2009 Montana Ambassadors Annual Conference, 2/26-27, Helena

Highlights include a 25th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion, Presentations by 2008 Annual Award Winners, Governor’s Social and Awards Dinner, T. Boone Pickens – Keynote Speaker, Legislative Leaders Update and Energy Jobs for Montana Panel. Register today!

http://www.montanaambassadors.com/

AGENDA

ENERGY JOBS FOR MONTANA

Thursday, February 26, 2009

12:30pm – 1:30pm Registration

1:30pm – 3:30pm A Celebration and Reunion: Montana Ambassadors 25th Anniversary

 1:30pm – 2:15pm

Where We Have Been – Ed Jasmin

Where We Are Going – Bill Johnston

 2:15pm – 2:30pm Reminiscing – Audience Participation

 2:30pm – 3:30pm What We Are Doing

 Montana Ambassador Business Open – Dale Mahugh

 Montana Ambassadors and Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR)

 Montana Ambassador Outreach – Ken Richardson

 Chapter Updates – V.P.’s Introduction of New Members and Updates

 Montana Ambassadors and The Arts – Cinda Holt

 Montana Ambassador Webpage– Carl Kochman

3:30pm – 4:00pm Photos for the Archives and Break

4:00pm – 4:30pm Presentation by Montana Ambassador Entrepreneur of the Year (includes Q & A)
John O’Donnell, TechRanch

4:30pm – 5:00pm Presentation by Montana Ambassador Business of the Year (includes Q & A)
Mick Blodnick, Glacier Bancorp

5:00pm – 6:00pm Montana Ambassador Social

6:00pm—8:00pm Governor Schweitzer and the Montana Ambassador Awards Dinner

 Business of the Year – Glacier Bancorp

 Entrepreneur of the Year – John O’Donnell

 Ambassador of the Year – Carl Kochman

 Educator of the Year – Jon “Tony” Rudbach

 Special presentation: BetterBricks Award

Friday, February 27, 2009

7:15am – 8:00am Breakfast, Congressional Greetings

8:00am –9:30am Legislative Leaders Provide Session Update
Moderator, Nancy Lien-Griffin.

9:30am –10:00am Annual Meeting

 Election of Officers; Overview for 2009 Incoming President Bill Johnston

10:00am – 10:15am Break

10:15am – 10:30am Governor Schweitzer Welcomes T. Boone Pickens to Montana

10:30 – 11:30am Montana and the Pickens Plan – T. Boone Pickens

11:45 – Noon: Break

Noon – 1:00pm Reception and Lunch with T. Boone Pickens sponsored by Montana Dept. of Commerce Energy Promotion and Development Division.

1:00 pm – 3:00pm Energy Jobs for Montana: Challenges & Solutions

Moderator: Evan Barrett, Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Q & A follows each panel segment.

Delivering Energy Products to Market:

 Kary Tonjum, President, City Service Valcon

 Les Brown, Wind Energy Entrepreneur

 Mike Cashell, NorthWestern Energy Transmission (invited)

Workforce & Community Readiness:

 Kevin Brockbank, Executive Director of Workforce Development, UM-Helena

 Peggy Beltrone, Cascade County Commissioner

Conservation & Environmental Challenges:

 Richard Opper, Director, MT DEQ

 Johan van’t Hof, Tonbridge (invited)

 Ash Awad, McKinstry Corp

3:15pm Wrap Up and Closing

Thanks to our sponsors to date:

 NorthWestern Energy http://www.northwesternenergy.com/

 Montana State Fund http://www.montanastatefund.com/wps/portal

 MT Dept. of Commerce Energy Promotion and Development Division http://commerce.mt.gov/energy/

REGISTRATION https://app.mt.gov/cgi-bin/confreg/register/index.cgi?CONFERENCE_ID=2881

LODGING: A block of rooms has been reserved at the conference site Helena Great Northern Hotel. Ask for the Montana Ambassador Room Block. Call 406.457.5500

Call or email Gloria with your questions. 406.563.5353
and be prepared for an amazing conference!

http://www.montanaambassadors.com/