The image above is a graphic recording of the SWAMC 2026 Economic Summit. It represents the topics and discussions held throughout the event. Click on the image to open a scalable version. Mark Compton of Bright Ink, LLC produced the illustration.
Click the cover icon below to download the full Economic Summit program.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
IN FOCUS: HAZARD MITIGATION AND EMERGENCY RESOURCES
PANEL: Hazard Mitigation Planning
Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs – Sally Russell Cox
Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management – Mark Roberts
THURSDAY, MARCH 5
ECONOMIC TRANSITIONS
KEYNOTE: RURAL ECONOMIES IN TRANSITION
Mark Haggerty , Senior Fellow – Center for American Progress
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION – Moderated Roundtable
Mark Haggerty , Senior Fellow – Center for American Progress
Gary Hennigh, City of King Cove – City Manager
Nick Mangini, City of Kodiak – Council Member, SWAMC – Mariculture Director
Learn about the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to strengthen health care in rural communities nationwide. The Alaska Department of Health will disburse $272 million to projects that will expand access to care and support long-term system stability in rural and remote communities.
Heidi Hedberg, Commissioner – Alaska Department of Health
Betsy Wood, Health Policy Advisor – Alaska Department of Health
REGIONAL REFLECTIONS: Paul Mueller, Chief Executive Officer – Eastern Aleutian Tribes
ARCTIC OPPORTUNITIES
Nadine Kochuten – Alaska Conservation Foundation
Dr. Liza Mack – Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association
Karen Pletnikoff – Aleut International Association / APIA
SESSION FRAMING: Mark Haggerty, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
PANEL DISCUSSION: Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Jillian Simpson, Alaska Travel Industry Association
Lee Hart, Alaska Outdoor Alliance
Dave Alberg, National Park Service
Katie Ringsmuth – Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Kyle Kolodziejski APICDA JV – Lodge operations Aleutian Adventures – Umnak (Tribe) Reindeer
Sulli Gipson – TDX – St Paul Island Tours
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
FISH FRIDAY – FISHERIES: MARKETS, MANAGEMENT, SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, & POLITICS
Hear from regulatory and management agencies and trade associations on the state of the fisheries and seafood industry.
KEYNOTE: THE STATE OF ALASKA’S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
Sam Cunningham, McKinley Research – Seafood and Mariculture Team Lead
Sponsored by Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
PANEL DISCUSSION: PERSPECTIVES ON SOUTHWEST ALASKA FISHERIES
Doug Vincent Lang – Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Stefanie Moreland – Trident Seafoods
Lilani Dunn – Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association
FISH STOCK GENETICS: SCIENCE-BASED ANSWERS FOR DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
Sara Gilk-Baumer, State of Alaska Gene Conservation Laboratory
Jordan Head, Executive Director – Bristol Bay Science & Research Institute
Tyler Dann, State of Alaska Gene Conservation Laboratory – Bristol Bay and Westward Project Lead
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHWEST ALASKA
Walk through the preliminary findings of the latest iteration of the Economic Geography of Southwest Alaska to explore changes in economic flows between the region, the rest of Alaska, the nation, and the world.
