1.5 Days that could Change Alaska

Join a positive, can-do, group of optimistic Alaskans committed to a bright future!

Why has Alaska been experiencing outmigration for the past thirteen years?

How will we attract the workforce needed for today’s economy 
and the major projects on the horizon?


What opportunities and challenges exist as our population ages?

Explore these questions and more at this year’s Innovation Summit!

This uniquely immersive experience will examine how shifting demographics, an aging population, entrepreneurship, and quality of life considerations all combine to create both the challenges and opportunities that define Alaska’s future.

Be part of the conversations shaping Alaska’s next chapter!

Wednesday from 1 PM until Thursday at 5 PM

$ Flexible pricing for every budget because we want you to join us.

Thank you to our Innovation Summit sponsors!

Our National Experts will be Talking About...

Dr. Thomas Cooke, Ph.D.

Leader in Domestic Migration Research

Migration, Retention, and What the Evidence Actually Says about Growing a Rooted Community



Dr. Cooke will focus on shaping an informed dialogue around migration by delivering precise, evidence-based insights that challenge misconceptions and clarify complex demographic trends. He will emphasize how migration both responds to and influences policy, economic opportunity, and community well-being—making it especially relevant for regions experiencing sustained population change. Don’t miss Thomas’s presentation on Day 1 (Wednesday) of the Summit!

Melody Warnick

Author & “Anywhereist”

Relocation to Rooted: How Communities Can Intentionally Build Belonging

Why do some places inspire people to stay while others struggle to hold on? Melody will take a human-centered look at relocation and place attachment, exploring who is moving, why they choose certain communities, and what turns a location into a lasting home. Drawing on trends, case studies, and storytelling, she will examine efforts to attract and retain talent, from place-based marketing campaigns like Choose Juneau and Choose Anchorage to investments in community livability. She’ll also consider how temporary residents and workers can develop deeper ties, transforming time spent in Alaska into long-term commitment and stronger, more resilient communities. Don’t miss Melody’s keynote on the morning of Day 2 (Thursday)!

Molly Pyle

Rural Innovation Builder

Building Thriving Tech Ecosystems 
in Rural Communities


Drawing on real-world examples and practical frameworks, Molly will show how tech jobs and startups punch above their weight in rural economies—fueling job creation, keeping talent local, and unlocking new streams of investment. She’ll introduce CORI’s approach to building thriving rural tech ecosystems, from broadband and infrastructure to talent development and founder support and share on-the-ground stories from communities across CORI’s Rural Innovation Network. Don’t miss Molly’s keynote during our luncheon on Day 2 (Thursday)!

Shane Phillips

Housing Policy Expert

Our Housing Conundrum 

Alaska’s housing challenges are no longer abstract—they are shaping who can stay, who must leave, and what growth is possible. In this solutions lab, join Shane Phillips, housing policy expert and author, for a candid exploration of supply constraints, regulatory barriers, and the practical tradeoffs communities face when trying to build enough homes. This interactive deep dive gives meaningful perspective to how leaders can use policy, design, and political will to move the needle in high-cost, high-constraint markets like ours. Don’t miss Shane’s Innovation Short on Day 1 (Wednesday) and Solutions Lab on Day 2!

Unpack the Push-Pull Paradox at Solutions Labs!

Solution Labs are interactive working sessions that go beyond big ideas and into real-world strategy. These facilitated conversations bring together experts and participants to unpack a specific challenge, explore data and lived experience, and identify actionable next steps.

Each session focuses on practical solutions—so attendees leave with clear insights, useful frameworks, and connections they can put to work immediately. See our Solutions Labs topics below:

Buying and Selling Businesses

In this interactive solutions lab, participants will explore the roles of buyer and seller to explore what drives valuation, modernization potential, scalability, and deal structure in Alaska’s economic landscape. Attendees will leave with a clear framework for assessing opportunity, reducing risk, and constructing deals that actually work.

Facilitator: Sandy Hussain, Juneau Center Director, Alaska Small Business Development Center

Choose Alaska! 

