William S. Ayer, chairman and chief executive officer of Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Air Group, will be the keynote speaker at the 9th Annual Western Washington University Bellingham Business Forum on Thursday, March 18, at the Hotel Bellwether ballroom.

William Ayer, chairman and chief executive officer of Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Air Group, will be the keynote speaker at the Ninth Annual Western Washington University Bellingham Business Forum on Thursday, March 18, at the Hotel Bellwether ballroom in Bellingham.

At Alaska Airlines, Ayer, 55, leads the nation’s ninth-largest airline, with more than 10,000 employees, 59 destinations served and more than 110 aircraft.

A 26-year veteran of the aviation industry, Ayer began his career with Alaska in 1995 as vice president of marketing and planning. Since then, he has held the posts of senior vice president of customer service, marketing and planning; president; and chief operating officer. In 2002,...