Rick Nerland — Nerland Agency
Allan Johnston — TEAM Inc.
Alex Wong — Hotel Captain Cook
Bill Popp — AEDC
Liz Johnson — Ciri — Prince William Sound Cruises
Justin — Double Musky
Peter and Jacob — Premier Alaska Tours
And to those that participated!

All of these individuals supported the original Rethink: Alaska mission, and ultimately allowed us to bring a great group of geeks and entrepreneurs to The Last Frontier. Thank you all!

The Mission Originally Stated Was:

From June 21-24 we’re creating an intersection again – inviting a diverse group of entrepreneurs together who might otherwise never cross-paths – in the certainty that they’ll connect, share and learn from one another in Alaska.

We’re all geeks and entrepreneurs, many of who have traveled on GeeksOnAPlane who come from sectors such as tech, media, entertainment, food and social good. We all have our passions and our interests. At our best, we define ourselves more by the ideas we share and the impact we want to make rather than the business cards we carry.

At [Re]Think: Alaska 2011, a group of great people will be retreating from their day to day environment and spend a few days connecting, sharing, learning and developing relationships in Anchorage, Alaska, The Last Frontier…

The Event:

In hindsight, we actually achieved our mission. We brought up a group of geeks, showcased Alaska, and started some interesting conversations in the community. Our conference turned retreat accomplished the same goals and had the same values as it would have with 30 instead of 8.

At the last minute, some of the attendees weren’t able to make it. However, our smaller and nimbler group gave us some opportunities to plan day trips and create a new agenda. Rethink: Alaska (which could now fit into two cars) became an unconference to the extreme!

Local Alaskans opened their homes to share their stories to our international group. We had individuals and businesses represented from The Netherlands, Texas, Honolulu, California, and more.

Yaling from Honolulu got to eat S’Mores for the first time… Bruce saw his breath on a cold day at the Saturday Market — last happened 20 years ago in Massachusetts. Jeroen from the Netherlands wondered if he could “Adopt a Highway” only to increase the speed limit.

We all learned a lot in a short week

Day 1 (Energy) — Breakfast at Snow City, then The Anchorage Planet Walk Downtown (thanks Rotary Club! We made it to Jupiter…). Then up to Bob Kaufman’s House for a BBQ and some tasty S’Mores outdoors. Bonfire! Great discussions about tech and The Alaska App.

Day 2 (Exploration) — Early morning down to Whittier for a six hour cruise in Prince William Sound. The Hawaiian’s learn the difference between a glacier and an iceberg. Everyone falls asleep on the boat at some point, overwhelmed by a spectacular day and plentiful wildlife. Dinner at Double Musky, dessert at Seven Glaciers. Beautiful photos throughout the day taken by Mike Prasad.

Day 3 (Rejuvenating)  – Later start after an incredible day. Breakfast at the Hotel Captain Cook, followed by a day up at Allan Johnston’s home. A hot sun gives us all some color as we talk startups, technology, and get a pitch about a sustainable luxury beauty product made right here in Alaska. Hector from L.A. buys a bottle! Steak and salmon finish another great day of sunshine.

Day 4 (Goodbyes) — After a putz around the Saturday market (grab those souvenirs!) and a recharge at Kaladi Brothers, we head to the south side to visit our local zoo. An active polar bear and pacing tigers provide some entertainment before a dinner at the Arnold household. Conversations carry the evening before sad goodbyes…. Mike Prasad plays mixologist (for those over 21).

Lessons:

• Missions don’t change, but variables do. You can still accomplish the same mission with different expectations, materials, and agenda. We had less folks but the same amount of fun!
• Supply side of a conference is easy. Pre-sell your tickets before you start planning. With a small group, there will always be vendors, activities, and beds for everyone. There won’t always be ticket sales/revenue.
• Plan for days of relaxation. Let the group rejuvenate for the next adventure!

Thanks again to everyone that participated. Guests, hosts, vendors and advisers, you all made this possible.

