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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Oct 2, 2012 |
“We have to prepare more Americans for the new jobs that are being created in a world fueled by new technology. That’s why investments in our people” — in more community colleges, Pell grants and vocational-training classes — “are more important than ever.” President B. Obama "New Rules" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Still Time to Register - Compete Smart - 10 more days - great lineup! http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Building a Manufacturing Workforce - Flathead Valley Community College http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
2013 Montana Legislature
- Montana Tourism & Recreation Strategic Plan 2013-2017 Meeting Schedule
Building off the Montana Tourism successes of the last five years, the planning process for the next statewide Montana Tourism & Recreation Strategic Plan is underway.
Inteneo Systems
- South Campus expansion tops University of Montana's priorities for 2013 Legislature
Proponents believe that expanding to the South Campus is necessary to accommodate the university's goals of competing in what UM President Royce Engstrom has dubbed the "global century," which includes a new emphasis on research and attracting research partners.
- Missoula College building No. 1 funding priority for 2013
The University of Montana and the state Board of Regents have named a new building for Missoula College as their highest funding priority heading into the next legislative session.
Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
- Set your data free!
If a patient and a physician have a truly comprehensive understanding of what's actually happening then better things tend to happen.
- Top 10 Strategic CIO Issues For 2013
Some forecasts say the CMO will soon be calling the shots for IT; while I don't buy into that, I do agree that CIOs who choose to sit back and wait for "the business" to tell them what to do will end up reporting to the CMO within a year or two. But companies will fare much better if their CIOs eagerly and rapidly begin framing Big Data challenges and opportunities in terms of customers, opportunities, revenue, and business value.
- Big Business Has Big Data Woes
Business, the way you're working will kill you.
- Big Data's Management Revolution - Data-driven decisions tend to be better decisions.
Here's how two companies, both far from Silicon Valley upstarts, used new flows of information to radically improve performance.
- Case Studies: Leading the Way to Better Healthcare Through Data
Rather than focus on what is negatively impacting the healthcare system, let's talk about how information insights--coupled with clinical collaboration--can dramatically improve quality of care, patient safety and outcomes, while also improving the cost-effectiveness of care.
- Travel and Transportation in the Age of Big Data
Here's hoping many more cities and companies across the world leverage the power of big data by integrating technology and intelligence into the physical transportation infrastructure, to improve capacity, enhance the traveler experience and make our transportation systems better and more efficient.
Vision Net
- Still Time to Register - Compete Smart - 10 more days - great lineup!
You will meet with established leaders, Montana resources, technical experts and creative innovators to find the right tools and technologies to take your business to the next level.
Come Home Montana
- Vision Net Video Conferencing Locations in Montana
Vision Net has been a leader in videoconferencing in the state of Montana since 1995, delivering services to universities, K–12 schools, the legal community, and private industry.
Flynn's Harp
- Montana Career Opportunities - Systems Installation Engineer, Software Development Technical Assistant , IT Support Technician, Project Manager, Professional Sales/Territory Manager - Edulog
Since 1977, edulog has been the most respected and popular choice for school district transportation and planning professionals.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Chief Executive Officer - Community Health Center
Chief Executive Officer for a Federally Qualified Community Health Center: (501c3 nonprofit lead by a Board of Directors SW Montana high volume/demand organization which provides patient-centered medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services in a 3 county area.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Project Manager, Systems Installation Engineer, Software Development Technical Assistant, IT Support Technician, Professional Sales/Territory Manager - Edulog
Since 1977, edulog has been the most respected and popular choice for school district transportation and planning professionals.
- Montana Career Opportunities - eStore Call Center Specialist , eStore Merchandising Specialist , Murdoch's
Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply, a 22-store retail organization, with locations throughout Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado, is a great place to 'hang your hat'.
- Montana Talent Available - General & Operations Management - Organization Builder - Coach & Mentor - Leader
An exceptional communicator and team leader who builds strong relations with customers, clients, employees, vendors, contractors, the community and public officials.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- Flynn's Harp: Angel leader sees cleantech challenges
"The public and private markets are down on clean energy and the venture model itself is being questioned."
Montana Business
- October MEDA News
Hope to see you in Lewistown
Montana Economic Development
- Billings landmark Northern Hotel gets another shot at glory when it reopens in March
When it reopens in mid-March, the Northern will be a contemporary, high-tech, green building with a retro breakfast-and-lunch bistro and a restaurant that the Nelsons hope will win a four-star rating.
