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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Feb 14, 2014 |
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Mark Twain http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Surprise Valentine's Day Serenading. Love is scary http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Data Focused Business Cluster
Montana Department of Commerce
- Obama administration unveils cybersecurity guidelines
The president issued the executive order only after failing to persuade Congress to pass legislation requiring companies to better defend their networks.
- Big data - Society as science
Alex Pentland of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on using data to predict--and control--human behaviour.
- How Hackers Take Down Web Sites [Video]
Unfortunately attackers continue to find ways around defenses, creating an escalating virtual arms race involving Web sites, cyber criminals and law enforcement.
Northwestern Energy
- Montana Office of Tourism Awards e-Marketing Grants to Eight Tourism Organizations
Tourism organizations from eight Montana communities will be able to move forward with new e-marketing projects thanks to recent funding awards made by the Montana Office of Tourism (MTOT) at the Montana Department of Commerce.
Inteneo Systems
- NorthWestern: PPL coal plants are losing money
One independent industry analyst said the data paints a "bleak" picture for coal-fired generation in Montana.
Come Home Montana
- The real promise of big data: It's changing the whole way humans will solve problems
Big data isn't meaningful alone; rather it's a byproduct and a means to an end as we change how we solve problems.
- 2014 Is The Year Of Digital Marketing Analytics: What It Means For Your Company
Everything is moving toward data: big data, mobile data, performance data, campaign data, product data, and even data about how we track our data.
- Office 'Influencers' Are in High Demand - Companies Harness the Clout of Their Well-Connected Employees
Many companies say they are identifying a previously invisible layer of talent, key players who may not be posting top results on their own but are boosting performance across the organization.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Curriculum Development Specialist - Flathead Valley Community College
Flathead Valley Community College is an outstanding public community college located on a beautiful campus in Kalispell, Montana with panoramic views of the northern Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park.
Hellgate Venture Network
- Exclusive 10% discount to Startup Weekend Missoula 2014! Use Code: LinkedIn
No Talk, All Action Launch a Startup in 54 hours.
- Paul Gladen Named Director of University of Montana's Blackstone LaunchPad - Program Launches Today 2/13 at 10:00AM
"The Blackstone LaunchPad at UM offers us another tool to promote and encourage economic development in Montana," UM President Royce Engstrom said. "Paul already has launched a successful business in Montana, and he connects well with students. He is the right person to launch an important new program here on campus."
Montana Business
- Hellgate Venture Network - Next Meeting Montec & Blackstone LaunchPad, 2/20, Missoula
Joe Fanguy, President & Chairman of MonTEC and Paul Gladen, Director of the Blackstone LaunchPad will talk about the combined role that MonTEC and the Blackstone LaunchPad have in supporting entrepreneurship, and the role that the business community and HVN can play.
Montana Economic Development
- Montana photographer Tim Lewis brings new marketing tool to Montana businesses - InsideMT
He offers a new, untapped tool for businesses to promote themselves -- particularly if you want to reach Millennials.
- A New Glacier Partnership - Recent appointments to Glacier National Park leadership look toward a bright future
At Glacier National Park, a new leadership team has emerged and pledged to forge ahead in the years to come with climate change, infrastructure and philanthropy topping the list of priorities.
- Missoula, Montana's EverLog™ Systems Celebrates 10th Anniversary - "The Best Way to Build a Log Home"
All EverLog™ products are designed to provide the look and feel of natural wood logs coupled with the long term maintenance free performance.
- Comparing Charges at Montana Hospitals
This information can help you make informed choices.
- Stockman Bank of Montana buying Basin State Bank
Stockman CEO Bill Coffee said that Stockman is excited to serve more customers in central Montana.
- Tester announces first set of panelists for upcoming small business workshop in Helena on March 7
Tester's workshop will be held on March 7 at Carroll College's Campus Center - known as the 'Cube.'
- Popular UM restaurant Food For thought closing
February 16th, this Sunday, will be the last day they'll be open for business.
- ADF will build $6M paint shop in Great Falls
They plan to employ between 100 and 150 local people during construction and use local contractors for the building process, like they did during construction of the fabrication shop.
Careers
- Columbia Falls, Montana businesses see increase from loan program
There are at least seven other Columbia Falls businesses that are currently utilizing the loan.
- Bear Paw Development Corp. celebrates 45th anniversary
"Bear Paw Development was the first economic development district in Montana and has the distinction of being the oldest district in the state, and one of the longest-serving districts in the nation," said Paul Tuss, executive director.
