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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Jun 1, 2007 |
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A very self-important college freshman, attending a football game, took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen sitting next to him why it was impossible for the older generation to understand his generation. "You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one," the student said, loud enough for many of those nearby to hear. "The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with DSL, light-speed processing . . . and," pausing to take another drink of beer. The Senior took advantage of the break in the student's litany and said, "You're right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young, . . so we invented them. Now, you arrogant little twit, what are YOU doing for the next generation?"
Great resource for entrepreneurs or companies looking for new technology to commercialize. "Technologies Available for Licensing from Montana State University" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- If you already have a great company that just needs funding, here's an excellent opportunity to present to key funding sources. "Call for Presenting Companies, Venture Capitalists, and Angels for the Big Sky Venture Capital Conference, 8/23-24, Big Sky, Montana" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Boomtown Institute
Come Home Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Education - Get It!
"The most commonly cited culprits for the income inequality in America - outsourcing, immigration and the gains of the superrich - are diversions from the main issue. Instead, the problem is largely one of (a lack of) education."
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - IT Analyst - 360 Networks
The IT Analyst is responsible for providing support on a variety of applications/platforms under the supervision of more senior level analysts.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Computer Network Technician - Computer Geex, Inc.
Computer Geex, Inc., is an IT consulting and professional services company, seeking an individual to join our team as a Network Technician.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Littlest entrepreneurs turn lemons into lemonade
Can entrepreneurship be taught?
Montana Ambassadors
- Hometown Competitiveness as a model for rural communities
“Youth want to return to the community, but perceive a lack of opportunity,” Wall said. “With a large percentage of youth interested in staying or returning to the area, there is a great opportunity to work with them in creating opportunities that will help them act on this. Entrepreneurship education, meaningful youth community engagement and adult support could help shift this perspective,” he said.
- Silicon Valley Execs Optimistic but Housing a Challenge. Where to expand next a growing question.
Helping to create affordable housing is the most important action the state government can take to improve the local business climate, according to 65 percent of the CEOs surveyed.
Montana Education Excellence
- Montana Ambassadors schmooze business prospects at Seattle event.
The volunteer Montana Ambassadors are dedicated to living and doing business in Montana and furthering the best interests of the state.
Education
- MSU-Great Falls building a program for builders
Great Falls area contractors and labor reps are tickled that the change is coming but wish the eager young workers were available sooner — like yesterday.
- Technologies Available for Licensing from Montana State University
MSU has been designated as one of only 94 research institutions in the nation with “very high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
- Entrepreneurs from High School to 4th Grade Excel in Montana
This is the first of a series of stories about student entrepreneurs. Before graduating from high school this week, several seniors have launched creative and successful businesses in a variety of fields, including landscaping, baking and Web design.
- Manhattan Christian students take global honors
The object of Destination Imagination is to use problem-solving skills on a large-scale task that students work on from September until about March. This year the Manhattan Christian students gave a presentation on the properties of light, which featured props, skits and science-fair type exhibits.
- University of Montana students biking across state to learn about energy issues. "Cycle Montana: Energy Alternatives for a New Century,"
"Montana is a great destination to show the current state of energy use and the future options, and also the impacts of climate change," said Dave Morris, a WRFI instructor and one of the course leaders. "And traveling by bike demonstrates that you can transport without fossil fuels, and the pace lets you see landscapes and really interact with people."
- University of Montana's high-tech guru Jakki Mohr honored
Well-known at UM for her up-to-the-minute classes in high-tech marketing, Mohr has been named UM’s Most Inspirational Teacher and Distinguished Scholar of the Year.
- Computer Savvy - High School Entrepreneurs in Montana
In less than a decade, Brandon Norick has learned at least three languages.
- Pay dirt - High School Entrepreneurs excel in Montana
Stillwater Christian senior Tyler Heine is building a sod business of his own, from the ground up
- Deer Lodge teacher, Linda Palmer picked to help develop curriculum. "Water is Gold"
“Water is as valuable as gold,” Palmer said. “We need to teach respect for water especially in light of the pollution in Cottonwood Creek and the Arco cleanup sites.”