Why are so many communities across Alaska actively marketing themselves as places to live and work? In this dynamic solutions lab, join leaders from three regions to unpack the forces behind relocation campaigns, workforce attraction strategies, and the realities beneath the branding. This session explores what’s driving the movement—and what it means for Alaska’s future.

Co-Facilitators: 

• Kathleen McArdle, President and CEO, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
• Cathy Renfeldt, Executive Director of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce
• Jennifer Schmitz, Director, Alaska Retention and Recruitment Center, Alaska Council of School Administrators

Accessibility for All with Universal Design

Alaska’s demographic shifts, labor constraints, and housing shortages are converging at the same time expectations for accessibility and inclusion are rising. Universal Design is not merely a compliance issue—it is an economic, workforce, and community resilience strategy. This session reframes design as forward-looking infrastructure that supports aging in place, strengthens business performance, and increases workforce participation.

Co-facilitators:

• Paul Voelkers, President and Principal Architect, MRV Architects
• Katie Warden, Director, Northwest ADA Center
• Sherri von Wolfe, Architect and Facilities Accessibility Specialist, University of Washington Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation
• Cameron Carter, CEO & Founder, Rosarium Health

Dementia Simulation 

Get a glimpse of what it feels like when the world no longer makes sense by participating in a dementia simulation. Then join this guided conversation about the powerful, hands-on experience designed to evoke the confusion, frustration, vulnerability, and sensory overload that often accompany cognitive decline. Participants will leave not only with deeper empathy, but with practical insight into how workplaces, homes, and communities can respond with greater clarity, compassion, and dignity.

Facilitators: Lisa Sauders, CEO, Alzheimer's Resource Alaska and Team

The State of Trades 

Alaska’s future workforce depends on whether we can inspire, train, and retain the next generation of skilled trades professionals. In The State of Trades, this deep dive examines the structural, cultural, and perception barriers shaping today’s talent pipeline—and what it will take to build real momentum with youth, career-switchers, and underrepresented populations. Participants will explore practical strategies for strengthening apprenticeship pathways, employer engagement, and community messaging to ensure the trades are seen not as a fallback, but as a high-value, high-impact career choice.

Facilitator: Zach Stenson, Career and Technical Education Program Development Specialist, Pathfinder Solutions AK

Meet the Alaska Airlines Pitch Contestants!

Hear from aspiring Alaskan entrepreneurs at the Alaska Airlines Pitch Contest, capping off Day 1 of the Summit. The Pitch Contest, co-hosted with the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce, brings together five up-and-coming founders who will have 5 minutes pitch their business venture to a panel of experts, as well as the ultimate panel – Summit attendees, who will crowdfund a cash prize for the winner to take home at the end of the session.

Rico Worl with Codex.NDN Futures, a trading cards brand featuring indigenous artists in a blind box style collectable series.

Lorenzo Chu with Olen Arc, a GovTech startup providing a lightweight digital governance hub tailored for small and Tribal governments.

Ben Matthys with Southeast Sparks, a marine technology company that provides traditional electrical and electronic products and services while also specializing in hybrid and electric propulsion systems

Richard Rogers with Tundra Electronics, which builds patented heating systems for electronics operating in cold temperatures up to -40F, allowing them to operate at optimal range.

Kris Swanson with Xpedious, a service for contractors to order electrical supplies in seconds. No apps, no hassle—just text and get what you need.

Pre-Event Eldercare Trainings

The following sessions are made possible by support from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. Thank you!

Tools for Aging in Place: Exploring Assistive Tech in Action

Providing a practical, hands-on overview of how the right tools can reduce barriers and strengthen aging in place across the lifespan.

With Tori Phipps, ATLA Alaska

Foundations of Case Management: Community Resource Navigation

Equipping participants with the skills to assess client needs, make effective referrals, and confidently navigate complex support systems through hands-on, real-world learning.

With Tonya Muldoon, JEDC and Southeast Regional Eldercare Coalition

The Aging Brain Unpacked: What’s Normal, What’s Not

Helping caregivers distinguish normal aging from dementia-related cognitive changes and apply compassionate, dignity-centered communication strategies.

