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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Mar 8, 2011 |
"The problem with quotes on the internet today is that you can never be certain they're authentic." 〜 Abraham Lincoln
"Mapping the Nation's Well-Being: Montana in Top Rank - You Should Be Here Building Your Business and Living Your Dream" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "New West Festival Seeks Entrepreneurs Test your elevator pitch with a venture capitalist during our conference May 5-6 in Missoula" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "Ignite Missoula- Are You Ready For 5 Minutes In The Spotlight? We're accepting entries, Date TBD, Missoula, Montana" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Kamut International of Missoula Honored as Montana's 2010 Exporter of the Year
Kamut International http://www.kamut.com/ was selected to receive the Governor's Excellence in Exporting Award for its success in exporting Montana wheat products.
Highway 12 Ventures
- Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs
Bored in school, failing classes, at odds with peers: This child might be an entrepreneur, says Cameron Herold.
- TED 2011: The Khan Academy - How a Hedge-Fund Manager became Isaac Newton to provide a new way for students to learn math and science.
The Khan Academy http://www.khanacademy.org/ , which he launched with a small team of software developers, has more than 2,000 videos on math, science and economics but now also offers accompanying online lessons that use an interactive approach to allow students to learn at their own pace and stick with problems they find difficult until they master them.
- Knocking schools: Do critics, big foundations have tunnel vision? - Why Pre-Natal to Pre-K Education is so very important yet still neglected.
Students in U.S. schools where the poverty rate was less than 10% ranked first in reading, first in science and third in math. When the poverty rate was 10 to 25%, U.S. students still ranked first in reading and science. But as the poverty rate rose higher still, students ranked lower and lower. Twenty percent of all U.S. schools have poverty rates over 75% . . . And as dozens of studies have shown, the gap in cognitive, physical and social development between children in poverty and middle-class children is set by age three.
- What Is a Liberal Education? And Why Is It Important to My Future?
Ideal for use in first-year and transfer student orientation, first-year seminars, academic advising, admissions, high school planning and career counseling.
- Success measurable in quality early (ages 3 and 4) education programs
Serving between 350 to 450 three- and four-year-old students each year (including those with special needs and those identified as limited English proficient), the independent evaluation of PERK found that in both the spring of 2009 and 2010, children made significant gains in receptive language skills and knowledge of upper case letters have increased.
- Educators use mobile apps to make coursework relevant
Educators are asking students to create programs that address real-life problems, often through handy, smartphone-ready apps. It's a break from traditional coursework such as sorting lists of numbers or re-creating programs that already exist.
- Parents: Partners in success
We are all in this together; we are all on the same team.
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group
- Focus, Filter and Forget - Hi, my name is George and I am a recovering multi-tasker.
I went through a period thinking that the answer was to become a more effective multi-tasker. Wrong answer.
- CEOs: Want More Productive Board Meetings?
Try it and you'll find that your board meetings start resembling the windshield instead of the rear view mirror...
MSU Leadership Institute
- Blackfoot Education Technology Conference; Building Human Connections in a Digital World, 8/2-5, Missoula, Montana
This year's Education Technology Conference (ETC) for rural teachers and administrators will focus on using technology tools in the classroom to build relationships with students, peers, mentors, the community and the world.
- Blackfoot eNewsletter: Education Technology Conference 2011
We have some very exciting news! Registration is now open at http://www.blackfoot.com/etc! In this e-newsletter, meet our keynote speaker, Wesley Fryer, and see what our other top-notch speakers are talking about!
Visit Montana
- Tom Brokaw Talks Media with Montana State University Exponent Editor-in-Chief
"You're in for a real ride," Brokaw said.
