Above: Photo of Surfer's Beach by Emily Ryznar from our 2025 Relocation Guide Photo Contest

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Chamber Members,

Here we are well into summer and nearing the end of a sunny, lush and green Kodiak July, there has been a lot of change and activity at the Chamber over the past several months and I’ll do my best to catch you up. Since our last newsletter our Chamber Team held two business after hours, two ribbon cutting ceremonies, the ComFish Alaska Trade Show & Forums, Community Clean Up Day, Crab Fest and our Summer Litter Patrol Program started in mid-June. Also during that busy time, we contracted with Whitespace 3D to update the Chamber website, we will continue to make edits over the next several weeks and months but we are really excited about our updated website.

In the past few months we’ve added several new people to our team and expanded our employee count. Former Chamber employee Jen Culton and her family returned to the island this month. Jen is stepping into the Community Relations Director position. As Jen gets settled into her new role she will be reaching out to as many members as possible about News & Views, Business After Hours, articles for our newsletter, the Silent Auction for our Awards Dinner, looking for feedback and getting to know you and your business. 

Ericka Thompson will continue to work with members as our Partnership & Events Executive. Alexxandra Carter is our Financial & Organizational Assistant and Alexa San Juan has accepted the Administrative Assistant position in Linda’s departure. We’ve also added Julia Walker to our team as our new Summer Litter Patrol Supervisor. Our staff and new summer litter patrol crew are settling into their roles, learning, doing and engaged in what the Chamber does and has to offer. I am excited for the expansion of our capacity to improve our focus on member relations and all that we will be able to do in the coming months and years. I'd also like to welcome Laura Mullican, Communication Specialist with Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center to our Board of Directors. Laura filled an open board seat vacated in June by Nichole Rohde, owner of Near Island Coffee.

With a focus on Small Business Development in our community and to provide greater support for our members, the Chamber is partnering with the Alaska Small Business Development Center, KANA and Koniag Inc. to host a Kodiak Business Series Workshops at the Kodiak Marketplace on September 22^nd. On a similar note, through our participation in the KEDC ROCE Workshops this year we are working on a project to offer an information resource hub through the Chamber’s website for anyone interested in starting a business in our community with information relevant to business owners and operators. In addition to partnering with the Alaska SBDC on the Business Series Workshop, we have entered into an agreement with the Alaska SBDC to provide free access to all of their online workshops and training for our Chamber members. This goes into effect on August 1^st. If you would like access please send Jen an email, call or stop by the office. The Alaska SBDC will also be doing a survey of our members and the business community to determine training needs and with the results of that survey they will host 3 free workshops over the next year.

Additional changes we’re making this year are to our Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner. We will hold the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 25^th in the morning at the Afognak Center and our Annual Awards Recognition Dinner will be on Saturday, November 8^th at the Afognak Center. Keeping these two events separate gives us the time to ensure that our Annual Meeting is free to members and allows for adequate time to report on the Chamber’s activities and share our vision for the future, hear from our members, and finalize our board election results. We are also working to improve our processes that allow our members the opportunity to serve on our Crab Fest & ComFish Committees.

As you scroll through this newsletter you'll find information about our upcoming events as well as from some of our members, an abundance of photos from our spring events, information on our upcoming Business After Hours, a Member Spotlight on Orthopedic Physicians of Alaska and a bit more.

In closing, I hope that the summer season is going well for you both at work and in your own time. Through this summer’s Small Business Collaboration Group meetings we’ve heard positive information about tourism in our community this summer and both success stories for some of our small businesses. But we’ve also listened to stories of challenges for some of our small businesses because of the impacts of tariffs and increased shipping costs. We will continue to encourage shopping, supporting and investing in our local businesses and non profits.

Thank you for your time, your continued support of the Chamber and our community, the Chamber's programs, and your membership! I hope you are able to get out and fully enjoy Kodiak in all its glory this summer.

Warm Regards,

Ellen Simeonoff, Executive Director, Kodiak Chamber of Commerce 

WELCOME TO OUR NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

Ryan McNeal Northrim Bank, Kodiak Community Foundation

Orthopedic Physicians of Alaska, Bernie's Bar

Friends of Kodiak State Parks, Chair 9 Salon

John's Heating Service, Kodiak Foot Care Nurse

Kodiak Seafood & Marine Science Center

Read through to the end of this newsletter for our renewing members

Know someone who's interested in starting a new business in Kodiak or would like to learn more about business plans or loan readiness?

Let them know about the Kodiak Business Series Workshop on Monday, September 22nd at the Kodiak Marketplace.

See below to register now.

Hosted by: Alaska Small Business Development Center, KANA, Koniag Inc & Kodiak Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER COMMITTEES

Throughout the year the Chamber has various committees that give members the opportunity to have input and provide support for some of our annual events. Per the Chamber Bylaws the term for these committees is on an annual basis with the committee chair appointed by the Chamber Board President every year.

Committees that are about to start up after September:

Crab Fest Committee (Meets Sept-June)

ComFish Committee (Meets Oct-April)

*If you would like to serve on either of these committees please send an email explaining your interest and ability or level of ability to serve on the committee to ellen@kodiakchamber.org by August 31, 2025.

Contact Jen at communityrelationsdirector@kodiakchamber.org or call 907-486-5557 for more information.

What is PLAN 2045?

The Kodiak Island Borough is updating its comprehensive plan for the first time since 2008. Over the next two years, we will be creating a new plan for the borough which is the vision and guide for development for the next 20 years.

