Spruce Root

10/13/2026

Are you a systems thinker committed to strengthening Southeast Alaska’s communities? Do you have a passion for team development and strategic planning?

We are looking for a dedicated leader to join our team as Deputy Director.

The Deputy Director leads the operationalization of Spruce Root’s overall strategy and ensures effective programming, efficient operations, and well-being across the organization. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Deputy Director serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and is the person who turns shared vision into coordinated, day-to-day work.

This is a role for a leader who understands the unique nuances of a remote work environment and finds meaning in building the systems, teams, and relationships that let others do their best work. The Deputy Director also serves as acting Executive Director when needed.

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

This position will remain open until filled. Learn more and apply at spruceroot.org/careers

10/12/2026

Transforming your creative practice into a business endeavor can be a daunting and overwhelming process. Suddenly, your art is about so much more than just that; it’s about marketing, finances, time management, and finding your niche.

Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone. This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re back with Juneau-based artist, teacher, mentor and community facilitator Wooshkindein Da.àat Lily Hope to share more of her advice for early-career artists, and local resources she’s found helpful on her journey. As Lily shared with us, “You can’t not afford to have support for the business part of being an artist... Go for it, with help and support. Don’t do it alone.”

Spruce Root is one of many local organizations Lily has accessed to support her on her business journey. Along with courses tailored directly to our abundant Southeast artist community — like our Business Basics for Artist course — we offer free 1:1 small business coaching for entrepreneurs at any stage of their business.

You can find upcoming course offerings and get connected with our business coach on our website and at the link in bio. Curious for more resources like this one? Our monthly newsletter, Spruce Tips, shares the latest regional offerings and resources with our small biz community. Sign up for Spruce Tips at our link in bio, too!

Photographs by Sydney Akagi and Brian Wallace

10/09/2026

We’ve reached the last post in our Finalist Friday series! Last but certainly not least, we are excited to introduce Kyle Kitka of Trout & Timber Co.

Trout & Timber Co. is a Sitka-based handyman, carpentry, renovation, and property services business built around dependable work, strong local relationships, and deep roots in Southeast Alaska. Kyle, the business’ owner and primary operator, brings years of hands-on experience in construction, maintenance, renovation, and guiding work developed through both the trades and tourism industry.

“Trout & Timber Co. is rooted in my lifelong dream of building
something that reflects both the skills I have spent years
developing and the values I was raised with in Sitka,” Kyle shares. “My connection to place, stewardship, and community continues to shape my long-term vision for the business.”

The business focuses on providing high-quality work for homeowners, lodges, and small businesses throughout the region, including finish carpentry, detailing renovations, deck construction, drywall and fixture installation, structural and cosmetic repairs, seasonal property maintenance, lodge upkeep, guest-ready aesthetic improvements, and general handyman services suited to the demands of a coastal environment.

“At its core, Trout & Timber Co. is about building something lasting for future generations - something we can someday pass down to our son in the place his family has called home for generations,” says Kyle.

Congrats to Kyle and the rest of our 2026 Path to Prosperity Business Competition finalists! We are excited to be a part of your business journey and support your commitment to growing prosperous communities across Southeast Alaska.

10/07/2026

“Wealth management” might seem like a spooky term 👻 When we dig into what it really means, though, some of that fright can turn into feeling in control of the future you’re making for yourself and your loved ones.

At its core, we believe building wealth means making financial decisions that are based on your personal goals and values. Wealth means more than just money: it’s the ability to live a life that you feel good about while passing down resources for future generations.

Join us to develop your own personalized wealth-building strategy that fits your life. Our Investing in the Future course is designed for participants who have completed one of Spruce Roots’ standard Financial Wellness Workshops or received one-on-one coaching from Spruce Root. Building on your financial knowledge, you’ll deepen your confidence in wealth management by

✨Learning essential terminology and tools
✨Discovering resources to leverage
✨Learning practical steps to take action toward wealth building

Link in bio to register, by Oct 30th!

If you are interested in the course but have not yet participated in a previous workshop or coaching, please reach out directly to mailto:[email protected] to determine eligibility.

10/06/2026

We are excited to introduce Megan Roberts, who joins Spruce Root as our Finance Director 🎉

Megan is Tsimshian, Gganhaada clan. Her family is from Metlakatla, Alaska. Her Shm’algyack name is Goy’bam Beyaalsh, given to her by her paternal Grandmother, Shu Guyna.

Megan graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Business Administration, with a dual emphasis in Accounting and Human Resources and a minor in Dance. She interned with Sealaska Corporation in 2017 in the accounting and finance department and later joined the Sealaska team as a Human Resources generalist.

