Alaska Business Education Compact

Brief description of the Alaska Business Education Compact: 

Each month, the Alaska Safety Alliance hosts the Alaska Business Education Compact (BEC). This monthly meeting provides a forum for educators and employers to discuss issues that are involved with developing the workforce and provide pathways for Alaskans into careers. The forum brings in both large and small employers from business and industry, educators from K-12 to post-secondary, as well as those representing other groups such as veterans, the disabled, and the diverse. Attendees connect in from all regions of the state, from Southeast to Southwest, and from Southcentral to the North Slope.

Historically, the BEC evolved from the 1989 initiative “Alaska’s Youth Ready for Work”, then became the Alaska support organization for the Department of Education’s School to Work grant in the ‘90’s. Since 2000 the Compact has provided the monthly forum for discussions on educational issues, industry workforce needs, and developing partnerships for career pathways. The membership includes most campuses of the University of Alaska, as well as secondary schools, and post-secondary training entities across the state. Many of the private sector members represent industry or cultural organizations.

Join us on the second Wednesday of each month from 8:00 am – 9:30 am for the BEC meeting. The BEC takes a summer break in July (no meeting in July).

Want to receive updates on upcoming BEC meetings? Make sure you are on the BEC List – click here to join. Do you have a suggestion for a future BEC? Email mari@alaskasafetyalliance.org.

Upcoming Meetings

  • Wednesday, May 8
    The Value of a College Education in the Workforce, LINK, 8:00 am -9:30 am
  • BEC meetings are second Wednesdays monthly, 8:00-9:30am.
  • Join the BEC List to get meeting updates

Past Meetings

  • April 10, 2024
    Emerging Industries in Alaska and the Workforce: Moderated by Ryan Witten of Alaska V3, panelists included Masoumeh Heidari Kapourchali of UAA (Automation, AI and robotics), Cristian Rabiti of NuCube (nuclear energy), Adam McCullough of NV5 (drones/geospacial analytics) and Erik O’Brien, Denali Commission (Mariculture). Click for meeting recording.
  • March 13, 2024
    Workforce 2030 – The Alaska Plan: Presenters included the workforce plan authors Mike Andrews of MCA Strategies and Marcia Olsen of The Write Details. FOF Communication’s Beth Hansen and Rod Wolford introduced an interactive survey. The session included the background and goals of the Alaska Plan, the key contributors, and an introduction to the Alaska Plan website. Click for meeting recording.
  • February 14, 2024
    Legislative Update and Conversation: Panelists included Representative Zack Fields, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska Department of Labor Commissioner Cathy Muñoz, and Alaska Landmine Editor-In-Chief Jeff Landfield. Topics included TVEP reauthorization, CDL license access for new Alaskans, Educational Tax Credit, increasing the Base Student Allocation, continued focus on Apprenticeships, the importance of Career Guides, and more. Click for meeting recording.
  • January 10, 2024
    Emerging WF Needs: Infrastructure Projects in Northwest Alaska, featuring NACTEC Director Doug Walrath, Nome City Manager Glenn Steckman, Ukallaysaaq Okleasik of Northwest Planning, and Luisa Machuca from Kawerak. Click for meeting recording.
  • December 13, 2023
    Inspiring the Workforce to Choose Alaska, featuring Jenna Wright, CEO of AEDC and other Alaskan ARDORs (Recording – passcode RjMz&0Ze and Speaker Bio)
  • November 8, 2023
    AWIB: Alaska Workforce Convening Recap (Recording, Handouts & Speaker Bios: Emma Kallaway and Julia Reed  )
  • October 11, 2023
    Accessing Funding through the DOL: Education Training Providers List (ETPL), Job Center training funding, etc. (Recording -passcode 1Fne!zWc & Speaker Bio)
  • September 13, 2023
    Job and Career Fairs: the Good, the Bad, and Best Practices (Recording, Handouts & Speaker Bios)
  • August 9, 2023
    Anchorage School District’s Bold New Shift: Career-Themed High School Academies (Recording -passcode 7%Y6fBqC & Speaker Bios)