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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Apr 12, 2013 |
“It is critical to the economic health of every city and state to create an entrepreneur-friendly environment,” Dane Stangler, director of research and policy at the Kauffman Foundation, wrote in the report. “Policymakers put themselves in the best position to encourage sustainable growth and long-term prosperity by listening to the voices of small business owners themselves.” Which states show love to small businesses? http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
At The University Of Montana - Building Upon Success!", 4/15, Missoula, Montana http://www.matr.net/ev ... =4566 --- Senator Tester's 13th Small Business Opportunity Workshop (Tourism), 5/17, Bozeman, Montana
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2013 Montana Legislature
- Overcome 5 Project Pain Points : Montana Agile Tour 2013, 5/14, Missoula
Are these pain points impacting your project teams?
- Overcome 5 Project Pain Points : Montana Agile Tour 2013, 4/26, Whitefish
Are these pain points impacting your project teams?
- Overcome 5 Project Pain Points : Montana Agile Tour 2013, 4/23, Billings
Are these pain points impacting your project teams?
- Overcome 5 Project Pain Points : Montana Agile Tour 2013, 4/22, Bozeman
Are these pain points impacting your project teams?
- Overcome 5 Project Pain Points : Montana Agile Tour 2013, 4/15, Helena
Are these pain points impacting your project teams?
GigaPOP in Missoula
- SB-282 ELIMINATES A TAX REBATE and kills any chance we have in landing movie projects to be shot in Montana.
Montana universities are pumping out film and video professionals that have to leave the state to make a living. It is absolutely necessary to even be the least bit competitive in the marketplace of filmmaking in the country.
- Billings lawmaker's 'warning' to renters sparks controversy - Rep. Dave Hagstrom says they don't need "to live as long as they currently do, or as 'comfortably' as they currently do."
"A lot of the tenants in his buildings are disabled. They can't work three jobs," Rice said. "And is he saying that they should just die? "I just think it shows how out of touch he is with what Montanans living on the brink of poverty have to deal with."
- Lobbying at the 2013 Montana legislature - A University of Montana student's perspective
"I kind of equate it to professional stalking," Hohman said. "I have to bug people to sit down and chat with me and have any kind of meaningful conversation, so it's a lot of hammering them into submission before they'll talk to me."
Northwestern Energy
- Seattle Survey Guides Tech Policy
The survey is part of Seattle's Information Technology Indicators Project, an effort to increase broadband use and technology access across the city.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- NorthWestern Energy Receives Exemplary Program Award from ACEEE for Energy Efficiency Programs
The E+ Business Partners provides custom incentives for energy efficiency to qualifying business, industrial, and irrigation customers.
Inteneo Systems
- 'Beautiful in its own way': Photographer, teacher spend month recording eastern Montana wonders
It's a common belief that eastern Montana is flat and boring. But on a trip exploring Montana's prairie lands, photographer Tony Bynum and teacher Stacy Dolderer found quite the opposite.
Come Home Montana
- States focus on consumer experience in Medicaid modernization and Health Information Exchanges
There's little doubt that states' Medicaid services will be considerably more consumer-centric as they modernize IT systems.
- The big-data revolution in US health care: Accelerating value and innovation
A big-data revolution is under way in health care.
- CIO's-you have been warned. - Why a Botched IT Project Will Destroy a Major Corporation in the Near Future
"IT projects are now so big, and they touch so many aspects of an organization, that they pose a singular new risk....They have sunk whole corporations. Even cities and nations are in peril."
- Why Tech Projects Fail: 5 Unspoken Reasons
#4. Detailed plans are the enemy. They're rigid, set too far in advance and take up so much management time that long-term planning is itself a risk to be mitigated. Project plans that extend past 90 days are as accurate as TV weather predictions.
- How to Measure Your Webinar Program
Although the metrics on which you focus depend on your goals, here are three ways to measure the success of your webinar program:
- EMR data has big applications in public health, but a few legal & tech barriers stand in the way
The Google Flu Trends project is a great example of not only the potential use for big data at a public health level, but also some of the challenges that come with it.
- HR Applying Data Analytics to Compensation Decisions
"It is very common for compensation professionals to rely on very basic data, such as internal and external benchmarks," says Wendy Hirsch, a principal with Mercer's workforce strategies group in Milwaukee. "Rarely do they leverage more advanced analyses that allow them to think more strategically about the impact of compensation decisions."
