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| MATR Newsletter - Tue May 20, 2014 |
A wise person gets more from their enemies than a fool from their friends.
Montana Data Focused Business Cluster
Montana Department of Commerce
- Big Data Alliance Meeting, 5/27, Missoula, Montana
Come join the Big Data in Missoula conversation and share your thoughts on how Big Data Week in Missoula went and how it could be even better next year.
Northwestern Energy
- Using Census Data For Business Planning And Market Analysis, 6/10, Billings, Montana
This training is designed for small business owners and networks who want hands-on training with U.S. Census Bureau Economic Programs and demographic data.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- High hopes for new NorthWestern headquarters, Butte development
It will be the biggest Uptown building project in decades. It virtually ensures a multi-story parking garage will finally be funded and built. And the building project should pump millions of new tax dollars into the heart of Butte.
Great Falls Development Authority
- Northeast Montana's Secrets
Caught up in the past? So is eastern Montana, where dinosaur bones and fossils just keep cropping up.
- Rediscover Montana: A tourism guide to the Treasure State
Montana is a great place to play and recharge your batteries. Come see Big Sky Country this year.
TechLink
- Great Falls Montana Goes Full Speed Ahead!
Keep this quiet. We wouldn't want word to get out that the GREAT FALLS ECONOMY IS GROWING FASTER THAN EVER!!!
- GFDA TOP 21
Here's the GFDA Top 21 for the last two weeks, celebrating great things happening to move Great Falls Forward!
Inteneo Systems
- Science/Technology Writers and Editors Wanted
TechLink is seeking to create a roster of writers and editors to research, write or edit, and deliver to TechLink success stories and/or other technical or scientific stories for Department of Defense technology transfer programs.
- TechLink Technology Spotlight
Our technology summaries highlight the features and benefits of select DoD inventions available for licensing. These are just a few of the many technology summaries.
Come Home Montana
- 3 ways to transform your college enrollment process with dashboards
Make faster, better decisions and get the right number of students on all your courses by using digital dashboards.
- Big Data meets big-time basketball
Data is starting to revolutionize professional basketball, influencing everything from game strategy and player conditioning to how fans interact with the sport.
- 12 Free Data Mining Books
Regardless of your background, skills or goals, there's something for you in this list.
- Data-driven decision making: Combining Silicon Valley tech with Wall Street heuristics
Now the arms race is on to apply technology to proven investment heuristics.
- Airbnb's Human Brains Crunch Data Better Than Computers
"We needed answers for what we were going to do by the next day," Newman says. "We didn't want to take the time to build out a perfected model."
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Human Resources Director/EEO Officer - City of Missoula
Oversee and administer human resources functions, including labor relations, benefits administration, classification and compensation and recruitments; serve as EEO Officer.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Manager of Software Development, Press Manager, Customer Advocate - Printing For Less
You won't sacrifice salary for scenery, or professional development for peaceful neighborhoods. At PFL, we want our employees to make a good living and make living good.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Access and Compliance Program Manager - Montana University System
Serve as a compliance specialist for Perkins eligible Career and Technical Education programs and work with the Perkins Big Sky Pathways initiative to help increase opportunities for dual enrollment within local and statewide articulation, expand industry involvement in the Big Sky Pathways program, and build opportunities for short-term industry recognized certifications within pathways.
Montana Business
- Montana student entrepreneurs get assistance from the Blackstone LaunchPad
The incubator uses a couple of layers of assistance, he said, starting with staff and also working with "venture coaches," mostly within the state, acting as a "mentoring network. These mentors will have something to (share) having done work in that world and been successful."
Careers
- Rocky Mountain Log Homes - Building on perfection for over 38 years.
We understand that building a new home isn't just one of the largest financial investments you'll make in your lifetime. It's a decision that will impact you and your family for years to come.
- Retro RV's bringing fun, memories back to camping - East Missoula's Mintage Airstreams
This trend to "Retro RVing" is all about making a fun investment. For others it's about the memories. Sitting at a table and enjoying cold cereal or pancakes in the morning, or playing a game of Fish late into the night.
- University execs' pay is at top for Montana, but low for nation
The Montana University System's top three executives are among Montana's highest paid state employees, but their compensation is low compared to other states' education leaders.
Government
- 10 things I wish I knew when I graduated college
1. Have a plan -- and change it often.
- Adults With Autism Find New Source for Job Interview Advice
Knowing what an employer wants to hear can make all the difference during a job interview.
Idaho Business
- The short timers - Unlicensed vacation rentals cheat Montana out of almost $4 million a year in taxes
"They're depriving Montana of revenue that could be spent to improve Montana's quality of life," said Mary Ann Dunwell, spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue. "Ironically, people come and stay in these tourist homes because of Montana's quality of life."
- Here Comes Congress' Next Big Economic Crisis, And It Could Be Even Worse Than The Fiscal Cliff
In one economic analysis released last week, the Obama administration warned 700,000 jobs tied to the fund and its uncertain future are at stake.
Incubators and R&D
- Most Boise residents want bike lanes gone
In the first 24 hours the survey was available, 1,057 people filled it out, Quintana said. About 60 percent of those were opposed to at least part of the new configuration.
Regional Economic Development
- $45 Million: UM Lands Largest Research Award in University History
"Earning this award confirms that UM has become an elite research institution in the arena of ecology and environmental sciences," Hauer said. "This will take our research enterprise to an even higher and exciting new level. It is a wonderful opportunity for our faculty, graduate students and post-docs."
