MEET THE TEAM
ALYSSA RODRIGUES, Ph.D.
Director, The Alaska MEP
Dr. Alyssa Rodrigues has over a decade of experience with Alaska's economy as a research economist and economic developer. In her most recent role as the Development Manager for the State of Alaska, she managed the implementation of the Statewide Comprehensive Development Strategy. Dr. Rodrigues has a BA in Forest Management and a Masters in Forest Economics from Oregon State University and a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Economics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Dr. Rodrigues wants to be a resource for manufacturers to improve their businesses; whether that be decreasing costs, increasing sales or providing classes for manufacturers to work internally with a group to problem-solve and relate to one another. She is excited to partner across the state to tackle challenges and capitalize on opportunities in Alaska's manufacturing industry.
SAMI JO LEWIS
Client Services Manager
Born and raised in Palmer, Lewis graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications and a double minor in journalism and criminal justice. After graduation, she honed her client management skills as an account coordinator for a local public relations agency before joining the Alaska MEP team.
Lewis plays a vital role in assisting local manufacturers to improve their business, decrease costs, increase sales, and build relationships to help advance Alaska’s manufacturing industry. She is eager to utilize her experience in strategic communications and public relations to assist in developing the MEP to grow and diversify Alaska’s economy.
CHRISTOPHER SANNITO
Seafood Technology Specialist
Sannito has over 25 years of experience in the Alaska seafood industry. In 1995 he earned a Master of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is a Fulbright scholar and completed a research project on the post-harvest handling techniques of sashimi tuna from Fiji. In 2003, he founded the Kodiak Seafood Laboratory, Inc., which provides analytical and environmental services for Alaskan seafood processors. Sannito has been involved in numerous primary and value added seafood processing ventures across Alaska with both large and small companies.
Sannito’s years of experience and expertise in the Alaska seafood industry plays a significant role in providing clients with specialty services including seafood HACCP training, food production development assistance and beyond.
PARTNERSHIPS
The Alaska MEP Center draws significant support from being housed within the UAA Business Enterprise Institute (BEI). This is a natural fit as the BEI was established specifically to link and align the business and economic development serving programs across the University of Alaska statewide system and carries a mission of growing and diversifying Alaska’s business economy. While Anchorage-based, the existing programs of the UAA BEI already serve all of Alaska with the UAA BEI having satellite offices in Fairbanks, Homer, Soldotna, Seward, Mat-Su, Juneau and Ketchikan via our Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) programs.
The BEI already serves over 100 of Alaska’s 586 manufacturers across the state via programs such as the Alaska Small Business Development Center, the Alaska Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the EDA University Center for Economic Development (CED), the Alaska Center for Rural Collaboration, and the Alaska Cooperative Development Center. This partnership enables Alaska MEP Center clients the ability to move more seamlessly among service providers, as well as leverage embedded BEI expertise with Agile Strategy deployment, Design Thinking, and Lean Startup Methodology. These tools will be an asset to manufacturers through a focus on iterative processes of improvement, strategy execution, and human-centered design.
The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. Focused on helping small and mid-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven economy.
The MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and its 1,300 trusted advisers and experts at nearly 600 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.
Today, Northrim has matured from a small community bank with 21 employees, one branch, and $8 million in assets to an active, engaged community leader with well over 400 employees, branches from Fairbanks to Southeast Alaska, residential mortgage origination offices across the state, and more than $2 billion in assets.
For more than 25 years, Northrim Bank has embraced the community above all else, making strategic investments and meaningful contributions to the local economy. From school programs to community development and local nonprofit organizations, they dedicate their time, talent and dollars to improving economic vitality and quality of life in Alaska.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
CHRISTI BELL, Executive Director, UAA Business Enterprise Institute
See Bio
Ms. Bell is the Executive Director of the University Alaska Anchorage Business Enterprise Institute. She leads the University’s economic development suite of programs, plans the engagement of BEI, and manages the center’s personnel, and budgets. Over the years, Bell has provided leadership to technical assistance activities throughout Alaska including: Business Retention and Expansion, Cluster Development, Local Grown, as well as Tourism Planning and Marketing initiatives for communities that are predominantly small remote, rural and strong in indigenous leadership.