Melissa Errend, Northern Economics
Colleen Young, Northern Economics
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Senator Lyman Hoffman and Senator Gary Stevens
SOUTHWEST ALASKA LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION UPDATE
Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senate President Gary Stevens
Representative Louise Stutes
CANDIDATE FORUMS
Gubernatorial Candidates (seven selected candidates)
U.S. House of Representatives Candidates
U.S. Senate Candidates
The SWAMC Economic Summit & Membership Meeting is made possible through the generosity of our sponsors:
March 6 & 7, 2025
The Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage
Workforce Development and Job Training for Future Projects
Panel included presentations from
• Paul Layer- University of Alaska, Vice President of Academics, Students, and Research
• Dirk Craft- Alaska Workforce Investment Board, Director
Connectivity Horizons: Navigating Regional Broadband and Telecom
Panel included presentations from
- Thomas Lochner- AK DCEED, Director of Broadband
- Shawn Williams- Pacific Dataport, VP of Government Affairs and Strategy
- Christine O’Connor- Alaska Telecom Association, Executive Director
- Alexander Schumann- Microcom, General Manager
- Jenifer Nelson- GCI, Director of Rural Affairs
Safe Communities: Strengthening Public Safety & Healthcare
Panel included presentations from
• James Hoelscher- Village Public Safety Officer, Director
• Lynda Hernandez- Alaska AHEC (Area Health Education Centers)
• Brandy Stratman- Providence Behavioral Health, Senior Manager Clinic Operations
• Lauren Anderson- Providence Behavioral Health, Senior Manager Clinic Operations
Day 1 Lunch
Presentation by
Nolan Klouda- Center for Economic Development, Director
Gold Sponsor Spotlight: Alaska Airlines
Mariculture Momentum: Cultivating Sustainable Growth in Coastal Economies
Panel included presentations from
• Dan Lesh- Southeast Conference, Deputy Director
• Tommy Sheridan- Alaska Blue Economy Center, ABEC Lead
• Jason Lessard- Alaska Mariculture Alliance, Executive Director
• Lindsay Olsen- Greenwave, Director of Training and Support
• Arron Jones- Sea grant, Mariculture Technician Kodiak
Navigating Tomorrow’s Routes: Transportation Solutions in our region
Panel included presentations from
• Sean Holland- Department of Transportation, Director, Central Region
• Marcus L. Hartley- Northern Economics, Inc, President
• Scott Habberstad-Alaska Airlines, Managing Director of the Alaska Market
• Craig Tornga- Alaska Marine Highway System, Director
Day 1 Lunch
Panel included presentations from
Erin Reinders, Alaska Municipal League, Director of Infrastructure
Gold Sponsor Spotlight: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute & GCI
Harmony in Flux: Navigating Fisheries Management Challenges
Panel included presentations from
• Doug Vincent-Lang- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Commissioner
• Märit Carlson-Van Dort- Board of Fisheries, Member
Reel Solutions: Overcoming Marketing and Processor Challenges in the Fishing Industry
Panel included presentations from
• Greg Smith- Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Communications Director
• Nicole Kimball-Pacific Seafood Processors Association, Vice President
• Sam Friedman- McKinley Research Group, Consultant
Resolutions passed
During our 2024 Conference, we had passed four resolutions which can be found here
Conference Registration
Register to attend one or both days of the conference. Early bird registration ends Feb. 28.
Sponsorship
We are grateful for the support of our sponsors who provide the resources we need to host the conference. Sponsorship levels include:
Skipper: $5,000 Includes 4 conference tickets, large logo at our head table and spotlights throughout the conference, large logo included in all conference promotional materials. Newsletter piece highlight.
Deck Master: $2,500 Includes 2 conference tickets, small logo at our head table and honorable mentions throughout the conference, small logo included in all conference promotional materials.
Deck Hand: $1,500 Includes 1 conference ticket, small logo at our head table and honorable mentions throughout the conference, small logo included in all conference promotional materials.
Coffee Break: $750 Includes small logo at our head table and honorable mentions throughout the conference, small logo included in all conference promotional materials.
Exhibitors
Exhibitors are invited to have informational and promotional booths at the conference. All tables/booths are $550 and include 2 tickets to the conference.
