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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 28, 2006 |
"By leadership I mean taking complete responsibility for an organization's well-being and growth and changing it for the better. Real leadership is not about prestige, power, or status. It is about responsibility." --Robert L. Joss, dean, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Montana Meth Project
MEDA Entrepreneur Working Group
- With Scenes of Blood and Pain, Ads Battle Methamphetamine in Montana. "The Montana Meth Project"
"Meth is destroying families, it's destroying our schools, it's destroying our budgets for corrections, social services, health care," said Gov. Brian Schweitzer. "We're losing a generation of productive people. My God, at the rate we're going, we're going to have more people in jail than out of jail in 20 years.
Education
- Prepped for business: UM-based nonprofit, American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) gets Native students ready for work world
AIBL and other organizations across the West are part of a groundswell of entrepreneurialism, said Velma Pretty on Top, director of Billings-based Native American Development Corp. That nonprofit has two revolving loan funds and offers technical assistance and training for would-be business owners.
Montana Business
- Women can succeed in engineering, says Fluor president, Lisa Glatch
More than that, she's a role model for young women, who haven't exactly been flocking to the College of Engineering lately, though its graduates routinely earn the highest salaries right out of MSU.
- Retailing is luring more college grads. Several universities are now offering degrees in the field
University of Pennsylvania — the first Ivy League university to offer a retail concentration for undergraduates — follows similar moves by other universities as well as efforts from large retailers to sell the industry as a place of long-term rewards, not low pay and long hours.
- "Without Interference -- Academic Freedom In The 21st Century.", 3-27/28, Bozeman, Montana
Are universities too liberal? Do professors scorn conservative ideas, hire only those who share their left-leaning views and try to indoctrinate students?
- Economic vitality derives from investment in education
"Colorado has an opportunity to shape the direction of future economic growth and encourage high-quality job creation by investing in those academic disciplines most directly tied to economic prosperity in a knowledge economy," Penley said. "Such investments will encourage a larger labor pool and workforce in critically competitive jobs."
Montana Economic Development
- GCS Research of Missoula finalizes licensing agreement with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center to develop the TRIPWIRE™ acoustic surveillance system.
TRIPWIRE™, can accurately pinpoint the location of a remote acoustic event such as a human or animal footstep, or the movement of an airborne or ground-based vehicle.
- Sonju Industrial, Inc. of Kalispell Adopting Growth-driven Quality Standard
"We're very excited about expanding our market because increasing business from prime contractors will draw other exciting businesses to Montana and help with some of the challenges faced by Montana companies offering unique capabilities," Sonju said.
- Youth, enthusiasm fuel Wheat Montana franchises. Persistence, early investments help 29-year-old business owner succeed
"It's really a fulfillment of our goal to extend the success of Wheat Montana to others through the franchise concept," he said. "Jeff Riggs is now becoming a very successful businessman. Let's hope sometime this guy owns 50 or 100 Wheat Montana delis."
- The noise, noise, noise ... Neighbors annoyed by Butte helicopter school. Silver State Helicopters
“It’s like it’s sanctioned by government,” Luebeck said. “Nobody seems to want to deal with it.” At a recent informal meeting of concerned citizens and county officials, airport manager Rick Griffith explained that there really is nothing the government can do.
- PrintingForLess.com Announces New Online Mailing Solutions
The E-Commerce Printer Expands its Expertise to Direct Mailing Services. “We’ve taken the hassle out of direct mail marketing for small businesses.”
Funding and Building your Business
- Gazette Opinion: Rural, urban challenges in economic growth
Montana needs to grow the right way in small towns and large. Needs differ, but the goal of positive growth applies statewide. If Montana is to be truly "open for business," its top elected official must post the "open" signs in cities, too.
- Montana University Regents concerned about use of NASA funding. Wants to know what UM's Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization has to show for the $3 million it received from noncompetitive NASA grants
“To me, this goes to the very credibility of the university system and the leadership of the University of Montana,” Regents Chairman John Mercer
- Best and worst tax codes for businesses, Wyoming tops the list. Montana in top 10
Study shows which states have business-friendly tax codes and which don't, how does yours fare?
- The 31st Annual Montana Economic Outlook Seminar Presentations Available Online
The Outlook 2006 seminar booklet contains much of the information presented during the seminar, but seminar presenters offered additional data made available through this web site.
- Montana Business Owners Certain on Three Key Issues
A survey of Montana small-business owners released today shows no uncertainty on three key issues facing Main Street, mom-and-pop business owners.
