Chamber Academy - Do’s and Don’ts of influencing the Anchorage Assembly

The Do’s and Don'ts of influencing the Anchorage Assembly and being an effective advocate for local policy.

Speakers:

• John Weddleton, BOSCO's Comics Cards Games
• Forrest Dunbar, Assemblyman 

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John Weddleton moved to Anchorage 1987 after a life traveling across the country and world including several years in Istanbul, Lugano and Fairbanks.

John started his work career as an economic consultant. He now owns a retail business with two locations and a couple commercial properties. 

John went to a Community Council meeting in 1997, then things got out of hand. He was Chair of the Mid-Hillside Community Council, chair of the Hillside’s Home And Landowners Organization and on the board of the Abbott Loop Community Council.  His community involvement includes numerous citizen advisory groups including School District budgets, transportation studies, trails planning, park plans, utility routing and the Hillside District Plan.   He was President of the Anchorage Citizens Coalition and served on the Planning and Zoning Commission. He is an inaugural member of the AMATS Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. John co-founded the Spenard Chamber of Commerce, is a long time member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s Anchorage Business Commitee and was a board member at Credit Union 1.  In April 2016 he was elected to the Anchorage Assembly.

John's two children, Kate and Ry, have patiently allowed him time for these activities.

John has a Masters in Economics from University of Alaska, Fairbanks 1986 and a B.A., Political Science, Tulane University 1980.

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Forrest Dunbar grew up in rural Alaska in the towns of Eagle and Cordova. His parents, Miriam and Roger, continue to live in Cordova, while his sister lives in Portland with her wife.  After attending American University on scholarship, Forrest earned a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School. He moved back to Anchorage during the summers while in law school and passed the Alaska Bar Exam in 2012. Forrest currently serves as a judge advocate and Captain in the Alaska Army National Guard, where he played a significant role in drafting the Alaska Code of Military Justice. Prior to his election to the Anchorage Assembly, Forrest served as the Vice President of Scenic Foothills Community Council and helped found the Muldoon Farmers Market. He is a member of Congregation Beth Sholom, but does not have the self-discipline to keep kosher.

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This lunch-time educational seminar is geared towards business owners, entrepreneurs and young professionals. Community experts present on a variety of topics. Subjects may include anything from down-to-earth "how-to's" and "best practices" to more abstract topics like collecting and leveraging data, and exploring what it takes to create an inviting and productive work environment.