Montana Primary - Pro-Business Candidates Advance to the General Election |
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Montana's primary elections concluded yesterday with around 40% voter turnout. The Montana Chamber supports candidates in contested primaries based on their record on business issues through the Montana Business PAC.
The following legislative candidates supported by the Montana Business PAC won their respective primaries and will be advancing to the general election.
- HD 7: Courtenay Sprunger
- HD 18: Llew Jones
- HD 33: Brandon Ler
- HD 38: Greg Oblander
- HD 55: Brad Barker
- HD 76: John Fitzpatrick
- HD 84: Julie Dooling
- HD 86: David Bedey
- SD 45: Denley Loge
We were disappointed that business-minded candidates Tom Jenkins in HD 2, Tony Brockman in HD 8, Michele Binkley in HD 85, and Ray Shaw in SD 35 lost their respective races. They were each Champions of Business and supportive of Chamber priorities. We look forward to working with the new legislators from each of these districts.
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2nd Annual CONVERGENCE Convened Film, Outdoor Recreation, and Tourism Leaders to celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week |
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We are grateful to Convergence presenting sponsor Visit Southwest Montana, along with the Butte Chamber of Commerce/Visit Butte, Butte TBID and the Butte-Silver Bow public officials for hosting us for the vital conversation about the power of travel, film, and outdoor recreation to drive economic development for communities across the Treasure State.
Nearly 75 stakeholders joined us to take part in a field trip on a school bus thanks to Tucker Transportation out to the Dutton Ranch from "1923," a reception at The Hotel Finlen Copper Bowl sponsored by Glacier Bank, a Butte Trolley ride, and a NTTW celebratory luncheon at The Butte Depot. Thanks to all of our speakers, sponsors, and attendees for their continued support.
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The Inaugural Montana Festival sparks connections and asks Montanans to dream big |
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❌ MONTANA IS AT A CROSSROADS
Inflection points create opportunities for innovation, for creativity, for connection, and for personal growth. We are all co-creators of the future of our communities.
The Montana Festival held in Bozeman, May 30-June 1, brought together more than 400 people in the spirit of the following: "The future is not fated. It is dreamed. It is written. And it is built by people who show up," Padden Murphy, Festival Co-Founder.
Pictured above is "The Future of Our Cities & Towns: Meet Your Montana Mayors" which kicked off the Festival on Friday at The Ellen Theater. Co-hosted by Padden Murphy and Erica Mackey, the panel included Mayor Terry Cunningham (Bozeman), Mayor Bill Cole (Billings), Chief Executive JP Gallagher (Butte-Silver Bow), Mayor Wilmot Collins (Helena), and Chairman Gerald Grey (Little Shell Chippewa Tribe).
Thanks to The Last Best Future, Scaling Montana, KOA, and Hatch for co-presenting the event, and to all the sponsors who made it possible. To learn more about the conversations had, check out their website here, and be sure to stayed tuned for the announcement of 2025 dates.
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Investing in Montana Summit - Tues, June 11
Commissioner of Securities & Insurance | Office of the Montana State Auditor
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You won't want to miss this panel moderated by Commissioner Troy Downing, Montana State Auditor, at the Investing in Montana Summit on Tuesday, June 11th from 11:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the AC Hotel in Bozeman, MT.
Small Business and Startup Experiences
Various businesses will detail their own startup experience, including where to focus energy, how to find appropriate investors, and how to navigate hurdles. A range of businesses and experiences are represented on this panel. Some have worked with the CSI in some capacity along their startup journey.
- Alex Kutches, Outdoor Industry Executive: Past President Mystery Ranch and Outdoor Research, Past Director of Sales Marmot
- Lyndsay Gutierrez, Steering Chair, Montana Food Hub
- Jason O’Neil, Co-Founder, The Sidecar
- Avanlee Christine, Founder/CEO, Avanlee Care
Tickets are $50/pp and include lunch. Grab yours here before they sell out!
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Scaling Montana 2024 Speaker Series | Wed, June 12 VIRTUAL
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Join Scaling Montana on Wednesday, June 12 for an insightful discussion on the intersection of technology and finance with Mike Cagney who has built multiple innovative companies that have revolutionized the finance industry.