- Montana Governor's Equal Pay Summit, 3/31- 4/1, Bozeman Montana
The Governor's Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force announced the speakers for the Equal Pay Summit on March 31-April 1 in Bozeman. National pay equity advocate Lilly Ledbetter will kick off the event at 6:30 p.m. March 31, in Bozeman,Montana with keynote speakers on April 1 to include Gov. Steve Bullock and first lady Lisa Bullock.
Government
- Nearly a third of science and tech leaders think a woman can't reach the top
"Even the senior guys who are in a position to make change for the women in their company don't feel like they can do it," says Laura Sherbin, the director of research for CTI. When that's the case, she asks, "what's left?"
- Meditation Makes People Feel Better. Can It Help You Work Smarter, Too?
Meditating can ease stress, insomnia, and depression and may even help ward off disease. Now there's evidence it can produce better business decisions.
Idaho Business
- The Most Unlikely State in America Is On Track to Eradicate Homelessness By 2015
It's proof that if you let data guide policy decisions, it's often progressive policies that win out.
- Missoula hosts city budget planning exercise
"This really brought to light some of the things that were important to constituents." Councilwoman Annelise Hedahl
- 10 Budgeting Tips for Long-Term Government Financial Planning
"The spending, tax, and other policy decisions that comprise the budget have consequences for a state's fiscal and economic security that last long beyond the budget year. Often, however, policymakers focus on the immediate effects of policy decisions and fail to account for their longer-term consequences."
- Montana Lieutenant Governor Angela McLean focusing on education
Mclean believes creating a world class education system is the best way to improve Montana's economy.
Other Economies
- Governor Otter says Idaho's anti-gay reputation is not hurting business
Nor has he heard business complaints about House Bill 427, which would add legal protections for people who refuse to hire or serve gays based on their religious beliefs.
- Utah beef-processing business Dale T. Smith & Sons Meat Packing Co. to move to Idaho
"The city, the county and Jerome 20/20 have all united to make this happen," Crouch said. "It's a new deal. The atmosphere has changed. It's a successful thing that everybody has worked on. I think this truly is a new horizon."
- Bills would make Idaho hospitals post data on prices, outcomes Some lawmakers want information readily available to the public.
Idaho is one of three states in the U.S. that lacks a website where patients can find out how much a knee surgery costs at a nearby hospital, how many of those surgeries a hospital does per year, or how well the hospital's outcomes compare with other facilities.
- Boise Draws A Line In The Sand In The Battle For Tech Talent With New Website - "Big Ideas Grow Here"
Here, we don't wait around for answers, we find create the solution. Here we don't ask 'why', we ask 'why not?' Don't just take our word for it, take theirs...
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- With pay frozen, Maine state troopers tell lawmakers they rely on road kill to feed families, can't afford heating oil
State employees most hurt by the wage freeze are those just starting their careers and those who, like him, took state jobs just before merit and longevity wage freezes were implemented.
MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- Mystudentinneed is a way for the community to help students in need.
Your donation is tax deductible.
- Stanford design students show off their creations from the Product Realization Lab
In the Product Realization Lab, students learn manufacturing skills.
- Doodling in Math Class: Connecting Dots with Vi Hart - Recreational Mathemusician
Anti-parabola propoganda, plus musing on math class, cardioids, connect the dots, envelopes of lines, even a bit of origami.
- Yellowstone a 'natural classroom' for awestruck students
"Active engagement is one of the best ways to learn," she said. "And Yellowstone is such a natural classroom. Questions come up out here that don't always come up in a classroom."
Montana Education Excellence
- MAPS Media Institute marks 10th year of education innovation
Unique program now covers science, tech, engineering, arts and math in the Bitterroot
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Registration for the 2014 Garden City Triathlon opens Saturday, February 15
A fundraiser that benefits the Montana Campus Compact.
- University of Montana trying to raise extra $45 million for scholarships - "Investing in Student Success"
"This initiative is part of President Engstrom's vision to transform lives by having outstanding experiences available to all of our students," Beth Hammock said.
- University of Montana Entrepreneurship Club Starts New Interactive Lecture Series
The Entrepreneurship club is open to ALL MAJORS and community members alike whom are interested in extending their business knowledge, understanding what it takes to be an entrepreneur, or have an idea they'd like to turn into a business.