Global Telework
- Innovation: Creating Long-term Value in New Business Models and Technology
This new model of innovation requires integrating the management of business models and technologies inside the company.
- What's The Best Structure For A Pre-VC Investment by Angel Investors?
You should try to insure that all of your investors are accredited and – if some aren’t – make sure you understand the implications of this.
- Author defines six crucial ingredients of integrity.
"When we are talking about integrity, we are talking about being a whole person, an integrated person, with all our different parts working well and delivering the functions that they were designed to deliver. It is about wholeness and effectiveness as people," Cloud writes.
- How to Prevent a Bozo Explosion
Here's what you can do about the situation:
- 21 Ways to Bring in the Business
We've found the perfect marketing solution for you. First, close your eyes.
Regional Business
- Keeping Older Tech Workers On The Job Longer
A 2003 survey of AARP members found that eight out of 10 want or need to work part-time or full-time even after they're eligible for retirement, says Allen. "We want to help bring these people together with the employers who'll need them," she says.
- Market Is Hot For High-Skilled In Silicon Valley. Lower-skill jobs moved to cheaper locations.
Past tech recoveries tended to bring new lower-skilled jobs as well as high-skill jobs. This time, tech firms -- from big companies like Hewlett-Packard Co. to mid- and small-size firms such as Netflix, Adobe Systems Inc., and SanDisk Corp. -- have moved lower-skill jobs out of the Silicon Valley area to cheaper locations, or outsourced them to foreign countries.
Regional Economic Development
- Weyerhaeuser buzz: trees or paper?
If Weyerhaeuser cannot generate higher profit with a recent overhaul, it could be forced to choose between timber and manufacturing.
Utah Business
- Venture capital blockbusters at Colorado VC Conference
More than half of the two dozen companies that presented at last week's Venture Capital in the Rockies conference in Beaver Creek could land financing over the next year, based on the type of excitement seen in previous years.
- Pacific Northwest Angel investment group targets energy startups from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia.
"(People) are looking for what is the next big problem that the country has to solve.
Government Technology
- Happy to succeed. Omniture co-founder has fun but is serious about business
In 2005, Omniture was the state's leading recipient of venture capital investment, raking in $40 million. The deal was the 10th-largest nationwide, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Idaho Business
- Montana vehicle licensing to get Internet age overhaul the the magic of MERLIN
The goal is to redesign the way the state handles driver licensing, vehicle titling and registration.
Wyoming Business
- A great tie. Coeur d'Alene doctor invents and develops adjustable rope for boats
Hull is now looking for representatives to sell the product, and for dealers to stock them. He's also working on a version for airplane tie-downs.
- China becomes Idaho's top buyer. Exports of state goods, services exceeds $3.2B
"We have been aggressive in our efforts to expand opportunities for Idaho businesses and these numbers reflect our great success story in our continued efforts to sell Idaho goods and services around the world," Kempthorne said. "Our trade missions to Asia and Mexico have opened doors for Idaho exports and built relationships that are producing amazing results."
- Gov. Kempthorne Appoints Three to Idaho TechConnect Board of Directors
Idaho TechConnect is a newly chartered private non-profit organization established to implement part of the commercialization strategy in the Idaho Science and Technology Strategic Plan, a roadmap document for developing Idaho's technology sector developed by the Governor's Science & Technology Advisory Council.
Other Economies
- Gillette, Wyoming is a haven for seniors
Gillette's over-55 population grew faster than that of any other small town in America between 2000 and 2004, according to a demographer who also found brisk 55-and-over growth in three other Wyoming towns.
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- A Bank For Jobs In Michigan
The 2-year, $200-million low-cost loan program which requires borrowers to create at least one full-time job for every $40,000 borrowed, is intended to bring 5,000 new jobs to Michigan.
Incubators and R&DMontana Education/Business Partnerships
- MSU zoonotics research focuses on infectious diseases
New infectious diseases such as SARS and avian flu continue to emerge. Diseases also can be used as bioterrorism weapons. All of those factors are fueling an expansion of infectious-disease research at Montana State University.
- New MSU lab will boost vaccine research
Pascual's main interest is vaccine delivery systems. A brucellosis vaccine for livestock exists, but it is effective only 50 to 60 percent of the time. The vaccine also is not very effective in preventing brucellosis in elk and bison.