Mike Cagney is a Co-Founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Figure Markets, home to a decentralized custody crypto exchange where users can trade, borrow, and invest. Mike is also the Chief Executive Officer of Figure Lending, the largest non-bank originator home equity lines of credit and an innovator in private credit capital markets, and the Co-Founder of the Provenance Blockchain, a public, open-source blockchain built for financial services.
Previously, Mike was CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder of SoFi, a leading marketplace lender providing student loan refinancing, mortgages and personal loans, as well as a range of banking and wealth management services. He also was Co-Founder and managing member of Cabezon Investment Group, a global macro hedge fund, in addition to serving as Chairman of ReFlow Services, a tax and liquidity solution for mutual funds. Prior to Cabezon and ReFlow, Mike served as Founder and CEO of Finaplex, a leader in wealth management software that was sold to Broadridge (NYSE: BR).
Prior to Finaplex, Mike was Senior Vice President and Head Trader for the proprietary trading and financial products group at Wells Fargo Bank. Mike holds an M.S. management degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was a Sloan Fellow. He also holds a M.S. in Applied Economics and a B.A. in Economics from UC Santa Cruz.
Montana-based founders, funders, innovators, and anyone interested in learning strategies to succeed in the evolving fintech arena—this is an event you won't want to miss.
The event is free. Register here.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: The North Plains Connector transmission line will more than double the transfer capacity between the eastern and western U.S. electric grids, providing PGE access to new, diverse resources and bolstering reliability for customers |
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Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) today signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Grid United and ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) in the development of the North Plains Connector, an approximately 415-mile high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission line to be constructed with endpoints near Bismarck, North Dakota and Colstrip, Montana. The parties will now work to finalize definitive agreements regarding PGE's participation, which is expected to involve a 20% ownership share of the project.
The North Plains Connector will be the nation's first HVDC transmission connection among three regional U.S. electric energy markets - the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the Western Interconnection and the Southwest Power Pool - providing additional flexibility and the sharing of resources across multiple time zones.
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Register for the Montana Young Professionals Summit
Wed-Fri, June 19-21 in Billings
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The theme for this year's Montana Young Professionals Summit at The Northern Hotel in Billings is "Brave and Brilliant" which encapsulates the idea of courageously stepping outside of one's comfort zone to pursue bold ideas and innovative solutions, while highlighting the importance of intelligence, creativity, and strategic thinking in achieving success.
$249 - Chamber Member Full Registration
$299 - Non Member Full Registration
$1,800 - Table of 8 Full Registration
Learn more and register here.
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Montana Chamber Signature Events: |
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Big Sky, Bright Future Summit - Wed/Thurs, June 19-20
Hilton Garden Inn, Bozeman, MT
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It is our honor to co-host the upcoming 2024 Big Sky, Bright Future Summit with Governor Greg Gianforte, on Wednesday-Thursday, June 19-20, 2024 at Bourbon and the Hilton Garden Inn in Bozeman.
We’re putting the spotlight on innovative companies and solutions to some of the state's challenges, highlighting Governor Gianforte’s progress on moving Montana forward as a business-friendly state, and providing networking opportunities.
Here are a few of the sessions. View the full agenda here.
The Montana Miracle: Housing Supply Progress
- Brodey Simkins, Simkins-Hallin, Inc. | Vice-President
- Bryan Beauchamp, Beauchamp Development Group | Owner
- Daniel Brooks, Billings Chamber of Commerce | Business Advocacy Director
- Moderator: Chris Dorrington, MT Department of Environmental Quality | Director
If You Build It, They Will Come
- Brian Sprenger, Bozeman Airport Authority | Gallatin Field Airport Director
- French Thompson, BNSF Railway | General Director Public Investment
- Moderator: Bridger Mahlum, BroadbandMT | General Manager
Montana Global Positioning: Photonics & Sensors Leader
- Jason Yager, Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance | Executive Director
- Stefan Heinemann, PHIX, Inc. | General Manager
- John Suh, New Horizons Studio | Founder
Tickets are $150/pp. Seating is limited so get yours today.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Platinum: Boeing and Stockman Bank
Gold: NorthWestern Energy
Silver: The Washington Companies
Bronze: Alexander Hutton, Prospera, and Republic Services
Breakfast: Montana Secretary of State
Lunch: Montana Department of Commerce
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Montana Chamber Foundation Events: |
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Thurs, July 25, 2024 | 5:00 – 8:00 pm Flathead Valley Community College |
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The Montana Chamber Foundation invites the public to join us for the Glacier Bank Ace in the Hole Reception and BBQ on Thursday, July 25th. Tickets are $100/pp.
