2022 Annual Meeting - It's a Wrap! |
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Thank You to all our Ketchikan partners for making
this year's Annual meeting a historic success!
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Over 300 In-Person Attendees
50 Virtual Attendees
30 Incredible Sponsors
90 Phenomenal Speakers and Panelists
$40,000 raised for the UAS Scholarship Fund
Thank you to all who attended both virtually and in person, to Sponsors, Panelists and Speakers! Together, we will Chart the Course Ahead!
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Shirley Kelly being presented with an award for "Distinguished Leadership" for her many years of advocacy and mentorship. |
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Pictured above: Alaska Mariculture Cluster coalition members pictured with Sheba Person-Whitley, Director of EDA's Seattle's Regional Office and Shirley Kelly, EDA Alaska Representative |
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OneUSDA $12 Million Award for SE Projects through Regional Partners
(SEC, Tlingit & Haida, & Spruce Root)
$125,000 AEA award to SEC for EV Charging Infrastructure
$100,000 from Tongass Federal Credit Union for a Revolving Loan Fund
Candidate Forum for US Senate, US House, and AK Governor seats
All-Star line-up of speakers and the most diverse gathering of SE AK Leaders
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Ketchikan rolled out the red carpet for Southeast Conference attendees from the Salmon Falls Welcome Event, the Salmon Landing Community Night, the free transit shuttles, and the use of the Ted Ferry Civic Center- not to mention sunshine and blue skies in September! We couldn't be more grateful for all our partners and volunteers who made this year's conference the best yet! |
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Special thank you to the City of Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Ketchikan Visitor's Bureau, Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, and Grow Ketchikan. |
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SEC's Community of the Year, Hoonah |
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Southeast Conference is pleased to recognize the city of Hoonah as Southeast Conference's 2022 Community of the Year.
Hoonah was an economic leader during the COVID recovery, adding 18% more jobs in 2021 and boasting the lowest unemployment rate on record. Hoonah was awarded this honor for its hard won success transforming the community’s economy. through sustained economic planning over the past two decades. Its private-tribal-public partnerships act as a model for all of Alaska.
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SEC Welcomes Dan Lesh as Deputy Director |
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Dan recently joined Southeast Conference as deputy director, bringing a deep background in
economic development in coastal Alaska. He adds capacity as the organization develops and
implements partnerships and projects in mariculture, energy, transportation, fisheries, and other topics.
Prior to joining SEC, Dan served as a senior consultant at McKinley Research Group (formerly
McDowell Group). In his seven years at that firm, he led teams completing market assessments,
economic development plans, feasibility studies, and other assignments for a wide variety of clients
across Alaska and beyond. A lifelong Alaskan, Dan’s professional experience includes policy analysis for the Alaska Legislature; tourism operations; serving on the Gustavus City Council; and renewable energy program development. He holds an undergraduate degree from Grinnell College and an MBA from the University of Illinois.
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Southeast Alaska By The Numbers 2022 |
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11th Edition: One-year Snapshot of Regional Economic & Socioeconomic Trends
It is impossible to imagine a better year-over-year economic report than 2020 to 2021.Jobs were up by 5%, with some communities seeing up to 19% job increases. Moving into 2022 and 2023 Southeast Alaska’s businesses report tremendous optimism. Salmon harvest levels are coming in even higher than in 2021. Mining jobs are up by 7% in 2022 so far, and construction jobs are up by 5%.
Two threats are hampering regional recovery: the continued decline of the State jobs and difficulty attracting workers due to fierce competition nationally and a scarcity of housing within the region.
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SE Conference Members are the BEST |
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This year, we challenged our members to beat last year's UAS scholarship fundraising total. They did not disappoint, raising $40,000 for Southeast Alaska's UAS students!
Additionally, for the second year in a row, we saw fiercely won donation items donated back to benefit the region. Last year, AIDEA's Morgan Neff donated a Royal Caribbean Cruise cruise back to the Haines's first responders and this year, AEA's Tim Sandstrom donated two First Class Alaska Airlines tickets to the UAS students.
On behalf of the University of Alaska Southeast and the students it serves, thank YOU for your generosity! (Did we mention that our members are the best?!)
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2023 Conference Dates - Mark Your Calendar! |
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We can't wait to see you again! Be sure to Save the Dates for our next conferences! |
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Mid-Session Summit
Jan 31-Feb 2, Juneau, AK
Annual Meeting
Sept. 19-21, Sitka, AK
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