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Montana Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Awards 2005 Winners, Pasta Montana, Quake Industries and Carey Hester Announced. The value of Montana exports exceeded $842 million in 2004

Governor Brian Schweitzer joined with Kim Wild, Chair of the
Montana District Export Council http://www.rockymountainbusiness.com/MontanaDec/index.html , and members of the Montana District
Export Council in honoring three statewide winners of the Montana
District Export Council’s Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Awards for
2005.

The recipients include:

* Exporter of the Year – Pasta Montana http://www.pastamontana.com/ , Great Falls

* Export Marketing Program – Quake Industries http://quakeinc.com/ , Belgrade

* Export Advocate – Carey Hester, Montana Department of Commerce http://commerce.mt.gov/

Pasta Montana http://www.pastamontana.com/ , the state’s largest manufacturer of dried pasta, was
chosen as Exporter of the Year in recognition of the significant
contributions it makes to the state and local economy by the export sale
and marketing of its product. In the past eight years, pasta exports
from the state of Montana grew from under $22,000 to $11.6 million.
Dried pasta now ranks as the 13th largest export commodity from the
state.

This growth has not only been remarkable but has proven
sustainable. Located in Great Falls, the company employs approximately
75 people. In 2001, Pasta Montana was the recipient of the Export
Marketing Program Award.

The Export Marketing Program Award winner, Quake Industries http://quakeinc.com/ of Belgrade,
was recognized for excellence and effectiveness in its efforts to
develop and increase export sales of its shooting sports slings for
rifles and bows, accessories like BushwackerTM optic covers, and hunting
equipment. They currently export to 22 nations worldwide and nearly
all of their annual revenue is comprised of business from outside of
Montana. With eleven employees, the family owned business is
responsible for infusing the Belgrade economy with over $1 million of
new money per year.

Export Advocate Award winner is Carey Hester of Helena who was chosen
for his outstanding achievements in assisting Montana companies in
exporting their products and services worldwide. Hester initiated and
developed technical- training for Montanans through a series of export workshops after realizing that companies
needed more than information and counseling.

These hands-on workshops
now empower Montana companies to effectively compete in global markets.
He is the Senior International Trade Officer with the International
Trade & Relations Bureau, Montana Department of Commerce where he has
worked for eleven years. Hester was born in Helena and graduated from
Carroll College in 1986 with a degree in International Relations.

The Montana District Export Council (MDEC) http://www.rockymountainbusiness.com/MontanaDec/index.html
is an organization of
volunteer leaders from statewide businesses, education institutions, and
government organizations. The combined knowledge of the council members
in international business provides a source of professional advice on
exporting to local firms and individuals. The MDEC is closely affiliated
with the US Export Assistance Center and the Montana Department of
Commerce. Through these partnerships, the MDEC provides export
counseling, resource referrals, educational seminars, and associated
literature. MDEC members can help firms in their local area plan for
their first export sale, or further expand existing export programs. The
MDEC further liaisons with the Montana World Trade Center on programs of
mutual interest.

Exports are an important and growing sector of Montana’s economy. The
value of Montana exports exceeded $842 million in 2004. For more
information on Montana’s exports go to http://www.exportmontana.com.

###

Sarah J. Elliott

Communications Director

Governor Brian Schweitzer

406-444-9725

[email protected]

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