January 2018
Montana Pond Hockey Classic, Jan 19-21
KALISPELL CHAMBER NEWSLETTER CALENDAR OF EVENTS JAN 9
FAYP Espresso Yourself: Career Goal Setting
8:00-9:00am at Colter Coffee, Kalispell
JAN 9
UNWIND with Jesco Marine & Power Sports
5:00-6:30pm, 568 Fir Terrace, Kalispell
JAN 10-11
Business Days at the Capitol Helena, MT
JAN 15
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Offices closed
JAN 16
Luncheon: Kalispell Business Agenda
11:45-1:15 at the Red Lion Hotel-Kalispell
JAN 18
Thinking Thursday: Berube Physical Therapy
8:30-10:00am, Kalispell Chamber
JAN 19-21
Montana Pond Hockey Classic
FEB 1
FAYP After Hours Networking 5:00pm at Vilya Spirits, Kalispell
THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN MONTANA Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Economic Outlook Seminar Coming to Kalispell Feb 6 Higher education is a future-oriented business – educating and preparing the leaders of tomorrow, but what is the future for colleges and universities themselves? In an economy that increasingly rewards knowledge and expertise, the need to cultivate and grow a competitive, skilled and educated workforce is more vital than ever. Yet the way we do this and the way we pay for it has come under the microscope in recent years. This year’s Economic Outlook Seminar examines the question of how Montana’s higher education system returns value to all of us who live and work here. The keynote – The Future of Higher Education in Montana – will be presented by Robert Nystuen, vice chair of the Montana University Board of Regents. He is president at Glacier Bank in Kalispell and a resident of Lakeside. In 2015, he was appointed by Governor Steve Bullock to the board of regents, which is responsible for the Montana University System. His selection for the board of regents reflects the strong connection between Montana’s higher education system and the business community, “a relationship that is increasingly vital in the modern economic landscape,” according to Nystuen. This half-day seminar and luncheon will highlight the latest economic trends for local, state, and national economies. BBER economists Patrick Barkey and Paul Polzin will present economic forecasts for each seminar city and industry specialists will provide an outlook for Montana’s important sectors: nonresident travel, health care, real estate and housing, agriculture, manufacturing, forest products, and energy. Regular tickets include the seminar, are $90, and include the Montana Economic Report, lunch, and a one-year subscription to the Montana Business Quarterly. Continuing Education Credits are available, as well as a discount for Montana University System (MUS) faculty, staff, and students. MUS tickets are $25.
Register Here
WE’RE HIRING! JOIN OUR TEAM!
Join our team as a full-time Administrative Services Manager. BBER Economic Outlook Seminar For consideration, please apply with the Kalispell Job Service, 8:00am-1:00pm at the Hilton Garden Inn Job #10338233. FEB 6
CHAMBER SCOOP Kalispell Business Agenda Luncheon: January 16 Join us for lunch as we discuss the upcoming Kalispell Business Agenda. We’ll briefly review the successes from the past year before sharing our strategic initiatives and what we’ll be focusing on in 2018 to grow our community. Attend the program and you’ll be the first to know the business agenda for Kalispell, our calendar of events for the year, how you can get involved with the chamber, and what changes are in store for you, our members!
Register Here
Meet our new Membership Development Manager, Krista Borgardt Krista Borgardt is a top performing sales and marketing executive with a strong background in business development, strategic planning, deal negotiations, and event planning. Her diverse experience comes from extensive work in real estate, event production, and the health insurance industries to name a few. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications with a focus on Public Relations from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She moved to the Flathead Valley in 2014 with her husband from Huntington Beach, CA. In her free time she enjoys traveling, seeing live music, and thrift store treasure hunting. Krista also has a healthy obsession with her house plants and her dog, Bo. Want to know more about how to get the most out of your chamber membership? Have questions about your current benefits? Know a business that should join the chamber to help our community grow? Contact Krista today at (406) 758-5054 or k.borgardt@kalispellchamber.com.
NWMT SCORE seeking new volunteers
SCORE, previously known as the Service Corps Of Retired Executives is looking for volunteers to join their team in NWMT. SCORE volunteers provide confidential business mentoring services, both in person and on-line. They lead seminars and workshops to help small business owners meet their goals and achieve success. They help expand outreach of SCORE through marketing and alliance building in our local communities. Volunteering at SCORE is a way for you to give back to your community, connect with fellow business owners, and pass on your knowledge to the next generation of entrepreneurs in your community. Interested in learning more about SCORE or how you can volunteer? Contact John Vanderlaan: jsv1933@gmail.com.
Montana fires affected tourism industry in 2017. Disaster assistance offered to businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the Rice Ridge fire that occurred July 24-October 20, 2017. Assistance is available in Flathead, Granite, Lake, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, and Sanders counties. It is estimated Montana missed out on $240 million in tourism revenue during the 2017 fire season, according to a new report released by the University of Montana's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research. Read about it here.
Aquatic Invasive Species Fundraiser Jan 15, at Bigfork Inn
Sen Bob Keenan (SD5 - Bigfork) is holding a fundraiser to combat aquatic invasive species in western Montana on Monday, January 15, 5-9pm, at the Bigfork Inn. Tickets are $100 each. Sen. Keenan is donating all of the food and labor for the event. Sen. Keenan, Rep. Noland and other Flathead legislators have banded together with a fundraising goal of $150,000 to help off-set budget cuts to the Flathead Basin Commission. Experience from other states indicate that watersheds impacted by invasive mussels decreases tourism and property values, and increases utility rates and maintenance costs for water infrastructure.