- 4 ways HR can step into a more strategic role
Understand how your company makes money. McClure recommended immersing yourself in data and becoming a data analyst. Use that data to find out who it targets, what the company needs to do better and what your company needs more of. Make sure you know whether your measurements are past-focused or future-focused.
Hellgate Venture Network
- Montana Career Opportunities - Proposal Coordinator, Project Accountant, and others - Envirocon
Our team is looking for experienced, motivated, and dedicated people who are interested in building a career at Envirocon.
Missoula BarCamp
- Hellgate Venture Network - Next Meeting To Feature Alter Enterprise, 4/18, Missoula, Montana
Alter Enterprise is skilled at developing new entrepreneurial opportunities and will share some of its specific successes and lessons learned in pursuing those opportunities.
Montana Business
- 6th Annual Missoula BarCamp Saturday April 13, 2013
Missoula BarCamp 2013 is a dynamic event exploring the topics of community, technology, art, and environment and how they affect, enhance, and build on each other.
Montana Economic Development
- Bozeman business owners speak out about equal pay
According to some experts, in Montana, women are paid on average only 73 cents on the dollar compared to men.
- UM Budget vs. Missoula Economy - Proposed budget cuts could hurt city economy
Western Montana's largest single employer, UM, is planning for potential budget cuts in the next fiscal year. Reductions to the General Fund, which is comprised of state allocations and tuition revenue, may force school administration to eliminate certain jobs, classes or services -- austerity measures sure to trickle across town.
- Senator Baucus fighting move to create Internet sales tax
Montana Senator Max Baucus says he's going to keep fighting a move to impose a nationwide Internet sales tax, saying the move would create a complicated mess for Montana business.
- Spika Welding honored with first-ever Montana Manufacturer of Year award
"Spika Welding and Manufacturing is doing amazing work in the Heart of Montana," said Webb Brown, President/CEO of the State Chamber. "Their maintenance stands for aerospace and military applications are a great example of new manufacturing in Montana."
- "It's going to simply be an absurd spectacle," PSC revisits pay disclosure before water rate increase
The public hearing on Mountain Water's request is going to draw attention, Kavulla says, because ratepayers are currently forbidden from learning how much many state-regulated utilities pay their executives. That means the public won't be allowed to participate in a discussion about the role executive compensation plays in rate setting. "Literally, the press and the public will have to be cleared from the room," Kavulla says.
- Mamalode -- Mom-Focused Media Company Joins UM Business Incubator
"Mamalode is bursting at the seams and having an office gives us a home for business operations and allows for greater collaboration among our talented staff," said Elke Govertsen, entrepreneur and founder of Mamalode. "We are very excited to share work space with other entrepreneurs and to team up with The University of Montana to support economic development."
- Montana Community Finance Corporation elects board and officers
"I am extremely proud of the work our company has done to help Montana's small businesses over the last year. We recognize the importance small businesses have on the state's economy. Our mission is to stimulate growth and expansion of small business and employment in Montana and we take that mission seriously." Linda Kindrick, Executive Director of MCFC
MSU Leadership Institute & UM Global Leadership Initiative
- Civic leaders explain Great Falls growth policy planning
One example includes working on the physical appearance and community image of Great Falls, another objective Haynes says was successful: "Go out to Benefis and look at the quality of the buildings they're doing, the development on West Bank, I mean there's some real high quality development from folks who really know that what these buildings look like are really representative of the image of those business."
- Senator Tester's 13th Small Business Opportunity Workshop (Tourism), 5/17, Bozeman, Montana
Tester's 13th workshop will connect national tourism industry leaders with Montana businesses to expand economic opportunities and create jobs in the Big Sky State.
- Yellowstone County, Montana - Energy, health care should be focus of business recruitment efforts
A robust economy that is growing at twice the national rate, a favorable tax climate, a highly educated work force and wages that are lower than the national average are all looked on favorably by expansion-minded companies
- Innovate Montana Relaunches as Resource for Entrepreneurs, Innovative Businesses
"Montanans have an amazing ability to come together to get a job done," the Governor added, "and I'm looking forward to seeing the collaboration and opportunities for moving our state forward that Innovate Montana will generate."
Careers
- MSU Leadership Institute Presents - Escape: A Family's Journey Out Of North Korea, 4/22, Bozeman, Montana
On Monday, April 22 at 7:30pm in MSU's Strand Union Building Ballroom A, three refugees will share their incredible true story of escape and survival from North Korea.
