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100 East Marine Way, Suite 300
Kodiak, AK 99615
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President's Message
Chamber Members,
We are so sad to see our awesome Executive Director, Sarah Phillips, leave but the transition should be super smooth with Jena Lowmaster taking over. Jena was Community Relations Director so she knows the ropes and how important the Chamber is to our members and to Kodiak. I think she’ll turn out to be a superstar like Sarah. We are so lucky to have had two amazing and talented women in a row as our ED. If you have time, please stop in and congratulate Jena.
The newest NOAA Fisheries report just came out and Kodiak is again ranked #3 for the most seafood pounds landed across all US ports. No doubt about it, Kodiak is a fishing town. Dutch Harbor was #1 for the 23rd consecutive year. And the Aleutians East Borough was second place. Alaska is definitely number one for commercial fishing, a huge economic driver for us.
The commercial salmon season begins the first part of June, tourists are flocking to the island, and sports fishing is cranking up. Make sure and walk the docks to see all the vessels getting ready for the salmon season, take the time to welcome visitors to the Island, and go sport fishing to enjoy the great outdoors.
Crab Fest is going on as I write this and it is so exciting to see everyone out strolling the grounds, trying to decide which Crab Fest food booth to try first, and enjoying the sunshine. Almost feels like normal again.
We do not currently have any Chamber events scheduled in June but we will be bringing back Business After Hours (BAH) next month, in person!
Our newest member is another fishermen’s organization, Kodiak Seiners Association. Welcome!
With Jena moving up to the ED position, she will be looking for a new Community Relations Director as well as an additional part-time Administrative Assistant to help her out. The job postings will be available shortly.
Julie Bonney
President
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Lowmaster to Lead Chamber |
By SARAH LAPIDUS sarah@kodiakdailymirror.com
For daily Kodiak business news, subscribe to the Kodiak Daily Mirror HERE
For most of her professional career, Jena Lowmaster has worked in corporate America. But after more than 10 years at companies like Google, Apple and big public relations firms, she decided she needed a change.
That change occurred in 2019 when she moved to Kodiak with her husband, who is a U.S. Coast Guard service member. After she arrived on the island, she found a job at the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce as the community relations director.
Lowmaster switched to a community-oriented position because she wanted to see the impact her work was having on people — something that’s not always possible when working in big corporations.
“By nature, I want to help people, so as much as I can help somebody, help the community and help businesses, that is something I find rewarding,” she said.
Lowmaster is now set to take over as executive director of the chamber. She was one of 14 applicants for the position, and last Friday the chamber’s board of directors voted to hire her, after a special hiring committee recommended her.
Lowmaster will replace Sarah Phillips, who is ending her tenure as executive director to move to Florida with her husband, who serves in the Coast Guard.
The chamber is a member-driven, nonprofit organization that offers educational and networking opportunities, business resources, and government advocacy to protect and advance members’ interests. Members include local and off-island businesses, nonprofits and councils that impact the Kodiak area economy.
Through her job as the community relations director, Lowmaster has already started forging relationships with the Kodiak community and businesses, a process that she described as a “stepping stone” to her role as executive director.
Lowmaster said that her past experiences with budgeting, marketing and advertising have provided even more great assets to help her lead the chamber.
“We have a lot of budgeting. We have to work with other marketing and advertising that we do to help promote members, different aspects to promote our business community — all of that will go hand-in-hand,” she said.
As executive director, Lowmaster will oversee the chamber’s daily operations, making sure the organization stays true to its core values, she said.
In addition to organizing the chamber’s annual events, Lowmaster wants to explore a community gift card program. She also wants to hear and execute ideas for new events from the chamber members.
Lowmaster is originally from Flagstaff, Arizona, a place that reminds her of Kodiak with its small, quaint atmosphere and tight-knit community. Flagstaff was “one of those similar places where everybody knows everybody. It has a strong sense of community,” where she said people are always networking and working together to accomplish big tasks.
Lowmaster studied at Northern Arizona University, where she graduated with a dual degree in advertising and photography. She moved to New York, where she started her career. She then moved to San Francisco before making her life in Kodiak.
