PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Chamber Members,

I hope this newsletter finds you and yours doing well. Generally, as it's the beginning of the year, I think that most of us in business tend to start out hoping for a bright and prosperous outlook or at least a decent one. Keeping a positive, yet realistic attitude while staying informed is helpful. With so much taking place at the national, state and local levels, I think it's important to start out my message to you this month with some links to articles and reports on a couple of the areas of focus in front of us as a community, and then reference the US Chamber on the national level before rounding back to what your local chamber team is working on.

Last week the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska's Seafood Industry, chaired by Senate President, Senator Gary Stevens, released its final report. Click through the links to read the report and you can also read yesterday’s article in the Kodiak Daily Mirror by Steve Williams. The Chamber is working with Senator Stevens to have a Seafood Taskforce Update during ComFish at the Forums.

Here are a couple of additional articles of interest for our community and economy, last week, on January 28^th the Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter John Witherspoon arrived in the homeport of Kodiak. Click here to read the KMXT article by Davis Hovey. And yesterday, Davis interviewed Chamber Board Member Nicholas Mangini on Kodiak’s growing Kelp and Mariculture Industry, you can read about it or listen here. We also plan to have a forum on the Kelp and Mariculture during ComFish as well as a Forum on the Coast Guard Expansion, it’s impacts to the fishing industry and our community. More information on ComFish Forums will come in the next few weeks to a month as plans are solidified.

Also on January 28^th last week, Senate President Gary Stevens Issued a Statement After Governor Dunleavy’s State of the State Address. I encourage you to read his full statement here.

With a brand new Presidential Administration, there is a lot of change on the horizon at the national level that could also have local impacts. Your local, State and US Chambers are paying close attention to see how things unfold. On Saturday, President Trump imposed new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. Although the tariff’s on Canada and Mexico have been paused for 30 days after discussions with the leaders of their governments.  Here are a couple key statements made late yesterday from the US Chamber of Commerce in response to the pause to these tariffs: “It is good news that the U.S. has avoided an imminent trade war with Canada and Mexico, our two most important trading partners, and that the American people are spared the immediate economic harm that tariffs would inflict,” said John Murphy, U.S. Chamber Senior Vice President and Head of International."

Also from the US Chamber: “The Chamber and our members will be fully engaged to ensure this 30-day pause becomes a permanent lifting of the threat of tariffs and a trade war. We will continue to work with the Administration and Congress on solutions to secure our border, stop the flow of illicit drugs into America, and to support a growing economy and reduced inflation for all Americans.”

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Please share with us your concerns and keep us informed on any impacts to your business/organization, employees, customers and our community so we can share that information with the Alaska and US Chambers as well as our political leadership. 

And now for what’s happening this month at the Chamber office, we are hard at work on the many upcoming events we have going on: the Coast Guard Appreciation Dinner on February 21^st, a Business After Hours at Kodiak College on February 28^th, SALES TAX FREE DAY on Saturday, March 1^st, ComFish Forums and Trade Show, Community Clean Up Day and CRAB FEST 2025!

Tickets are still available for our annual Coast Guard Appreciation Dinner, you can purchase them through the link in this newsletter or go to kodiakchamber.org and click through to the link to purchase. This year the dinner will be held on Base Kodiak at the Golden Anchor on Friday, February 21^st. The entrée choices are Beef Tenderloin and Halibut Beurre Blanc.

ComFish Vendor & Attendee Registration is still open and is filling up quickly. Go to comfishak.com to sign up now. ComFish Alaska 2025 will be held in the Kodiak Marketplace April 15th -17th, Tuesday through Thursday with Forums in the Best Western Harbor Room. The ComFish Committee is communicating with industry leaders and our representatives to put together an engaging and relevant schedule of forums. 

CrabFest Vendor sign up is now open, please scroll down for the links to sign up for a booth, event, the parade and to perform, or visti kodiakcrabfest.com.

Our Small Business Collaboration Group meets next Monday the 10^th, for lunch in the Chamber conference room at 11:30. Please reach out to Ericka, Linda or I if you have questions about how you can get more involved with the Chamber and remember to share your Sales Tax Free Day information with us by the 25^th so we can help share your sales and specials with our membership.

Focus on Local Businesses: As you scroll through our newsletter you’ll see several flyers for various events and activities this month. Our featured articles are on some of our newest Chamber Members Whitespace 3D, Water’s Edge Marine, Emerald Isle Aesthetics and Sound Mental Health.

To read these articles and the full newsletter you'll need to click on view the entire message.

Thank you for your time, your continued support of the Chamber and our community, the Chamber's programs, and your membership!

Warm Regards,

Ellen Simeonoff, Executive Director, Kodiak Chamber of Commerce

2025 Coast Guard Appreciation Dinner

Click on the graphic below to purchase dinner tickets now.

Thank you to our Dinner Sponsors!

The Kodiak Area Native Association, Chris Kyle Patriots Hospital, Golden Alaska Excavating, Whitespace 3D, Midtown Autorepair Services, Kodiak Powersports & Marine, Kodiak Island Wildsource, The Chart Room Restaurant, Lani's Filipino Barbecue & Catering, Melanie's Crazy Cakes, Kodiak Hana, Bearfoot Bakery and our PIKE Sponsors!

