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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Nov 18, 2005 |
"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone." -- G.B. Stern
In keeping with Gertrude's thoughts (above) how about a shout out to some exceptional folks in Montana: Rob and Terry - http://www.matr.net/article-16913.html , Jakki - http://www.matr.net/article-16952.html , Troy and Patricia - http://www.matr.net/article-16935.html , and Dick - http://www.matr.net/article-16951.html You can add your congratulations in the comments section of each posting. It's the least we can do for these outstanding individuals. Russ Also, there's an excellent new site for all you entrepreneurs - "The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has created a Web site for growth-oriented entrepreneurs." http://www.matr.net/article-16971.html
Come Home Montana
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Featured "Come Home Montana" Community~FORSYTH
Forsyth's vision is to be a vibrant well-kept community that: Supports family values; Fulfills economic, educational and social needs; and Provides a "HOMETOWN" quality of life.
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Career ~ Quality Assurance Analyst
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Talent - Desired Field: Microbiologist
Education
- First-Ever Montana Entrepreneur University SOLD OUT and a Great Success!
Entrepreneurs from Kalispell, Sunburst, Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Ennis, Superior, Helena, Whitefish, and the Crow Agency were among the 75 who attended Montana Entrepreneur University
- Montana State University-Billings (Congratulations to Troy Fix and his Professor Patricia Holman!) and Baldwin-Wallace College Win Entrepreneurship Challenge; 319 Business Student Teams Worldwide Compete Online, 12 Winners Announced
“This Challenge is an effective way for these students to apply everything they have learned and to hone their skills before they begin working with real businesses,” said Dan Smith, president of Management Simulations, Inc. and a professor at DePaul University, Chicago. “The Challenge participants list grows year after year because it places every student and every school at the same starting gates and the best team wins. Some students even use the rankings in this competition as a resume booster because it shows competency and drive.
- NFIB begins scouting for young entrepreneurs - Scholarships available
Small business always has been and always will be the backbone of the American economy, and I am proud of the investment we are making in tomorrow's businessmen and businesswomen.
- The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has created a Web site for growth-oriented entrepreneurs.
"Busy entrepreneurs don't have any time to waste looking for answers to pressing problems that affect their business," observed William H. Payne, an angel investor and a Kauffman entrepreneur-in-residence. "We believe they'll like the fact that all the information on the site has been vetted by a trusted, unbiased source."
Montana Business
- Kansas, Where "Ignorant" is the New "Educated"
"This is a sad day. We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world, and I hate that,"
- No money for college? One town's reply. A scholarship for every high school graduate.
'The Kalamazoo Promise' will foot the bill at any public university in Michigan for local high school graduates.
- Rob and Terry Ryan found STARS, "Science & Technology At ouR Schools". Donate dream classrooms in biology, chemistry and physics to the Hamilton, Montana School District
Ultimately the goal is to provide exceptional laboratory experiences that will inspire student interest for greater exploration in science and engineering and increase the number of students entering this career field.
- America The Uneducated
The prospects for U.S. education levels are a lot like global warming. Since erosion occurs gradually, it's easy to ignore. But if the U.S. doesn't pay more attention, everything from its competitiveness to its standard of living could sink.
- As teens embrace blogs, schools sound an alarm
Despite efforts by schools to discipline students and train them in safe and sound Net usage, parents need to get involved. Some tips:
- Changing Idaho State University's culture: Gallagher: ‘It's better to be reined in than kicked in the butt'
“I think if the university community hears news from the newspaper or television, I'm not doing my job,” he said. “We're not waiting for a whisper in someone's ear.”
- BRASS (Biomedical Research After School Scholars) program inspires young scientists in Hamilton, Montana
The goals of the program include stimulating interest in life sciences, providing scientist role models with whom students can identify, promoting scientific literacy, and encouraging students to seek careers in science.
- From Textbooks to Tech Books - No more pencils, no more books ...
"The plan is for each student to use the same laptop for four years."
- Affordable Option - Indiana finds open source software is key to making one-to-one student/computer initiative a reality.
Indiana is so focused on the future of its technology initiative that when some companies offered free technology, the state turned them down.
- How to reinvent higher education.
What should undergraduates leave college knowing?
- Arts vying for a place in school day - NGA Chairman Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) leading the charge
Raising standards in arts education is a primary goal of Huckabee’s term as chairman of the Education Commission of the States, a nonpartisan interstate compact on education.
- University of Montana's Dr. Jakki Mohr Earns Montana's Top Professor of the Year Title
"This is truly a great honor and befitting of a great teacher and scholar such as Jakki. Jakki has always been a great professor; the Carnegie Foundation just got around to recognizing that!" Dr. Nader Shooshtari
- Negroponte: Laptop for Every Kid
If tech luminary Nicholas Negroponte has his way, the pale light from rugged, hand-cranked $100 laptops will illuminate homes in villages and townships throughout the developing world, and give every child on the planet a computer of their own by 2010.
