Accelerate Alaska

At CITC’s fab lab, Renee Fredericks helps Alaskan Native students discover that the sky’s the limit. With some basic instruction and training, students are creating on 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters – to create a wide range of products made from wood, metal and plastic. This type of hands-on learning experience exposes the students to a wide range of design, engineering and architectural concepts in a fun, holistic way that cannot be achieved in the classroom. When students transform a simple idea into a tangible finished product, they get an overwhelming sense of accomplishment – and they learn that their future is only limited by their imagination.   See the presentation https://youtu.be/jQ_r_ogYg4o Learn more at www.accelerateak.com & www.acceleratearctic.com 

Do you have ideas on how to make Alaska healthcare costs lower and more efficient? If so, Halle Showalter Salas would love to hear from you. Halle's role is to identify opportunities that reduce the friction and barriers that plague the healthcare system. Technology advancements in machine learning, voice recognition, artificial intelligence, data integration and cloud services have accelerated these kinds of disruption in healthcare, and Premera is leaning in to this, experimenting with innovative care delivery There is a long way to go to make healthcare work better, but Halle Showater Salas ise committed to making this happen. We join her on stage during the Health care track. See the presentation Learn more at www.accelerateak.com & www.acceleratearctic.com  

When you walk into REI, you might suspect that the camping food comes from large, national corporations. You might be surprised to learn that one of the popular food providers is based right here in Alaska. Learn about Heather Kelly's journey and what it means for manufacturing food and e-commerce from Alaska. To see the presentation, go to https://youtu.be/PzBUe6KnEPA  To learn more about Accelerate www.accelerateak.com & www.acceleratearctic.com

When most people think of the Alaska Permanent Fund, they think of the dividend that hits their bank account once a year, but it can be so much more than that. Angela Rodell, the Executive Director of the Permanent Fund Corporation announced a $200 million initiative to invest in Alaska companies. To see the presentation, go to https://youtu.be/AWdDcmqxx3s To learn more about Accelerate www.accelerateak.com & www.acceleratearctic.com

20 years from now, are we still going to be getting stuff delivered to us from Amazon? Domenic Giunta believes that the future is in 3D printing and he is teaching 8th graders in Alaska to make airplanes and iron man suits so that they are prepared for a future that is only limited by your imagination. We join him on stage during the education track. Check out his slide deck here See his presentation here Learn more about www.accelerateak.com or www.acceleratearctic.com

In 2008, Iceland's banking collapse was the largest experienced by any country in economic history. It's three largest banks defaulted on 200 billion of foreign debt. And it was only a country with less than 400,000 people. While most people would call this adversity, Bala Kamallakharan made this into an opportunity to help remake Iceland's economy. Check out his slide deck here See his presentation here Learn more about www.accelerateak.com or www.acceleratearctic.com 

45% of visitor spending in Fairbanks, AK happens during September to April and that number is rising! This is despite the fact that there are more than TWICE as many visitors to Fairbanks in the summer.  Winter tourists stay longer and do more in the winter.  Developing the aurora and winter tourism seasons has strengthened the local Fairbanks region travel industry providing more year-round jobs and economic impact. As the Fairbanks tourism industry becomes more robust, the quality of life of Fairbanks improves.  Deb Hickok, Executive Director of Explore Fairbanks, has been been pivotal in growing winter tourism in Fairbanks.  Learn about how she moved the ball forward and what other communities can learn from her.  Watch the presentation here https://youtu.be/xxyb27N3c8U Learn more about Accelerate  www.acceleratearctic.com & www.accelerateak.com 

The UAF Matanuska Experiment Farm & Extension Center is one of Alaska's best kept secrets that looks to turn Alaska into an agricultural mecca. They experiment with different crops and strains to find what could take advantage of Alaska's unique growing capabilities. Jodie Anderson believes that Alaska could become the organic capital of the world of this food staple. We join her on the Food Systems stage. If you'd like to see the presentation, which we strongly recommend, go to https://youtu.be/G8gQl5GFyjQ Learn more about Accelerate Alaska & Accelerate Arctic, at www.accelerateak.com & www.acceleratearctic.com.

