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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 2, 2016 |
Someone just honked at me to get me out of my parking spot faster so now I'll just have to sit here until we're both dead.
Is Missoula Ready For Climate Change? A Discussion With Steve Loken Of Climate.Place, 2/3, Missoula, Montana http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5774 --- 2016 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Summit, 2/3-4, Helena http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5713 --- 14th Annual Flathead Valley Economic Forecast, 2/3, Kalispell, Montana http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5761
IdeaMensch
Northwestern Energy
- IdeaMensch monthly newsletter
I ran across a ton of great content this month.
Great Falls Development Authority
- Economic outlook seminar this week Feb 4 at NorthWestern's new Butte office building
The Bureau of Business and Economic Research brings its annual seminar to Butte from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in NorthWestern Energy's new headquarters at Park and Main.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- "The Fire Within" 2016 Call for Nominees! Due on Monday, 2/1, at 5 PM
We are looking for both established women business owners that inspire others AND women business owners who are just getting started and are aspiring leaders.
Energy and Climate Change
- Travel and Marketing Trends for Montana - January 2016
Travel industry CMOs are finding their roles significantly restructured thanks to changes demanded by consumers.
- Monte Dolack Celebrates the 75th anniversary of Montana State Parks with the beautiful "Smith River in June"
Enjoy this short 4 minute film about the creation of Montana artist Monte Dolack's painting "Smith River in June". The painting is a commissioned work made possible by a gift from the Lee and Donna Metcalf Charitable Foundation to Montana State Parks.
- 6 reasons why Montana is the star of America's west
Despite the presence of some of the nation's fastest highways, the drive from one side to the other takes around twelve hours.
Come Home Montana
- The Supreme Court Saves the Smart Grid, But More Battles Loom
The breadth of this decision paves the way for a host of new technologies and business models that seem poised to disrupt the usually staid business of electric utilities and usher in a more technologically advanced power grid.
- Let solar reach its full Montana potential
The future of this growing business sector depends on the leadership of Montana policymakers.
- Forget energy storage. We can go renewable without it, scientists say
It's always 5 o'clock somewhere, and it's always windy or sunny somewhere, too.
- Utilities throw weight behind plan to eliminate coal and increase renewables
The ballot measures contain similar provisions, but the utilities say their compromise plan offers the opportunity to run coals plants for longer, as well as more flexibility in meeting the renewables requirements.
Montana Business
- Montana Career Opportunity - Dean of the School of Business Administration - University of Montana
The University of Montana seeks an energetic, innovative and resourceful leader to serve as Dean for the School of Business Administration (SoBA), a dynamic school encompassing the departments of Accounting and Finance, Management and Marketing, Management Information Systems, and graduate programs in Accountancy and Business Administration with a proposed graduate program in Business Analytics.
- Montana Career Opportunities - University of Montana
We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package, the opportunity to live in one of the finest college towns in America, awesome Grizzly Athletics, and some of the best rafting and fly fishing anywhere in the lower 48.
- Rural Montana: High, wide and hospitable
Come for a visit or come to stay. Our riches stretch far beyond our fences and our cup runneth over with life. Welcome to Rural Montana!
- Montana Career Opportunity - Chief Information Technology Officer - Benefis Health Systems
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) will provide technology vision and leadership in the development and implementation of the health information technology (HIT) program.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Creative Specialist - AAA Mountainwest
We have an immediate opportunity for a talented Creative Specialist to join our outstanding team of marketing professionals in our Helena, Montana headquarters office.
- Montana Career Opportunity - System Administrator - Glacier Bancorp
Glacier Bancorp IT is seeking an experienced System Administrator to maintain our company wide DVR system in approximately 150 branches, and serve as a backup for other systems within the Infrastructure Services group.
Montana Economic Development
- Montana to sue after Missoula's Mountain Water Co. sold without approval
The PSC voted unanimously Friday to seek a judge's order fining Mountain Water between $100 and $1,000 a day until company representatives return to the PSC for the review.
- Montana's Economy is Strong. And Spur Studio Is Proud To Be Part of It.
"What really impresses me is that you step up, under pressure, without so much as a whimper - no complaints - no drama. You cannot know how much that is appreciated!...You have amazing artistic talent, but what's even better is your ability to work "on the move" with our team, making our every wish your command." - John Rogers, Chief Business Development Officer, State of Montana
- Uber's future in Helena questioned; about 15 car inspections completed so far
Though several Helenans are already preparing their vehicles to be Uber drivers, some of the community's existing transportation providers are questioning whether there will be enough local business to support them.
- Out-of-town investors take interest in Butte real estate
Mike McLeod of McLeod Realtors said several of his buyers were Butte natives who wanted to retire in their hometown. "They realize this is a pretty good spot to be," said McLeod.
- Congratulations to Montana's Submittable - The United States Of Startups: The Most Well-Funded Tech Startup In Every US State
Using CB Insights data, we analyzed the most well-funded startups by state based on disclosed equity funding.
