The Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Alaska Anchorage is proud to announce that KellyAnn Cavaretta, Seward Business Advisor, has been selected as Alaska’s 2026 America’s SBDC State Star. This national recognition honors SBDC professionals who demonstrate outstanding performance, leadership, and a strong commitment to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed.
As Seward Business Advisor, KellyAnn works closely with entrepreneurs throughout the community, providing guidance in startup strategy, growth planning, and sustainable operations. Her approach is shaped not only by her expertise as an advisor, but also by her firsthand experience building, growing, and investing in businesses of her own.
KellyAnn is the founder and owner of Salted Roots, a boutique hospitality brand with locations in Seward and Anchorage, and is an owner of Flamingo Cocktail Lounge in downtown Seward. She is also a commercial real estate investor focused on creating community-oriented spaces and supporting local economic resilience. Together, these experiences give her a unique understanding of the opportunities and challenges Alaska’s small business owners navigate every day.
“KellyAnn embodies what it means to serve Alaska’s small business community with dedication, heart, and purpose,” said Alaska SBDC Associate State Director Kendra Conroy. “Her commitment to the entrepreneurs she works with in Seward, combined with her ability to build meaningful relationships throughout the community, makes a lasting impact. She brings thoughtfulness and genuine care to everything she does, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Alaska SBDC’s 2026 State Star. This recognition is so well deserved.”
Since joining the Alaska SBDC, KellyAnn has become an important resource for Seward’s entrepreneurial community, supporting more than 570 clients over nearly five years and has received 100% client satisfaction on surveys. In 2024 and 2025 alone, her work helped small businesses secure more than $11.1 million in capital through loans, grants, and equity investments, an especially significant achievement in Alaska’s smallest community with a dedicated SBDC advisor. Her strong community engagement is also reflected in her Starting a Business workshop, which set a statewide Alaska SBDC attendance record. Beyond her work in Seward, KellyAnn serves on the UAA Microenterprise Grant Committee, helping award tens of thousands of dollars to microbusinesses across Alaska, and participated in the inaugural worldwide Port Partners Program, which resulted in a $20,000 grant for a local Seward business. Her work reflects the broader impact of the Alaska SBDC, strengthening small businesses while supporting the people and communities behind them.
KellyAnn earned her MBA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2025, further deepening her expertise in business strategy, leadership, and economic development. Her combination of education, entrepreneurial experience, and commitment to her community allows her to bring both practical perspective and strategic insight to the business owners she serves.
KellyAnn will be recognized alongside State Stars from across the country at the 47th Annual America’s SBDC National Conference, taking place September 29–October 1, 2026. Her selection as Alaska’s 2026 State Star celebrates not only her professional accomplishments, but also her dedication to strengthening Seward’s entrepreneurial community and helping small businesses across Alaska thrive.