ComFish Vendor Registration

Now Open

SIGN UP FOR CRAB FEST NOW!

Kodiak Crab Fest Vendor Registration is Open!

HAVING AN EVENT DURING CRAB FEST?

RACES, BABY CRAWL, BOOK SALE, ART SHOW AND MORE....Complete the Event Registration online by clicking here now through May 7th. You can click on the image below to register your event also.

Kodiak Crab Fest Performance Registration Below!

List Your Event on the Chamber Calendar

Kodiak Baptist Mission - Adult Sewing Saturday

Kodiak Arts Council - First Friday Art Walk

Picture the TV game show “Family Feud” with your friends and neighbors onstage. Kodiak Feud is a fundraiser and community event hosted by Kodiak’s local public radio station, KMXT. This legally distinct event will have contestants guessing the most popular survey answers, live onstage!

KANA - Child Find Event -- Saturday, Feb 8th

Double Shovel Cider -Wxhold Paintalong

Wxhold Paint-alongs are back at Double Shovel Cider Kodiak for the spring season!

Join us on Tuesday, February 11th for a fun blueberry sprig.

$25. All supplies are provided and no prior art experience necessary. The event is approximately two hours long. I’ll guide you through the process of drawing and then painting your image. I can’t guarantee that you’ll love it, but I can guarantee that you’ll learn something new! And I’m pretty darn sure you’ll love it too.

Limited availability and these classes often sell out.



Reserve your spot at www.nerkadesignsak.com/shop

Kodiak Harvest Food Co-Op - Agriculture on Kodiak

Join us and panelists Ian Zacher and Bernie Deplazes for a discussion about beekeeping in Kodiak. Bring your questions and learn about bees in Kodiak!

Join us for a spring series of community panels + discussions centered around food security for our island! These are FREE + PUBLIC discussions for anyone who is curious about producing local food and gaining information from their community. Each panelist will share a ~5 minute summary of their operations before participants can ask questions and drive the discussion.

Events will take place the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from January through April. All events will take place at the touch tank building from 5:30-6:30. Join us and share your own experiences, questions, comments and concerns.

All events can be attended on Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8898318866

Small Business Collaboration Group

Monthly Chamber Board Meeting in February

• Wednesday, February 19th
• 11:30 am
• Kodiak Chamber Conference Room

Non Profit Network Meeting in February

This group is open to Kodiak nonprofit executive directors, program managers, and staff members. Kodiak Nonprofit Network has been meeting regularly for over 30 years.

We support each other, we collaborate, we ask for help or ideas. Please share program updates, local issues, funding opportunities, questions, and anything else that pertains to nonprofit life.

We’re excited to introduce Emerald Isle Aesthetics, Kodiak’s newest destination for personalized cosmetic treatments, led by the talented Heather Harvey. Heather, a born-and-raised Kodiak local, brings over 25 years of expertise in the beauty industry back to her hometown. Her passion for helping others feel confident in their own skin shines through in every service she offers, from permanent makeup to advanced skin treatments.

Click here to read more about Heather’s journey, her services, and how Emerald Isle Aesthetics is transforming beauty in Kodiak!

Member Job Postings

KANA: ILP Developmental Specialist; Communications Specialist 1

Kodiak Chamber of Commerce: Financial & Organizational Assistant; Community Relations Director

KIHA: Senior Accountant, Facilities Laborer, Housing Advisor

Click Here for open positions on the Chamber Website.

Chamber News & Views

Membership Portal

Alaska Small Business Development Center

Visit https://aksbdc.org/ for more On Demand Workshops and More!

Workshops & On-Demand Classes

• Combating Fraud & Identity Theft
• Creating a Compelling Commercialization Plan
• Avoiding Security Disasters for Small Businesses
• SBA Loans & What the Lender Requires
• Digital Marketing Trends
• Beginner's Guide Sell Your Products on Etsy
• Credit It is that important
• ADA Law What Businesses Should Know
• Financial Health of Your Business
• Anatomy of Modern Websites
• Bookkeeping Basics
• Creating Financial Projections for your Business Plan
• Developing a Marketing/Sales Strategy
• How to get a Business License in Alaska

Health Care for Chamber Members

As a Chamber Member, you and your employees have access to excellent health care insurance. Participation is available through Associated Industries, whose mission is to provide comprehensive healthcare products to Alaska employers at affordable prices. 

Please email us for more information.

THANK YOU TO KANA for renewing as a Pillar Level PIKE Sponsor.

If you're interested in becoming a PIKE Sponsor let us know.

Reach out to Ellen at

907-486-5557 or email: ellen@kodiakchamber.org.

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... 

Chamber Board of Directors

President Sara Fraser

Past President Mary Beth Loewen

Vice President Robert Greene

Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Skinner

Board Members              

Lindsay Knight, Emily Stewart, Nichole Rohde, Hailey Ivanoff, Tyler Wallace, Nicholas Mangini, Nichole Miles & Rebecca Skinner



City of Kodiak Representative

Josie Bahnke

Kodiak Island Borough Representative Aimee Williams

USCG Base Representative

Capt. Jeremy Hall

USCG Air Station Representative Capt.Timothy Williams

KEA Representative Dan Menth

Discover Kodiak Representative

Sabrina Hicks

Play Pull Tabs @ Henry's!!