Senator Baucus Pulls Out All the Stops for Montana Business Students in Washington

Senator Sets up Top- Level Tax, Trade, Commerce Meetings for MBA Students from across Montana During National Small Business Week

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus is encouraging University of Montana business school graduate students to make the most of their trip to Washington this week during National Small Business Week. As Chairman of the Senate Committee that oversees tax and international trade issues, Baucus secured top-level meetings for the students with officials at the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Commerce as well as the country’s top trade office, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Baucus met with the students in his office today, along with Montana Senator Jon Tester, and encouraged them to dig deep and ask tough questions at their meetings this week.

"80 percent of success in life is showing up," Baucus told the students. "Show up, just like you have today, speak up, and have fun doing it. Build startups, create jobs, find success. And while you’re building your empires, always remember that there is no greater calling in life than service and giving back."

In addition to Treasury, Commerce and USTR, Baucus also set up a meeting with U.S. Tax Court judges, the Federal Reserve Board, a White House tour, and a chance to act out the Senate process for passing a bill out of committee during a "mock markup" in Baucus’ Finance Committee.

"These are the kind of experiences that distinguish truly great MBA programs – learning opportunities offered to students through a high level of cooperation between the state’s education institutions, policy makers, and the business community. I feel very lucky to be the director of the Montana MBA program, given this level of support," said Director of UM’s MBA program Simona Stan, Ph.D. "I cannot thank Senator Baucus and his staff enough for the extraordinary support and attention given to our program. Last year, we had the unprecedented opportunity to visit Mr. Warren Buffett in Omaha, because of connections Senator Baucus made for us at his 2010 Economic Development Summit. Twenty UM MBA/MAcct students had the unique chance to meet Mr. Buffett in person, ask questions, and receive career and life advice from him. To follow up on this experience, we are now visiting DC, and look very much forward to meeting Senators Baucus and Tester in person, along with many other high profile policy makers and professionals at the top US government institutions."

(Read more about the Buffett visit HERE. http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=170 )

"It was great to meet this diverse group of students from around the world as they participated in this unique experience," Tester said. "I look forward to seeing these bright minds strengthen our economic future."

As the only state-supported, AACSB accredited MBA program in MT, UM’s mission is to serve the Montana region by educating leaders to effectively manage organizations in the globally competitive environment. UM’s MBA program offers a variety of flexible options to accommodate traditional and nontraditional students throughout the state, including evening, video and online classes. The diversity of the program is reflected in the 15 students visiting D.C. this week.

What the Students Are Saying

Chet Mclean:

"I am a Master of Accountancy student at the University of Montana–Missoula and elated to have the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of how our national government operates. Senator Baucus’s effort to provide UM MBA students with a quality educational experience in Washington DC deserves a Montana-sized thank you. It will enhance the sagacity of Montana’s future leaders and serve Montana well."

Tami Sabol:

"Senator Baucus and Senator Tester, I would like to express a sincere thanks to both of you for supporting the University of Montana’s MBA Program. I am one of the many individuals who was personally affected by the recession halfway through my career in the forest products industry after the collapse of several western Montana wood products manufacturing facilities. The MBA Program has given me renewed hope and helped me to turn my life around after a devastating job loss. After 18 years with the private industry, I now have a great job with the federal government and will graduate with my MBA in 2013. I plan to stay with the government in hopes of becoming a leadership role model, by bringing common sense and positive change to the management of public lands. I have seen several of my friends and co-workers successfully complete the MBA Program and witnessed firsthand their personal growth and success as a direct result of the quality curriculum and professional staff affiliated with UM’s School of Business Administration. I believe in the program strongly and have therefore offered my time to help expand the program to eastern Montana, specifically the Miles City community. With the Bakken boom going full steam, there is a tremendous opportunity to reach the easternmost part of Montana as well as both North and South Dakota. This program is extremely rigorous, but it is also very rewarding. Again, thanks so much for your support of advanced education in Montana and specifically UM’s MBA Program. There are many success stories out there!"

Michael Wills, 2012 UM MBA Graduate:

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Washington VIP’s and learn first-hand how important things get done at the federal level. I want to thank Montana’s congressional representatives, especially Senator Baucus, and The University of Montana School of Business Administration for making this outstanding opportunity possible."

Chris Sehy:

"I have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and have been fortunate to live in Bozeman for the last 5 years. To ensure I can remain here in Bozeman, regardless of business conditions at my employer, I started the distance MBA program at the University of Montana. I’m finishing my first year in the program with a trip to Washington D.C. I’ve been looking forward to this learning experience ever since it was announced as it’s not every day that you get to meet both of your Senators to learn how policy affects business. I also have a chance to spend time with other students in the program which helps build relationships beyond the students in the Bozeman remote classroom."

Jason Palin:

"I was proudly born and raised in Western Montana and currently reside in Big Timber. My undergraduate degree is in Mining Engineering from Montana Tech in Butte. I currently have a great position (chief engineer) at the East Boulder Mine South of Big Timber. I am appreciative of the opportunity the U of M MBA program has offered including both the technical knowledge required to get ahead in today’s business world and also the perspective on the bigger picture including this great opportunity to visit Washington DC. I am confident this opportunity to meet with government officials in a real world environment will enhance my global business understanding and hopefully allow me to better contribute to all of my stakeholders."

Conor Fegan:

"As a student of the University of Montana’s MBA program, I have been given a wonderful opportunity to see the inner working of our nation’s government. I am grateful to the people who put this together especially Senator Max Baucus and his staff, and Dr. Simona Stan."

Andrea Duke:

"I am from Billings, MT; I am very excited for the U of M MBA trip in Washington DC because we are able to meet such influential people and expand our networks. I am also intrigued to be in a place with so much history behind it and really learn about what this country was founded from. I also hope that this trip can be a continuous thing for the University and I will be able to say I was with the very first group and had a blast."

Salome Tsagareishvili:

"I moved from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia to Montana with my mom and my sister 7 years ago. My mom was a professor of Persian language at the UM. I did my undergrad in finance and international business at the University of Montana and now I am pursuing a MBA. I chose this program because of its great staff and professors, friendly environment and interesting curriculum. I am excited to be in Washington D.C. because it is such a historical place. I very much look forward to meeting some of the most amazing and the most influential people in the state of Montana and in United States and will get to learn from them and ask them questions. This is a great opportunity for all of us!"

Yifei Fu (Fay):

"As an international student, I’m very looking forward to visit DC. It’s amazing place! It creates a great chance for me to visit DC. Even though I just got here, but I already learnt a lot of American histories. This trip gives me chances to learn how US government works, also about political knowledge. It’s my pleasure to meet the Montana senators."

For further instructions, visit http://democrats.senate.gov/tv/pathfire/baucus.pdf.