- 'NO EXCUSE' - St. Vincent rolls out Doctor on Demand for smartphone, tablet visits
It's a national service with doctors licensed to now serve patients in 14 states after it partnered with St. Vincent Healthcare parent organization SCL Health to bring it to its facilities in Montana and Colorado.
- Missoula Fresh Market offers healthy opportunity - free fruit for kids under 12
Met with positive community response, Fresh Market has a basket by the doors offering a tasty, and healthy, treat for kids under 12.
MSU Leadership Institute & UM Global Leadership Initiative
- MEDA News for February 2016
Start your Monday and the month of February by taking a quick peek at MEDA News for February .
- All Are Invited - 2016 MT Ambassador Annual Conference "Working Better Together For Montana", 3/10-11, Great Falls
Montana Ambassador Conference planners are working to assemble a dynamic two day conference dedicated to the theme: Working Better Together for Montana. Montana is a big state with wide open spaces and limited resources. It is essential that we make the connections to work better together to influence Montana's economy - now and in the future.
Careers
- MSU Leadership Institute Presents Human Rights Activist Kelly Matheson, 3/8, Bozeman, Montana
"Matheson is a powerful beacon of human rights advocacy, shining a light and exposing truths we often do not see," said Carmen McSpadden, director of the MSU Leadership Institute http://www.montana.edu/leadership/ .
Rural Communities
- How to Use Your Soft Skills to Make a Hard Difference
In terms of what, exactly, constitutes the realm of soft skills, the best summation is anything that has to do with interactions between yourself and others.
- Thanks to tech, it's time to telecommute
Skyping into meetings for face-to-face communication is becoming commonplace for many businesses.
Government
- Robert Scoble - Here's how small-town America is primed to beat Silicon Valley in innovation
Yes, Silicon Valley has traditionally come to places like this and convinced innovators and companies to come to San Francisco area to build their technologies. Heck, just this week Apple grabbed a computer science professor out of Blacksburg to work on its AR/VR efforts.
- People on the Land: USDA Initiative Encourages Regional Cooperation
A new program at USDA is designed to reward communities that learn to work together on regional development.
Idaho Business
- Why the U.S. Needs A New, Tech-Driven Growth Strategy
America needs a four-point investment strategy designed to increase long-term productivity growth. This is the only way to achieve steady increases in the standard of living.
Incubators and R&D
- Mindfulness mania strikes Boise with a message: Ignore that Facebook alert and focus
The goal of mindfulness, the attendees were told, is to quiet noise so you can focus on the task at hand, be it performing your job or giving full attention to your spouse or the store clerk talking to you.
Oregon Business
- Montana State University team awarded Keck Foundation grant to study extreme Yellowstone microbes
The foundation awarded the grant for collaborative work in MSU's interdisciplinary Thermal Biology Institute (TBI), led by Brent Peyton, a professor of chemical and biological engineering.
Regional Business
- Young Techies Rush to Portland, Alter City's Image
A new study of migrants moving into Oregon from other states shows an unusually high number of them are young and that they tend to be well educated, especially in technical fields. That runs against the popular image of TV's "Portlandia" - a slacker who drifts into the city for a part time job slinging espresso.
- Precision Castparts' $37 billion sale is final: It's now in Warren Buffett's hands
It's not only Oregon's largest deal ever: It's Buffett's biggest takeover, too.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- "We make the laws, and when we do so, we make them in a way that is advantageous to the lawyers."
See what happens when hidden cameras capture New York lawyers being asked to move highly questionable funds into the U.S. Steve Kroft reports on CBS's 60 Minutes.
- President Obama Aims To Close The Wage Gap With A New Proposal For Salary Transparency
There is a trend, particularly among smaller businesses and tech startups, to make their wage data open to all staff members.
Education
- Australian Schools Brought Back Greek and Latin - and Are Seeing Amazing Results!
A program that borrows from the classics is giving pupils who have fallen behind their classmates a huge boost in deciphering English and even helping with maths and science.
- President Obama Pledges $4 Billion to Computer Science in US Schools
Under the president's plan, the Department of Education will divide the $4 billion over three years to states that propose well-designed five-year plans to increase computer science access in classrooms.
- Today's TED Talk A delightful way to teach kids about computers
Imagine a world where the Ada Lovelaces of tomorrow grow up to be optimistic and brave about technology and use it to create a new world that is wonderful, whimsical and a tiny bit weird.
Montana Education Excellence
- 'What passes for acceptable school choice rhetoric is frightening'
The Humphrey School's event was billed as "bipartisan," but I quickly realized how thoroughly that word has become cover for groupthink. If both Democrats and Republicans support the dismantling of our public institutions, then shouldn't you, too?
- Free college programs could be around the corner
Free college is not just a pipe dream in this country.
- Nation's prominent public universities are shifting to out-of-state students
Forty-three of the 50 schools known as "state flagships" enrolled a smaller share of freshmen from within their states in 2014 than they had a decade earlier, federal data show.