Montana Business
- Rural Disadvantaged Middle School Kids
"As is most often the case, social-economic status (represented by parents level of education), middle school grades, and sometimes urbanicity or geographic region can affect their chances for success."
- Putting His Wealth to Work To Improve Urban Schools - Eli Broad and "Strong American Schools"
Can Eli Broad succeed in his campaign to help America's schools shed years of bad management practices and avoid the pitfalls of divisive community politics?
- A Bush Brother Spreads His Vision of Computerized Teaching Programs "Ignite! Learning"
“Middle schools use 19th-century technologies to teach 21st-century kids,” he said. “Textbooks honestly have failed middle school children. They rely on children’s ability to read, and they’re boring.”
- The Condition of Education 2007
The current state of U.S. education shows both promises and challenges.
- If Steve Ballmer were governor of Washington State, education would be the focus
If Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer were in charge of Washington state, shoring up education would be a higher priority even than easing the commute to Redmond.
Montana Economic Development
- Montana Air guard looking for employers to hire the best and brightest
"We need employers in this area to hire our folks so that they can remain with our unit," said Capt. Jeff Pepke of MANG.
- Two Hi-Line men reach agreement with state in securities fraud case
“Fraud is a serious matter and deceptive business people need to know that Montana has zero tolerance for fraudulent dealings.” John Morrison, Montana State Auditor
Funding and Building your Business
- Call for Presenting Companies, Venture Capitalists, and Angels for the Big Sky Venture Capital Conference, 8/23-24, Big Sky, Montana
“The VC conference at Big Sky helped me a lot in the fact that I could learn what it takes to get funding at any level."
- Montana Department of Commerce Awards $700,000 in Funding to Pondera County & Intercontinental Truck Body
"A fruitful economy starts with a well trained workforce and good paying jobs," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "These grant awards are tools to strengthen both the workforce and economy of Pondera County."
- Montana World Trade Center E-NEWS
- Sen. Max Baucus Announces New General Electric Facility to Open in Montana- Result of the Montana Economic Summit discussions
“Max has been promoting Montana as a great place to do business for years,” said Jeffrey Bornstein, vice president and CFO, GE Commercial Finance. “And we agree. That’s why we’re excited to expand our operations and provide a new facility and jobs for Montanans. Montana has great universities, a high quality of life and a tremendous work ethic."
- the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, The University of Montana Newsletter - June - July 2007
According to the U.S. Census Bureau persons with progressively higher educations generally attain progressively higher earnings.
- Butte, Montana develops Hong Kong economic connection
“We are the second-largest trade partner with the U.S.
Legislative Newsletters
- The Art of 'Ware, a Reinterpretation of The Art of War
Basically, Webster applied Sun Tzu’s work to creating and marketing IT products.
- Advisory Board Members Needed by Montana Startups. Do you have an interest?
If you're interested in assisting a Montana company by joining its advisory board, please let me know your areas of interest and your goals in participating.
- Businessman describes 7 traits of successes
Hall said statistics indicate that "knowing customers" means spending half of the business day with them.
- In Your Face! 10 Crazy Marketing Stunts
Marketing is a process, not an event; you have to think marketing all the time.
- How to Research Your Business Idea
Your brilliant idea may indeed be brilliant--or it may need some work. Here's how to find out whether you're ready for startup.
- The New VC Way? Y Combinator and others think tiny investments in startups is the wave of the future.
David Cohen, executive director at TechStars, calls the new financing model “the professionalization of angel investing.”
Regional Economic Development
- Congressman Denny Rehberg E-Update -- March 2007
"Moving inadequate funds between various budgets is only rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Utah Economic Development
- Railroads, Eastern Washington, Warren Buffet and Connecting the Dots
That means Buffet now owns a 10.9 percent stake in BNSF.
