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| MATR Newsletter - Tue May 6, 2008 |
"Good morning from Montana, one of the deadliest places on earth." Al Roker on the "Today" show this morning
2009 Montana Legislature
Grupthink
- Montana Legislative News Update - May 2008
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR "ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS FOR LEGISLATORS" PILOT PROJECT
Vision Net
- The Secrets Of Social Networking, 5/13, Missoula
Steven and his compatriots at the Web hosting company Modwest http://www.modwest.com have built a unique social Web site called Grupthink http://www.grupthink.com .
Boomtown Institute
- Vision Net High Definition Videoconferencing Demonstration, 5/8, Missoula
The full line of High Definition products that range from personal interactive videoconferencing systems to fully integrated conference room systems will be on display.
Come Home Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Broadband in the United States
Obviously there is more work to be done and there are still some areas that lack adequate broadband coverage.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- VISTA volunteers come to Montana for a year, decide to stick around
"If I hated it, I'd be home in a year," Riley said. But Riley didn't hate it. In fact, she liked it so much that she stayed.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Economic Analyst - Blackfoot Telecommunications Group
Position requires outstanding analytical problem solving skills and the ability to apply those skills in constructing analytical models.
Highway 12 Ventures
- Rural Entrepreneurship News
Rural Entrepreneurship News summarizes developments in the field of rural entrepreneurship.
- Managers Learn to Bond With Remote Workers
Far-Flung Employees Need Close Contact And Clear Objectives
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Highway 12 Ventures Announces Two New General Partners
Executives With Significant Operational Experience Will Augment Rapidly Accelerating Entrepreneurship In The Mountain West Region
Leadership Montana
- Tech Entrepreneurs Older, More Educated Than Stereotype
The study also found the 45% of the tech startups were established in the state where American technology entrepreneurs received their education.
Montana Economic Development
- Sidney, Montana Chamber's leadership program celebrates 10 years
"The chamber's program is a way that participants can incorporate their leadership skills by organization, teaching and delegation of duties," Tawnya Gurney, committee chairman, said. "Originally, the thought was to find a way to prepare our leaders in the community and help them stay in the community."
Regional Economic Development
- The Great Falls Development Authority Forming Industry Cluster Task Forces. Kickoff Meetings 5/6 through 5/15
“We believe these primary sector industries have excellent potential for growth, “ stated Brett Doney, President of GFDA. “We want to work with existing businesses to help them expand and prosper. We also want to identify opportunities to attract and start new companies that will expand and strengthen each industry cluster.”
- Meg Whitman former CEO and President of Ebay to Keynote New Frontiers Conference, 6/2, Bozeman
We are thrilled to welcome Meg to Montana and look forward to hearing her insight on propelling Montana research.
- MBAC Prospector Launched. New online tool for those looking to locate their business in Helena, Montana
Professional site selectors, out-of-town entrepreneurs and anyone hoping to hang a shingle in Helena got a powerful new tool to use in their search for the perfect business location.
- Help highlighted - Around state, orange dots raise visibility of MCDC’s work
“We have a good project that we were keeping a secret,” said Heidi DeArment, MCDC operations manager. “We decided to focus on marketing to get the word out that we are a resource for succeeding in business, whether it is a referral for a consultation or help with a business plan or a loan.”
Business Plan Forums
- The Economic Development Potential Of The Local Watering Hole
I KEEP HEARING from readers who tell me, "I moved to this neighborhood because of [fill in the blank] bar."
- Rural cities balance character, commerce
For many little cities that want to grow but not lose their small-town feel, creating an environment where the old and the new can thrive is a challenge.
- When will I get my Economic Stimulus payment and how much will I get?
The IRS will tell you on this site.
Careers
- Zinch Wins MBV Law "Most Valued Company" Award at Keiretsu Forum Angel Capital Expo
"Keiretsu Forum is one of the leaders in the start-up angel financing space, and we are proud to be recognized by this pioneering group of savvy and experienced investors."
Funding and Building your Business
- On the Job: Health problems need not be revealed during a job interview
The important thing for any job candidate to remember is there is no legal obligation to tell an employer if you have cancer now or have had it in the past.
- After layoff, put focus on getting new job, not on the past
It's comforting to believe that you can avoid unemployment if you can avoid mistakes. Unfortunately, this superstition won't protect you any more than will avoiding breaking mirrors or throwing salt over your shoulder.
- The Footbridge to Success. How do you want to look when you leave the University of Montana School of Business?
A group of University of Montana business students were given the task of producing a short movie about ideas that old wizened business people thought they should consider as they get ready to graduate.
- Ensuring Your Business Cards Mean Business
"The back side of the business card is just undeveloped real estate because it's blank 90% of the time."
Incubators and R&D
- Business presentations – Tell the whole story
Many presentations omit one or more areas of information, causing the audience to question whether the business owner actually understands their business. By having a complete story, you show that you know what they need to know.
