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UPDATE FROM OUR CEO
January 2024 Newsletter
Happy 2024, Casper,
I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season & is gearing up for a prosperous year ahead.
This month, we have upcoming board elections. Please take some time to review and introduce yourselves to our new and existing board members up for election (listed below). The elections will take place at our next quarterly breakfast held on Thursday, January 11th, 7:00am at the UW/Casper College Student Union Building on Campus Dr.
Please get involved in our economic development! If you know a company that would be a great fit for Advance Casper, reach out and invite them to our upcoming quarterly breakfast. As always, let us know if you have any questions or comments.
I look forward to working with all of you in Advancing Casper in the coming months.
Best,
Justin
Justin Farley
CEO | President
justin@advancecasper.com
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NEW & NOTEWORTHY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | |
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Casper Wins Good Housekeeping's Family Travel Awards
Our city in the heart of Wyoming made Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Family Travel Awards, and we can’t imagine a better way to step into a new year.
“A mountain town in central Wyoming, Casper delivers an authentic Western experience minus the crowds of Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. Your crew can hike, kayak and fly-fish surrounded by stunning mountain landscapes, and several attractions help kids understand how the Wild West evolved.”
We couldn’t be more proud of this feature & the hard work of our members that got us there.
If this isn’t proof that Casper is an iconic place for business AND livability… we don’t know what is!
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It's that time. We have board elections coming up at our January Quarterly Breakfast, and we want you there to vote!
Below are bios for those running for the upcoming board elections. Take some time to connect with these folks seeking to serve on the Advance Casper board:
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GLEN JANUSKA
Director | Casper/ Natrona County International Airport
Mr. Januska attended Southern Illinois University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Management. After college he completed an internship with the Dane County Regional Airport (Madison, WI) prior to accepting a position as Assistant Airport Director at Austin Straubel Int’l Airport (Green Bay, WI). After 4 years in Green Bay, Mr. Januska became the Manager of the Waukesha County Airport (Waukesha, WI), a position he held for 8 years prior to becoming the Director of the Sioux Gateway Airport (Sioux City, IA) in December of 2000. Mr. Januska started as Director of C/NCIA in November of 2006.
Mr. Januska is a private pilot, an Accredited Airport Executive, and has served in leadership positions for numerous aviation and airport organizations. He has served as an Associate Professor for Southern Illinois University teaching airport management and planning courses and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Marquette University.
While in Wyoming he has served in the following capacities:
- Board of Servant Leader (BSL) and Board of Finance (BoF) - Highland Park Community Church
- Member - Casper Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Committee
- Board Member and Treasurer – Natrona County Travel & Tourism Council
- Board Member - Casper Area Chamber of Commerce
- Board Member (Club Treasurer) - Rotary Club of Casper
- Steering Committee Member - Visit Casper Tourism Master Plan
- Board Treasurer - Nicolaysen Art Museum
- City Council Liaison - Youth Empowerment Council
- Board Member - Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board
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Mr. Januska is a former City of Casper Councilman, is married, and has three children.
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TIFFANY FUNK
Regional Manager | JJM Group Hotels
For more than two decades, Tiffany has made the hotel industry her field of expertise. From her early days of housekeeping, while earning her Bachelor's of Arts in Business Administration and Management, to her current role of Regional Management for JJM Group Hotels, Tiffany has taken her love of the hospitality industry and paired it with a knack for budget analysis to create a unique set of skills tailor made for excelling in hotel management. Her insight and experience led to being part of the development and construction of 4 hotels and 1 restaurant. In addition she has assisted with brand conversions, pips, and numerous renovations.
As the regional manager for JJM, Tiffany oversees each property's revenue and expenses and truly enjoys analyzing the trends in the market. She is also an active community leader, dedicated to ensuring Casper’s continued growth.
Tiffany sits on two boards, both of which focus on youth sports in Casper.
While she spends much of her time analyzing trends and detailing budgets, she still enjoys taking time away from the back office to welcome and get to know hotel guests!
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GREYSON BUCKINGHAM
CEO & President | Disa Technologies, Inc.
Greyson serves as the CEO & President of Disa Technologies, Inc. where he: formulates, communicates, implements, and evaluates the company’s mission and strategic objectives.
Greyson previously served as the Director of Policy for Mesa Natural Gas Solutions, a T. Boone Pickens owned company, where he oversaw business development and regulatory affairs. Prior to that, he worked on Capitol Hill for several years, externed for a federal judge, and helped run a U.S. senate campaign.