Following her college graduation, she joined Baker Tilly (formerly Moss Adams LLP) providing tax planning and compliance services to small to middle-market businesses. At Baker Tilly, Megan served on the Racial Equity and Manufacturing and Consumer Products Inclusion and Diversity committees. She brings to Spruce Root seven years of experience in public accounting.

Megan shares that her favorite part of Southeast Alaska is “The strong sense of belonging and interconnectedness and “the way that the land and ocean is interwoven in the people and community.”

Welcome to the team, Megan! We are so glad you are here!

Photos courtesy of Megan Roberts

10/05/2026

Change is inevitable: in our lives, our communities, and in our work. As an entrepreneur, how you decide to respond to shifting conditions is key to building long-term sustainability for your business and livelihood.

Join us at our upcoming Master Class to gain tools and knowledge for facing the contemporary challenges posed to our businesses and communities throughout Southeast Alaska.

We’ve brought together a star lineup of guest facilitators to guide participants through two days of virtual presentations, breakouts, and work sessions. Hear from financial and strategic planning experts, and a network of mentors, community partners, and Alaskan business owners as you plan for your business to adapt and thrive amidst change.

We’ll cover a variety of topics, including:

👉 Planning for business continuity in the face of a changing climate
👉 Setting yourself apart with unique marketing tactics
👉 Identifying and strengthening your leadership skills

Wondering if you qualify as a “mid-stage” entrepreneur? This class is for business owners who:

✅are at least one year into their business journey
✅have fewer than 50 employees

Learn more and register here by October 29th:

Mid-stage entrepreneurs with businesses based in Southeast Alaska are invited to join this workshop geared towards facing the contemporary challenges posed to our businesses and communities.

10/02/2026

This Finalist Friday, we are excited to introduce Burt Jackson from Haa Shuká Builders. Haa Shuká Builders is an Indigenous-led construction and development company rooted in Southeast Alaska, focused on building resilient, culturally-grounded infrastructure that supports the long-term wellbeing of Tribal and rural communities.

Their work includes housing, community facilities, and commercial construction projects designed to strengthen local economies, expand opportunity, and honor the values of future generations. The business prioritizes local hiring and workforce development whenever possible, helping create pathways into construction and skilled trades careers for residents in Southeast Alaska
communities.

“By keeping more construction investment local, we help circulate resources within the regional economy rather than relying entirely on outside contractors and firms,” Burt shares.

Many rural and Tribal communities face significant barriers when trying to complete infrastructure projects, including high construction costs, limited contractor availability, and logistical challenges. Haa Shuká Builders aims to address these challenges by serving as a business that both understands the unique needs of remote communities and employs the local workforce on these important projects.

Congratulations on becoming a P2P Business Competition finalist, Burt! We are excited to see what the future brings for Haa Shuká Builders.

10/02/2026

A Petersburg sawmill is about to get a major upgrade.

Alaska Timber and Truss is getting a $2.5 million boost from a partnership between Spruce Root, Sitka Conservation Society, and DCCED's Division of Investments Small Business Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. The investment will modernize the mill's equipment, expand its ability to process Southeast Alaska young-growth timber, and shift operations from diesel to Petersburg's hydroelectric grid.

The result: 10 new jobs, 5 preserved positions, and a stronger supply chain for Alaska-made wood products, including lumber already reaching communities like Scammon Bay and supporting rebuilding efforts in Western Alaska after Typhoon Halong.

This is the result of public investment, mission-driven lenders, and local business owners with a shared vision. Petersburg's mill could be the blueprint for the next chapter of Alaska's timber industry.

10/01/2026

Do you run a mariculture operation? Are you interested in starting one?

Join Spruce Root and Alaska Sea Grant this November to learn the basics of business planning for the mariculture sector.

By the end of the workshop, participants will understand the structure of business planning, be familiar with tools that facilitate business and marketing, feasibility analysis, and gain insights into strategic business decision-making.

Module topics include:
👉Setting the Stage
👉Tools of the Trade
👉Market Planning
👉Accounting for Mariculture
👉Putting it All Together

The course will run virtually on Zoom on November 2nd, 5th, 9th, 12th, and 16th. Register here by October 30th:

09/28/2026

Update: Registration for this course has been extended to October 8th! Sign up here: https://spruceroot.org/etn/virtual-financial-foundations/

Fall is here. That means that it’s time for bears to get serious about eating salmon. Squirrels need to take a long, hard look at their middens… and humans? We’re putting away food too, but we should also be thinking about strategies for staying financially well through the winter (and maybe even squirreling away a little extra for the future!).

Join us October 15 & 16 from 9 AM–1 PM for a virtual financial wellness workshop designed to help you prepare your finances for whatever lies ahead and feel confident that your money management aligns with your personal values.

Financial Foundations is open to all adult Southeast Alaskans and Sealaska shareholders. Register by October 5.

Link in bio to learn more and register.