Looking forward to seeing you at Rethink: Alaska 2012!

 

@cfnobleChris Noble

Hey @rethinkalaska gang: thanks for pulling it off against the odds!@tylerarnold @AlohaBruce @alohayaling cc @christinelu

 

@mikeprasadMike Prasad

First time ever! Guns, iPad 2s, groceries, jewelry & a starbucks! @rethinkalaska (@ Fred Meyer)

 

@AlohaBruceBruce Fisher

Reindeer eggs Benedict sizzling cafe #rethinkak @rethinkalaska

 

@SarahPalinSuxSarahPalinSux

HMM… RT @rethinkalaska RT @AlohaBruce: Ppl in Alaska don’t seem very fond of Sarah palin any mention of her brings a negative reaction

 

@amyyoungamyyoung

@tggrgrrl @mikeprasad @defstream @alohabruce Great having you in Alaska this week @rethinkalaska! Safe travels  #rethinkak

 

@defstreamHector Gray

RT @AlohaBrucetwitpic.com/5gslwl Saturday market in anckorage Alaska #rethinkak @rethinkalaska

 

@defstreamHector Gray

Awesome talk with the folks from Arxotica cosmetics at #rethinkak @rethinkalaskahttp://www.arxotica.com

 

@AlohaBruceBruce Fisher

twitpic.com/5gbqdl moose poop soap #rethinkak @rethinkalaska

 

@AlohaBruceBruce Fisher

twitpic.com/5gbpfj chocolate waterfall at wild berry products alaska #rethinkak @rethinkalaska

 

@tggrgrrlTerri Adkisson

White king salmon at Double Musky… Amazing! #rethinkAKyfrog.com/kg7i8ij

 

@tggrgrrlTerri Adkisson

@resortalyeska Fantastic view & dessert last night! Great customer service turned our experience to positive!!! #rethinkak

 

@autkastShuchi Rana

+1 RT @barrie_robinson: @rethinkalaska @alaskaair would love to be there… have fun in the sun!

 

@mikeprasadMike Prasad

About to try “The best steak in America” according to Food Network @rethinkalaska @ Double Musky Innhttp://instagr.am/p/GRT1Z/

 

@rethinkalaska[Re]Think: Alaska

“@mikeprasad: The Near Midnight Solstice Sun @rethinkalaska @ Snow Goose Restaurantinstagr.am/p/GKoOu/”

mikeprasad Mike Prasad 

@

@mariancall @rethinkalaska is a group of digital media, tech entrepreneurs & investors learning about Alaska & meeting local counterparts

 

@DucttapeappDuct tape app

Meeting with @rethinkalaska in Anchorage & talking travel apps @alohabruce @tylerarnold @mikeprasad @defstream

Photos:

He recently won the Small Business Administration Alaska’s 2011 Alaska Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and won third place in a business plan competition in 2009.

Arnold still isn’t quite sure what made him into the entrepreneur he is today, or what made him so precocious when he was little.

Read More >>

Bonus: The friend’s couch mentioned in the interview actually belongs to Kevin Muir…

We greatly appreciate all the referrals that you, our clients, have given us so far. Thank you for being a part of this journey, and thanks for sticking around!

Join us!

We look forward to your comments on the new Purlize and invite you to follow us on our blog and on twitter. We’ll be posting special discounts, a few surprises, and the occasional cool pic from our travels or yours.

1. Tap into existing clients, and their networks (if applicable) — Be assertive! Blast out a note on Facebook, Twitter, and follow-up with local contacts before you leave. Our world is becoming smaller, and you may be surprised the contacts your local friends, mentors, and clients have abroad.
2. Search for local leaders — Browse Twitter, Facebook, and the blogosophere to identify local leaders within the tech industry. They are great launching pads for events or referrals.
3. Google search for local industry associations – All of my connections when I was traveling in Munich came from doing a simple Google search for “American business in Munich.” I then stumbled upon the American German Business Club, and went to one of their events while I was there.
4. Plan for spontaneity — If I was too structured or unwilling to change my schedule, I would have never gone to the Business Club meeting in Munich that brought me so much. Knock down doors, send as many emails as you can, and welcome the spontaneity that comes from that!

