8 ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW SUMMER 2024 WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE THE NEW PRESIDENT OF RDC. It is year 49 for our organization, which came together in April of 1975 to support the industries of our 49th state. In that time, Alaska has grown and changed, but much of what binds us at our core is the same as it has always been. Change is sure to come, and we must be poised to capitalize on it while protecting that which makes our state the great place we all love. Love. It’s no exaggeration … I LOVE this state. There is a feeling of adventure around every corner, and with that comes an intense excitement and desire to play in the great outdoors. I am told as a child I saw my first float plane, and I excitedly told my grandfather, “I’m going to fly one of those someday.” I worked on docks throughout high school, then went off to flight school with the goal of returning to those same docks to pilot locals and tourists alike around Southeast Alaska. As often happens, my first love of flying morphed into a desire for more, and I used my education and experiences to grow into the position I hold today with Alaska Airlines. So many of us share this story — a love for a place and a lifestyle that grows into a profession. We live, work and play in Alaska — a lifestyle rarely found in other places. It is what attracts people to visit our state and is the common thread that binds Alaskans together. As we look to the year ahead, I am excited for what we can accomplish together. Alaska is and has always been blessed with an abundance of natural and human resources, which create so many economic benefits and jobs for Alaskans. From our more traditional natural resource industries like fishing, mining, forestry, and oil and gas, to our robust tourism industry, there are so many opportunities for Alaska to continue to grow. As president, I would like to see RDC continue to provide a platform for open dialogue and collaboration among industry leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders. We have such a diverse membership, which I believe empowers us to make a real difference in the future of responsible resource development in Alaska for ourselves and the next generation. Alaska’s limited workforce challenges our ability to advance projects and initiatives. We have a large outmigration of young talent, and attracting new talent to our state in a competitive work environment is difficult. This dynamic is straining our ability to grow Alaska’s economy. Our collective industries need to work harder to educate and energize Alaska’s next generation about career opportunities right here at home to ensure we have a devoted workforce and growing economy. None of us are getting any younger, so tapping into the next generation of Alaskans is critical for our future. RDC will celebrate our 50th anniversary next April. The organization has accomplished so much over that time. Alaska is a better place today thanks to the hard work and devotion of so many. Let’s work together to identify pivotal moments and key contributors over the past 50 years so we may celebrate the wins and those who were the driving force. We will draw from the past to help guide tomorrow’s path. LET’S DRAW FROM THE PAST TO HELP GUIDE OUR PATH “As president, I would like to see RDC continue to provide a platform for open dialogue and collaboration among industry leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders.” — Scott Habberstad, Incoming Board President Photo by Lee Leschper Incoming Board President Scott Habberstad presented a gold pan to outgoing President Lance Miller at the summer RDC luncheon.
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