Montana Economic Development
- TransAria Communications of Montana Implements New Software That Strengthens Its Platform's VoIP Capabilities
The service allows enterprises of any size to significantly reduce their telecommunications expenses by shifting from leased T1 circuits to transporting voice over packet networks.
- Rocky Mountain Technology Group, Inc. (RMTG) (Billings, Montana) Establishes New Standard for Digital Management of HIV/AIDS Programs
“This product is the most advanced and complete system in the world for helping medical professionals focus and coordinate their efforts to combat this deadly disease,” said Harvey Stewart, RMTG’s President & Chief Executive Officer.
- Craig Flint of Computer ER, Inc.|CERNetworks (Missoula) Invited to Attend the CRN Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Santa Clara, CA
Computer ER, Inc.|CERNetworks help businesses achieve growth through cost-effective, managed IT services. We work with business owners to maximize IT benefits by establishing fixed cost for network and desktop support, reducing the amount spent on more expensive reactive support.
Funding and Building your Business
- Small-Town Shops Bulk Up on the Web
Indeed, besides generating sales for giants like Amazon, the Internet is allowing small stores, here and around the country, to develop the niche products that shield them against big-box retailers.
- Boom and Bust—Not Those Bumper Stickers, Again! Jack Schultz of "Boomtown USA" comments on Sidney, Montana
If I were developing a plan for them, I would concentrate on the development of entrepreneurs and infrastructure for the region.
- Glendive gaining more local support for Dinosaur Trail
“All it is is attitude,” Christie Bury emphasized. “If we have a positive attitude, things will happen.”
- How badly does Missoula need DirecTV? Cost-benefit analysis - jobs would start at around $9 per hour
"I think the community does not recognize that it's dealing with problems associated with growth...they don't see that the inevitable result of jobs creation is more traffic on North Reserve, a tighter housing market, and higher rents," says UM Professor and economist Richard Barrett. "When people move in to take advantage [of new jobs], whatever kinds of advantages are created by the new conditions get...eroded by the influx of people."
- Report: Many Montana jobs pay below living wage- $9.07 an hour for a single adult
Using those figures, the average single adult in Montana needs to earn $18,858 a year, or $9.07 an hour, to have a living wage. A worker with one child needs to make $30,964 a year, or $14.89 an hour.
- Arts Foundation gets $25,000 - Five other groups also receive economic development money
“This is kind of money that jump-starts some projects and hopefully they become self-sustained,”
- U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
A trail from Missoula, Montana to the Pacific Ocean, to provide for the public appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of the nationally significant natural and cultural features of the Ice Age Floods and to promote efforts to interpret and educate along the pathways of the floods.
Government Technology
- Peter Drucker's Legacy: It's All About the People
"Successful enterprises create the conditions to allow their employees to do their best work." Peter Drucker
- Intellections
- Does your company have an identity crisis?
Can you summarize your corporation’s story in a few sentences? Does it possess a well-known identity with customers, key stakeholders, and the general public? What's your "elevator pitch"?
- Diversity in a Global Economy -- Ways Some Firms Get It Right
Something dramatically different, however, is happening at a select group of corporations with the broadest global reach.
- Small Business: What investors look for in a plan
Although you definitely need a business plan to find investors, your plan alone–no matter how good it is–isn't enough to attract investors.
- What Skills Are Netting Big Bucks for CIOs?
"You can feel that people are stressed out and chomping at the bit to leave when the economy gets better, which gives me mixed feelings about whether I want the economy to improve."
- Why your Business Plan should just be a PowerPoint
David Cowan of Bessemer Venture Partners has some great advice on why Business Plans – at least those presented to VCs – should be in PowerPoint format.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Is an LLC the right structure for a new business?
Big-concept entrepreneurs seeking angel or venture funding should just organize a C corporation. Multiple rounds of venture funding often involve the issuance of several classes of common and preferred stock -- which is easily handled in a C corporation structure.
Idaho Business
- Papers Please - The Real ID Act: A national ID card in disguise? Or necessary 21st-century security?
Just what is it about this law that has people up in arms, claiming everything from police state to fascism to a sign of the apocalypse? What good, if any, will the Real ID Act accomplish?
- Idaho Launches Mobile State Web Portal
People with phone and Internet-enabled mobile devices have the added ability of searching, clicking, and calling any state employee without dialing. mobile.idaho.gov also incorporates the state's new Google-powered search engine and provides text alternatives for PDF links.
