Western Montana InBusiness Sept. 2005 – It’s a good time to be in construction

For this September issue of Western Montana InBusiness Monthly, our third monthly effort, we take a detailed look at one of the hottest sectors in western Montana’s economy – construction.

By MIKE McINALLY

Full Edition: http://www.mtinbusiness.com/inbiz-0509/

These are boom times for the construction industry – and our InBusiness reporter, Tyler Christensen, found plenty of busy people hard at work. In her stories for this issue, Tyler examines the forces that are driving business in each of western Montana’s major construction sectors, from highway work to commercial work to building houses, with a wide range of price tags.

But we’re also taking a look at some issues that are shadowing the good times – in particular, Tyler reports on a growing shortage of skilled workers, and some of the programs that already are being put into place to address that. Tyler also reports about growing concerns surrounding how Missoula government regulates the building industry. And Missoulian business reporter Robert Struckman contributes a story about how the rising price of construction materials might affect the industry.

In addition, Tyler reports on how sustainable-building practices are leaving their marks on the industry and profiles an innovator who’s making his mark with concrete logs. This issue also includes a profile of entrepreneur Chip Pigman and a Q-and-A with construction veteran Kevin Gordon of Gordon Construction.

And that’s just for starters: You’ll find lots of other thought-provoking treats in this issue of InBusiness, including a column from Rosalie Cates of the Montana Community Development Corp., who reflects on the connections between population growth, the construction business and a healthier economy for western Montana.

Cates also serves on the InBusiness advisory board, which consistently has challenged us to tackle the bigger stories. Other members of the board include Rich Boberg, of the Missoula Macy’s; Bob Boschee, of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.; Missoula County Commissioner Barbara Evans; Larry Gianchetta, dean of the University of Montana School of Business Administration; Faye Hanson-Warren, of U.S. Bank; Vicki Judd, of NorthWestern Energy; Dick King, of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp.; Kim Latrielle, of the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce; Denise Person, of Collegiate Marketing; Loren Rose, of Pyramid Mountain Lumber; and Joni Walker, of the Missoula Federal Credit Union.

One final note, in the spirit of full disclosure: Kurt Wilson, the Missoulian’s photo editor, is the brother-in-law of Kevin Gordon. Kurt’s wife, Karen, is a partner in WGM Group, which is profiled in this issue. Kurt played no role in this issue of InBusiness and had no say whatsoever in story selection. We thought both Gordon Construction and WGM deserved some coverage in this issue on their own merits.
I hope you find this issue of InBusiness informative and entertaining. You can subscribe to the publication, if you’d like, by calling 523-5280. You can also find copies of the magazine at various single-copy locations, on sale for 25 cents.

As always, I want to know what you think about InBusiness Monthly – and I’m particularly interested in your thoughts about topics or business people worth writing about. You can reach me at 523-5250 or through e-mail at [email protected].

Full Edition: http://www.mtinbusiness.com/inbiz-0509/

Thanks for reading. Next up, in the October issue: Western Montana’s restaurant and food business.