JOE GRIFFITH: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Commonwealth North. It's been a busy week for Commonwealth North. We started with a presentation Monday morning at 7:00. We testified for the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday morning at 7:00. And here we are Thursday morning at 7:00 again. I love these 7:00 o'clock in the mornings, don't you love them?

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Hey.

MR. GRIFFITH: My name is Joe Griffith. I'm CEO of Chugach Electric and the president of Commonwealth North. Remember our rule, turn off the cell phones, put them on vibrate, stick them in your pocket where they won't be heard so we don't interrupt the speakers. Sort of a courtesy to our fellow members here.

Today we're very pleased to be unveiling the latest draft report of our Workforce Development Study Group. You'll be hearing today a culmination of what is really a true collaboration among many of the key facets of workforce development in the State of Alaska. I'd especially like to honor BP for underwriting this report, and we do thank them for that input. This, I believe, is a major step forward in underpinning an economic development program for the State of Alaska. Being a big employer myself having firsthand insight into how difficult it is to find the right kind of workers in this state I think we're about to dig through an area that will help us all in making our economy successful in the future.

If I may introduce the head table. On your right on this side of the podium Walter J. Hickel, twice Governor of Alaska, former Secretary of the Interior, and co-founder of Commonwealth North. To his right, Duane Heyman, our executive director, editor of the report, and a good friend and helper of mine. Jess Staser, Federal Co-Chair of the Denali Commission, Commonwealth North Board member, and a co-chair of the study. Jeff, thanks for co-chairing this. To his right, Alice Galvin, learning and organizational development advisor for BP Exploration, chair of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board, a member of Commonwealth North, and co-chair of the study. And I might add that Alice is running for a board seat, so be sure to vote. Here's a chance to see if you like the performance she puts out. Alice (inaudible - laughing). And Alice, we appreciate your effort.

To her right, Loren Leman, Lieutenant Governor for the State of Alaska. He is here today on behalf of Governor Murkowski to receive the report and take it back for the administration's review, commentary and recommendations.

Greg O'Claray is on the telephone. Unfortunately, it's my understanding that all the commissioners have been forbidden to leave Juneau until all the problems are solved down there. We may never see them again. He's on the phone along with Deputy Commissioner Ed Fisher. And Greg and Ed, can you hear us?

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Yes, we can.

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Good morning, Joe, how are you today?

MR. GRIFFITH: Good morning. Before we begin the report I'd like to ask both Lieutenant Governor Leman and Commissioner O'Claray to say just a few words. Loren, would you like to take the stand, please?

LT. GOV. LOREN LEMAN: Well, thank you, Joe. Good morning to all of you, and good morning, Ed and Greg in Juneau. I'm happy to be here on behalf of the Governor and on behalf of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to receive this report. Thank you for being so responsive so quickly to the Governor's request through the Commissioner. I know that I've worked with both Jeff and Alice on these issues. And, you know, we know that workforce development is a very important part of success in our administration and for the State of Alaska. You'll hear the Governor and me talk a lot about our resources and we'll continue to do so because they're important to Alaska. And, you know, Alaska has tremendous resources but when it really comes down to it there's nothing as important in terms of our resources as the people of Alaska. That's why making sure that we have trained workforce, ones ready to work, you know, is so important. So thank you for being a part of this. And I'm looking forward to spending more time listening to the highlights and reading the report.

I traveled this past week with my co-chairman, Jeff Staser on the Denali Commission way up in Northwest Alaska. And I know he was busy with that. And so Katherine Farnham was out with us as well and thank you for your part in making all of this a success. So enjoy being with you today and look forward to the comments from the Commissioner.

MR. GRIFFITH: Thank you, Mr. Lieutenant Governor. Commissioner O'Claray, would you have some comments for us, please?

COM. GREG O'CLARAY: Yes, good morning, all. First, let me express the department's gratitude for the hard work that's gone into this draft report. It's appropriate to underscore the title of the report, Alaska's Jobs for Alaska's People. And this is a cornerstone of Governor Murkowski's plan for economic development of our state. One of the difficulties we've all as parents experienced is that our children that are born here and raised here are finding themselves having to leave the state in order to find good jobs or good pay. And they don't return.

The Governor's early on initiatives with respect to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development was to attack that particular problem and try to turn it around. Commonwealth North as a group has put in countless hours, there's a lot of talent that's been put within these pages, so we'll just kind of sit back and listen to your presentation. But I did want to say good morning to Governor Hickel and Lieutenant Governor Leman. It looks like you've got some horsepower in the room. The Governor, I'm sure, will have some comments about the report. And I know that Lieutenant Governor Leman with respect to his assistance with the administration goals of developing the economy and developing our resources will help guide us through the Development of our true resource, and that's Alaska's people with respect to good jobs for good pay in our state.

And, Joe, I'd like to have Deputy Commissioner Fisher make a few comments also with respect to effort.

MR. GRIFFITH: Go ahead, Ed.

DEP. COM. ED FISHER: Thank you very much. Good morning, all. I'm sure a number of my friends from Anchorage are in the audience this morning and I'm sorry that I'm not there to be with you personally, but I do also want to thank the folks at Commonwealth North for the effort and the work that's gone into developing this document. And from the standpoint of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development we look forward to a working relationship in carrying this project forward to its completion. Thanks very much.

MR. GRIFFITH: Thank you, Ed and Commissioner O'Claray. Jeff and Alice, would you like to come up and make a presentation here?

ALICE GALVIN: I think we'll do it here.

MR. GRIFFITH: Okay. Well, forget that. Actually I think you were going to give the Lieutenant Governor the report.

JEFF STASER: Mr. President, you're correct. On Behalf of Commonwealth North we'd like to render our draft report to the State of Alaska on Workforce Development.

MR. GRIFFITH: It's really hard getting these old ex-Army guys moving this hour in the morning. Had the same problem in Southeast Asia years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Oh.

MR. GRIFFITH: (indiscernible) You must understand Jeff went to that service school up on the Hudson, what's the name of it? And I also went to service school the one with the better football team.

Actually, we have a presentation for you this morning, Duane, Jeff and Alice will give you a overview of the report. Duane, do you want to start the presentation?