Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Mid-Level Processing Industry Courses Offered

Applications are being accepted now for an intensive leadership course beginning in Kodiak in November for mid-level management employees in the seafood processing industry.

The Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute offers 80 hours of professional development for production managers, quality control supervisors, seafood engineers, human resource, corporate and administrative personnel who have been identified by their employer as having leadership potential.

The course, offered through Alaska Sea Grant, is also open to direct marketers and small seafood processors and others involved in the seafood industry.

Chris Sannito, a seafood technology specialist with Sea Grant at Kodiak, said enrollment for the course, which includes sessions in Kodiak, Anchorage and Boston, is filling up quickly.

The first session, from Nov. 9-13 at Kodiak, will include hands-on technical training in seafood processing and visits with local processors. Topics to be included 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 pilot plant at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, and hear local seafood plant managers talk about their perspectives on the seafood industry and management.

The second session, Feb. 29-March 4 in Anchorage, will focus on leadership training, project management, human resources, regulatory environment and developing effective management styles. Speakers will include those experienced in the industry, government regulators and management consultants.

An optional third section, March 6-8, will be a trip to the Seafood Expo North America in Boston, where participants will interact with vendors, seafood buyers and sellers and visit a local seafood processor. The last section is not required to receive an ASPLI certificate.

Sea Grant is also gearing up for the sixth Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit, Jan. 27-29 in Juneau, an event designed to provide information to fishermen 40 and under and those in the business for less than five years.

The summit focuses on leadership and networking skills.


Further information, including registration for these and other Alaska Sea Grant events, may be done online at www.seagrant.uaf.edu