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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Aug 28, 2015 |
"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." -- Warren Buffett, investor and philanthropist
Broad Agenda For Economic Affairs Meeting, 8/31- 9/1, Helena, Montana http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5575
Sustainable Business Council
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- 2015 AERO Expo And Annual Meeting - HomeGrown Sustainability, 9/25-27, Great Falls, Montana
AERO is an inclusive community of farmers, eaters, those interested in sustainable energy, and everyone who cares about the future of Montana communities.
Come Home Montana
- August Montana Department of Tourism Update
The Montana Office of Tourism's eLearningU webinars are presented every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. and are free to MTOT partners.
Montana Business
- Montana Career Opportunity - Finance & Insurance Manager - Bretz RV & Marine
The F&I Manager offers vehicle financing and insurance to customers and provides them with a thorough explanation of aftermarket products and extended warranties.
- Yellowstone visitor wants park to train bears to be 'where guests can see them'
At least one visitor to Yellowstone National Park doesn't appreciate that the bears didn't do their part to make the visit memorable.
- 81-Year-Old Montana Wrangler Smoke Elser Teaches Cowboy Skills to Navy SEALs, FBI
Elser began teaching wilderness skills for the University of Montana in 1964, and on nights like tonight, when most octogenarians would be tucked into their easy chairs, he's still plugging away.
Montana Economic Development
- Wildfire Season 2015 - Will Your Next Log Home be Fire Resistant? - EverLog™ Systems Newsletter
As you plan your next log and timber house, keep these wildfire issues in mind.
- Nominations are now being accepted for the second annual ATHENA Women's Leadership Award.
Recipients of the award must exhibit exceptional dedication to their careers, to their communities and to helping those around them realize their full career potential, according to ATHENA International.
- Mountain Grounds brings true coffee excellence to Missoula
For these two entrepreneurs, the coffee business is about more than just making money. It's about brewing the best beans in the Garden City."
- Missoula's Galactic Farms launches 4 test systems to Mars.... simulation in Hawaii
It's always been a goal of Galactic Farms to put plants in space and then use the knowledge gained to develop urban farming in harsh climates here on Earth.
- Glo European Windows CEO Receives Montana Innovator Award
"I am honored to receive such an award." Says CEO Russ Hellem. "We've been fortunate to work with some wonderful partners in Montana and other parts of the country, we would not be here with their support. I feel fortunate to work with such wonderful people."
- Ikuw Solutions' Entry-Level Developer Training Helps Expand the Tech Pipeline
Ikuw, which provides software training, technical training, and professional development services in its Missoula and Helena locations and online, recently developed an entry-level developer certification program that will provide participants with a solid foundational basis in software development in about three months.
- Spika Design Taps Unlikely Sources for Manufacturing Talent
The goal of offering the courses is to equip the local workforce with an introductory manufacturing skillset, including knowledge in manufacturing safety, industrial math, blueprint training, and practical hands-on assembly experience.
MSU Leadership Institute & UM Global Leadership Initiative
- Anaconda getting new master plan for downtown economic development
When it's complete, the plan is expected to be incorporated into Anaconda's Main Street program, which Anaconda Local Development Corp. is trying to revitalize to encourage Anaconda's economic development.
TEDx Events in Montana
- Leadership - Climbing documentary 'Meru' weaves Anker's story with expedition - Special showings 8/29 in Bozeman
"Conrad really inspired the film and he's been a huge inspiration for me," Chin said. "In a lot of ways, it was like my tribute to him... He's an incredible character among incredible characters."
Careers
- Today's TED Talk Robin Murphy: These robots come to the rescue after a disaster
In her lab, Robin Murphy builds robots that fly, tunnel, swim and crawl through disaster scenes, helping firefighters and rescue workers save more lives safely -- and help communities return to normal up to three years faster.