Now, after serving hundreds of clients and coding thousands of web pages, we’re relaunching with a global brand to communicate our three main qualities: relationships, quality, and responsiveness.

Purlize comes from the word purl, which is a type of stitching. Working with groups of developers and designers, we often feel we’re the service that helps stich these two worlds together.

Join us in the journey ahead with Purlize at www.GetPurlize.com!

One of the many advantages of being in the IT industry is it’s an international business. Founders, entreprepreneurs, and employees in the tech sector are used to working with clients around the globe. They’re used going out of their way to learn about different cultures and to climb communication barriers. My experience in my travels makes me a more open and effective business partner. I find myself interested in global approaches and new ways of thinking.

One tip I give my fellow geeks is try to take advantage of our diverse industry by networking with the local tech scene. You will find new opportunities in  new markets, or at the very least a chance to make friends in the same industry overseas! These friendships are beneficial and informative. It’s a great way to foster new thought and sharing.

Stay tuned for my next article, four tips for meeting geeks while traveling.

Check out the fun video interview here.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — At age 18, South High School grad Tyler Arnold has long since left home for the first time. He’s in Romania on a business trip this week, promoting his Internet firm Tyler Systems.

“We’re an international business, so I find myself in different destinations every month if I’m lucky,” Arnold said in an interview conducted via Skype, an online telephone service.

Read more….

Looking forward to reconnecting with the wonderful people I met at Rethink . It was a great experience and will certainly be a pleasure to spend time with some of the people who made my last visit so fantastic. I might even get a glimpse of the Honolulu marathon runners – it’s their weekend to shine as they attempt the marathon run!

Oh, and as always, special thanks to Hawaii-Aloha Travel for making the trip effortless

Photo by @rickyli99

How?

Difficult to say.

It comes from the gut, without logic or reason.

I guess it’s just one of the great things in life that can’t be measured… and that’s okay.

I knew the event was going to be fun when Rethink veterans greeted one another with big hugs and stretching smiles.  I knew it was going to be a blast when I, as a newbie, was then greeted with the same enthusiasm.

A week after the event, I still find it difficult to define Rethink and the people involved.  An intimate group of around 30 individuals, the diversity of their backgrounds varies as much as their success, talents, and relationships. One of the many unique traits of the conference is that it’s largely self-organized. Some of the most exciting events were never a part of the agenda, which speaks to the greatest asset of the organization — its people. It’s a semi-spontaneous gathering of extroverted entrepreneurs, investors, and like minded individuals all with a twist of tech.  We enjoy chatting Android, Arrington, and Apple. At least, that’s how it all starts!

File under: -- Cross-border relations. Photo by @laurieviv

The bonds made with the attendees can go quite deep, especially since some of the participants have been to a number of the events. Traveling and exploring new experiences with conference goers tends to accelerate the relationships, and towards the end of the event I found myself swapping business cards to become friends on Facebook, not to send a vague “follow-up” email.

Through wild launch parties at the newest five star hotel on Waikiki, to the somber moments above bombing sites at Pearl Harbor, this event seems to create magic wherever it goes. In many ways, it perpetually gives off the same aura felt after watching a great TED talk; It forces you to Rethink.

Rethink with Kal Penn. Photo by @laurieviv

I just wanted to thank everyone that attended, organized, and sponsored the event! Every one of you added value, and for that, I encourage you to pat yourself on the back. Go ahead.

With that in mind, let’s bring Rethink to Alaska!

Why?

• I want to share this great event with local Alaskans
• I want to share Alaska with this great event
• To show that we CAN bring up hip/innovative venues up here with grassroots funding
• Align our State with extremely well networked individuals in tech
• Nurture our soil with the magic, innovation, and dreams that follows this group
• Show that, indeed, the sun doesn’t set on solstice…

Thanks again!