5th Annual Gateway Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting, 12/01, Helena

2004-12-01 17:30:00

U of M Helena in the Student Center, 115 North Roberts, Helena, MT

Contact: RSVP to Chris at (406) 447-1510 or [email protected]

Gateway Economic Development Corporation will be hosting its 5th annual meeting on Wednesday, December 1st at 5:30 pm. The meeting will be held at the U of M Helena in the Student Center located at 115 North Roberts. There will be a key note speaker, good food and an awards presentation. The public is invited to attend this meeting. Please RSVP to Chris at (406) 447-1510 or [email protected]

Gateway will honor regional businesses and entrepreneurs as well as directors who have provided leadership, vision, and services for the organization during the past years. In addition, Gateway will install its officers and directors for 2005.

The keynote speaker is Bill Morton. Bill is a leading speaker, writer, and consultant to corporations and associations throughout the Pacific Northwest. His passion: the exploding opportunities made possible by this decade’s dramatic demographic shift- the Coming Age Avalanche. Bill describes himself as “a futurist with a special focus on the aging demographic.”

During his stay in Helena, Bill will work with the Downtown Helena Business Improvement District on Thursday December 2nd at 7:30 a.m.at 225 Cruse Avenue. Also, Bill will make a presentation to the public at Carroll College Commons (free and open to the public) at 6:30pm on Dec 2nd. The public is invited to attend this meeting, please RSVP to Chris at (406) 447-1510 or [email protected] . This presentation is sponsored by Luxan and Murfitt, the SBDC, SBA, the Helena Chamber, and the Downtown Helena BID.

Bill holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Washington. Bill has worked in corporate business for 25+ years. He now owns a consulting business “Second Half Strategies” that serves private and public organizations and businesses seeking to expand their demographic appeal and heighten their customer services. Bill has worked with businesses and organizations in the tourism and leisure, housing, media, retail, healthcare, wellness, transportation, communications, and marketing and advertising industries as well local governments to prepare themselves for the many facets of the Coming Age Avalanche. In addition, Bill travels North America to share his experiences and research via keynote speeches. Also, Bill shares his expertise via writings in a wide variety of literary avenues including the AARP Website, The Costco Connection, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and the Puget Sound Business Journal. Bill’s book The Official Second Half Handbook is slated for distribution in 2005.

In 2004 Gateway was involved in the creation/retention of 320 jobs in Broadwater, Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Meagher Counties. This doubled job creation/retention results from 2003. Since 1999, Gateway has directly or indirectly created/retained 750 jobs in the service area. Gateway has Gateway pursues its mission of regional job creation/retention via its business credit and business development programs.