Do you have an employee who, with key training, could help lead your business into the future? The Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute (ASPLI) offers 80-hours of intensive professional development for employees recognized as having potential to move up in your company. The institute is designed for mid-level managers in a seafood plant—production managers, QC supervisors, seafood engineers, human resources, and corporate or administrative personnel identified by their employer as having leadership potential. Others who might benefit include practicing direct marketers, small seafood processors or others closely involved in the seafood industry. ASPLI provides the technical training needed in the seafood industry to master leadership and management skills.

The Spring 2020 session is the second of a two-part program. Session 1 of ASPLI will be held November 11–15, 2019 at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center (a University of Alaska Fairbanks facility) where participants will learn from seafood faculty and local experts. Topics are the science of seafood, shelf life, quality and safety of Alaska’s fishery products, product development, lean manufacturing, new technologies, and seafood marketing. Participants will get hands-on experience in the KSMSC pilot plant, and local seafood plant managers will offer perspectives on the seafood industry and management.

After the Kodiak session, ASPLI participants will return to their jobs and work with an in-house mentor to identify and complete a project that has an impact on plant operations.

The final ASPLI session will convene in Anchorage, March 2–6, 2020, focused on leadership training, project management, human resources, regulatory environment, and developing effective management styles. Experienced seafood leaders, government regulators, and management consultants will lead the classes. The goal is to develop confidence, skills, and the big-picture understanding needed by tomorrow’s managers.

See updated 2020 ASPLI spring session agenda (subject to change).

The fee for this program is $2,200 per person. Employers will be responsible for lodging and airfare to and from the training sites. University of Alaska Fairbanks vocational training funds will offset the cost of ASPLI, estimated to be a $6,000 per person training program.

If you have an employee who would benefit from ASPLI and you wish to be a sponsor, direct the prospective ASPLI participant to fill out and submit an online application (https://seagrant.uaf.edu/events/aspli/2019/apply.php). Applications are due by September 15, 2019. The applicant will be notified of acceptance no later than September 30, and payment will be due October 7.

If you have questions, please contact

• Quentin Fong, Seafood Marketing Specialist, 907-486-1516, qsfong@alaska.edu
• Chris Sannito, Seafood Technology Specialist, 907-486-1535, csannito@alaska.edu