Bell holds a CEcD (Certificate in Economic Development) from the International Economic Development Council as well as a Master of Business degree and a Master of Science degree in Resource Management, both from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
ALICE BIOFF, Business Planning Specialist, Kawerak Inc.
See Bio
Ms. Bioff from Koyuk, Alaska, has worked in Kawerak’s Community Planning and Development department since March 2010. As the Business Planning Specialist, she is a resource partner connecting small businesses with programs that offer technical assistance in small business development to the residents of the sixteen communities of the Bering Strait Region. Bioff has worked for native non-profit organizations for over 25 years since attaining her BA degree in Rural Development from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. In addition to her experience, Bioff is the founder and owner of Naataq Gear and brings with her the experience of owning her own business as an apparel design manufacturer. With her Inupiaq values close at heart, Bioff is a strong supporter of small business development that supports the diverse economic landscape in the State of Alaska.
DAVID C. EISENBERG, Consultant, Mediator, Business Advisor, and Investor
See Bio
Chairman of the Board, Eisenberg consults and mediates across a wide range of disciplines drawing upon thirty-plus years of negotiation and management of complex business environments. He has served in key senior executive positions including Chief Revenue Officer for Alaska Communications and VP Corporate Strategy/Strategic Marketing Planning for Sprint Corporation. David’s advisory practice focuses on strategy, development, process improvement and marketing. He serves as a professional in residence for the University of Alaska’s Business Enterprise Institute and also as the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Manufacturing Enterprise Partnership. David and his wife, Karen, are active investors in areas ranging from coffee manufacturing to community banking.
BEN KELLIE, Founder/CEO, The Launch Company
See Bio
Kellie is the founder and CEO of The Launch Company, an aerospace company based in Anchorage, Alaska that provides standardized hardware and launch services to New Space rocket companies. He was born and raised in Alaska and grew up flying with his family to deliver groceries, fuel, and other supplies to off-road communities across the state. Crossing remote expanses of the state and spending time with the people who make it their home gave Kellie a deep appreciation for this land and way of life. Being scrappy, resilient, and generous are all core values developed from that time and carried forward today. As part of the MEP, Kellie plans to help develop Alaska manufacturing with a focus on in-state resiliency, last mile logistics, and export of high-value creations that make the most of Alaskan ingenuity.
DAVID McCARTHY, CEO, Northern Hospitality Group (NHG)
See Bio
McCarthy is the CEO of Northern Hospitality Group (NHG), parent company of the 49th State Brewing Co and a group of restaurants, venues, and hotels in Alaska. His deep understanding of brewery, restaurant, and hospitality operations is leading NHG towards its vision of sharing Alaskan hospitality worldwide.
When he co-founded NHG in 2006 with Jason Motyka he made Alaska his home. MCarthy’s commitment to Alaska’s tourism and hospitality growth was recognized when he won the Small Business Person of the Year Award for Alaska in 2008 and 2017. He continues to reinvest in the Alaskan community by developing the sustainable foods market in Alaska and by serving on the board for the Performing Arts Center, the Anchorage Downtown Partnership’s Board of Directors as the hospitality specialist and the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
STEVEN PATIN, Chief Human Resources Officer, University of Alaska
See Bio
Patin is the Chief Human Resources Officer of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Formerly, Patin served as the vice president of Alaska Communications overseeing all aspects of the company’s customer service functions. He led field operations, information technology, and the corporate program management teams. Prior to his time at Alaska Communications, Patin enjoyed a distinguished military career in the United States Army, and retired in 2011 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served at various locations worldwide and as part of multiple contingency deployments.
Patin is no stranger to the University having served as a member of the UAA School of Nursing Community Advisory Board. He also served as professor and head of the Department of Military Science at UAF and led the expansion of the Army ROTC program at UAA in 2009. While serving as board member for the Alaska MEP, he is eager to provide expertise to help strengthen Alaska’s economy.