- $100 mil science donation pledged. Arizona must give $150 mil too, philanthropist says
Bisgrove's pledge would be the largest single private donation to the bioscience industry in Arizona.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- PEAK apprenticeship program lets kids test drive professions
More than 50 area businesses participated last week in an apprenticeship program, giving students in the PEAK (Promoting Enrichment Activities for Kids) Gift and Talented program, two days of hands-on training in the profession of their choice.
Non-Profit News
- Association Of Oil Painters In America Annual Juried Exhibition, 5/4-5/30, Missoula, Montana
Spring is the perfect time for a visit to Missoula. Missoula is a community rich in the arts with plenty of galleries, museums, theaters and musical events.
Energy
- Blog a better world. Web logs helping nonprofits spread word
Blogging has made a lot of sense for nonprofits, said Marnie Webb, TechSoup vice president and chief knowledge officer. It helps them keep in touch with their constituency and their donors without having to make "a huge annual appeal and re-explain themselves to you once a year because they've been creating content intermittently and updating you about their work," she said.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Midwest's windmills generate buzz
"Then we decided, let's just take a bolder step," she says. "We wanted to encourage small wind systems in residential areas. With electric prices going up, it just makes sense."
- Biodiesel plant announced by Casper, Wyoming firm, HTH Wind Energy Inc. in Fairfield, Iowa
Leach said HTH doesn't have the capital to build wind farms for big utility companies. Biodiesel, he said, "is something we can sell to the masses, rather than just a single utility."
- Wyoming coal considered for gasification
To that end, lawmakers are considering a bill that would provide up to $62.4 million in sales and use tax relief for coal derivative processes. The measure is headed to the Senate after getting committee approval.
- DuPont Looking to Displace Fossil Fuels as Building Blocks of Chemicals
"We're using biology to solve problems that chemistry can't," he said.
Connectivity & Communications
- Wildlife thriving in Montana's grasslands
"Conservation easements keep land in private ownership, but protect public resources," Knapp said. "That's a nice compromise."
Transportation
- The Minneapolis City Council approves plan for privately run citywide Wi-Fi network
Council members declined to support public network ownership because they said Minneapolis can't afford the $20 million to $25 million up-front cost of building its own network and can't risk possible legal consequences.
- Increasing Web attacks disrupt commerce
"If you have a bunch of people determined to knock you off line, it is difficult to defend yourself," says Dave Cole, director of Symantec Security Response.
- One year after Qwest deregulation, rural Idaho phone companies ask for similar treatment
McClure's bill would allow telephone companies that serve as few as 500 customers in Idaho's most-isolated regions to set their own rates after a transition period of three to five years. The maximum basic monthly rate for a residential line would be $24.10 throughout the transition, based on today's rates.
- The Strength of Internet Ties
The internet plays socially beneficial roles in a world moving towards “networked individualism.”
Community
- Delta to add new direct flights from Atlanta, GA to Bozeman,MT and Calgary, Alberta
The new flights are in response to "strong passenger demand for convenient service" to the two cities, said Bob Cortelyou, a Delta vice president.
Leadership Montana
- In California, New Kind of Commune for Elderly
"Here you get to pick your family instead of being born into it," said Peggy Northup-Dawson, 79, a retired family therapist and mother of six who is legally blind. "We recognized that when you're physically closer to each other, you pay more attention, look in on each other. The idea was to share care."
- Nw Toolkit for Building Inclusive Communities
The toolkit offers ideas for creating connections, encouraging dialogue, celebrating different cultures, involving youth and the media, and focusing on city employees and policies.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Take Responsibility for Rising Stars
They must mentor emerging leaders, from their own and other departments, passing on important knowledge and providing helpful evaluations and feedback. The operating managers' own evaluations, development plans, and promotions, in turn, depend on how successfully they nurture their subordinates.
- Helping people collaborate online. JotSpot
I think that people have soaked enough in the Web for the last 10 years to feel like, ``OK, it's around, browsers are reliable, a bunch of hosted services have been out there I can come to rely on. The Web has helped me with my personal productivity for a long time. I can buy things online, I can check my mail. Now let's see if it can help me with my workplace productivity.''
- Coming to a Cubicle Near You: Treadmill Work Stations
"The idea isn't to force people to walk and work," Levine said, treadmill motor humming in the background. "The idea is to give people choice because they're never had it before."
- Quick hits from 4 days at Monterey techno-fest. We aint seen nothin yet
Twelve good reasons to learn Chinese: As of December 2005, 12 of the 100 most popular blogs were written in Chinese
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