- Idaho results show that in many cases, virtual education doesn't deliver
It appears part of the problem is one of the state's supposed education "solutions" - its virtual schooling, which it has outsourced to a corporation with a controversial record of elevating profits over teaching.
- $100 million software system for community colleges so flawed it will need millions more to fix
A $100 million computer software system for Washington's 34 community colleges is so far behind schedule and operating so poorly that it will likely cost another $10 million before it's installed in all schools.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana university commissioner vows to improve accounting
The commissioner's office that runs the Montana University System and oversees $429 million a year plans to change some accounting practices after the Legislative Audit Division found three areas where it wasn't following the law.
- Missoula's Loyola Sacred Heart High School wins 33rd straight speech and debate title, believed to be national record
"I think we have to work as hard as everyone else. I think that we prepare the best." Bailey Strader
Community
- $2M endowment donated to UM to fund Dean's Chair at the School of Business Administration
They say their support will ensure the school will be able to recruit an exceptional candidate to replace Larry Gianchetta who is retiring in June after 25 years serving as dean.
Funding and Building your Business
- Big Sky Crowded: Growth, density and the future of the Gallatin Valley
Since 1990, annual population growth in the Bozeman area has averaged 2.8 percent -- doubling the number of souls in the region in only a quarter century.
Connectivity & Communications
- How Google And Twitter Train Their Employees To Be More Mindful
Leaders at some of the largest tech companies are trying to fix the biggest problem of the century: not enough time in the day.
- Why You Need to Hire More Wrestlers and Soccer Players
Find out if your candidate played a sport at a high level in high school, college, or beyond. If they did, they may just be who you are looking for. Let me explain.
- Funding 101 for entrepreneurs
Q: I have terrible credit and yet it is my dream to start a business. Am I just out of luck? Are there any programs for folks like me? -- WK
- Have a great idea? Here's how to make it actually happen
In "Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World," Grant examines how people with groundbreaking ideas make them happen.
- Let It Go: What You Need to Know About Selling Your Small Business
Regardless of how you feel, it's important that you understand how the sale process works.
- Let It Go: What You Need to Know About Selling Your Small Business
Regardless of how you feel, it's important that you understand how the sale process works.
- 8 Reasons To Incorporate Your New Company Early
Overall, the formalities of setting up the right business entity in the right timeframe for your new idea are just as critical to your ultimate success as building the right product.
GIS Technology
- 9 Skype Alternatives Worth Considering
While perhaps the most common software for voice and video chats, Skype is not the only service available to people who want to connect with colleagues across the country or friends around the world.
- Google Fiber may be looking to add phone services
Google Fiber is sending out invitations to an experimental telephone service for some of its high-speed Internet subscribers, according to two people who have received the invitation.
- Alaska's Outrageous Internet Overcharger; Customers Paying Up to $1,200 in Overlimit Fees
Nearly 10 percent of GCI's revenue is now earned from overlimit fees collected from Alaskan broadband customers who exceed their cable or wireless usage limits.
Non-Profit News
- 2016 Intermountain GIS Conference, 4/4-7, Great Falls, Montana
The Intermountain GIS Conference is the largest GIS community event in Montana
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Nonprofits pay women leaders less than men
"There's a tendency to think of the nonprofit sector as a warm and fuzzy thing, different than the for-profit sector, but the nonprofit sector reflects for-profit, especially on this issue."
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Making art pay: Montana Artrepreneur Program returns to the Bitterroot
"I Googled it and found out that it's huge. My training helped me look beyond the immediacy of what I was doing and branch out."
Cool Stuff That's ComingTransportation
- Microsoft Testing Underwater Data Centers
Microsoft has unveiled details on a project to deploy data centers underwater, in a bid to reduce one of the biggest energy costs in data centers -- air conditioning.
- World's First 'Robot Run' Farm to Open
Robot-obsessed Japan has repeatedly turned to automated workers to fill labour shortages that are projected to get worse as the country rapidly ages.
- Tesla's Model III goes 320km per charge and costs $35,000
This is the one we've been waiting for.
- Tesla Model S autopilot will 'revolutionize your commute,' company says
These are building blocks to technology that will allow cars to drive themselves without human intervention, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said.
- Urban Engines Maps - Transit Agencies Can Now Test New Routes in a Virtual World
A group of former Google engineers and Stanford researchers founded Urban Engines and released an app it calls Urban Engines Maps.
- Solving a Problem with Data: Researchers Build System to Protect Roads in the Spring
Using near-real-time data collection, researchers are demonstrating a way to improve states' ability to protect brittle roads from heavy vehicles at the end of winter.
- Great Falls lands direct flight to Chicago
United Airlines began selling tickets Saturday night for direct flights from Great Falls to Chicago, the partners in the Great Falls Low Cost Airline Initiative announced.
- Ever wonder how a Tesla is made?
Robots and robots and robots....
- The future of autonomous driving - backing up
For all you folks who think you can back up a trailer...
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