Registration Now Open for
SEC's 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting
Please Join Southeast Conference for our Virtual Annual Meeting - September 22-25, 2020

There is no other event in Alaska like the Southeast Conference Annual Meeting! With the COVID-19 impacts surrounding us, the Southeast Conference Board of Directors wanted to be sensitive to concerns related to travel and gathering for our annual meeting, so the Annual Meeting will take place in a modified format via Zoom. Please join us each morning of the week, beginning Tuesday, September 22 for important speakers and content as we work toward our theme of "Resiliency in Southeast Alaska".

The goals of this virtual conference is to continue work on the 2025 CEDS and begin to develop an economic recovery and resiliency plan that is tied to the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). We will address the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and discuss what technical assistance might be needed for local governments, businesses, and other stakeholder organizations.
Day One Highlights
Ben Stevens, Chief of Staff for Governor Mike Dunlevey
Ben Stevens currently serves as Chief of Staff to Alaska's Governor, Mike Dunleavy. The son of late US Senator, Ted Stevens, Ben is no stranger to Alaska politics. Stevens graduated from the Arizona State University with a B.A. in economics and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the George Washington University. He is known by friends and colleagues to be one of the smartest and most capable people in Alaska. After college, he was a commercial fisherman and owner of a consulting firm. Stevens was president of the May 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games, held in Anchorage.

He served as Senate majority leader for 2003-2004, and Senate president in 2005-2006. After taking a break from politics, Stevens returned as Chief of Staff for Governor Dunleavy in 2018.
Southeast Alaska By the Numbers with Meilani Schijvens
A lifelong Juneauite, Meilani has 20 years of professional and academic experience with Southeast Alaska's economic, transportation and natural resource issues. Meilani is a past Executive Director of Southeast Conference, and has previously worked at the Juneau Economic Development Council, Sheinberg Associates, and the McDowell Group. Additionally, she has taught a course on Alaska natural resource history at the University of Oregon, worked as an environmental technician at the Greens Creek Mine, and was a staffer in Washington DC for the US Senate Minority Leader. She holds a master's degree in Natural Resource Policy from the University of Oregon and a B.A. in history from Colby College.Her company, Rain Coast Data, allows her to be a serious "data-nerd", which is an asset to many agencies in SE AK.
Economic Resources and Pandemic Forecast Panel
Jon Bittner
Executive Director
Alaska Small Business Development Center
Mouhcine Guettabi Professor of Economics
University of Alaska Anchorage
Nolan Klouda
Executive Director
UA Center for Economic Development
Join us as we hear these economic experts discuss the state of the economy and resources available as we explore the conference theme of, "Resiliency in Southeast Alaska".
Municipality Manager's Roundtable
Hear the southeast municipal managers give updates on their efforts to support businesses and what lies ahead for their local economies.
Become a Southeast Conference Sponsor
This year's annual meeting is available at no cost to our members, thanks to our incredible sponsors. If you'd like to become a sponsor too, contact Southeast Conference or send in the form below.
Donations Needed for UAS Scholarship Auction
Since 1992, Southeast Conference has partnered with UAS to offer a scholarship program that supports residents of the region. Scholarship funds have been raised through an auction that is generously supported by individuals and businesses throughout Southeast and conducted each year at the Annual Membership Meeting. We are actively seeking auction items. If you are able to contribute, please let us know. Thank you in advance for helping make this event a success!
Alaska Cares
It seems the days are numbered for the Alaska Cares grant program. As of today, the state is technically oversubscribed for the AK CARES grant program. This means more funds have been requested than are available. This doesn’t necessarily mean all funds have been exhausted, as not all requested funds will be approved and disbursed, so businesses are still welcome - and encouraged to apply. However, it’s important to be aware that if businesses do submit an application, there is a high likelihood that the application will not be funded due to a lack of available grant funds. Apply ASAP!