The Seward Chamber of Commerce recently wrapped up Small Business Week, hosting a series of events aimed at supporting and celebrating the local business community. The week began with the Royal Caribbean Group-sponsored Small Business Appreciation Evening, which also served as the launch for the company’s “Port Partners” initiative. The following day, a luncheon featured presentations from Cassidi Cameron, Director of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District, and Kelly Ann Cavaretta, Business Advisor with the Alaska Small Business Development Center. Another evening event, “Ladies that Launch,” brought together four local women business owners for a question-and-answer panel. Although not organized by the Chamber itself, the week also included a meet-and-greet with Alaska State Labor and Workforce Commissioner Cathy Munoz.
Small Business Appreciation Event
Held at the Gateway Hotel, the Small Business Appreciation Event was an opportunity for local business leaders to connect and learn about Royal Caribbean’s new Port Partners Program. Preston Carnahan, Vice President of Destination Development (West Coast) for Royal Caribbean Group, introduced the program with a short video highlighting its goals. The evening featured remarks from Cory Ortiz (Director, Alaska Vocational Technical Center), Teri Cothren (University of Alaska), Kelly Ann Cavaretta (Seward Small Business Development Center), Kat Sorensen (Seward Manager), and local business advocate Tom Tougas. Speakers emphasized the value of small businesses in the community and encouraged participation in the Port Partners Program.
Questions arose about the structure and requirements of the Port Partners Program, particularly regarding the 10-week academic course and its mentorship component. Attendees sought clarity on the time commitment, course content, and mentor qualifications, details that were not yet available at the time of the event. Some participants also wondered about Royal Caribbean’s interest in Seward’s small business sector. More information can be found at PortPartners.com. The evening concluded with a raffle for a Royal Caribbean cruise for two, which was won by Sadie Allen, AVTEC Culinary Instructor and owner of Resurrection Bae Jewelry. Allen and her guest, Kara Maxwell, promised each other that if either of them won, they would take the other on the cruise.
Seward Chamber of Commerce Datafy Luncheon
At the Chamber luncheon, Cassidi Cameron and Kelly Ann Cavaretta presented data on Seward’s tourism trends and business activity. Cameron explained that her tourism data is compiled from anonymized cell phone location records purchased by the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District and shared with the Chamber. According to the data, Seward accounts for about 25% of all visitors to Alaska. While visitation rose by 13% between 2024 and 2025, the average length of stay declined from three days to 2.5. Tom Tougas noted that this figure may be influenced by cruise ship passengers, who often spend only a short time in town.
Demographic data showed that most visitors to Seward are white, in one- or two-person households, aged 46 to 65, and earn more than $100,000 per year. About 44% of visitors are Alaskan residents. Popular activities include visiting the boat harbor (20%), the SeaLife Center (15%), outdoor recreation (25%), and staying in local accommodations (30%). Visitor spending increased modestly by 1% over the previous year.
Cavaretta’s presentation, based on local sales tax data, identified the top five industries in Seward as wholesale, retail, guiding, construction/contracting, and manufacturing. Sales tax collections have risen since 2020 but have recently stabilized, with 88% of revenue generated between April and September. Guiding businesses have experienced the most growth, retail sales have leveled off, and manufacturing including fish processing, ship repair, and breweries has grown 4.5 times since 2017.
Ladies Who Launch
The “Ladies Who Launch” event brought together four female entrepreneurs for an evening discussion about the unique challenges and lessons learned from running businesses in Seward. The panel provided a platform for sharing experiences and advice from the perspective of women in business. See separate Seward Folly article
Meet and Greet: Cathy Munoz, Alaska State Commissioner of Labor and Workforce
The week ended with a meet-and-greet at the AVTEC library, where Commissioner Cathy Munoz of the Department of Labor and Workforce answered questions from attendees. City Council Member Cassie Warner inquired about expanding daycare options and training for daycare workers. Representatives from Seward Education Advocates, Mica VanBuskirk and Tara Swanson, asked about support for Career and Technical Education programs, such as dual-credit, pre-apprenticeship, and early college courses. Commissioner Munoz expressed support for the ongoing growth of AVTEC’s offerings, highlighting expanded industrial electrical and plumbing programs, training partnerships with Royal Caribbean and Trident Seafoods, and a $4.5 million upgrade to the industrial arts building’s roof.
AVTEC has been ranked 43rd in the nation by the Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) for its projected return on investment among over 4,600 U.S. colleges—an achievement Commissioner Munoz noted with pride. “Wherever I go, employers tell me that AVTEC is top notch. Our graduates are well-prepared and often employers’ top employees.”
The week’s events highlighted the important role that small businesses play in the Seward community, the value of collaboration between local organizations and industry partners, and the need for continued investment in workforce development and education. As Seward looks to the future, ongoing dialogue and partnership will be key to sustaining growth and supporting local entrepreneurs.
Sadie Allen (Winner of the Royal Caribbean Group Cruise Raffle)