Come Home Montana
- Montana Guitar Workshop & Yamaha Six String Theory Guitar Competition, 8-28/ 9-4, Bigfork, Montana
Back by popular demand, Lee Ritenour has announced the launch of the second annual Yamaha Six String Theory Guitar Competition, in partnership with the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation and the National Guitar Workshop.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Mapping the Nation's Well-Being: Montana in Top Rank - You Should Be Here Building Your Business and Living Your Dream
For the last three years, Gallup has called 1,000 randomly selected American adults each day and asked them about indicators of their quality of life.
- When Montana downtowns burn, main streets face uncertain future
The interviews showed a common thread: in the face of adversity, the towns, and the state at large, have rallied in support. People bought local, contributed to recovery funds and came out in droves for fairs, fests and sales.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Bank Compliance Officer - First Montana Bank
Must be knowledgeable of all applicable bank rules, regulations, and compliance requirements. Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager preferred.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Energy Management System (EMS) Engineer - Northwestern Energy
Engineer will provide technical support for NorthWestern Energy's electric energy management and related systems.
- RFQ for Ag Tech Engineering Services- The Great Falls, Montana Development Authority
This request is for qualifications from engineering firms to assist with preliminary studies that are part of federal and state loan or grant applications, annexation and subdivision approval processes, and infrastructure improvements in the park including: municipal water, storm water system, municipal sewer, rail spur and road improvements.
- Montana Cowboy Poet TJ Casey and the Code of the West
"If more folks would live by these principles it would be a much better world". T. J. Casey
Leadership Montana
- Calling Female Entrepreneurs - "Thinking big" and growing a business.
Merlino has long held that women - to some extent - deliberately hold back on growing their businesses. Many think that by keeping the business small, they'll have more time to spend with family. But that's a mistake, she says, as the bigger your business is, the more you can delegate to employees and step back.
- Cassidy: Silicon Valley's breakneck speed allows companies to launch, grow and die in a matter of decades
If Sun had succeeded in buying Apple, Zander wondered, would there be an iPod or an iPad today? "There wouldn't be an iPod; there wouldn't be an iPad," McNealy said. "I would have screwed that up."
- A New Way to Teach Entrepreneurship: Class 1 at Stanford's Lean Launchpad
For the past three months, we've run an experiment in teaching entrepreneurship.
- New West Festival Seeks Entrepreneurs Test your elevator pitch with a venture capitalist during our conference May 5-6 in Missoula.
While this is not a formal pitch session, if you are chosen to participate, you'll get to experience the joy of selling the "elevator pitch" to the money guys, and you will get valuable feedback on your pitch, your ideas and your business plan that will help to prepare you for the more formal pitch opportunities in your future.
Missoula Public Schools Excellence
- Some good news and a reminder from Leadership Montana...
And the reminder, applications are due by March 31. Forward the message. Get your great candidates in the mix for the Class of 2012!
- Responding to challenges as a skilled business leader
One way to look at leadership is to view it as the business of responding to three types of adaptive challenge: the opportunity, the threat and the crisis.
Montana Business
- Missoula Education Foundation Benefit Wine Tasting, 03/24, Missoula
Please come join us at the Ranch Club "Barn" off Mullan Road on Thursday, March 24 at 5:30 to support our future leaders - the children of Missoula.
Montana Economic Development
- Goomzee Partners with Eight Additional Multiple Listing Services for Nationwide Realtors
Missoula, Montana's Goomzee, the industry's leading mobile technology solutions provider, announced today that they are connecting with eight additional MLS markets throughout the United States. This expansion has more than doubled their MLS user reach, now surpassing 250,000 agents.
- In Montana, an Economic Boon Faces Repeal Effort
"I don't think anybody passed it thinking we were creating an industry," Mr. Krauss said, referring to the 2004 voter referendum. But like it or not, he said, it has become one, and legal investments in the millions of dollars have been made.
- Belgrade, Montana -based Bacterin receives approval for NYSE Amex - Trading under symbol "Bone" beginning Monday
"This is truly an eventful period in our company's history," Bacterin founder and CEO Guy Cook said in a prepared statement. "We believe our shares will experience higher liquidity as a NYSE Amex listed company, which will raise our profile in the investment community."
