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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Feb 28, 2014 |
“I came out of Montana, where careers were farming, ranching and teaching,” Reynolds said. “Going into programming was a big step.” From Choteau to Middle Earth http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana's Big Sky Resort Gets Bigger http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Montana Medical Association selects Big Sky Commerce as its preferred Merchant Service Provider http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Big Sky Brewing Giving Exceeded $100K in 2013 http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Data Focused Business Cluster
TEDx Events in Montana
- A Plan to Rebuild Computer Security From the Ground Up
The world's computer and networking hardware just isn't designed in a way that you can readily shape security systems and policies.
- Why Do Companies Keep Getting Hacked?
One reason is that security isn't always a priority for developers in a rush to bring a product to market. Another reason is that humans are stupid.
- How can small businesses stop data breaches?
How many local wine shops do you know with a chief security officer?
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Today's TED Talk Catherine Bracy: Why good hackers make good citizens
Hacking is about more than mischief-making or political subversion.
Big Sky Commerce
- White House Announces Executive Actions Designed to Combat Patent Trolls
Last week's announcement introduced three new executive actions designed to encourage innovation and strengthening the quality of the patent system.
Inteneo Systems
- Montana Medical Association selects Big Sky Commerce as its preferred Merchant Service Provider
Kevin Davis, President of Big Sky Commerce, notes that "it is an incredible honor to be chosen as the preferred Merchant Service Provider for MMA.
Come Home Montana
- University of Maryland CIO Says Data 'Relics' Left It Vulnerable
Institutions need to review what data they've accumulated over time and purge sensitive information not still needed -- particularly social security numbers, said Mr. Vladeck, who is now a Georgetown Law professor. "I'm sure the folks at Maryland are going to learn from it, but the damage here is quite significant."
- Data analytics is where the 'magic' happens: Gartner
Gartner research director Lisa Kart agreed, saying that while the future of making business decisions using data is not black and white, there are benefits. It can lead to more flexibility, better results, and greater conversations, especially when there is transparency and the data is shared across a business.
- Realizing the Promise of Big Data
"Big data is an evolving concept that refers to the growth of data and how it is used to optimize business processes, create customer value, and mitigate risks."
- Selling Analytics to Sales - Analytics Cold-Calls the Sales Team
It's only a matter of time before sales becomes "one of the most important domains for Big Data and analytics."
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Manufacturing Partnership Director - Great Falls Development Authority
Dynamic, self-motivated, positive leader sought to join our dedicated, passionate, results-driven economic development team.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Senior Technology Manager - TechLink
PhD in science, 5-10 years' industry experience, and a desire to achieve technology transfer successes through evaluating IP, direct-marketing technologies, and establishing patent license agreements.
- Cabela's hiring 90 employees for new Missoula store
"The ideal candidate is hard-working and passionate about the outdoors."
Montana Business
- 2014 Montana Women in Business Conference, 4/02, Pray, Montana
This year's featured keynote is Atlanta-based serial entrepreneur Lara O'Connor Hodgson, who will deliver an interactive and inspiring address on thinking big, finding balance and reaching success as an entrepreneur.
- Freedom to startup: Missoula entrepreneurs have numerous support programs
An entrepreneurial drive is nothing new to Missoula, said Pam Haxby-Cote, regional director the Blackstone LaunchPad. "I think it's the Montana way. I actually think it's innate, ingrained in us."
Montana Economic Development
- Senator Jon Tester announces keynote speaker for upcoming small business workshop
U.S. Commerce Department's Tab Wilkins to headline March 7 workshop
- Big Sky Brewing Giving Exceeded $100K in 2013.
We're brewers. We like to tinker and build. We also like to give to others who want to build.
- Investment firms may be Montana's farmers of tomorrow
The report said accountability and food safety could become an issue when contractors and private money control farms.
- How Fish Can Grow Your Food - Aquaponics and Aquaculture
Fish farms be aware - turning waste into food is easier than you think!
- Montana's Big Sky Resort Gets Bigger
"We talk about being the biggest skiing, offering more elbow room to every skier."
Careers
- The Impact Of Student Debt On Montana's Economy, 3/6, Missoula, Montana
A community forum will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the University of Montana's University Center Room 332 to discuss student debt and its impact on the state's economy.
Government
- Where you went to school matters less than you think
Job candidates haven't gotten the message. A whopping 80 percent of the American public surveyed by Gallup say they think their alma mater is important.
- Montana site helps find 'cool' outdoor jobs - Cool Works
Cool Works, based in Gardiner on the banks of the Yellowstone River, is one of the largest online job boards in the country for "cool" jobs such as positions in national parks, at ranches and ski areas and with rafting companies.
Idaho Business
- How Agenda 21 Trumps Planning - Agenda of Fear
In recent years, Agenda 21 has become an effective rallying cry used by right-wing groups to beat back everything from bike paths to smart meters on home appliances.
- Carlyle Groups' 3 co-founders took home $750 million between them in 2013
Times are good for the private-equity business as it reaps fat gains on the sale of its investments, helped by a market fueled by low interest rates.