Lowmaster moved to The Rock almost two years ago for her husband’s work in the Coast Guard. The couple was excited for the move — her husband had been trying to move to Kodiak for his entire career.
When she arrived on the island, she knew she wanted a job that was involved in the community. Although she did not know much about chambers of commerce, she began researching the topic after seeing the open position for the local chamber’s communications relations director.
Lowmaster said that over the past two years, she has learned just how important the chamber’s advocacy work is.
“When people need the support, we are here for whatever they need. During COVID, we have been here to help during the grant process, answer questions and support the community,” Lowmaster said.
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THE RAIN DIDN'T DAMPER THE EFFORTS
The morning began rainily, but the Community of Kodiak still turned out to beautify the island. Over 600 bags were handed out downtown, with 400 additional bags provided to other areas of the Island. Thanks to the week-long prize program from Matson, participants picked up throughout the week!
Additional bags are always available at the Chamber for those wishing to contribute throughout the year. In an effort to continue to keep Kodiak clean and green, the Youth Litter Patrol Program run by the Chamber will begin shortly after the end of the school year.
Community Clean-Up Day is made possible by a generous sponsorship from Matson and Leisnoi, Inc.
Special thanks to Kodiak Lions Club, Cost Savers, Subway, Walmart, US Foods, Threshold, Inc, and Alaska Waste, Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, the City of Kodiak, and Kodiak Island Borough.
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MATSON ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S CLEANUP GIVEAWAY IN KODIAK!
Winners: Sabrina S., Erin S., Promise V., Paula E., Aaron S., Susan S., Brennan B., Molly M., Sonya M., Mariah H., Alison H., Megan D., Sean R., Michelle S., Ryan C., Natalie H., Martha B., John A., Roxanne White., and Brian S.
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Thanks for Joining us at Crab Fest! |
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Rotary Fish Toss
Survival Suit Race
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Kiwani's Nail Benders
Boat Building
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If you didn't get your chance to purchase
Crab Fest gear at the festival, we still have some limited inventory left.
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We Are Bringing Back In-Person
Business After Hours!
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If you would like to host a Business After Hours (BAH) please contact the Chamber to schedule your event!
We would like to start this event back up in July and have openings throughout the rest of the year.
Not sure what Business After Hours is?
Well, we feature one business a month, targeting other Chamber Members as well as the entire community, and give them an opportunity to visit your business and learn the story behind why and how you do what you do. You can host the event at your location, at the chamber, or any chosen location. The Chamber will provide a door prize ($20 value) and split-the-pot.
If you have further questions, please reach out to Jena Lowmaster to discuss the details. (907) 486-5557. |
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The Kodiak Chamber has created the relocation guide to assist those moving to Kodiak or about to start their move, or simply to learn more about what the Kodiak Community has to offer. It contains our full Member Directory along with facts and info about life in Kodiak!
You can access an electronic copy by clicking on the image.
Member businesses and local residents are welcome to pick up free copies of the guide!
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KODIAL SEINERS ASSOCIATION
Interested in becoming a member?
The Chamber Membership gives your organization the tools and support it needs to succeed. With access to business resources, educational materials, advocacy, networking opportunities, and much more...
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ASSOCIATED ISLAND BROKERS INC.
COST SAVERS DBA NICKLE & DIME
CREIGHTON CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC
GOLDEN ALASKA EXCAVATING, LLC
KODIAK COLLEGE, UAA
KODIAK ISLAND SMOKEHOUSE KODIAK MILITARY HISTORY MUSEUM
KODIAK POWERSPORTS & MARINE LLC
PETRO MARINE SERVICES
PROVIDENCE KODIAK ISLAND COUNSELING CTR
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, LLC NMLS #167729
RONDYS INC
SENATOR GARY STEVENS
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
SUNRUNNER ALASKA CORP.
WAL-MART STORES, INC.
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Member Updates & Spotlight |
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Crab Cab Winner Announced |
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For as long as many can remember, the end of Crab Festival has always been marked with the Crab Cab Trip Give-Away. Stickers are handed out and start appearing on bumpers and windows all over Kodiak.
