Montana Chamber of Commerce hosts "Business days on tap at Capitol" in Helena on Wednesday and Thursday

Business and chamber of commerce leaders from around the state will meet at the Best Western in Helena Wednesday and Thursday for the Montana Chamber of Commerce’s Business Days at the Capitol.

By JOHN HARRINGTON – IR Business Editor – 01/06/03

http://helenair.com/articles/2004/01/06/helena/a01010604_05.txt

Holding the new event in a year when the Legislature is idle indicates a move toward more general business fare and less focus completely on business-government relations, according to Montana Chamber president Webb Brown.

"Our point in doing this now is to show that business issues aren’t on the front burner only when the Legislature’s in session," Brown said. "We are not focusing on the legislative aspect of it this year as much as we have in the past."

The two days of meals, seminars, talks and round-tables will celebrate accomplishments, address current issues and look to the future of the business climate in Montana, Brown said.

Charles Fred, a 1979 Capital High grad and founder and CEO of the consulting firm The Breakaway Group, highlights the opening luncheon with a talk on "The New Leadership Agenda" – aimed at helping businesses and entrepreneurs plan for the next business recovery cycle.

Wednesday’s dinner features a talk from Gov. Judy Martz and celebrates the year’s winners of the chamber-sponsored High School Business Challenge and the Montana Council on Economic Education-sponsored Stock Market Game, both conducted in schools across the state.

Helena being the state capital, the Legislature isn’t completely ignored. Sessions drawing on state government include an "Eggs and Issues" breakfast Thursday with Democratic and Republican leaders from both the state house and senate.

Also, Wednesday afternoon’s free "Legislature 101" session will explain to business people how laws are made and changed. Sen. Dale Mahlum (R-Missoula), Rep. Kim Gillan (D-Billings) and lobbyist Steve Yeakel will offer their insights.

"It’s a chance to talk people through the process," Brown said. "It’s a basic, relaxed interactive program for people, whether they have a burning issue or they just want to understand how the system works."

There are fees for some sessions, while others are free, and people are free to pick and choose which ones they would like to attend.

More information on Business Days at the Capitol is available at the Montana Chamber Web site, http://www.montanachamber.net, or by calling the chamber at 442-2405.

John Harrington can be reached at 447-4080 or [email protected].