- Evaluating a Patent for use within your New Product
When you are designing a product and have some patented components or processes, which you don't own, and you wish to include (embed) them within your product, how do you go about evaluating these patents to make sure they will add expected and real value to your product?
- Companies look to pro bono programs to develop skills
‘‘Corporate America is slowly identifying or clarifying an opportunity for volunteerism, to be more strategic and not just to do a nice thing,’’ said Evan Hochberg, director of community involvement for Deloitte. ‘‘Traditional programs help softer skills, like leadership, and there’s always a place for doing things like planting trees. But there is greater societal impact when you offer out skill sets that employees are educated and experienced in.’’
- A Better Way To Handle Layoffs for Small Businesses
No business owner wants to lay off employees. But if the process becomes inevitable, where does the small-business owner start?
- A New Management Model?
Businesses are just now beginning to examine the power of the social web for business purposes.
- 8 Trends In IT CIOs Can't Ignore
One: Cloud computing.
Montana Education Excellence
- Let's Make Software Patents "Defensive Only"
More and more companies are paying engineers a bonus to file patents. Not "get patents" - simply generate patent applications.
- University of Washington ranked fourth best public research university
The University of Washington was ranked fourth among American public research universities and 12th among both public and private institutions, in a recent report by the Center for Measuring University Performance.
Regional Business
- State-0f-The-Art Education Center Breaks Ground
UM School of Education Dean Roberta Evans announced Friday during a groundbreaking ceremony that the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has committed a total of $10 million to complete the new education center.
- Two MSU students receive $121,000 NSF research fellowships
Christopher Colson and Sarah Lukes are working on their doctorates in MSU's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
University Business Plan Competitions
- April Naming Names, 2008 - Monthly BBB Hit Parade
Naming Names is not about revenge or vindictiveness, it is about accountability. The BBB enforces Accredited Business standards and holds non-accredited businesses accountable by naming names in the top ten categories for the month.
- In West, mining's return faces resistance
The region's newcomers, who came for high-tech jobs and scenery, worry about ecological costs.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Some Ideas for Student Entrepreneurs
GET STARTED NOW!
Washington State Business
- Wingspan of Grand Forks, North Dakota Offers Angel Investing Funds for Start-up Businesses
What separates Wingspan from other angel investors is the access to: marketing and advertising personnel; accounting, legal, and IT services; office, warehouse and operational space; and executive management resources that are available for Wingspan business partners.
Wyoming Business
- Parlez-vous a software language? Seattle's French Underground
In two years, the French population of metro Puget Sound has exploded.
Education
- Casper, Wyoming Sets Plans for Future Economic Success
"The economy is more diversified already than many people believed."
Community
- High School "Rocket Man" Brett Williams Gets Kids Excited about Math, Science and Physics by Building and Launching Their Homework Into the Heavens
They've since become the first high school to break the sound barrier, even soaring to 100,000 feet. Now, there's a movement to take the program that Brett Williams started, and spread it across the country.
- NBC News Launches Online Learning Site
Created by NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, for students and lifelong learners ages 13 and up, iCue stands for Immerse, Connect, Understand and Excel
Connectivity & Communications
- Buildings and City Plans Getting a First Look in Second Life
Opening a virtual model within Second Life is a cutting-edge way to give the public a look
Energy
- No party for this birthday: Spam's 30
"It was rather an insult to one's sensibilities to have an obvious commercial message sent out over a research network," said computer scientist Peter Neumann of SRI in Menlo Park, Calif., who was one of the 393 recipients of that primordial spam.
- Ultrafast Internet nearly up to speed
The U.S. is outranked by such countries as the Netherlands, Finland, Japan and South Korea when it comes to broadband penetration. But that criterion is misleading, Atkinson said. If U.S. states such as California, Massachusetts and Illinois are examined individually, they rank ahead of most other countries.
- Sprint races to outperform Wi-Fi
A wireless technology that Sprint Nextel plans to launch within a year makes high-speed and secure Internet access possible from almost anywhere.
- Many wireless resellers going under
"Most of these people came in with a gold rush mentality."
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Dumb as We Wanna Be
This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks. What a way to build our country.
- Smarter electric grid could be key to saving power
This is the beginning of a new way of thinking about electricity, and the biggest change in how we get power since wires began veining the landscape a century ago.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Boomers, Exercise Your Brains, or Else You’ll...Uh...
“It’s probably one of the most frightening aspects of the changes we undergo as we age.”
Government Technology
- Pursuing the Next Level of Artificial Intelligence
“She’s on the bleeding edge of the leading edge.”
Non-Profit News
- NASCIO Conference Spotlights State IT Innovation and Change
On the final day of NASCIO's midyear conference in Chantilly, Va., representatives from four states presented strong evidence that innovation is alive and well in the public sector.
- Corporate Marketing Budgets -Untapped Funding Source For Non-Profits, 5/21, Bozeman, MT
As traditional sources of funding become increasingly competitive, nonprofits are tapping into corporate marketing budgets to support programs, events, and even capital campaigns.
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