(SitNews) - Southeast Conference will host its annual Mid-Session Summit at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on March 17th and 18th.

Day one will be comprised of a series of dynamic presentations and discussions on regional areas of interest. Speakers include Sealaska President Anthony Mallott, Commerce Commissioner Fred Parady, economics professor Steve Colt, Alaska Energy Authority Executive Director Sara Fisher-Goad, and Transportation Commissioner Marc Luiken, among others.

Other day one events include a panel discussion by regional legislators responding to audience member questions, and the launch of Southeast Conference’s planning process for the Southeast 2020 Economic Plan, led by local consulting firm Rain Coast Data.

Day two will consist of committee based work sessions. Committees will focus on objectives specific to nine different Southeast Alaska focus areas, including energy, food security, marine industries, timber, communications, transportation, fisheries, tourism, and solid waste. Committee’s members will begin to work on the Southeast 2020 Economic Plan, discuss partnership opportunities, introduce resolutions, present industry forecasts, network, and much more.

According to Shelly Wright, executive director of Southeast Conference, this year’s event is particularly important because of the difficult economic times facing Southeast Alaska and the state. The benefits of working together as a region are even more important. “As we move into a period of significant budget cuts, we are turning to our most important resource; our people. The small businesses, tribes, native corporations, municipalities and community organizations are going to have to roll up their sleeves and all work together across the Southeast Alaska Region. Together we are stronger than the sum of our parts, and there are opportunities for growth everywhere. Southeast Conference members think locally, plan regionally and stand ready to do our part for the future of the State of Alaska. This conference is a time for finding opportunity and banding together to make a difference.”

About the Southeast Conference: Southeast Conference has 180 member organizations with 1,200 people from 32 regional communities.

These events are open to the public. To see the agenda, register, or pre-pay for the conference, visit Southeast Conference on its website at www.seconference.org.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Southeast Conference
www.seconference.org

Southeast Conference serves as the collective voice for advancing the region’s economy. The mission of Southeast Conference is to undertake and support activities that promote strong economies, healthy communities and a quality environment in Southeast Alaska. Southeast Conference began 57 years ago with a group of people supporting the establishment of a regional transportation system in Southeast Alaska. After that success Southeast Conference stayed together through more than a half-century to focus on transportation issues as well as many other concerns unique to the region.

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