- R&R Conner of Conner, Montana named Blue Ribbon Small Business in U. S. Chamber of Commerce "Dream Big Small Business of the Year" competition
"We're a major log supplier to lumber mills and log home companies," Conner said, noting business has been steady despite the languishing economy.
Regional Economic Development
- One of 'most influential people in the world' to keynote Montana Senator Tester's next jobs workshop on 3/26 in Bozeman, Montana
U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will attend Tester's March 26 workshop in Bozeman to discuss economic opportunities in farming and ranching, as well as accessing capital and foreign markets.
- Kalispell mayor hosts event to gauge interest - Committee to Study Development of Civic Center or Arts Venue
"We need to determine if it's something viable for this community," Fisher said. "And if it's not, then we need to move on."
Bill Payne
- Voters Living in the Rocky Mountain Region Want Stronger Economy, Environmental Protections - "Conscious Capitalism"
A survey of 2,200 voters in five Rocky Mountain states suggests that people in the region don't think they should have to choose between a strong economy and clean air and water. And they want more of their energy to come from renewable sources.
- Warnings of doctor shortage go unheeded
The shortage of doctors in the United States -- already a problem for millions of Americans who live in areas where it is difficult to get an appointment or access to emergency care, and millions more who suffer long wait times only to have abbreviated visits with their physicians -- is almost certainly going to become much worse over the next 10 to 20 years.
- Career Pathways Innovation Workforce Development Fund Grant Resources
The US Department of Labor recently announced their Career Pathways Innovation Fund Grant competition
Careers
- Startup Valuations: Using Several Methods to Determine the Pre-money Valuation of
Good practice suggests using at least three methods to first estimate the appropriate pre-money valuation and then using those results to finalize the valuation.
Funding and Building your Business
- Colorado Career Opportunity - Marketing Specialist - Metro Denver EDC
Will be responsible for generating story ideas and writing/editing articles for the website, e-newsletters, publications and marketing/communications materials. Must have interviewing experience. Must be highly detail-oriented and able to proof own work with a high level of accuracy.
- Offbeat interview questions asked to make you think
It's your worst job interview fear: They'll ask you some absurdly hard question and instead of being the genius you sometimes think you are -- you choke.
- Men falling behind women
The numbers are staggering: 78 percent of the jobs lost since 2007 were held by men, leaving one out of every five working age men out of work.
- How to conquer being called 'overqualified' in a job search
Sometimes employers say it to your face; other times you feel it lurking behind every interview question.
- Degrees and Dollars
What everyone knows is wrong.
- Survey: IT college grads not 'ready to go'
Many companies and college IT departments are ready to hire as the economy thaws, but more than nine in 10 college graduates who majored in information technology (IT) aren't prepared for life in the workforce, according to a national survey.
Incubators and R&D
- AngelList is turning Silicon Valley investing upside down.
It's basically Match.com for startups and business angels, and startups are raising millions from angels on the site almost every day, leaving VCs to scramble for dealflow and paying higher valuations.
- When investors treat entrepreneurs like toys
Not all investors are like that. Many investors are former entrepreneurs and they still remember what it's like. They know what we're going through.
- The Maker Center - Missoula - "Why didn't I think of that?"
The Maker Center will provide Missoulians access to the tools and people necessary for concept creation.
- Social Tools for Businesses
In a business world where people meet face to face less often, social software can foster collaboration.
- The chaos theory of leadership
"You must find a way to try ideas that don't seem like they make any sense, to let people who are those kinds of people just go spiraling off for a while."
- #winning: 6 @charliesheen quotes to make you a better entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is on a thin border between insane and brilliant.
- 20 Examples of Great Facebook Pages
Up to this point the top metric for social marketing success was site traffic, but more and more focus has been given to other values such as fans / followers and positive buzz.