Buckingham is a licensed attorney in Wyoming, a Field Artillery officer in the Wyoming Army National Guard (recipient of the Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Award which recognizes the top officers in the U.S. military) and a Distinguished Military Graduate of the ROTC Cowboy Battalion. He has deployed to Kuwait (Operation Spartan Shield) and Iraq (Operation Inherent Resolve) where he earned the ARCOM with “C” device.
Greyson received both his B.A. in History and Government and M.A. in American Government from Georgetown University. He received his J.D. and MBA in Energy Management from the University of Wyoming, where he graduated with honors and was recognized as the Bedont Outstanding Graduate Student.
He is on the Board of Directors for the Wyoming Federalist Society and the Centennial Hills Homeowners Association, is a member of the Rotary Club of Casper, and serves on the Georgetown Alumni Admission Interview Committee. Greyson also served on the Board of Directors for the No One Left Behind Foundation (2016-2021), a national non-profit that helps Afghan and Iraqi combat interpreters with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) resettle safely in the United States.
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PETER DAWES
CEO & President | Moser Energy Systems
Peter Dawes is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Moser Energy Systems. Prior to joining Moser, Peter was the Director and Chief Operating Officer of Capco LLC. He also served as President of Global Powers Medical Solutions Group and held various positions with GE, ABB, and Exterran.
He holds BA and BS degrees from the University of Notre Dame, an MS degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
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UPCOMING ADVANCE
CASPER EVENTS
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Quarterly Cocktails | February 11th 5:00pm - 7:00pm
You're invited to our Quarterly Cocktails on Sunday, February 11th, 5:00pm at The Refinery at Three Crowns Golf Club.
Registration is free. Members are welcome to invite a plus one who is just as invested in Casper’s growth as we are!
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Fly Casper Alliance Aviation Scholarship
The Fly Casper Alliance Scholarship for Aviation Students awarded scholarships for spring semester to two Casper College students who are pursuing commercial airline pilot careers. Consider donating to the scholarship!
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Win Round-Trip Flights to Salt Lake City
You can win two tickets to SLC and two nights at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown SLC! (Must be used by Jan. 31st.). The Casper/Natrona County International Airport is one of Casper's most underrated assets. The convenient access to major metropolitan areas such as Denver or Salt Lake City means you can get anywhere you're needing to go by flying out of Casper. Along with some of the friendliest TSA agents you'll ever encounter and a stress-free check in experience, flying Casper is something all of our locals should experience. That's why we're partnering with Fly Casper Alliance to offer free round-trip tickets to Salt Lake City, Utah so that you can not only experience the convenience of our local airport, but also spend some quality time with family or friends with a quick getaway.
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5150' Local WinterFest | January 27 - February 4, 2024
Cure your winter blues at the first annual 5150' WinterFest! From a film festival and photography exhibition to snow-sculpting competitions and more; there's never been this much anticipation for Casper's most slept-on season! Mark your calendars & check out the itinerary!
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Glow Skate | January 12th @ 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Let’s “GLOW” out in style for the last weekend of ice skating this season! Join David Street Station for one night only on Friday, January 12th, 5:00PM - 9:00PM as regular lighting dims, and the glow of colorful lights come on. With free glow sticks (while supplies last) and a live DJ, this is one event you don’t want to miss. Presented by Visit Casper & 5150′ Local, we’ll see you on the ice for Glow Skate!
Ice skating admission and skate rentals are FREE, sponsored by Visit Casper and 5150′ Local! Ice rink capacity and skate rental availability will be by a first come, first served, basis.
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Ketel Thorstenson
Ketel Thorstenson, LLP, is a full-service accounting firm rich in history, serving clients since 1936. Currently, KT has 19 partners and over 50 CPAs, with offices in Rapid City, Spearfish, and Wyoming. The firm offers a variety of accounting services, specializing in the agricultural, construction, hospitality, non-profit, and government industries.
Their experts navigate the ever-changing financial landscape and simplify its complexities. They work with the community to elevate their financial standing, optimize business practices, and build confidence to plan for the future.
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Member Spotlight: Black Hills Energy
To kick off 2024, we sat down with Advance Casper’s newest member, Jonathan Boudreaux of Black Hills Energy, to gain insight into not only the efforts behind the region’s leading energy company, but how they have a greater impact on the Casper community.
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