Members of Alaska Committee attend Alaska State Chamber Convention in Valdez
September 2005:
The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce’s 46th annual convention and trade show was held September 14-16 in Valdez. This event brings Alaska business and government leaders together and is a great opportunity for members of the Seattle Chamber’s Alaska Committee to renew friendships and meet new top level business contacts.
This year’s theme was “Providing the Tools for Alaska’s Future”. Eleven members of the Alaska Committee attended and were responsible for the opening breakfast. Thanks to Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce members Boeing and the Pike Place Market, we were able to present a fun program showing how Seattle values its past, by preserving the Pike Place Market, is excited about the present, the building of a Boeing 777, and looks forward to the future, the building of the Boeing Dreamliner.
The Alaska State Chamber is widely recognized for their leadership in the planned and orderly growth and development of Alaska. They realize that business in Alaska is strongly influenced by interests outside of Alaska. And we in the Seattle/Puget Sound area know how important Alaska is to our economy. Our Alaska Committee, the Seattle Chamber’s oldest and largest committee, works very closely with the Alaska Chamber on projects that benefit both of our communities.
The convention was a huge success. Governor Murkowski spoke in person and there was a live feed from Washington DC with Senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young. Other presenters included the Hon. Maurice McTigue from the Mercatus Center who gave a very compelling speech about making government accountable, and Charlie Ball with Princess Cruises who spoke about the ongoing challenges of the cruise industry in Alaska. There was much discussion about the proposed gas pipeline as well as fishing, mining, timber, health care, tourism, and doing business in rural Alaska.