Next Spark AI Event: Spark Alaska AI Launch, Social Event — June 30th | Register Free →
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About Spark Alaska AI
Built in Alaska. For Alaska business.
A division of SparkStory Marketing — bringing big-agency AI expertise to small businesses, nonprofits, and purpose-driven leaders across the state.
Our Mission
Put AI to work for every Alaska business — without the overwhelm.
Spark Alaska AI started inside SparkStory Marketing. Every week we heard the same thing from Alaska business owners: "I know AI matters — I just don't know where to start."
We're not a software company. We're your neighbors. We built this community so Alaska businesses have a clear, friendly place to learn AI, get answers from people who know our state, and grow on their own terms.
Our Founders
Built by Alaskans. For Alaska Business.
Spark Alaska AI was founded by two women who spend every day helping Alaska small businesses grow. This community is an extension of that mission — practical, accessible, and built for the realities of running a business in this state.
Jennifer Christensen
CEO & Co-Founder, Spark Alaska AI
Jennifer brings 13+ years of experience as a CMO and marketing strategist, including scaling companies 10x and guiding teams to INC 5000 recognition. For the past five years she has been one of Alaska's leading voices on AI strategy and implementation — speaking at the Alaska Leadership Symposium, SBA Conference, Mental Health Marketing Conference, and Valdez Business Conference. She founded Spark Alaska AI because she believes Main Street Alaska deserves the same tools, strategies, and confidence as any major market. Equipping local businesses with AI isn't just good strategy — it strengthens Alaska's economy and the communities we all call home.
13+ Years Marketing Strategy
AI Speaker & Educator
INC 5000 Experience
Alaska-Based
Sara Jokela
COO & Co-Founder, Spark Alaska AI
Sara brings a rare combination of visionary thinking and operational precision to everything Spark Alaska AI does. With a professional background in marketing and project management alongside Jennifer at SparkStory Marketing, she has spent years using AI daily to help clients grow — and has seen firsthand what becomes possible when business owners stop fearing the technology and start using it. Her mission inside Spark Alaska AI is simple: remove the barriers of the unknown. If you've ever thought AI isn't for someone like me, Sara's goal is to prove you wrong — practically, patiently, and in the context of your actual Alaska business.
AI Implementation
Operations & Project Management
Small Business Growth
Alaska-Based
Together, Jennifer and Sara operate SparkStory Marketing and founded Spark Alaska AI to bring the same expertise they deliver to clients directly to the broader Alaska business community.
We design for Alaska businesses, Alaska industries, and Alaska realities — not Silicon Valley theory.
02
Practical over hype
If you can't use it Monday morning, we don't teach it. Every class ships something you can actually deploy.
03
Confidence, not jargon
Plain language. Real examples. Zero gatekeeping. You don't need a tech background to belong here.
04
Community over competition
Alaska wins when Alaska businesses win together. We build connections, not walled gardens.
Advisory Council
Our Advisory Council.
Spark Alaska AI is strengthened by a council of trusted Alaska professionals who contribute their industry expertise, speak at trainings, and help ensure every resource we produce is grounded in real-world Alaska business experience. These are people we trust — and people your peers trust.
Jake Chambers
CEO, Denali Tek
Technology & IT
Alaska's trusted voice on business technology, cybersecurity, and practical IT implementation for small and mid-sized organizations.
Carrie Sheppard
Executive Director, Alaska Women's Business Center
Business & Entrepreneurship
Connecting Alaska entrepreneurs to resources, strategy, and community across the full spectrum of small business growth.
Jim Bates
CEO & Founder, Business Improvement Group
Leadership & Training
Certified Leadership Coach and PMI training expert helping Alaska organizations build stronger leaders and more effective teams.
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Legal Advisor
Legal
Joining the council soon.
Joining Soon
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Healthcare Advisor
Healthcare
Joining the council soon.
Joining Soon
Advisory Council members contribute as speakers, subject matter experts, and community connectors. Spark Alaska AI is founded and operated by Jennifer Christensen and Sara Jokela.
Ready to Lead with AI?
Let's build your AI edge together.
Whether you're brand new to AI or ready to scale, we'd love to meet you.