Economic Gardening
- The Key to Choosing the Right Career
We all want to choose a career that will make us happy, but how can we know what that will be?
- Career Meaning: Joyful Experiences
At work, you can find joy if you learn to seek out the sensation of "flow" which happens when you are so engrossed in what you are doing that time seems to fly by and you look forward to work every day.
- Five Resume Revisions for Better Results
1. When you list your work experience, your job title should appear on the first line, above the name of the employer.
- Americans are quitting their jobs at highest rate since 2008
If you're thinking of quitting your job, now might be a good time - at least that's what more than 2 million people said recently.
- "Give and Take - A Revolutionary Path to Success" by Adam Grant
Using his own groundbreaking research as the youngest tenured professor at Wharton, Grant examines the surprising forces that shape why some people rise to the top of the success ladder while others sink to the bottom.
- Coding boot camps promise to launch tech careers
A week after he finished the program last summer, he landed an engineering job that paid more than twice his previous salary.
Government
- 2013 National Economic Gardening Conference Website Update
The REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 22. Sneak in before the price pops-up! on the Registration tab.
Incubators and R&D
- Montana Tax News You Can Use
IRS penalty relief for late 2012 forms does not extend to Montana income tax returns
Regional Business
- GlaxoSmithKline plans $1 million prize to jump-start "electroceuticals"
GlaxoSmithKline, Britain's biggest drugmaker, is placing a small but important bet on a new way of treating diseases by targeting electrical signals in the body.
Utah Economic Development
- Ignition Partner s Raises $150 Million Fund New, Oversubscribed Fund to Focus on Business Software, Cloud Computing; Greater Silicon Valley Focus
Ignition Partner s , an early - stage venture - capital firm, announced it has closed its fifth fund. The $150 million vehicle will target early - stage invest ments in enterprise - technology companies located thr oughout the U.S., with a strong emphasis on the West Coast.
Workforce Development
- Governor seeks to build State's tech profile... in California
"Combine that with our high quality of life, and it is no wonder that so many technology firms look to Utah as an alternative to Silicon Valley," he said. "This region, in fact, is rapidly becoming known in more and more circles as the 'Silicon Slopes' -- an up and coming version of Silicon Valley."
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Missoula Veteran Stand Down And Job Fair, 5/23, Missoula, Montana
This event is open to veterans, Active-Guard-Reserve personnel, and immediate family members or caregivers with escort; with an emphasis on at-risk or homelessness.
- Senator Baucus: "War on Veterans Unemployment" Gains Momentum
"Time for Our Troops to Return to Good-Paying Jobs and a Nation That Honors Their Sacrifices" Senator Max Baucus
- Workforce Development Essential to Vital Economy
"Having a good workforce is the number one incentive of most companies in relocating."
Education
- Educators, scientists call for revamping science education
Worried that public schools are failing to prepare students for a complex and changing world, educators Tuesday called for sweeping changes in the way science is taught in the United States, emphasizing hands-on learning and critical scrutiny of scientific evidence.
- TED Talk - Freeman Hrabowski: 4 pillars of college success in science
His goal: continue building a campus that's first-rate in research and instruction, and that prepares students of all backgrounds for success.
- Montana Health Science Connection for K-12 Educators
We have spent hours reviewing and scoring the 180 MedStart Applications that we received and we want to thank all the students for taking the time and interest to apply as well as all the teachers for helping us spread the word. We have selected 90 students to be part of the 2013 MedStart Camps taking place in Missoula, Bozeman, and Great Falls. We couldn't be more excited about the turn out! Thank you all again!
- K-12 science instruction poised for change
Science teaching in at least some of the nation's classrooms is about to undergo significant changes as states adopt a new set of K-12 science standards.
- What teachers need and reformers ignore: time to collaborate
In every field, professionals benefit from connecting with dedicated colleagues to improve practice. What is surprising, even alarming, is how rarely collaborative activities that are essential to improving outcomes are supported in our schools.
MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- The Face of the New University
Since we started developing our Data Science Apprenticeship, we've been thinking a bit about the future of higher education. Here is a summary of our thoughts:
Missoula Schools Excellence
- MAPS (Media Arts in the Public Schools) Media Institute named April's nonprofit of the month
MAPS founder and president Peter Rosten said the group continues to create and produce national, statewide and local projects through its nonprofit after-school program for Ravalli County high school students.