- Making it in Montana: Innovation helps drive CTA's success
The firm now employs around 400 employees with 16 offices in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Texas and Louisiana. Its list of national and international clients includes Dell Computers, Target and Whole Foods.
- Montana State Fund Returns Over $360,000 to Small Businesses
"It is a great pleasure to return premiums to these safe Montana employers," said Laurence Hubbard, President & CEO of Montana State Fund. "Most of the small businesses in this group will realize a return of nearly 40% of their premium for the year. Safety in the workplace really does pay benefits."
- Potential buyer interested in all 5 Vann's stores
The CEO of the bankrupt electronics and appliance store Vann's Inc., says a Bozeman businessman is considering buying the company.
- Montana gunmaker moves to Utah - Butler Arms USA expects to employ 125 workers.
Jason Fogg, Butler Arms' chief operating officer, said in a written release that the decision to move from Montana was based on the wealth of gun-making expertise and the high-tech manufacturing base in Utah, among other factors.
Careers
- Opportunity knocking: Big Sky Economic Development hopes to boost opportunity fund
Yellowstone County's economic development agency is asking its members to help grow a pot of money that has been earmarked to spur future job growth.
Come Home Washington
- Fast Exercises To Find Your Purpose And Passion For Work
Finding your passion is an essential ingredient of winning armies, companies, and individuals. It is not a soft nice-to-have, but a strategic requisite.
- In tech jobs market, data analysis is tops
Data analysts are as important as the best engineers and designers. Job recruiters would say they're more important.
- Extended University offers Microsoft courses in downtown Bozeman
The non-credit courses are designed to help working professionals improve their skills, and all include hands-on work in Extended University's computer laboratory-equipped classroom.
Business Plan Forums
- Washington Career Opportunity - Public Affairs Specialist - Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest has been a leading power supplier to the Northwest public power community for 50 years. Headquartered just north of Richland, Washington, we provide electricity, at cost, to public power utilities and municipalities. Our staff represents a broad range of professions, from electricians to project managers, nuclear operators to accountants, and pipe fitters to engineers.
Developing an Angel Network in Montana
- Montana companies seek investors, connections at Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association conference at Big Sky, Montana
"What do Virgin America, Harvard University and Playboy have in common?" The answer wasn't a punchline. It was Michael FitzGerald's company Submittable http://www.submittable.com/ , based in Missoula.
- Oregon university students pitch ways to make money so they can help an Oregon community
Teams of Oregon university students pitched their best ideas Monday for how they would run an enterprise that would generate a pile of money -- not to get them rich or reward investors, but to do good in a needy Oregon community.
Idaho Business
- Why Angel Investors Don't Make Money ... And Advice For People Who Are Going To Become Angels Anyway
People love recounting the one time they caught a big fish, not the many futile hours they spent waiting for a bite.
Incubators and R&D
- Idaho teachers leave profession in bigger numbers
Of the 1,884 teachers who left the profession during the 2011-2012 school year, 957 year cited "personal reasons." Another 127 were fired, while 143 of the teachers were laid off.
- Idaho ranks 48th among states in personal income growth
Idaho personal income rose less than one percent in the second quarter to an annualized $53.6 billion. The state's showing -- a 0.7 percent increase -- was 48th among the states.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Incubation: The engine behind Fairfax's start-ups
No matter what the business is in the incubator, INC.spire matches them with their needs.
- Startup Accelerators are Entrepreneur Boot Camps
Most incubators and accelerators today provide one or more of the following:
Other Economies
- Boom Town Williston, North Dakota Mulls Moratorium on Oil Worker 'Man Camps' - Bainville, Montana residents express concerns over camp proposal
Williston has achieved international fame due its position as the largest city in the heart of the oil boom in western North Dakota.
Regional Economic Development
- Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh will invest $50 Million in Las Vegas startups
White is deciding how to allocate $50 million into about 100-200 startups, with investments of up to $500,000 each.
Workforce Development
- Kauffman Foundation refocuses after turmoil
What course will the foundation take? Who will lead it?
- 12 Tips To Building A Successful Startup Community Where You Live
If you care about building a successful tech community outside Silicon Valley you should read this book.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Virginia Internship Program Connects Students with Employers
The program will create a centralized, online application system that will give students free access to paid summer internships.
- University of Montana report details costs of high school dropouts
Those who fail to earn a high school diploma typically end up at the low end of the economic spectrum, the new report said, and they have only a small chance of breaking out of poverty down the road.
