Alaska Resource Review, September 2026

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: LAUREN RICE, RDC EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COORDINATOR

VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

'WE ARE ALL INVESTED IN THE FUTURE OF ALASKA'

resource state. We can supply the nation with reliable energy and minerals while strengthening local economies. Our tourism industry will continue to grow with both large operators and small business owners who provide visitors with unique access, novel experiences and Alaska-forward food and accommodations. A focus on not just resource extraction, but also on Alaskan jobs, training and infrastructure will lead to a stable economy that supports reliable employment and housing." WHAT DO YOU SEE AS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES? AND OPPORTUNITIES? "Alaska faces built-in infrastructure challenges, including high costs and complex logistics. We can address some of these inherent barriers by ensuring Alaska residents are trained and ready to work in our particular environment. We can also continually work to provide predictable, common-sense permit- ting and environmental frameworks. "We have tremendous opportunities. We live in a fast-paced, technolog- ically driven world. Energy reliance will only grow. We are well-situated to meet that need, thoughtfully grow our communities, explore innovative energy options and continue to support the industries that brought us to this moment. Alaska is a place of seemingly limitless potential." WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT? "I am the proud mom to two beautiful girls. They love Alaska. They love welcoming tourists and helping them navigate our area. At various times, they have wanted to be marine biologists, teachers, architects or small business owners. I want them to be able to do those things in Alaska. I want them to be able to afford a home, feel safe in their city and have the time and finances to remain connected to the land."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Lauren Rice recently joined the RDC team as external affairs coordinator. We asked Lauren to share insight on her background and her goals for her new role with the RDC. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ROLE! TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR ROLE FOR RDC AND YOUR PRIORITIES FOR 2026 AND BEYOND. "I’m excited to work on the RDC team with Connor and Jennifer! One of my first priorities is to better understand the needs of our industries by engaging with RDC’s board and membership. I see my role as helping develop and carry out policy priorities and improving delivery of the organization’s message to the public. "I hope to support the established goals of strengthening RDC’s influ- ence, expanding our reach and delivering meaningful value to our members. Determining the stories of resource development and effectively sharing them is paramount to my role." "I was raised in the Oceanview neighborhood of South Anchorage. My dad owned a real estate company and my mom was a special education teacher. Both of their careers informed my current views on policies and Alaska. My dad fell in love with Alaska as a young man and continuously presented an Alaska to me that was full of opportunities. But I also experienced the dichotomy of our economy in my formative years. I lived through the boom and bust cycle both personally and professionally. "As a resource-dependent state, I know both realities are possible. Stability and gradual growth is also possible. Working towards an Alaska that is vibrant, safe and offers economic growth for all residents is the guiding principle of my career. It is the thread that connects my work for the State of Alaska to Covenant House Alaska and the PAC and now, RDC." "I have had so many! Representative McGuire was a true bipartisan policy maker at a time when it was not expected or required. She created a climate for other lawmakers to be a voice for their constituents. Walt Monegan of the Department of Public Safety taught me the value of listening and speaking with intention. Deirdre Cronin of Covenant House Alaska and Codie Costello of the PAC both met challenges with really ambitious ideas. As a result, they led projects that changed the landscape of downtown Anchorage and their organizations. "I have been extraordinarily blessed with colleagues and bosses through- out my career, and I remain very close to many of them." TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT GROWING UP IN ALASKA AND HOW THAT PREPARED YOU FOR THIS ROLE. WHO WAS YOUR MENTOR AND WHAT DID THEY TEACH YOU THAT REMAINS TRUE TODAY? FROM YOUR TIME WORKING IN ADVOCACY, WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OUR MEMBERS? "Whether you have a specific goal or you are building relationships with policymakers, meet with them during the interim. Session is busy. Focus on

Lauren at the historic groundbreaking of the new CHA shelter in downtown Anchorage (pictured here with CHA CEO Alison Kear, former Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell and former CHA ED Deirdre Cronin).

Preparing to be outskied by her two daughters.

relationships, background information and informal policy discussions during the summer and fall months. Session should be a time when you reconnect on topics legislators have already been briefed on. "Advocacy, both in policy and public affairs, is about storytelling. Know your story before you pick up the phone." WHAT WAS ONE EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET? "I’ve taken my kids skiing in multiple places. When you are teaching young kids to ski, there are a lot of haphazard and humbling moments. In 2020, we moved from NYC back to Alaska, settling in Girdwood. A few years in, we went skiing on a bluebird March day. My kids gracefully and skillfully skied past me. I was the last in line. It struck me that they had surpassed me in both technique and speed. "Watching your kids immersed in and skillfully navigating Alaskan terrain is a really rewarding moment." WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS BUSINESS? "Alaska does it best. The people working in our state love the land. Across multiple industries, we continuously bring our resources to market in the most efficient and environmentally sound method that is possible. "We are all invested in Alaska. We all want both the land and the economy to be robust, safe and plentiful for the next generation. There will always be varying opinions and debate about the best course of action to achieve this, but we are all working to that end."

BUILDING ALASKA ONE OUNCE AT A TIME CONAM’s track record of successful projects has proven that resource development can be done responsibly while protecting Alaska’s fragile environment. Our firm understanding of Alaska’s unique challenges and commitment to HSSE and planning have translated into

satisfied mining clients across the state. We get dirty so you get the pay dirt.

WHERE DO YOU SEE ALASKA AND OUR ALASKA RESOURCE INDUSTRIES IN 50 YEARS?

"In 50 years, Alaska should be known not only as the world’s leader in sound and innovative natural resource extraction, but as America’s strategic

www.AKRDC.org

ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2026

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