- Department of Administration Director, Janet Kelly Announces New CIO for the State of Montana - Richard (Dick) Clark
"I look forward to working with Dick in facing the unique challenges of planning and delivering high quality technology services to Montana citizens and state agencies in an ever-changing technology environment."
- Tennessee Gov. Bredesen Announces New State Resource for Businesses
The Tennessee One-Stop Business Resource (OSBR) combines the governor's focus on technology innovation and improved customer service and will offer a secure online service on the official State of Tennessee web site that allows new businesses to process applications with multiple state agencies.
Washington State Business
- Idaho workforce group takes aim at reviving vo-tech
On Tuesday at Buck Knives, Nilson, owner of Ground Force Manufacturing in Post Falls and leader of the loose-knit North Idaho Manufacturing Consortium, helped bring together about 60 educational and business leaders and legislators to consider improving vocational-technical programs to meet the need for skilled workers.
- Man held in scam that cost 20 people $1 million - Some prominent entrepreneurs among victims
The victims were highly accomplished businessmen, including financial advisers and "owners of corporations" and each lost anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000, Iverson said.
- MPC lays off 27 because of fall sales slowdown
"It really is a small restructuring to guarantee our expense structure is in line with the business outlook for the fourth quarter and heading into 2006,"
Other Economies
- Venture Capital: A new breed of Internet startups is here. A look at three Seattle-area 'Web 2.0' companies
The latest buzzword in the technology industry can be a little tough to define. Interactive Web sites that tap the knowledge of users? Collaborative technologies for small teams? Software delivered over the Internet as a service?
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- Iowa should invest in manufacturing, technology jobs, consultants say
"We have to focus on what we're uniquely able to do,"
- Legislators ‘Invest’ in Wisconsin
The bill would open the door for professors at the state’s universities to “market the technology that they develop, and then it allows the university to more ably retain those professors that are developing cutting-edge technology,”
Incubators and R&DUniversity TechTransfer
- BSU professor will help with airplane safety
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration were at BSU Wednesday to dedicate the school's new research center, which is officially called the FAA Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research.
- Montana State University President Geoff Gamble to hire expert to look into students' concerns with research costs
"We are a research university," Gamble said, that is unique in placing a high priority on both research and teaching.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- ASU Catalyst Fund helping to push technology into the marketplace
"We want this to be an evergreen fund that replenishes itself," he said. "If the technology is commercialized, we will get our investment back."
Careers
- Montana State University College of Business is Coming to Your Town for an "Alumni Town Meeting"
Designed to allow our alumni the opportunity to meet with other College of Business graduates in the area, the Town Meetings have been a successful way for us to bring our story to different parts of the state.
Non-Profit News
- Nine Business Insights from Time CEO Ann Moore, Plus the Mix-and-Match Women
Our daughters have read too much Dilbert, and have become convinced that what [business women] are doing is not creative, that we work in these little cubicles, that it is a terrible life. We have not communicated that [careers] can be rich and wonderful.... Business is going to be in trouble if this generation is determined not to follow in our footsteps."
- Words that Score On a Resume And Open Doors to Interviews
...include the words "manage," "leadership," "teamwork" and "motivate."
Energy
- Glacier Fund gives $182,000 to Glacier National Park.
"We try to meet some of the needs that aren't funded," said Jan Metzmaker of the Glacier Fund http://www.glacierfund.org/. "There's a pretty big wish list up in the park."
Connectivity & Communications
- Zoot Enterprises of Bozeman calls fuel cells flawed- The first Montana company attempting commercial use of hydrogen fuel cells
"Our whole purpose in obtaining the fuel cells was achieving grid independence, but every time the grid went down, they went down,"
Transportation
- Google to kick off database venture
Expected to be available today, Google Base has the potential to make instantly available a vast sea of content including — but not limited to — recipes, job listings, photos, DNA sequences, real-estate listings and individual standalone databases.
- Cherish the newsprint on your thumbs
Who wants to read the news online?" Apparently a lot of people do - just about everyone under 30.
- Help Choose the Best Independent Tech Blog of 2005
Now, it's time to let your voice be heard. Cast your vote for the top Independent Tech Blog.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Commuters leave driving to the state
“They have been a tremendous service for us,” she said. “It’s just a tremendous relief to leave the driving to someone else.”
- Blood Vessels Grown From Skin
Two kidney dialysis patients from Argentina have received the world's first blood vessels grown in a laboratory dish from snippets of their own skin, a technique that doctors hope will someday offer a new source of arteries and veins for diabetics and other patients.
- The food you eat may change your genes for life
IT SOUNDS like science fiction: simply swallowing a pill, or eating a specific food supplement, could permanently change your behaviour for the better, or reverse diseases such as schizophrenia, Huntington's or cancer.
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