Incubators and R&D
- Idaho judge keeps broadband fight alive in courts
Fourth District Judge Patrick Owen on Feb. 25 ruled Syringa Networks can pursue its lawsuit against Idaho's Department of Administration alleging the agency illegally awarded work to Education Networks of America and CenturyLink.
- New Boise-based angel fund raises $850,000
A potential new angel investment fund based in Boise has raised $850,000 out of a goal of $2 million.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Business Incubator Fills Up in Eureka
"It's going to bring more jobs to the area and it's an affordable way to help businesses," she said. "It helps them get their foot in the door to grow and excel."
Workforce Development
- North Dakota Is Leaving South Dakota In the Dust
North Dakota still lacks Mount Rushmore, but it has something even better: oil.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Saskatchewan manufacturing sales top record $15.2 billion in 2013, but more work to be done
Saskatchewan manufacturers continue to lead the world in product and process quality, reliability, and innovation, creating value not only for their employees and customers, but for all residents of the province.
Montana Education Excellence
- Women missing out on lucrative careers in computer science. What is CodeMontana?
What difference does it make if women don't join the tech workforce in the same numbers that men do?
- Senate hears from Crow tribe on early childhood programs
Early childhood programs like Head Start face many barriers on the Crow reservation, but Montana's Crow tribe is working to overcome them, according to a tribal official.
- Movie magic from Montana - "From Choteau to Middle Earth" - It's all about coding
"I came out of Montana, where careers were farming, ranching and teaching," Reynolds said. "Going into programming was a big step."
- "From Choteau To Middle Earth" (Coding gets you there), 3/6, Bozeman, Montana
Reynolds is an Oscar-nominated animation supervisor with Peter Jackson's visual effects company, Weta Digital. He is one of four people who will get their hands on a statue this weekend if "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" comes out on top in the visual effects category at the 86th Academy Awards.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- MSU gains $2.2 million for graduating more students
Montana State University will receive $2.2 million, the largest share of the new pot of incentive money the 2013 Legislature created to reward state campuses that graduate more students and reduce dropouts
- Berninger gives advice to MSU film students as his movie"Mistaken for Strangers" goes'National'
"I thought about going to a big film school, but one of my brother's friends who was in film told me to go to a school where I'd have a great college experience .... Get in trouble... Make a lot of friends ... all which I did," Berninger said as he spoke to film students last week.
- Helena High students win $20K in national app contest
Montana may be short on young programmers, but a team of Helena High computer science students has proven their ideas are world-class.
- University of Montana reports 6.7 percent drop in enrollment
Officials said the decline was anticipated.
- Grand Opening - MSU Computer Science Study And Tutoring Facility, 2/28, Bozeman, Montana
It looks more like a Bay Area tech start-up than a traditional College of Engineering study space.
Funding and Building your Business
- Showcasing their skills: University of Great Falls internship fair gets students to work
"It's all about engaging our students in the community. Quite frankly, we want people to stay in Great Falls," said Twila Croft, director of career and internship services at UGF. "I want to promote our students to the community."
Energy and Climate Change
- Analytics platform actually helps boost web traffic
It uses algorithms and machine learning to give users plain English recommendations for tailoring both their site and writing to make it more suited to the way audiences already engage with it.
- Marc Andreessen Thinks the News Business Is About to Grow Tenfold
If such a monumental shift were happening, if the market for news were really going to grow 100x due to social networks and internet disruption, you'd expect to see some signs of that by now. And indeed there are at least some:
Connectivity & Communications
- The Power Grid from Scratch: What Would You Do?
If you could bring the whole thing down and start over from scratch, what would you do?
- Solar Renewal Casts Shadow Over Utilities
Solar power may be attracting investment, but it is at the expense of traditional suppliers.
- Tesla sees electric future outside the automobile
"We also plan to start selling (batteries) for use in homes, commercial sites and utilities," the company said in the filing. "The applications for these battery systems include backup power, peak demand reduction, demand response and wholesale electric market services."
- Why Apple Could Win Big With Tesla's Giant New Battery Factory
"This looks like a giant cell phone on wheels."
Government Technology
- FCC Releases Broadband Speed App for iPhone
The agency plans to use data collected on the app for future reports on broadband speed and wireless competition in U.S.
- How Ammon, Idaho, Builds Digital Roads
Much of Ammon's success has to be attributed to the willingness of multiple departments to work together, supportive and thoughtful city council members, and a Technology Director willing to think outside the limits of how things had traditionally been done.
Non-Profit News
- At a glance: risk levels of state computer systems
Initial cybersecurity risk assessments of state systems linking to federal computers to help enroll people for coverage under the new health care law found widespread risks.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Montana student loan nonprofit Student Assistance Foundation loses contract, to cut jobs
SAF services a $2.9 billion loan portfolio for 141,000 borrowers.
- "A Video Gift" - Wild Rockies Field Institute (WRFI) "Earning college credit while living in your tent. Seriously."
Think outside the classroom
- Stem cell knee injection shown to regenerate meniscus, reduce pain
"The results of this study suggest that mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to improve the overall condition of the knee joint," Vangsness and colleagues wrote.
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