made at Southeast Conference - KINY
 
Maritime industry looks to train a skilled workforce By Angela Denning, KFKS-Petersburg

Southeast economy indicators look good despite state budget issues by Aaron Bolton, KSTK News

State cuts will stifle Southeast's economic growth APRN

Southeast Conference workshops the future of the ferry system By Joe Viechnicki, KFSK-Petersburg 
  
Cruise visitors set to hit 1M Petersburg Pilot

Report: Southeast Alaska Economic growth flattening Petersburg Pilot

Committee leading reform to AMHS Petersburg Pilot

Goucher to helm SE Conference Ketchikan Daily News

Southeast Conference looks at several models for reformed ferry system by Joe Viechnicki 

Mallott calls for pristine trans-boundary rivers into Alaska's future by Joe Viechnicki

AMHS reforms sought by Southeast Conference By Nick Bowman Daily News Staff Writer

Southeast Conference proposes recreation AMHS By Nick Bowman Daily News Staff Writer

SEC report finds economy has grown slightly Wrangell Sentinel


Evolving mariculture industry SitNews

Borough to help fund city tourism projects by Leila Kheiry

Mayor's Report: Fisheries disaster resolution, the capital budget and AMHS By The Cordova Times  


Resolutions Passed

The membership passed one resolution in support of and urging passing of the Alaska Mental Health Land Exchange Act of 2016, and they were also encouraged to explore changes to the State of Alaska Mariculture Loan Fund program.