Overseas exports accounted for nearly $5 Billion in 2018, nearly 10% of the Alaska’s Gross State Product (GSP). Exports support nearly 15,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs in Alaska. Export jobs are high paying jobs. Export-related jobs typically pay 13-16% more than jobs tied solely to domestic economy. What are the top exports from Alaska and which countries are purchasing? Alex Salov has a long history at the World Trade Center - Alaska. We join him on the export stage. If you'd like to see the presentation, which we strongly recommend, go to https://youtu.be/MeyLz54CKbc Learn more about Accelerate Alaska & Accelerate Arctic.

Alaska’s long cool growing season and cool soils provide the optimum growing conditions for peonies. Alaska's blooms are larger and more saturated in color. Last year, Alaska shipped out 500,000 stems. Learn why that doesn't even scratch the surface of the global demand for this unexpected export. Chris Beks is a peony farmer north of Fairbanks. We join him on the export stage. If you'd like to see the presentation, which we strongly recommend, go to https://youtu.be/fUTe9BQYLoQ Learn more about Accelerate Alaska & Accelerate Arctic.  

Brad Feld wrote a book called Startup Communities back in 2012 that detailed how Boulder, Co became a nationally recognized tech hub. Learn the four tenants of Brad Feld's Boulder Thesis and how it can help Alaska become a more empowered and robust economy. Brad Feld keynoted Accelerate: Alaska 2019. Learn about Accelerate Arctic www.acceleratearctic.com    Learn about Accelerate: Alaska  www.accelerateak.com 

Alaska is not a poor state.  We do not lack in industrious people.  We do not lack in resources.  What we lack are the leaders who hold the stones high in the air.   This is Ross Johnston's opening remarks albeit with some audio engineering that kicked off the Accelerate conference in 2019.  I hope you enjoy it.  Please share with friends.  If you would like more information about Accelerate Alaska, go to www.accelerateak.com.  

What industry will rival oil & gas in Alaska and provide economic growth for coastal communities?  Craig Fleener, ED of the Alaska Ocean Cluster, thinks that the blue economy has the greatest potential and if Alaskans don't exploit it, others will.  Learn about the inception of the Alaska Ocean Cluster and it's vision for Alaska's blue future.   Watch the presentation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tNhuofuAUI Learn more about Accelerate: Alaska www.accelerateak.com 

Did you know that job growth in our state comes from entrepreneurs?Nolan Klouda, Executive Director of the University of Alaska's Center for Economic Development, looked very closely about the impact of entrepreneurship in Alaska.  He found 89% of growth in the private sectors comes from businesses less than 5 years old.  That is over 5,000 jobs per year from new entrepreneurs.  For a population like ours, that is significant. Listen to the podcast and learn about the impact of entrepreneurship, how it differs around the state, what an Alaskan entrepreneur looks like, and what Nolan Klouda is doing to create more. Watch the presentation here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMuoljyYncI Learn about Accelerate: Alaska  www.accelerateak.com 

How did David McCarthy and his business partner, Jason Motyka, grow a small brewpub in Healy into a large food and beverage business with over 650 employees?   David McCarthy is intensely passionate and talks about the most important aspect of his business that allowed it to grow.  Hint: it wasn't a business plan. If you'd like to watch the presentation, go to https://youtu.be/hhdAalm4QnQ  Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn more about Accelerate: Alaska.

By 2050, the world's population is expected to hit 10 billion people.  Jared Fuller sees a future where Alaska plays a huge role in supplying global food demand from our ocean.  His insights will surprise you.  You might never look at our coastline the same way again.  Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn more about Accelerate: Alaska.