This event is the lead-in to the 35th Annual Governors’ Cup Golf Tournament. Attendees will be joined by 400+ golfers, lawmakers, government relations representatives, and business / association leaders.
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If you are not a golfer but want to create new contacts and take advantage of the networking opportunities the Governors' Cup Golf Tournament provides, consider joining us for the Give it a Shot Clay Target Shooting Tournament. Registration includes attendance to the Ace in the Hole Reception, shooting fees, round-trip transportation to Polson (Big Sky Sporting Clays), on the go breakfast, lunch, and prizes. Cost is $400/pp.
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Thurs, July 25, 2024 | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Big Sky Sporting Clays in Polson
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Montana Chamber Member Spotlight: |
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Created in 1978, the MRA operates in accordance with state law to revitalize Missoula's Urban Renewal Districts (URD). MRA partners with public and private entities to help improve economic vitality, create jobs and encourage investment in the Districts. MRA also invests in public improvements like parks, trails, streets and sidewalks.
The Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA) is an agency of the City of Missoula. All decisions about MRA projects are made by a five-member Board of Commissioners who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council. The MRA Board meets on the third Thursday of each month.
How to attend a virtual MRA Board Meeting:
Issues? Call the City Clerk 406-552-6078
To learn more, visit their website here.
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HR Minute: Are You Taking Care of You?
Written by: Bryan Peterson, VP Human Resource Services
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Supervising and managing others is a tough gig. Not only are you more than likely still responsible for a ton of task, but you also have to make sure you are paying attention to your people. These can become competing interests as deadlines and productivity standards may dictate how our time is actually spent. You must make sure you are taking care of yourself to be able to effectively lead. Below are small suggestions to help level set yourself. |
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How is your ability to manage your time?
- Work on difficult items first- Those that tend to effectively manage their time will work on more strategic or difficult items earlier in the day when they have more energy. Effectively managing our time can lessen workplace stress.
- Delegate- Do you have an opportunity to delegate? Delegation is giving up something that you probably do very well and get recognized for. You give it up to someone else as a development opportunity. Are you causing yourself undue stress because you feel you are the one that has to do it all? You may be missing out on an opportunity to develop your team.
Do you take breaks as you are able?
- Many supervisors either look at it as a badge of honor that they worked through the day without a break or a meal, or some do not feel that they can take the time to get a break. There will be days where it is not feasible to take a break, but are you taking a break when there is an opportunity? A break, even a short one, allows you to recharge and re-energize. Having something nutritious to eat during the day will make you more productive as your day goes. The look in the mirror with this is: you were probably not as productive as you think you were by not taking a few minutes for yourself during the day.
What fills your cup?
- Are you able to take personal time to do the things you enjoy doing? It is important to have interests and hobbies outside of work and to take time to engage in them. When we are able to do things we enjoy, we fill our personal cup. We will be a better spouse, parent, friend, co-worker, and supervisor.
The items above may seem simple enough, but they are easier said than done. What can you do to start changing personal habits and behaviors to lessen stress? If you are not taking care of yourself, how can you even hope to take care of your loved ones, your team, and ultimately, your job? It is time to start taking care of YOU!
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This Business Brief Is Sponsored by Our Treasure State Member: |
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To learn more about Treasure State Membership benefits for your business, contact Matt Olson, Director of Network Development at Matthew@montanachamber.com | 406.360.6443
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