- Great TED Video - Autistic Boy With Higher IQ Than Einstein Discovers His Gift After Removal From State-Run Therapy
In yet another example of how an out-of-control Goliath state system can cause more harm than good, a teenage boy who was diagnosed with autism at a young age has risen to stellar heights after quitting the special ed system with the help of his concerned mother.
Government
- Tech companies are hiring more liberal-arts majors than you think
Liberal arts graduates joined the ranks of tech companies at a faster clip in the past few years than their engineering and computer-science counterparts, according an analysis by LinkedIn of its own users.
Incubators and R&D
- Montana PSC grants Missoula's Mountain Water suitor Liberty Utility Co. 'special protection'
A member of the Montana Public Service Commission criticized the panel's decision to grant special protections to "secret information" provided by Liberty Utility Co., which is looking to purchase Missoula's drinking water system.
- State to move clients out of Montana Developmental Center due to staffing shortage
State officials say they plan to move about 15 people out of the Montana Developmental Center in Boulder by October to help alleviate a staffing shortage at the facility.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- University of Montana Researchers Receive Grant to Study Traumatic Brain Injuries
"We're hoping that with this award, we can actually use Montana technologies, Montana ideas, to really make a big difference in the treatment, the diagnosis and social impacts," Patel says.
- Research resurgence - After backsliding, UM logs first spending jump in six years
"I think we will be competitive next year and maybe exceed MSU the following year," says Scott Whittenburg, vice president for research and creative scholarship.
Education
- How a Radical New Teaching Method Could Unleash a Generation of Geniuses - We Need Schools... Not Factories
Access to a world of infinite information has changed how we communicate, process information, and think. Decentralized systems have proven to be more productive and agile than rigid, top-down ones. Innovation, creativity, and independent thinking are increasingly crucial to the global economy.
Montana Education Excellence
- The Town That Decided to Send All Its Kids to College
How did one of the poorest counties in Michigan, a state that's struggling, accomplish such a turnaround?
- Maryland university to eliminate textbooks
The University of Maryland University College plans to eliminate textbooks this fall to save students money by using resources online.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- MSU students Carlee Benson and Alex Paterson gain international business experience through business college's internship program
The month-long internship is with the Starzen Company, Ltd., an international trading company and meat manufacturer located in Tokyo. The program is designed to enable the students to become familiar with Japanese business practices, the operations of an international agricultural company and the Japanese culture.
- STEM expert helps fire up staff for project expansion in Billings schools
The project, which is focused on building a pipeline of students educated with hands-on opportunities to integrate science across the curriculum, is expanding to 13 elementary schools this year, up from five pilot schools last year. In five years, SD2 hopes to have the project in all elementary and middle schools.
- Montana students outscore most other states that require ACT exam
The 2015 results show 57 percent of Montana's graduating seniors are prepared for college-level coursework in English, 41 percent in algebra, 44 percent in social science and 36 percent in biology, according to the release.
- Petroleum engineering program is biggest draw at Montana Tech
In a May 2014 Montana Tech career services survey, 87.5 percent of the graduates reported they found a full-time job with a typical starting salary of almost $90,000. It is one of the highest paying starting salaries a graduate with a bachelor's degree can look forward to earning.
Funding and Building your Business
- Helix Business Solutions Partners with University of Montana Western to Create Boot Camps to Grow and Train Top Talent in Montana
In an effort to train talent in rural areas that are not traditionally known for technology, Helix partnered with the University of Montana Western to create a series of tech boot camps.
- First Student donates $30,000 to expand STEM program in Billings, Montana
The transportation provider for School District 2 is kicking in $30,000 to help expand a science, technology, engineering and math program.
Energy and Climate Change
- Should Hiring Be Based on Gut - or Data?
Two panelists from JetBlue -- Andrew Biga, the director of talent acquisition and assessment, and Ryan Dullaghan, manager of people assessment and analytics -- described how they apply people analytics to hiring flight attendants.
- 5 Do's and Don'ts for Your Elevator Pitch
Start with a great hook. It's crucial to attract your audience's attention quickly.
