Andy Rogers, Executive Director of Alaska Business Week, shares the importance of keeping Alaskans in Alaska by providing support and hands-on entrepreneurial experiences.  

Alaska Business Week is a fun, intensive entrepreneurship experience for Alaska High School students. ABW runs one-week program teaching Alaskan High School students the basics of business leadership and entrepreneurship. ABW students are the creators and innovators for Alaska’s next generation of products and companies.

Alaska Business Week partners with Alaska’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to bring programming to rural and urban communities in Alaska.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how ABW teaches the fundamentals of business, leadership, and entrepreneurship to Alaskan Youth through a one-week program.
• Learn how entrepreneurship in Alaska has the power to change the livelihoods and community structure of villages and rural communities. 
• Discuss outreach strategies and efforts needed to provide an entrepreneurship program available to all Alaskan youth. 
• Reflect on the challenges and successes of a program that has been supporting Alaskan youth for over 10+ years.
• Learn about the collaborations between ABW and Alaska’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Bios:

Andy Rogers is an Anchorage-based entrepreneur and community leader currently serving as the Executive Director of Alaska Business Week, a program that empowers Alaska’s youth through hands-on business education and leadership training. Rogers grew up in Palmer, Alaska, and is recognized for his dedication to promoting entrepreneurship and business skills among students statewide.  He was the founder and former owner of PangoMedia, a successful Alaskan software and digital consulting company. Rogers has continued to expand his entrepreneurial footprint as the owner of Runners’ Edge Alaska, a physical therapy clinic dedicated to supporting active Alaskans, and Tier 1 Cards & Games, Anchorage’s premier local game store that also serves as a hub for the gaming community. Beyond his business ventures, Andy has contributed his writings to regional publications and is actively involved in mentoring young leaders and supporting numerous community organizations.

Ciara Ladroma, the facilitator, has served the employment and entrepreneurial industries for the last 12 years with a focus on serving people with disabilities, women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. She has supported small business owners nationwide to create, launch, and grow their businesses. Ciara began her career in Supported Employment as an Employment Specialist and has since carried these unique skills and traits to all areas of her career. Previously serving as a Career Coach at Des Moines Area Community College and as the Director of the Iowa Women’s Business Center, Ciara has found ways to elevate communities by guiding people’s success through business ownership and career navigation. As an entrepreneur herself, she is able to take her own experiences and challenges to help others navigate their entrepreneurial hurdles. Ciara provides technical assistance and training on best practices regarding employment service delivery with a focus on Customized Employment and Self-Employment.