- Harvard Business School - Don't be afraid to let your company fail
Experienced entrepreneurs know that running a company that eventually fails can actually help a career, but only if the executives are willing to view failure as a potential for improvement.
- "Jennifer Aniston Sex Tape" Marketing 101 at its best
lots of hair tossing......
- Gates Foundation Makes First Equity Investment in a Biotech Startup, Liquidia Technologies
While the foundation has made grants to companies for years, and has linked its support to specific programs with clear global health goals, this is the first time the foundation has structured a deal to take equity ownership, and have board-level oversight of a startup's work, much like a venture capital firm.
Montana Education Excellence
- New Idaho National Laboratory Energy Systems Laboratory enters construction phase
The new facility is designed for state-of-the-art high-bay lab space where leading bioenergy feedstock processing, advanced battery testing and hybrid energy systems integration research will be conducted.
Regional Business
- MSU's "Expanding Your Horizons" For Girls In Grades 6, 7 And 8, 4/30, Bozeman, Montana
Registration is now open for Montana State University's "Expanding Your Horizons" conference on Saturday, April 30. The day-long program offers creative hands-on workshops designed to motivate girls in grades 6, 7 and 8 to consider careers and studies in math and science.
- Montana ranks last in the nation in efforts to use education data to increase student achievement
Montana is the only state in the nation to score zero on the first checklist, meaning it has done nothing to "create a culture in which quality data are not only collected but also used to increase student achievement."
- Hamilton School District to hold mail-in election for proposed technology levy
"In order for our students and everyone to live and work and be educated in the 21st century, we really need this."
- Montana teens helping build a stronger community
"We have all age groups represented and are trying to get more senior citizens involved."
South Dakota Economic Development
- Gannett launches corporate branding campaign
We are creating an environment of feedback loops so the consumer can talk with us and tell us what it is they would like to see, or not want to see."
Utah Economic Development
- Venture capital takes root in Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Linn Grove Ventures LLC
Leaders are building awareness of the company's intent in a triangle-shaped market area that will be anchored by offices in the Sioux Falls-Brookings area, the Fargo-Grand Forks, N.D., area and Rochester, Minn.
Wyoming Business
- Delta Air Lines' Sky Magazine Features Utah With 53-page Spread in March Issue
The exposure this brings to Utah is tremendously positive and will surely result in even more inquiries about relocation and expansion opportunities here.
Education
- Wyoming Plays It Cool State Hopes Brisk Climate, Low Energy Costs Will Attract Huge Data Centers
In an effort to diversify the economy and give young college graduates a reason to stick around, Governor Mead is determined to bring high-tech jobs to Wyoming. He is pitching the state's brisk climate as an ideal draw for data-processing centers.
- Saratoga's "Where the Trout Leap in Main Street" motto draws praise outside Wyoming
"The real point is our little sleepy town in the middle of Wyoming was compared to places like New York City," she said. "That's what was so exciting about it."
- Air pollution off the charts in rural Wyoming
Wyoming, famous for its crisp mountain air and breathtaking, far-as-the-eye-can-see vistas, is looking a lot like smoggy Los Angeles these days because of a boom in natural gas drilling.
Government
- Bill Gates: How state budgets are breaking US schools
America's school systems are funded by the 50 states. In this fiery talk, Bill Gates says that state budgets are riddled with accounting tricks that disguise the true cost of health care and pensions and weighted with worsening deficits -- with the financing of education at the losing end.
- Virtual education boom hits the states
'We have one of the best Spanish instructors in the country.' And I said, 'How could that be possible here on this mountain?' And he pointed to a satellite dish and he said, 'she comes in every day at 10 o'clock from San Antonio, Texas.' "
- Recovery high school transitions students back to school
All of the students are recovering addicts and want to return to school, sober, and eventually graduate.
- Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen tells college chiefs their institutions may not be around in 20 years
At the same time the nation is looking to higher education to help facilitate this needed growth, institutions across the nation are facing a crisis of their own. Christensen's report explains that graduation rates from institutions have stagnated, higher ed budgets are being slashed and most universities are striving for a model that does not seem to be student-centric.
Ignite Missoula
- Crafty lobbyists outplay unwary state lawmakers
This episode illustrates the immense pull enjoyed by lobbyists in the state Capitol. Term limits designed to ensure fresh blood in the Legislature give further advantages to seasoned lobbyists, who know more about the legislative process than many lawmakers.
Other Economies
- Ignite Missoula- Are You Ready For 5 Minutes In The Spotlight? We're accepting entries, Date TBD, Missoula, Montana
Ignite Missoula http://ignitemissoula.com/ is now taking applications for the 4th Ignite Missoula community event, to be held sometime in late April or early May in a venue conducive to good talk, good cheer and the vibrancy of Missoula.
- TED 2011: This Week at the TED Industrial Complex - Ignite Missoula is coming!!
It's a problem shared by Google, Facebook, and just about any organization that begins from a relatively intimate core: When success comes, how do you scale to more ambitious heights without losing the intimacy and passion that was a hallmark of your original offering?
- Delivering the Speech of Your Life
Because it was no longer about me. It was about my audience: getting listeners from here to there -- changing their mind -- actually having them leave the room thinking differently than when they entered. And that's powerful.
Community
- Business executives say that corporate taxes not biggest draw for attracting companies
In a recent survey of business executives for Area Development magazine, corporate taxes ranked sixth among the most important factors when companies relocate or expand -- trailing transportation, labor costs, tax exemptions, occupancy and construction, and tax incentives.
- State business-incentive program falling short of promised job creation
EDGE credited with keeping companies in state, but in many cases firms don't qualify for tax breaks or don't need them
- Cash-strapped states rethink Hollywood tax breaks
Leaders worry they can't afford incentives while trying to fund programs
- Ireland's Second Miracle - Entrepreneurship
And with signs of fresh national leadership come a corresponding number of new organizations with at least some springing up to build Ireland's economy through startups and entrepreneurial activity.
Connectivity & CommunicationsEnergy and Climate Change
- Judge Lets Sony Unmask Visitors to PlayStation 3-Jailbreaking Site
A federal magistrate is granting Sony the right to acquire the internet IP addresses of anybody who has visited PlayStation 3 hacker George Hotz's website from January of 2009 to the present.
- FCC Targets Low Broadband Adoption by Native Americans
The FCC is taking further steps to improve communication services in Native American tribal communities, some of which have no access to Internet, phone or radio services.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Gasland - City's drinking water is radioactive, thanks to fracking. Only question is, how much?
The natural gas industry has spent months attacking the documentary Gasland as a deeply flawed piece of propaganda. After it was nominated for an Oscar, an industry-sponsored PR group asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to reconsider the film's eligibility.
- Trees to energy: still mostly a dream
Ethanol production hit 13 billion gallons last year, but almost all of it comes from corn.
GIS Technology
- Elephants Outwit Humans During Intelligence Test
These pachyderm problem-solvers are among the world's most cognitively advanced animals.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Update: Western States Looking for Cloud Storage for GIS Data
You can read the recommendation document by an advisory team that suggests the way ahead.
Small Diameter Timber Utilization
- Drowning Beautiful
Sometimes an artist creates something so beautifully simple that it takes your breath away.... literally.
- Small Log Conference 2011 Offers "Think Outside the Box" Program Speakers stress collaboration, entrepreneurial energy and technology as solutions to small diameter log challenges...
The conference runs March 23-25, with a pre-conference mill tour set for March 23. The event, entitled "Technology, Evolution and Collaboration," also features a Supplier's Showcase and an industrial waste wood grinder demonstration by Rawlings Manufacturing of Missoula, Montana. Activities are based at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.
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