- University of Montana marks 121st birthday with new brain research, neuroscience degree
"Today is a call to action," Engstrom told the room. "It's a call to action to innovate academically, to constantly raise the bar on what we expect of our students, to ensure we graduate them with the most competitive education available in public higher education today."
Universities and Economic Development
- Business workshop gives local students real-life career ideas
Approximately 100 students from area high schools attended the all-day event at Great Falls College Montana State University, which featured guest speakers from advertising firms, marketing departments, media outlets, accounting firms and more talking about the skills it took to get their jobs and the things that make their jobs enjoyable.
- University Of Montana-American Marketing Association - A Night Of Marketing Discussion And Creole Dinner, 3/6, Missoula
You are invited to join the University of Montana-American Marketing Association chapter for a night of marketing discussion and a creole dinner.
- UM officially launches new Blackstone entrepreneurship program
"Blackstone recognizes that new graduates face a difficult employment environment today," said Pam Haxby-Cote, the regional director for Montana Blackstone LaunchPad. "It's what makes the Blackstone Foundation program so important and relevant today."
Community
- Arizona State University Foundation Awarded $1 Million for ASU-Accelerated Companies
This agreement with ASU will help improve the fiscal health of our community.
Funding and Building your Business
- Downtown plan: Hamilton preparing new master plan for historic business district
Hamilton residents and even visitors will have a say in how their downtown evolves in the future.
Energy and Climate Change
- Gender-Diverse Boards Draw Investors
There is a positive link between female board representation and company performance.
Connectivity & Communications
- We’re One Step Closer to Nuclear Fusion Energy
Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the stars.
- New Polymer Could End Battery Fires, Quadruple Efficiency
"Most polymers don't mix with salt, but this one did," says grad student and head researcher Dominica Wong. "And it was nonflammable."
Government Technology
- Google working on 10 gigabit Internet speeds
Project to develop 'next generation' of the Internet is part of Google's broader obsession with speed, CFO says
- Triangle Announces New Connected Community Challenge
The two successful applicants will receive a $2,500 grant which must be used to implement projects outlined in a local Broadband Action Plan developed as part of the Challenge process.
- Why the Comcast-Time Warner Deal Is Far More Dangerous Than You Think - Comcast deal a blow to Apple TV and Netflix
Apple investors and Netflix fans better start writing to their elected officials in Washington to oppose Comcast's $45 billion acquisition offer for rival Time Warner Cable.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Missoula County site server out of commission - Soliciting vendors for new website design
We are in the beginning stages of soliciting a vendor to design and launch a new website for the County.
- Can a Book Club Improve Government?
Your current selection is Moneyball. What does that have to do with government? It’s all about using data in unique ways to drive innovation. Right now, the mayor is working with an organization called Results for America, and they’ve been promoting this "Moneyball for Government" idea to use data and evidence to drive investment decisions. We recently did a Twitter town hall around that and so it made sense to add this book.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Surprise Valentine's Day Serenading. Why didn't we think of this?
Surprising and serenading unsuspecting female students at the Utah college for Valentine's Day. The reactions weren't always romantic.
Transportation
- Facebook's Paper offers a fresh new way to view social network
Released last week for the iPhone, the app represents a wholesale rethinking of how users interact with the social network.
- Cancer-sniffing fruit flies start to glow if they smell sickness
A group of scientists in Germany have genetically modified fruit flies so their antennae glow if they smell cancer cells.
- Flickr co-founder launches Slack, an all-in-one messaging tool designed to kill email forever
Many companies have tried to come up with a single service that allows teams to work effectively without email, but former Flickr founder Stewart Butterfield believes he has done it with Slack, which integrates with dozens of different data sources including Twitter
- Netflix Is Building an Artificial Brain Using Amazon's Cloud
Netflix is following in the footsteps of web giants like Google and Facebook, who have hired top deep-learning researchers in an effort to improve everything from voice recognition to image tagging.
- A Liquid That Makes Any Pair of Gloves Touchscreen-Friendly
Nanotips, which is currently funding on Kickstarter, proposes a third solution: Use a conductive, polyamide liquid solution to add touchscreen capabilities to any pair of gloves.
- Kalispell Airport to Offer Nonstop Summer Flights to Portland
The Alaska Airlines flights will operate daily June 9 through Aug. 23
- Boeing "Dreamliner" touches down in Great Falls - "the right airport for testing so it was a perfect match."
The close proximity to Seattle and uncrowded air space makes Montana an attractive site for Boeing to test their aircraft.
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