MONDAY

Alaska Oil and Gas Congress, 9 a.m. Monday-Thursday, Marriott Anchorage Downtown, 820 W. Seventh Ave. Join a who's who of Alaska's oil and gas industry for the latest details on pipeline, LNG and offshore projects; Cook Inlet and North Slope updates; policy changes; regulatory developments and more. (877-927-7936, www.AlaskaOilandGasCongress.com)

TUESDAY

Alaska's Changing Health Care and the A/E/C Community: SMPS Alaska Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Dena'ina Center, 600 W. Seventh Ave. Join a panel discussion about what design teams can do to prepare for future projects and what sets your firm apart, and have your questions answered. Email questions before the luncheon to Jessica Taft: taftj@eeiteam.com. $35 SMPS members, $45 SMPS member firms, $65 non-members. (563-3885, www.smpsalaska.org)

Income Generation, 5-8 p.m., YWCA Women's Economic Empowerment Center, 324 E. Fifth Ave. Get a critical understanding of your current financial picture and set future financial goals. $75. (644-9611, www.ywcaak.org/finances.htm)

Profit Mastery, noon-4 p.m. Sept. 18, 20, 25, and 27, Alaska Small Business Development Center, 430 W. Seventh Ave., Suite 110. Learn how to generate cash and improve profits in your business, set performance benchmarks and appropriate targets, provide your management team with online visibility, investigate declining performance and make improvements. $200. All four days of attendance required. (274-7232, aksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=5193)

WEDNESDAY

Build Your Business with Social Media, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Alaska Small Business Development Center, 430 W. Seventh Ave., Suite 110. Learn how to use Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, blogging, Pinterest and Google+ to give you online domination in your industry without a huge time commitment. Registration required. Bring business cards for networking. Laptop optional. $35. (250-7425)

Business Planning 101, 5 p.m., YWCA Women's Economic Empowerment Center, 324 E. Fifth Ave. This course goes through the process of conceiving and planning a business start-up. The four-week course will provide the framework for writing a detailed business plan. $350. (644-9611, www.ywcaak.org/finances.htm)

Lunch and Learn: Personal HR Liability -- How to Avoid Getting Snagged, 11:15-1:15 p.m., HomeState Mortgage Company, 3801 Centerpoint Drive. Learn how to identify and navigate the hazards that you face as a supervisor, manager or HR professional. $45; lunch provided. (276-4769, www.thegrowth company.com)

Starting a Business, 10-11:30 a.m., Alaska Small Business Development Center, 430 W. Seventh Ave., Suite 110. Are you thinking about starting your own business? This workshop will cover basic issues faced, such as licensing, record-keeping, hiring employees, business planning, access to financing and more. Free. (274-7232, aksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=5029)

THURSDAY

All About Branding: It's Your Business!, 5-8 p.m., YWCA Women's Economic Empowerment Center, 324 E. Fifth Ave. Learn the importance of branding, practical tips and ideas on how to successfully 'brand' your business. The instructor, Remmie Male, is a guest of the IREX Program through the U.S. Department of State. She is a visiting leader from Uganda who is passionate about small business development and women's economic empowerment. $15. (644-9611, www.ywcaak.org/finances.htm)

Methods and Channels to Exporting, 9-11 a.m., Alaska Small Business Development Center, 430 W. Seventh Ave., Suite 110. Learn about the export process, which organizations and agencies provide support to you, international payment methods and finding overseas partners. Pre-registration required. $50. (www.aksbdc.org, 274-7232)

The Urban Forest of Tomorrow, 7 a.m. Thursday and Friday, UAA, The Commons, 3700 Sharon Gagnon Lane. How can managers, landscape architects and planners manage urban forests to reduce damage to trees and property from events such as windstorms? What is your role in sustainable development? How can you protect trees from moose? These questions and more will be discussed at a two-day conference hosted by the Alaska Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, and others. Breakfast is at 7 a.m. and the morning sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. $100/day or $50 for students; discounted rates available to members of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Planning Association and the Society of American Foresters. (269-8466)

FRIDAY

The End of Poverty by 2040, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hilton Anchorage, 500 W. Third Ave. The Alaska World Affairs Council presents John Hatch, Founder of FINCA and creator of Village Banking. Moderated by Eric McCallum. RSVP to 276-8038 or info@ alaskaworldaffairs.org. Online registration is $23-$26 and includes lunch. At the door is $26-$30. $15 for coffee and dessert. Students and UAA staff receive lunch for free. (www.alaskaworldaffairs.org)

Anchorage Startup Weekend, 6-11 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Alaska Pacific University Moseley Center, 4400 University Drive. Developers, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups. $99. (240-6363, anchorage.startup weekend.org)

COMING UP

Make it Monday Forum -- "The Working Poor in Alaska," 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 24, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Dena'ina Convention Center. Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Shipler will present his nationwide research about low-wage workers, the issues they bring to the workplace, how economic hardship brings unique challenges to workplace relationships and how employers can handle the demands. R.S.V.P. by 5 p.m. Friday, either by calling or visiting the website. (272-2401, anchoragechamber.org)