Thank You to all our Ketchikan partners for making

this year's Annual meeting a roaring success!

Over 300 In-Person Attendees

37 Incredible Sponsors

94 Phenomenal Speakers and Panelists

Over $43,000 raised for the Scholarship Fund

1 After Party in Metlakatla featuring bingo, local artists village and performance by the 4th Generation Dancers

Thank you to all who attended the conference, to Sponsors, Auction Donators, Panelists and Speakers! Together, you are helping our region Navigate the Changing Tides!

Ketchikan rolled out the red carpet for Southeast Conference attendees from the music, food, and the Great Alaska Lumberjack Show during Community Night, to the incredible 20's themed gala, and the use of the Ted Ferry Civic Center We couldn't be more grateful for all our partners and volunteers who made this year's conference the best yet!

Special thank you to the City of Ketchikan, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the Ketchikan Visitor's Bureau, Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, Cape Fox, the Landing Hotel and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show!

This year, our region had so much to celebrate! Southeast Conference was pleased to recognize several contributions including:

Gustavus

Community of the Year

AP&T

Business of the year

Meilani Schijvens

Golden Gumboot Award

Terry Wanzer

& John Waterhouse

Outstanding Lifetime Service

Southeast Alaska’s economy is strong. In 2023 jobs were up by 3% and wages have been growing at faster than the rate of inflation. Tourism jobs flooded back, growing by 26%, an increase of 1,700 year-round-equivalent jobs. Tourism workers earned $105 million more than the year before.

We think it's safe to say, this year's banquet and auction fundraiser was the bees knees! Between the 1920's costumes and entertainment provided by the talented Brooke Leslie, Clay Good and Tom Locher

Southeast Conference members brought the fun! Our generous auction donations included two Alaska Airlines 75K Mileage status and 4 First class tickets, Alaska Seaplanes Pack Raft and Glacier Trek, Allen Marine Dream Cruise, and tank ride/guided tour of Ketchikan by Mayor Dial! Most memorably, our very own Robert Venables put his stomach where his heart is and choked down 12 spears of asparagus. For the kids.

Over $43,000 raised for Southeast Alaska's students! AMAZING!

On behalf of the students of Southeast Alaska, thank YOU for your generosity! (Did we mention that our members are the best?!)

We can't wait to see you again! Be sure to Save the Date for our next event:

Mid-Session

Summit

Feb 11-13, Juneau, AK

Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall

Small Business Energy Savings

Are you a Southeast Alaska small business owner interested in cutting energy costs and boosting efficiency? The Southeast Conference Energy Assessment and Audit Program can help through a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant programs can cover up to 50% of project costs for energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy systems up to $500,000, making it easier to invest in your business’s future.

The REAP program also offers a Technical Assistance Grant – called REAP TAG – that provides low- and no-cost energy audits and grant writing assistance. 

Students2StartUps

UAF / Center ICE presents Students2StartUps-  a summer (May – August) based internship program in which University of Alaska students are paired with an Alaska startup company and together they develop an entrepreneurial project to support the startup’s growth while the student learns about skills for innovation and entrepreneurialism. This program comes at no cost to the business owner. Businesses that want to participate can complete an online form. The deadline for business to apply is October 31.