With Lisa Sauder, Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska

More Innovation Summit Highlights

JEDC Platinum Investors

Juneau is on the cusp of nearly a billion dollars in sustained infrastructure investment. While these major projects will require a steady supply of skilled trades workers, Juneau faces a shrinking and aging trades workforce, limited hands- on CTE opportunities for high school students, and persistent gaps between K–12 education, postsecondary training, apprenticeships, and local employment. Interested students graduate without clear pathways into trades careers, and

employers are increasingly forced to recruit from outside the region, limiting long-term economic benefits for our community.

Photo by Clarise Larson / KTOO

In response, JEDC is creating the Juneau Summer Trades CTE Pilot, a focused summer 2026 CTE (Career and Technical Education) program designed to prepare at least 20 local high school students and recent graduates (18+) with hands-on skills development and clearly defined next steps into postsecondary education, registered apprenticeships, and local trades jobs. The first week covers workplace readiness and safety (OSHA, First Aid/CPR, Emergency Preparedness), followed by five weeks (up to nine) of paid, on-site internships with unions and private employers.

Help us connect local talent to local opportunities and strengthen Juneau’s long-term economic future through the trades! For more information or to express interest, please contact us.

We are seeking:

• Interested participants (age 18 and older) – High school students and recent graduates ready to gain hands-on skills, earn workplace safety certifications, and move into paid internships with clear pathways to postsecondary training, registered apprenticeships, and local trades careers.
• Local companies and unions – Employers willing to host paid, on-site internships (for five to nine weeks) and help build Juneau’s future skilled workforce.

This program is made possible by a $25,000 donation from True North FCU. Thank you!

JEDC Gold Investors

Current Promotion:

Among other deals, our "Get $10 After Spending $100" promotion is currently running for Mar y Sol, Coppa, Seong's Sushi, Imagination Station, and Forno Rosso. Rewards accumulate in the app and can be spent at any local businesses that accepts TLF dollars.

Local Change:

Remember to round up in the app for a non-profit of your choice! New options include the Downtown Business Association, Juneau Animal Rescue, and Cancer Connection. 

*Sponsorship Opportunity*

This closed-loop spending initiative keeps dollars circulating among Juneau businesses. If you share JEDC's commitment to local reinvestment, economic resilience, and the long-term health of the businesses that anchor our community, let us know for more info.

JEDC Silver Investors

JEDC Bronze Investors

PHOTO: Competition at last year's FTC State Championships

at University of Alaska-Anchorage

Focused on developing talent to support Alaska's future workforce, JEDC is proud to be a leading provider of high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programming throughout our great state. This includes the internationally recognized FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program, which engages thousands of Alaskan youths in exciting mentor-based programs that foster teamwork and critical thinking skills, inspire innovation, and build well-rounded, informed individuals. As the official FIRST® Program Delivery Partner for Alaska, JEDC organizes 20+ energy-filled youth robotics events annually for all age levels: FIRST® LEGO League (FLL) Explore (grades K-4), FLL Challenge (grades 4-8), and FIRST® Tech Challenge (grades 7-12).

Invest in Juneau in 2026!

The JEDC Investor Program is specifically designed to engage businesses and organizations who support economic development in Juneau. By becoming a JEDC Investor, you will directly contribute to programs and initiatives that foster a healthy and sustainable economy: help make Juneau a great (capital) city; strengthen key regional industries; promote entrepreneurship and small business; develop next generation talent; and, deliver core economic development services.

Your investment will provide vital, flexible funding enabling us to act where the need is greatest: conducting timely and relevant research, responding to emergency situations, convening partners to address housing and workforce challenges, supporting small business startup and expansion through our lending and investment programs, and much more!

With our comprehensive and consistent marketing, your business or organization will be recognized on the JEDC website and all presentations, publications, newsletters, and collateral materials. Investment levels* range from $700 to $10,000+ with increasing benefits. Additionally, your sponsorship of specific JEDC programs and events, such as FIRST® in Alaska, the Innovation Summit or the Juneau Maritime Festival, will increase your overall Investor recognition level.

*All packaging is customizable, and we look forward to connecting with you to discuss your company's goals, so you get the most return on your investment!

JEDC Investors

JEDC Affiliate Investors

JEDC | Website