- Great Falls, Montana iincubator nurtures variety of ventures
The intent of the incubator is for entrepreneurs' dreams "to grow up and grow out."
- Missoula's MonTEC business incubator rises from near extinction
"We provide a standard sort of subsidized space with access to copy machines, mailing services, high-speed internet and conference rooms. Instead of just leasing space, the model we employ is to establish resources or access to resources. ... We hit a milestone over recent months."
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- 7 Reasons Community Development Financial Institutions Lack Investors
To attract investors at a meaningful national scale will likely require a more coordinated effort among multiple organizations.
Montana Education Excellence
- The First Step in Seattle's Preschool-for-Everyone Plan
"Giving all of our children a fair and equal chance to thrive in school, to live productive and prosperous lives is, again, the most important thing that I will ever do as mayor," Murray said at a news conference.
- Investments in Early Childhood: An essential Industry that is both good for business and vital to Montana's economy
Everyone benefits from Montana early care and education industry.
- A Math App That Offers an Unusual Human Touch
So what does the $50 a month buy? Unlike any other math teaching app I've encountered, it comes with a human being.
Community
- Montana regents gearing up for 2015 Legislature - UM, MSU costs rise 55 percent in 10 years
The University System plans to ask for more state money to cover the rising cost of educating students from Montana. Mick Robinson, deputy commissioner for fiscal affairs, said that comes to about $20 million over two years, on top of the $22 million needed to keep up with fiscal year 2015's funding.
- 'Learning is actually happening': 4 years later, Schools of Promise see gains in Montana's schools
"The main thing is the school teachers and staff know they can be successful, and the students have had a taste of success as well," Juneau said. "So that's what makes me hopeful continuing these efforts. The big idea is to keep moving forward."
- Montana State University business students excel on national test
"We know our students can compete against students anywhere, and this serves as another indicator of the quality of our program."
- Montana Tech receives largest single alumni gift to date
"For myself and Julie, my Montana Tech education and work experience led to great job opportunities in many different places around the world. For that, we are forever grateful."
- Salish Kootenai College Students in Pablo, Montana Engineer NASA Satellite
"It's to give students a chance, while they're students, to really do science, really do engineering, like they'll be doing once they're out on the job market. Being a small college, we're able to do that here, for pretty much all of our engineering and science students."
- From the editor: Montana's research going in the wrong direction
The state system will have to discuss whether to renew the contract of the University of Montana President Royce Engstrom.
Funding and Building your Business
- What makes for a livable community for older Americans
People's definitions of a livable community differ, so the most livable community will have options to meet people's needs, regardless of one's age, physical ability, income or other factors.
Energy and Climate Change
- Partnerships That Blend the Skills of Two Generations
When these multigenerational ventures succeed, if is often because of the different sets of skills and perspectives that an older and younger person can bring to solving a problem.
- 7 Habits of Highly Effective Women Entrepreneurs - 3 Things Men Need to Stop Saying To Women Entrepreneurs
Here are a few of the worst things you could say:
- Should Companies Monitor Their Employees' Social Media?
The number of people fired over social-media posts is rising, and many employers look closely at a job candidate's online presence before making a decision.
- 7 Things Your Company Gets Wrong About User Research
"The attitude used to be that qualitative research was pretty corporate--something only giant companies did that led to soulless products" says Bolt, but it's becoming increasingly popular among the startups and industry leaders that he advises.
- How to Ask Family and Friends to Fund Your Business
"Most friends and family say yes to a person asking to finance a business," he says. That is, "until it comes time to write a check."
- More VCs passing on startups in favor of growing companies
If you just launched a company from your apartment last week and are looking for some cash, don't go to knocking on a venture capitalist's door.
- Why investors need to dump dotcom era term sheets and get lean
Today, investment term sheets for the first real rounds of money (after friends and family rounds) should follow the spirit of lean startup and be lean themselves. At its heart, the lean startup idea is entrepreneur-friendly. Terms at the early stage should reflect that.
Connectivity & Communications
- S.F. building aims to produce as much energy as it consumes
Recently renovated by DPR, the North Beach building should generate as much energy as it uses in any given year. If all its systems work as planned, it will be San Francisco's first "zero net energy" office, and possibly a glimpse into California's future.
- Washington governor wants to wean electric utilities off coal
With an abundant supply of hydroelectric power, Washington state currently gets less than 14 percent of its electricity from coal. Gov. Jay Inslee wants to take that down to zero over time.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- What the AT&T, DirecTV deal would mean for consumers - Rising pay-TV rates could play role in merger debates
With two planned megamergers threatening to further reduce competition in the pay-TV industry, consumer advocates have been looking for a way to shoot down the deals. A new report on industry pricing may have given them some needed ammunition.
HACKING AND VIRUS ALERTS
- Butte's Headframe Spirits and Bozeman's Chisel Industries Team Up for New Film - "The Richest Hill on Earth"
It's designed to bring national awareness to innovative minds, the "un-tapped gems" of Montana, said Yarrow Kraner, Chisel Industries production manager.
Transportation
- International crackdown targets malware that infected half a million computers
The malware, known as Blackshades Remote Access Tool, cost $40 on some sites. Its toolkit is capable of taking total control of a victim's computer and hijacking Web cams to secretly record what's visible.
- Dispersing Transit Commutes with Financial Incentives and Data
A start-up called Urban Engines believes data analysis and commuter lotteries can help cities reduce congestion.
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