This year, the winner is Judith Rivera. She was incredibly excited, I’m not sure you would have heard anyone happier. Judith got her sticker and signed up at Subway downtown.
Congratulations to Paula, we're already envious of your soon-to-be dream vacation!
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Love & Theft at the Kodiak Fairgrounds |
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Love & Theft is an amazing country duo from Nashville, TN with monster hits including Angel Eyes, Runaway, Candy Land, and more. Special guest Crooked Island Band opening up the show.
- This is an acoustic concert.
- Doors open at 6 PM and music from Crooked Island Band at 7 PM.
- This is an all-ages show.
- There will be a beer garden and food available for purchase.
- Please bring your own chairs.
- No refunds unless the show is canceled.
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Sum’Arts for Kids provides quality and affordable arts instruction to youth. For more than three decades, the program has engaged local teaching artists to work with Kodiak kids in visual arts, theatre, and more.
For the summer of 2021, Sum’Arts for Kids will include our traditional in-person week-long camps, as well as virtual learning options, take-home kits, and outdoor adventures. We are incorporating all that we have learned over the past year to support options for every family!
Sincere thanks to the Kodiak Island Borough School District for their long-standing support of the Sum'Arts for Kids program.
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Discover Kodiak's Adjust Your Altitude |
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The Adjust Your Altitude hiking challenge kicked off on June 1 st and continues through September 6 th, 2021. For more information, click here.
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Seward Folk-Rock Band, Blackwater Railroad Company Comes to Kodiak |
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Get out to the Kodiak State Fairgrounds Saturday, July 3, and enjoy an evening of live music featuring three great bands including headliners Blackwater Railroad Company.
The fun begins at 6:30 with Frank Solivan & Jillian Lea, followed by Kodiak favorites Ellamy Tiller and the Twang, and then Blackwater Railroad Company takes the stage at 8:30 pm.
Kodiak Lions Club will be firing up their grill and serving deluxe hamburgers and more. A beer garden onsite will allow audience members to enjoy a cold brew with the music.
Blackwater Railroad Company is a dynamic folk-rock group built from diametrically opposed backgrounds, brought together by a love of music and Alaska. Like good moonshine, the group was formed in a dark basement, in the middle of winter, and now consistently delivers warm, cheery evenings.
Alongside their original music, BWRR strives to introduce audiences to the music that inspires them, much of which is from more obscure sources from past musical eras as well as more recent music, re-imagined and performed with a new angle. In one evening, audiences can expect to hear a wide range of the band's muses, such as Devil Makes Three, The Felice Brothers, MGMT, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, old blues standards made famous by The Band, and even the likes of Madonna and They Might Be Giants.
An evening with BWRR promises lots of dancing, the love of a fine drink and laughter with friends!
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The 49th State Angel Fund Launches
Co-Investment Fund
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The 49SAF Co-investment Fund is a dollar-for-dollar fund: 49SAF will match new cash equity (or equity-like) investment into any Alaska company up to $25,000, near-automatically. Recognizing the lack of racial diversity in our portfolio, 49SAF has carved out half of this effort’s total capital to create the Building Equity Co-investment Fund to prioritize applications from businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (“BIPOC”).
49SAF will match investment into qualifying ...Read more
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Should you have any questions about PPP, grants, additional funding, or any other COVID-19 related questions, please contact the Chamber at (907) 486-5557 at any time.
Additional resource links for COVID:
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Don't forget to add your 2021 events to our calendar or send them to us at chamber@kodiak.org!
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President Julie Bonney
Past President Lindsay Knight
Vice President Patrick Cummings
Secretary/Treasurer Jeff Sanford
Board Members: Kevin Bumgarner · Daniel Eubanks · Tyler Kornelis · Phil Lampron · Diane Million · Ginny Shank ·
Tyler Wallace · Gemma Hawley
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City of Kodiak Representative Mike Tvenge
Kodiak Island Borough Representative Michael Powers
USCG Air Station Representative Capt. Bryan Dailey
KEA Representative Darron Scott
Discover Kodiak Representative Aimee Williams
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Contacts Us:
Phone: (907) 486-5557
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