Alaska doesn't necessarily have to create new industries in order to capture more value in our economy. Mouhcine Guettabi is an economist at the University of Alaska's Institute of Social and Economic Research. He shares how little of Alaska's GDP actually stays in Alaska and shares his insights on how Alaska's economy would be significantly boosted if we played a bigger role in existing industries. If you'd like to watch the presentation, go to https://youtu.be/N0yqXs6ba98. Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn more about Accelerate: Alaska.

Too often Alaskans think that their market for products & service is in Alaska even though there has never been an easier time of accessing demand outside of our state and selling directly to consumers. Bill Popp of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation shares how Alaskans can use Alibaba, the e-commerce site, to reach the growing Chinese market and gives his insights on where he thinks the greatest opportunities lie. Watch the presentation here: https://youtu.be/zfqc-2huaaY Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn how you can move Alaska's future forward. 

We take it for granted that a strong economy needs a great education system.  But with the rising cost of higher education, a lot of us our left questioning, is it worth it? No one thinks about this more than Dr. Jim Johnsen, President of the University of Alaska.  He knows the system needs to change.  Graduates need to be prepared for the economy of the future, not the past.   Watch the presentation here https://youtu.be/644L2MSz95U Learn more at www.accelerateak.com 

What does it take to launch a successful business in Alaska?   According to Adriel Butler of Borealis Basecamp there is no need to reinvent the wheel, but knowing your consumer is KEY. His experience of living in China informed him on the behaviors of Asian travelers; how they consume information, when they make decisions, and how they make purchases. Adriel shares how he came to create a high-end lodging experience where the main entertainment is free and the many market opportunities that we as Alaskans can explore. Watch the presentation here: https://youtu.be/nnhoiFdySNk  Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn how you can move Alaska's future forward.   

There are over 2.5 million visitors to Alaska each year. An increasing number don't want to sit in a bus or a large boat. They are looking to experience the real Alaska. Amanda Clayton, co-owner of Alaska Wild Guides, details her journey from commercial loan officer to Alaska Wild Guide and shares some words of wisdom to those wanting to start an adventure travel business. Watch the presentation here https://youtu.be/Ac7aQQWIyUw Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn how you can move Alaska's future forward. 

We may not have a large high tech or green tech industry . . . yet, but according to Mike Heatwole of the Pebble Partnership, both industries are highly dependent on the minerals found in Alaska.  Resource development is our largest industry in Alaska.  I sit down with Mike to find out if there may be opportunities Alaskans may be missing out on.  Watch the presentation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GNx3dgZ0Qw&t=268s  Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn how you can move Alaska's future forward.   

Coeur D'Alene, Idaho is not an Alaska town but it may just provide the blue print for one. This lake town has been known as a tourist destination for many years. But since 2013, the town has seen over 40 new Startups, hundreds of new jobs, $34 million in capital deployed and a 36,000 square foot Innovation Den housing over 50 companies developed out of an abandoned Elk's Lodge. The Innovation Collective in Coeur D'Alene was founded in 2013 with the dream to create a system that allowed for "normal people" like you and I to participate in the technology revolution that is creating wealth in the world. This once sleepy town is now on the forefront of the AI & Robotics industry. We join Chris Cochran, the COO of the Innovation Collective, during the Innovation track as he dives into the mindset needed for the town to create a better future for all. Watch the presentation here https://youtu.be/tJ7y3BKG3JM  Watch the panel discussion here https://youtu.be/CGfN9f-47Vk Go to www.accelerateak.com to learn how you can move Alaska's future forward. 

In the past 5 years, Iceland has become a major tourist stopover destination.  Can Alaska do the same?  Jim Szcesniak seems to think so. Watch the video of the presentation here https://youtu.be/hd8whxHs29Q

The world we grew up with is completely different from the world our children will be exposed to, yet, our education system dates back to the industrial revolution.  Dr. Deena Bishop explores the challenges associated with educating for the world of tomorrow and how the Anchorage School District will prepare students for success.  Watch the video presentation here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDCUVpIeflY&t=19s