Unlock secrets to exceptional customer service
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Learn how to deliver exceptional customer experiences with Spruce Root and the Disney Institute’s proven approach to service excellence. Celebrate with us as the Seacoast Trust reaches a significant $25 million milestone. Don’t miss out on the first-ever Southeast Alaska Emerging Leaders Summit in Sitka — a chance for young professionals to connect, learn and grow.
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Also in this newsletter:
- Get inspired by stories from our recent workshop and open house in Haines.
- Spruce Root and Native Conservancy empower the Kake community with hands-on kelp farming training.
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Learn the Disney approach to delivering exceptional customer service
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Join Spruce Root and Disney Institute this Saturday for a one-hour hybrid work session to help you better understand your customers’ expectations and provide an enriched emotional connection through your products and services.
Registering allows you to attend a virtual work session from 10-11 a.m. Alaska time on Saturday, September 14, in conjunction with Spruce Root and Path to Prosperity’s Business Competition Intensive.
Disney Institute will share Disney's approach that will help you discover why delivering consistent, exceptional customer service is all about the details. It is the result of deeply understanding customers’ expectations and putting the right guidelines in place so their Cast Members can focus on servicing their Guests.
When an organization understands the emotional connection to its customers and the touch points that can improve the delivery of service, you can differentiate your service to become a provider of choice.
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(The Disney Cruise Line is a sponsor of Spruce Root’s Path to Prosperity Program and its Business Competition.)
Additionally, we announced the 12 finalists here.
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(Photo by Shaelene Grace Moler)
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Seacoast Trust reaches $25 million: Help us reach our $50 million milestone
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As we celebrate the three-year anniversary of its launch, we are excited to announce that we have met a quarter of our goal to raise $100 million for the Seacoast Trust and now it is time to double it. Let's get to $50 million!
Launched September 16, 2021, The Seacoast Trust is financial sovereignty.
The Seacoast Trust began with a challenge from Sealaska, the Southeast Alaska Native regional corporation, to conservation funders to match a pledge of $10 million. The Nature Conservancy stepped up with $8 million.
Since this historical collaboration, additional partners and individuals have pledged their support, including Home Planet Fund ($1M), Rasmuson Foundation ($1M), Edgerton Foundation ($1M), William and Flora Hewlett Foundation ($700K), Wilburforce Foundation ($250K), Chorus Foundation ($100K), and more. Gunalchéesh (thank you) to our partners who are celebrating its third anniversary with us.
The fund centers Indigenous values and self-determination, representing an innovative and long overdue shift in conservation finance that has tremendous potential to drive systemic change benefiting both people and nature in Southeast Alaska. Spruce Root, a Native Community Development Financial Institution, is the fiscal sponsor of the Seacoast Trust and Sustainable Southeast Partnership.
The Seacoast Trust will, in perpetuity, reduce barriers to the communities of Southeast Alaska in achieving their goals for the future amid the life-sustaining health of the lands and waters that now, more than ever, call for our shared efforts.
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Aspiring leaders: Join the first Southeast Alaska Emerging Leaders Summit in Sitka
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Join Spruce Root and the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce for the first-ever Southeast Alaska Emerging Leaders Summit! Join fellow young professionals from around the region to convene for two days of programming consisting of keynote speakers, impactful discussions and workshops, with content related to professional and business development, and financial and work-life wellness.
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Spruce Root Client Services Director Ashley Snookes poses with Foundroot’s Leah Wagner, who owns and operates the small business with her husband, Nick, in Haines. (Photo by Ashley Snookes)
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Haines workshop and open house highlight local artists and business growth
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Earlier this month, Client Services Director Ashley Snookes and Program Manager for Small Business Marc Wheeler visited Deishu (Haines) to facilitate a workshop for the Chilkoot Indian Association (CIA) and to visit past and prospective Spruce Root clients.
The workshop was the capstone for a two-year project in which Spruce Root helped CIA members and other Chilkat Valley artists learn business skills to create more wealth for themselves and the community.
Ashley and Marc also hosted an evening community open house, and visited several amazing Haines businesses such as
- Rainbow Glacier Adventures;
- Foundroot;
- Port Chilkoot Distillery;
- Haines Brewing;
- Wildhaven Wools;
- Four Winds Farm;
- Alpenglow Pizza;
- as well as two finalists from this year's business plan competition, Chilkat Valley News and Malo Niśta Catering.
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Kelp scientist Tiffany Stephens teaches a group of prospective kelp farmers bull kelp biology (Photo by Marc Wheeler)
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Spruce Root and Native Conservancy empower Kake community with kelp farming training
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Spruce Root collaborated with the Native Conservancy in Kake in August to provide hands-on training for aspiring kelp farmers.
Along with April Minnich, Dune Lankard and Tiffany Stephens from the Native Conservancy, Marc Wheeler provided training tailored for 10 community members interested in kelp farming.
During the three-day event, participants learned about business planning, permitting, specialty foods and how to collect sorus (the reproductive cells on the kelp fronds) from bull kelp and collect the spores necessary to grow baby kelp to plant on future farm sites.
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Upcoming Small Business Grant Opportunities
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High Five Grants for Moms: The High Five Grant for Moms opened a new round of funding from September 1st through 30th. The Grand Prize is $10,000. Runners up will receive $5,000, $2,000 and five will receive $1,000 each. These grants are not venture capital and never need to be paid back. For eligibility requirements and to learn more, click here.
Deadline: September 30, 2024
The Transform Business Grant: Designed to support entrepreneurs in systemically marginalized groups, the TRANSFORM Business Grant provides a $1,000 microgrant and a customized, year-long business strategy and development program to each grantee. To learn more, click here.
Deadline: September 30, 2024
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Thank you to all our partners, supporters, donors and communities for continuing to share in our vision for the region!
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Spruce Root is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Our services for small businesses include coaching, training and lending for startup enterprises, working capital, business expansion, leasehold improvements and other business capital needs. We are a driver of a regenerative economy across Southeast Alaska so communities can forge futures grounded in this uniquely Indigenous place.
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