Montana Education Excellence
- i3 Missoula offers MCPS students unique, creative summer learning experience
"i3 Missoula is a great example of 21st century teaching and learning. It reinforces the skills and knowledge that students need to master to be successful in today's workforce. Students will experience a spontaneous, non-traditional learning environment where they have opportunities to collaborate with others, exchange ideas and collectively problem solve.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana lawmakers decide to dole out millions to schools based on student performance
"This is both a challenge and an opportunity for forward-thinking institutions to obtain additional resources that can be used to enhance the educational experience of our students," Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian said.
- Unlike UM, MSU sees continuing rise in budget - Universities may switch roles of which is larger
Perry Brown, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said there could be $14 to $17 million dollars cut across all UM departments. That could be a more than 8 percent cut from the more than $160 million from this year's budget.
- New Webpage Offers Tools For UM Students, Faculty, Staff
The launch of the new page precedes UM's homepage redesign, which will be completed this month.
- The Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone E-Magazine
This publication on the Greater Yellowstone Initiative http://issuu.com/um_crown_gye/docs/greateryellowstone-spring2013/1 represents a new venture that will soon be combined with an earlier one focused on the University of Montana's Crown of the Continent Initiative.
- Hundreds of MSU students to present research during series of April events
"Research is a way for them to take charge of their learning and take their knowledge beyond the classroom and apply it to real-world problems."
Community
- Grants from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Challenge Fund grants from State Farm Insurance help lower dropout rates at Bitterroot Valley schools
The Graduation Matters Stevensville program received $8,000, and high school principal Brian Gum said the school has set a goal of reducing the dropout rate to 2 percent and reducing the number of students who are credit-deficient to 10 students.
Funding and Building your Business
- Fifteen New Grants have been added to the MSU Extension website
- The cities that have the most movement in and out of them are the most vibrant.
The art of the density boondoggle
Connectivity & Communications
- Employee volunteer programs are the solution to good employee training - For profits need to partner with non-profits
When empowered by their companies, employees tend to be more engaged and happier in their work. One path to empowerment is in supporting causes that are important to employees and offering them an environment in which they can make an impact.
- Nate Warner Social Media Marketing Guru At Red Bull, 4/15, University Of Montana
Come hear social media/digital media guru Nate Warner share his experience creating a social media presence for Red Bull. He will discuss Red Bull's unique approach to marketing, along with their new content-based business strategy (The Art of Flight, to connect with consumers.
- The Right Way to Not Pay Yourself
Would I do that -- keep track of unpaid salaries -- again?
- How One Woman Entrepreneur Raised Venture Capital Lickety-Split
So what's LeBlanc got that other women entrepreneurs with business background don't? LeBlanc shared six keys to her success:
- How to Create a Workplace People Never Want to Leave, by Google's Christopher Coleman
One trick is to design spaces with a diversity of scale, light, and mood. It's really hard to do, and it looks like we're just making up these crazy spaces, but it's very scientific.
- 10 Surprising Assertions From Elite Entrepreneurs
Most of these are predictable, like think big and create new markets, but I found a few, like the ten listed here, that will likely raise the hackles of many people outside this lifestyle, and many "wannabe" entrepreneurs.
- No More Secrets: Why You Should Throw Away Your NDA
Instead of having our ideas copied, we should have worried a lot more about how good our ideas were in the first place.
Government Technology
- Speak Your Piece: Cowboy Communication - Broadband and Tech
Regulators should make it easier for telephone companies to build out the next generation of Internet-based communications services for rural America, rather than forcing them to maintain the old copper-line system.
Non-Profit News
- Talk to your city with PublicStuff, it will talk back
"This isn't necessarily something people are used to with government."
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Execs at company hoping to acquire Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana made $59 million in 2012
"We think Montanans have a right to know what the executives of a potential acquirer of nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana make," Lindeen's chief legal counsel Jesse Laslovich said. "We already know what chief executives at Blue Cross Blue Shield make, and we think that information ought to be consistent."
Transportation
- 3D Printing Will Dramatically Change the World's Cities.
Shrinking ports, less noxious trucks on our roads, and more self-sufficient towns. Neal Peirce describes the changes that 3D printing may bring to our lives. Will it be comparable to "the steam engine, the light bulb, atomic energy, the microchip?"
- Your cell phone will see you now.... There is an iDoctor in your future.
Your phone has a great bed side manner.
- Student-Built Car Gets 3,587 MPG in Competition
Laval's feat was certainly impressive, but it's only the best result in North and South America. In the European Eco-marathon, a French team hit 8,914 back in 2003. That record still stands.
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