The Kodiak Island Borough Community Development Department is currently work on a new comprehensive plan. Below are links to two short online surveys that will help them in their efforts and provides and opportunity for you to give feedback. The surveys are open through August.

The links to the surveys are below:

Cama'i- You're invited to a special tourism industry event at the Alutiiq Museum on Tuesday, July 29th from 3:30-5:30pm.

This is an opportunity to view their new exhibits, network with others in the industry, and learn more about Alutiiq Museum programs. As cultural tourism increases nationwide the Alutiiq Museum provides a special niche for visitors to Kodiak, and they want to make sure all community partners are informed about what they have to offer.

They are excited to share the new gallery with all people in the community and gather feedback from our friends and colleagues about how we can work together to best serve Kodiak's economy and community. If you have any questions, please let me know. We hope you can attend. If you know other people or businesses who serve visitors to Kodiak (B&B's, charter boats, fishing guides, etc.) please feel free to share this invitation with them. 

This event is part of a grant from American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and you may be asked to complete short feedback forms to support the Alutiiq Museum's grant report.

ComFish 2025 Recap: A Full House and a Whole Lot of Energy!

This year’s ComFish was a huge success! We saw incredible demand from vendors — so much that we completely maxed out the Marketplace, filling every available nook and cranny. The vendor booths were diverse, engaging, and full of innovation, making the Marketplace a true hub of activity and connection.

Evening events brought the community together in a big way, thanks to the generosity of our many sponsors and hosts. On Monday, the week kicked off with Fish Taco Night at Kodiak Island Brewing & Still, sponsored by Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Alaska Sea Grant, and the Association of Latin Women in Alaska, with support from additional sponsors. The tacos were delicious and the company even better!

Tuesday featured the Fishermen's Town Hall at Double Shovel Cider, hosted by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), followed by an evening celebration at the Marketplace, hosted by Cascade Engines and Mitsubishi Engines.

On Wednesday, Radar Alaska and Marine Electrical of Kodiak hosted a lively happy hour that brought out great conversation and camaraderie.

To top it all off, the Fishermen’s Showcase, hosted by Alaska Sea Grant at the Harbormaster Building, gave Kodiak fishermen a chance to show off their skills in a fun and friendly competition to earn the title of “most skilled fisherman.”

We’re grateful for the overwhelming support from the community, sponsors, vendors, and volunteers who made ComFish 2025 a truly unforgettable event. Until next year—thank you, Kodiak!

FISHERMEN'S SHOWCASE 2025

Many thanks goes to the Kodiak Lions Club, Safeway, Walmart, Cost Savers, Subway of Kodiak & US Foods for donating their time and energy, food, beverages snacks and supplies to feed our hardworking Community Clean Up Participants!!

Our Annual Community Clean Up Day gives real and tremendous meaning to the saying "It Takes A Village". Thank you Kodiak!

Thank you to everyone who helped organize, sponsored, grilled, and came out to pick up litter and keep Kodiak a clean and green community on the first Saturday in May. Matson gave away $2,500 of Loyal to Local Gift Cards to 20 participants who uploaded photos of themselves out picking up trash on Community Clean Up Day, KVOK & HOT 101.1 and their sponsors gave out free safety TShirts & Sweatshirts, the Kodiak Native Youth Council helped hand out bags, and picked up yellow trash bags, Threshold Services took in electronics and other recycling, Alaska Waste and the Kodiak Island Borough Landfill Crews accepted trash at the High School Parking Lot, Nick's Auto Wrecking & Salvage. SWAB & the City Crews helped pick up yellow trash bags, mattresses and more throughout our community on Saturday, May 3rd.

HAVING AN EVENT?

List Your Event on the Chamber Calendar

Monthly Chamber Board Meeting in August

• Wednesday, August 20th
• 11:30 am
• Kodiak Chamber Conference Room

Non Profit Network Meeting in August

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.

Member Spotlight

Getting to Know Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA)

1. Can you share a little about Orthopedic Physicians Alaska and its mission?

Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA) is dedicated to providing exceptional, individualized healthcare to all Alaskans and visitors. Our mission is to restore health and function following injury or illness, helping patients maximize their ability to engage in all that life has to offer.

2. What types of services do you offer to the Kodiak community?

OPA provides a wide range of orthopedic services to the Kodiak community, including both surgical and non-surgical treatments for musculoskeletal conditions. Our team includes a diverse group of specialists with expertise in various areas of orthopedic care and family practice.

• Amy Sims, FNP-C, Family Nurse Practitioner, specializes in family and sports medicine.
• Iain Elliott, MD, Spine & Trauma Surgeon, focuses on spine and trauma care.
• Derrick A. Foge, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, specializes in back, neck, and spine conditions.
• M. Patricia Fox, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, specializes in hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder conditions.
• Rabun Fox, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, specializes in foot and ankle care.
• Alan Swenson, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, specializes in hand, wrist, and elbow conditions.
• 
  

Click Here to read more

Member Job Postings

KIHA: Facilities Carpenter

Kodiak Community Foundation: Program Manager

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 Koniag Inc Pyramid Level, Carlile Transportation Pillar Level, Silver Bay Seafoods Pillar Level, Alaska Aerospace Crown Level, KVOK & HOT 101.1 Crown Level, and Alaska Airlines Crown 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 or Ericka via email at erickathompson@kodiakchamber.org

Not a member? Join the Chamber

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, Hailey Ivanoff, Tyler Wallace, Nicholas Mangini, Nichole Miles, Laura Mullican, & 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!!