2010 Southwest Alaska Annual Meeting
The Southwest Alaska Economic Summit & SWAMC Annual Membership Meeting took place February 4-5, 2010 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. The conference agenda (click on image to the right to view) was full of panels, presentations, and discussions centering around various development topics, including fish technology and innovation, rural transportation planning, building broadband infrastructure, climate change, and a Congressional update from our delegates in Washington. The Friday night banquet also included the year's first 2010 gubernatorial forum featuring this year's candidates.
This year's meeting would not have been possible for the support of our sponsors. We are very aware that these are trying times for the budgets of those communities, tribal entities, agencies and businesses that have supported SWAMC through the years. Our sincerest thanks to those that continued to do so for the 2010 conference.
Similar to the previous two years, SWAMC held a one-day energy workshop focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation and education. Some of the topics included Wind For Schools, LED lighting, the Kodiak Pillar Mountain wind project, Village End Use Efficiency Measures, and more. Click here for more on the workshop.
The Membership meeting centered around the business of SWAMC, and the Board of Directors came away with one new member. Paul Gronholdt of Sand Point takes over a vacant Aleutian/Priblof seat. Paul represents the Aleutians East Borough.
The SWAMC membership also contemplated nine resolutions, passing seven. Visit our Resolutions page to read more about the issues discussed.
As mentioned above, we were fortunate to have many great speakers with loads of timely information. Click on a name below to open up their PowerPoint presentation (in PDF format).
- Ik Icard, Kodiak Kenai Cable Company
- Lewis Schnaper, GCI
- Carrie Kissel, National Association of Development Organizations
- Doug DeMaster, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
- Jeannie Heltzel, North Pacific Fishery Management Council
- John Walsh, UAF International Arctic Research Center (coming soon)
- Laura Fleming, ASMI
- Jim Browning, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
- Susanne Fleek, Senator Begich's State Director
- Murat Balaban, Fishery Industrial Technology Center
- Jan Conitz, ADF&G Crew Labor Data Project
- Chris Mierzejek, UAF Crab Enhancement Project
- Ted Lyman, Economic Competitiveness Group
- Trevor O’Hara, CH2M Hill
- Gordon Harrison, Executive Director of the 2000 Redistricting Board
- Mike Heatwole - Pebble Limited Partnership
Lastly, thanks to the Exhibitors who took time out of their busy schedules to take part in our conference. Their displays added value to the information offered to our attendees. Exhibitors included the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, ASMI, AK SourceLink, Denali Commission, First National Bank Alaska, Rural Alaska Fuel Service, RurAL CAP, UAF- Bristol Bay Campus and USDA- Rural Development.