43rd Business Leader of the Year - Jim Dodson

J3W5W3 Army and Air Force key leaders show their appreciation for Jim Dodson, the Fairbanks Economic and Development Corporation President and CEO, April 28, 2017 at the 49th Annual Military Appreciation Banquet at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. The leaders presented Dodson with the Messer Award at the event to honor his efforts to improve community-military relations and service on the Save Eielson Committee during the Base Realignment and Closure Commission testimonies in 2005. (Photo by Mary M. Rall/U.S. Army Alaska Public Affairs)
J3W5W3 Army and Air Force key leaders show their appreciation for Jim Dodson, the Fairbanks Economic and Development Corporation President and CEO, April 28, 2017 at the 49th Annual Military Appreciation Banquet at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. The leaders presented Dodson with the Messer Award at the event to honor his efforts to improve community-military relations and service on the Save Eielson Committee during the Base Realignment and Closure Commission testimonies in 2005. (Photo by Mary M. Rall/U.S. Army Alaska Public Affairs)


Tickets are on sale for the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management’s 43rd Business Leader of the Year dinner and award ceremony.

The 2019 event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel’s Gold Room and will honor Jim Dodson, president and CEO of Fairbanks Economic Development Corp.

“Jim is generally recognized as the person most responsible for the successful effort in 2005 to save Eielson Air Force Base from closure and was directly involved in securing the two squadrons of F-35s to be located at Eielson in 2020,” said Dan Gavora, 2012 business leader of the year and president of Doyon Utilities. “While leading FEDC, Jim has worked proactively with UAF to facilitate the commercialization of its research. The Fairbanks economy is stronger due to Jim’s selfless work on behalf of Interior Alaska and its residents.”

Tickets are $125 per person or $1,200 for a table of 10, which includes a program ad. Individuals or businesses may also sponsor student tickets for $100 per person. Tickets may be purchased online.