- Brainpower called key to prosperity - Area must invest in learning, innovation, economic study says
"Leadership in innovation is essential to U.S. prosperity and security,"
- SBA now is focusing on rural America
Only 10 months into the job, the leader of the U.S. Small Business Administration is having the agency concentrate on pushing its programs into communities with high unemployment and poverty rates, many of them in rural areas.
Government Technology
- Business incubator planned in Brigham, Utah
Within five years, USU hopes to have similar community innovation centers at sites in Tooele, Uinta Basin, Snow College and the College of Eastern Utah, Chandler said.
Idaho Business
- Keys to Technology Success: Management, Leadership
When it comes to solving the problems of state and local governments and delivering services to citizens, technology isn’t the answer.
Government
- Albertson Foundation giving $10 million for new Idaho CC
The new school will be located in Nampa at the current site of Boise State University's satellite campus west of Boise.
Incubators and R&D
- Running A Better Public Meeting
If public participation is a goal, local government should work harder to make public hearings more user-friendly.
University TechTransfer
- R&D Research at U.S. Universities up by Nearly Six Percent.
During the past five years, only a handful of states have shifted rankings by more than one position either up or down.
- Idaho State University researchers use virtual reality to boost training
Researchers at Idaho State University are working on a virtual reality computer world they hope will eventually help emergency services professionals prepare for catastrophes.
- $1M grant to help Montana State University scientists make hydrogen fuel
“It's stunning, a fantastic validation of what we've been doing,”
Careers
- University turns to the public to help fund tech innovation
The pot of funding would help the university's tech transfer office do work such as building a prototype or conducting market research to prove a patented idea worthy of formal investing and licensing, ultimately easing the process of spinning out promising young companies.
Energy
- Five Approaches That Don't Work With the CEO
Don't fall too far into one of these roles when pitching ideas to C-level executives.
- How to Pinpoint Accomplishments That Will Make Your Resume Shine
1. Ditch the modesty.
Connectivity & Communications
- Earth nears tipping point on climate change
A rise of 1 degree Celsius could be enough to trigger 'dangerous' warming, scientists warn.
- Carbon Tax Vs. Carbon Trading. A carbon tax is the best, cheapest and most efficient way to combat cataclysmic climate change.
L.A. Times editorial compares carbon taxes and carbon trading schemes and argues that carbon taxes are the best way to combat global warming.
- The Coal Trap
There is a rule for judging solutions to the twin problems of energy dependence and global warming: A policy designed to solve one problem should not make the other worse.
Transportation
- Google's Web developer day (Thursdy 5-31)- emphasizes 'mash-ups'
The aim: To entice the folks who create websites to add Google goodies to their pages, giving the Internet powerhouse even more exposure for features including Google Maps, spreadsheets, documents and calendars.
- Authorities apprehend Internet 'spam king'
"Spam is a scourge of the Internet, and Robert Soloway is one of its most prolific practitioners,"
Community
- Horizon Air cuts short-route fares up to 76 percent
Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group Inc., has cut fares by as much as 76 percent on several short flights in Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Northern California.
Leadership Montana
- New Guide for Creating Livable Communities for All Ages
“Each day, decisions affecting residents’ ability to age successfully in their communities are made by housing officials, transportation planners, planning and zoning specialists, parks and recreation officials, and economic development leaders.”
- Auto dealer, Karl Tyler Chevrolet pitches in to help Missoul mass transit effort
“We all know what a great place we have here and we want to keep it that way,” Earle said of ongoing efforts to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution. He also acknowledged that it’s another good way to convert area residents into bus users.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- How to Differentiate Yourself as a Leader
Five steps to developing a strategy to excel in increasing productivity, retaining talent and recruiting those who will be a good fit.
- Microsoft is "setting the table" for computing
On Microsoft's Surface laptop, people can "grab" and stretch digital photos using their hands, not a mouse. They can order prints, make postcards and so on. Analyst Roger Kay says, "I try not to gush too much. I think this is a really big deal."
- Google Maps Goes 3-D
Google today announced two significant upgrades to Google Maps—a photorealistic three-dimensional “Street View” service, and a “Mapplet” application that allows layering of user-generated maps.
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