Thursday, March 5th – First Day of Conference
8:00 Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:30 Opening and Welcome – Board President Swain & Executive Director Marquardt
8:35 Mayor Ethan Berkowitz
8:50 Critical Coastal Connections: Intrastate Marine Transportation in Southwest Alaska
- Gary Hennigh – City Administrator, City of King Cove
- Mary Siroky – Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Transportation
- Shawn Richardson – Samson Tug & Barge
- Susan Bell – Principal, McDowell Group
~~~Break ~~~
10:10 Exhibitor Announcements
10:30 Kodiak to Adak and All Points in Between: Air Transportation in Southwest Alaska
- Scott Habberstad – Director of Sales & Community Marketing, Alaska Airlines
- John Binder – Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Dept. of Transportation
- Derek Shanks – Chief Commercial Officer, Ravn Air Group
- Chris Barnes – Grant Aviation
11:40 Platinum Sponsor Announcement – Alaska Airlines
11:50 Platinum Sponsor Announcement – GCI
12:00 Networking Lunch, Plated
- Video Address by Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan
- Legislative Update from Nils Andreassen, Executive Director at Alaska Municipal League
1:00 Platinum Sponsor Announcement – Ravn Air Group
1:10 New Opportunities to Address Familiar Challenges
- Erik Obrien – Program Manager, Denali Commission – Platinum Sponsor
- Nuyakuk Hydro: Robert Himschoot – CEO/General Manager, Nushagak Cooperative
- Tribal 5G Spectrum: Harold Johnston – President, Alaska Tribal Broadband, LLC
- AMHS Reshaping/Reform: Robert Venables – Executive Director, Southeast Conference
~~~Break ~~~
2:30 Brave New World: Broadband Internet Connectivity for Southwest Alaska
Moderated by Doug Griffin, former SWAMC Executive Director
- Jenifer Nelson – Sr. Manager Corp. Communications & Community Engagement, GCI
- Chuck Schumann – CEO, Pacific Dataport
- Emmett Fitch – CEO, OptimERA
- Roger Meeks – Sales Manager, TelAlaska
~~~Break ~~~
3:45 First Responders in the Last Frontier: Public Safety in Southwest Alaska
- Katherine TePas – Program Coordinator II, Department of Public Safety
- John Skidmore – Deputy Attorney General, State of Alaska
- Nikole Nelson – Executive Director, Alaska Legal Services
- Captain Andrew Merrill – C Detachment Commander, Alaska State Troopers
5:30 President’s Reception & Silent Auction – Quarter Deck
Friday, March 6th – Second Day of Conference
8:00 Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:30 Opening and Welcome
8:35 Commissioner Julie Anderson, DCCED, on behalf of Governor Mike Dunleavy
9:00 Sponsor’s Appreciation
9:15 SWAMC’s 2020 Membership Meeting
- Sub-regional Caucuses & Board Elections
- FY19 Financial Report
- Resolutions
~~~Break ~~~
11:00 Science-Driven Fisheries Dynamics: What’s in Our Future?
- Glenn Merrill – Assistant Regional Administrator, NOAA Alaska Regional Office
- Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang – Alaska Department of Fish & Game
- Jeff Hetrick – Director, Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery
- Bradley Harris – FAST Lab Director & Assoc. Professor, Alaska Pacific University
12:00 Networking Lunch Buffet, featuring Alaska Symphony of Seafood Winning Products
- Representative Louise Stutes
- Ashley Heimbigner, Communications Director at Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute – Platinum Sponsor
1:00 Salmon, Cod, and Rockfish, Oh My! Fish Management Policy in Southwest Alaska
- Nicole Kimball – Council Member, North Pacific Fishery Management Council
- Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang – Alaska Department of Fish & Game
- Gerad Godfrey – Member, Alaska Board of Fish
~~~Break ~~~
2:30 Farming the Gulf and the Bering Sea: Mariculture Opportunities in Southwest Alaska
Moderated by Erik Obrien, Denali Commission
- Craig Fleener – Founder & CEO, Alaska Ocean Cluster
- Julie Decker – Executive Director, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
- Charlotte Levy – Natural Resources Assistant Director, Aleutians East Borough
- Matthew Fagnani – Senior Development Executive, Alaska Development Team
~~~Break ~~~
3:45 Legislative Update and Dialogue
- Senator Gary Stevens
- Senator Lyman Hoffman
- Representative Bryce Edgmon
5:00 Conference Wrap-up
2021 Open Board Seats
