2026 Alaska SBDC Summit: Small Business at the Edge of Innovation

The 2026 Alaska SBDC Summit: Small Business at the Edge of Innovation is where Alaska entrepreneurs, operators, and leaders come together to tackle the real challenges shaping business today, and the opportunities that will define what comes next.

From artificial intelligence and healthcare innovation to e-commerce and logistics, this one-day Summit is designed around what actually works in Alaska. Not theory. Not buzzwords. Practical strategies, real case studies, and honest conversations led by people who have done the work.

This year’s Summit features three nationally recognized keynote speakers bringing insight, clarity, and inspiration to the Alaska business community:

• Dale Dixon, Chief Innovation Officer at the Better Business Bureau, opens the day with a powerful keynote on leadership, communication, and credibility when the stakes are high and the pressure is real.
• Roberta Schwartz, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Houston Methodist Hospital, delivers the lunch keynote, sharing how large-scale healthcare innovation, AI, and digital transformation translate to real-world impact, including in rural and resource-constrained environments.
• Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer at the International Economic Development Council, closes the Summit with a forward-looking keynote on building resilient, future-ready economies and what communities like Alaska need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Throughout the day, attendees will dive into dedicated tracks in AI, healthcare, and e-commerce, explore hands-on sessions that move beyond experimentation into implementation, and connect with peers who understand the realities of running a business in Alaska.

You’ll leave with:
• Clear, actionable ideas you can use immediately
• A better understanding of which technologies are worth your time and investment
• Connections that actually matter, with people facing the same challenges you are
• Fresh perspective and momentum to carry into the year ahead

This isn’t just another conference. It’s a working Summit for people building businesses at the edge of innovation.

If you want to stay competitive, connected, and ahead of what’s coming next, this is where you need to be!

Thank you to Wells Fargo for supporting the 2026 SBDC Summit!