- What startups can learn from Israel
"Entrepreneurship is an experiment -- if you know the results, it's not entrepreneurship," said Oren Simanian, who heads Tel Aviv University's esteemed entrepreneurship center StarTau.
- CEOs: Manage the future, not the past
If the company is the bus and its leader is the driver, as Jim Collins' famous analogy states, then it stands to reason that when the bus is moving, the driver should mostly be looking out the windshield (toward the future) rather than consulting the rear-view mirror.
- Angela Ahrendts, Senior Vice President, Apple Retail - How I Hire: My Guiding Principles
ME vs. WE I want to gain insight into how they see themselves in the world.
- SBA Financial Webinar Series...brought to you by the Montana District Office
John Donovan, SBA Economic Development Specialist, will be presenting three seperate webinars on Developing Financials for Your Small Business, hosted by SBA's Montana District Office. Attend one, two or all three! All webinars will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (Mountain Time).
Connectivity & Communications
- New research paves the way for rechargeable batteries with almost indefinite lifetimes, researchers say.
The new findings are based on the idea that a solid electrolyte, rather than the liquid used in today's most common rechargeables, could greatly improve both device lifetime and safety -- while providing a significant boost in the amount of power stored in a given space.
- South African prototype may solve solar power problem
The Helio100 project, based at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape province, is a cost-effective heliostat that harnesses solar power to generate electricity.
- PG&E plan would hit solar homes harder than previously thought
The utilities also proposed adding new monthly charges that would apply to solar homeowners alone, an idea utility executives said would ensure that all customers pay to maintain the electricity grid. Solar companies called it a blatant attempt to strangle their industry.
Government Technology
- Montana Settles with CenturyLink on Maintenance, Broadband
"It's really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring broadband to rural parts of the state."
- Internet Radio Is Fixing to Make a Comeback
"When you think about TuneIn a year or two from now, you're going to see an awful lot more content coming into this subscription package."
- Here's How Brazil Is Giving Every Citizen Free Mobile Data
The government, along with Qualcomm and one of the nation's biggest banks, has a plan to get the poor online
Non-Profit News
- Google Government Innovation Lab Reveals First Prototypes
The first prototype is what officials call a Virtual Resource Library (VRL), an online hub that once finished, will act as a crowdsourced resource for county services and collaboration. The second prototype is an enterprise app designed to pluck data from departments for countywide analytics.
- University Internship Program Pits Grad Students Against Gov Data
For a second year, fresh sets of eyes and cutting-edge data analytics skills are the tools grad students will bring Virginia through the state's data internship program
- Georgia Hands Off IT to Private Service Integrator
The partnership is meant to drive enhanced IT integration and management throughout the state.
- Drowning in Data, Cities Need Help
Democratization of data may be the most important urban trend in the long run.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- 2015 Montana Nonprofit Association Annual Conference Education and Networking for Nonprofit Leaders and Board Members September 30 - October 2, 2015
"The MNA Conference is a stellar professional development event for nonprofit leaders," said Liz Moore, Executive Director of the Montana Nonprofit Association.
- Anonymous $200K donation made to Camp Mak-A-Dream
Camp Mak-A-Dream is a charitable organization that provides cost-free Montana experiences in an intimate community setting for children, teens, young adults, women and families affected by cancer, as well as programs for children who have a sibling or a parent with cancer.
Transportation
- First Drone Developed to Track Radio-Collared Wildlife
Now researchers at the Australian National University and the University of Sydney have, for the first time, developed a drone that does the labor-intensive work of tracking down a collared animal.
- Facebook Launches M, Its Bold Answer to Siri and Cortana
It's a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence as well as a band of Facebook employees, dubbed M trainers, who will make sure that every request is answered.
- Delta to offer nonstop flights from Salt Lake City to London
On Tuesday, Delta announced that Salt Lake City will become the airline's eighth stop from London's Heathrow Airport, and the only nonstop connection between the Mountain West and the United Kingdom.
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