- Building a Manufacturing Workforce - Flathead Valley Community College
Flathead Valley Community College was awarded over $3 million in federal grants last week to help develop and expand training programs in this part of the state, including short-term certificate programs in advanced manufacturing.
Montana Education Excellence
- Fostering Tech Talent in Schools
Microsoft is taking an unusual approach to tackling a shortage of computer science graduates -- one of the most serious issues facing the technology industry, and a broader challenge for the nation's economy.
- Oregon, New Jersey Pilot Kindergarten-Testing Programs
Twenty-five states currently mandate some kind of formal assessment for kindergarteners, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
- The Visionary School Network
Our goal is to connect people who may feel they are experimenting/exploring/leading visionary approaches to teaching, learning and facilities in isolation.
Community
- University of Montana seeing fewer students; Montana State University enrollment sets record
"We're pleased that so many students this year are better prepared than ever for the college experience." Engstrom said. "It means that we can focus our time with our students on sharing the knowledge and skills they need to get jobs and succeed professionally upon graduation."
Funding and Building your Business
- Are We There Yet? Creating Complete Communities for 21st Century America - Missoula gets all A's.
Reconnecting America graded every one of the 366 metro areas based on how they measure up to our vision of complete communities.
- FIVE New Grants
- Missoula ranked in Top 20 of U.S. college towns
It's the first time Missoula has appeared on the national list in recent memory, putting it in a class with State College, Penn., College Station, Texas, and Ithaca, New York.
- Local leaders unfazed by study: Think tank ranked Missoula toward bottom for Montana
"It's important what they consider and what they didn't consider," former Missoula Redevelopment Agency director Geoff Badenoch said. "Sure, we're more heavily regulated in some areas, but that's part of what Missoulians want ... I don't think it comes down squarely that it's anti-business, it's more complex than that."
Energy and Climate Change
- How to Find Top Talent for Your Tech Startup
Many small businesses can't afford the likes of Facebook or Google engineers and must look elsewhere for their talent. And most small businesses are not located in Silicon Valley.
- An IPO Exit Strategy Puts the Entrepreneur at Risk
You should never even start down this path unless you can really use a large infusion of $150 million in cash or more, and have $3 million in the bank and up to 18 months to dedicate to the effort.
- Good Entrepreneur Decisions Require a Good Process
Even better than any decision is a good decision made quickly.
- Too Many Small Businesses Still Ignore Social Media
According to a recent Harvard Business Review article, only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively.
- How To Convince Fortune 500 Companies To Use Your Tiny, Insignificant Startup
Corey Capasso is 25 and he's already founded four startups.
- Law Firms Mine Startups for Internet Start-Up Gold
Wilson Sonsini and others are employing a broad set of tools, including offering free services, cozying up to incubators and writing blogs.
Non-Profit News
- KC Golden: A Seattle climate hero with global plans
I want to really strongly emphasize we're not doing it to just lower the northwest carbon footprint," he says. "We're not doing it to just hoist our own green flag. We're doing it to catalyze a global transition in our energy economy because nothing less will do. Nothing less will save the climate."
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Payne Financial Group and Western States Insurance Employees Join Hands To Help Local Nonprofits
Throughout Community Week, Payne Financial and Western States employees in nine communities across Montana, Idaho and Washington will donate their time and efforts at local nonprofits.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Humanities MONTANA October e-Newsletter - Humanities Montana Festival of the Book will take place October 4-6 in Missoula
Join us for a three-day extravaganza, featuring a gala reading by Ivan Doig, Pam Houston and David Quammen, a joint presentation by Colin Meloy (of Decemberists fame) and Carson Ellis about their award-winning The Wildwood Chronicles series for young adults, a musical interpretation of James Welch's The Heartsong of Charging Elk, and readings by many of the Northwest's most interesting writers.
- Embracing 3-D Printers, Manufacturer Tells Customers to Print Their Own Replacement Parts
"As an alternative to shipping plastic parts around the world, we let anyone print their own," said David Möllerstedt, head of audio at Teenage Engineering, in an e-mail interview with Wired. "It's a really interesting development that 3-D printing is becoming more accessible."
- Print me a phone
Now new ways of printing electronics in three dimensions are being developed. This makes it possible to incorporate circuitry and components into the material the product is made from, such as the phone's case. It could revolutionize the way electronic goods are made.
- The New MakerBot Replicator Might Just Change Your World
You've heard of 3-D printers, but you probably don't own one yet. Pettis thinks the Replicator 2 will change that.
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