Board of Directors meets with Sen. Tester
The Board of Directors met with Sen. Tester last Friday and discussed a potential infrastructure bill, aquatic invasive species, affordable housing, broadband, healthcare, and national security. The Chamber intends to meet with candidates for the US Senate and US House over the next few months before the primary election to create awareness and support for the Flathead business issues.
State Budget
The state Finance Director reported that the recently approved federal tax reform bill may create the need for another special session before the legislature convenes in 2019. The Montana Department of Revenue’s current estimate is that a federal tax reform bill will reduce Montana state revenue by $46 million. In other news, the Legislature has formed a joint committee on Montana’s tax structure to assess and make recommendations on Montana’s changing economy and impacts to long-term viability of the state’s revenue structure. Their first meeting is on January 17.
Business Days at the Capitol – Jan. 10-11
Montana Chamber of Commerce Business Days at the Capitol brings together business leaders and government officials to talk face-to-face and participate in a variety of educational and networking events. This is a terrific opportunity to speak directly with elected officials and to learn about the current business climate in Montana. Business Days at the Capitol includes a Lawmaker Appreciation Reception and Dinner, providing sponsors and business leaders with a networking opportunity. Other highlights include legislative leadership discussing top legislative priorities–both during the session and the interim–and seminars on emerging issues. Click here to register.
CONVENTION & VISITOR BUREAU NEWS Montana Pond Hockey Classic needs volunteers! With Montana Pond Hockey Classic, January 19-21, is sold out at 75 teams from across North America, additional volunteer help is needed, especially Rink Monitors. Volunteers get a special MPHC beanie free eats, hot drinks, complimentary parking, and a great time. See the assignments available and sign up HERE. Contact Vonnie for more information at (406) 758-2809 or Vonnie@discoverkalispell.com.
Help Glacier Country grow tourism across Montana
Western Montana’s Glacier Country has experienced significant growth in tourism over the last 30 years. Over 26% of the 12 million nonresident visitors to Montana spent over $1 billion here in 2016. Glacier Country tourism region encompass-es 75+ communities within the eight counties of Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, and Sanders. Glacier Country Tourism is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for marketing these eight counties as a travel destination, both domestically and internationally. Along with meeting the changing needs of visitors, DMO's such as Glacier Country Tourism need to stay current and relevant for partners and stakeholders. In order to assist with this, Glacier Country Tourism is developing a strategic plan. To begin the strategic planning process they are asking for community input by completing an Online Survey Assessment. The results will be analyzed and a detailed report will be created by county and by region. The survey is built on two key areas: 1. 2.
An assessment of how important a variable is to the community, county, or region. An assessment of the destination area’s perceived performance across each variable.
As with all surveys, the better the response, the better the results! Deadline for Online Survey Assessment completion is Thursday, January 11, 2018.
Introduce Your Business to International Tour Operators. The IRU Conference attracts travel planners and tour operators from UK, Germany, France, Australia, Italy, Benelux and Nordic regions who specialize in selling fully inclusive travel itineraries through Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. This is a rare opportunity for Kalispell to showcase our amazing city and for local tourism businesses to network with the international tour and travel market. Call Dawn Jackson @ 406-758-2820 and ask how you can get your business in front of the international tour and travel market. See sponsorship opportunities HERE. Dedication and devotion are just a few qualities demonstrated by our leaders within the educational and workforce development realms. One method of defining the quality of our community is through the excellence of our educational system.
Alaska Airlines and Whitefish Mountain Resort partner for FREE SKIING!
Fly Alaska Airlines and ski for free on the day of your departure. Simply present your boarding pass on your departure date at any ticket window to redeem a ticket for your stated day of departure. Limit one free ticket per boading pass presented. Not to be combined with any other offer - no cash value. Offer expires at the end of the Winter 2017/2018 season. Not valid on “non-rev” tickets. Offer not valid February 17-19, 2018.
In December, representatives of our schools, community college, and local Job Service spoke to the many ways they are meeting the challenges of providing services to all who ask. Public schools open opportunities to each student who walks through the doors. FVCC personnel evaluate needs in our community, then develop programs and trainings to teach new skills, and our Job Service is exploring alternative career paths and working to develop apprenticeships within the Flathead Valley. A tour of FVCC’s Occupational Trades and Health Sciences buildings highlighted these amazing resources available to all. If you haven’t visited FVCC or any of our area’s public schools yet, stop in for a visit.
IRS News Release: Small Businesses be Alert to Identity Theft The IRS, state tax agencies, and the nation’s tax industry joined together to warn small businesses to be on-guard against a growing wave of identity theft against employers. Just like individuals, businesses can have their identities stolen and their sensitive information used to open credit card accounts or used to file fraudulent tax refunds for bogus refunds. See these Resources for Small and Midsize Businesses, and visit the IRS page on Identity Protection: Prevention, Detection and Victim Assistance. Looking for local help? Contact us today for a list of Kalispell Chamber members who can help you protect your business.
Thinking Thursday: Injury Prevention in the Workplace Thursday, January 18 | 8:30-10:00am Kalispell Chamber Board Room On Thursday, January 18th, Joshua Young, DPT and Ally Jackson, PTA with Berube Physical Therapy will be presenting the importance of Injury Prevention in the Workplace with a strong focus on office work. They will reveal how to minimize overuse and the causes of inflammation and dysfunction in an office setting by providing knowledge of body mechanics and adjusting office set up while sharing exercises to help increase mobility.
Space is limited to 35 people. Register Here
FAYP Espresso Yourself: Career Goal Setting Tuesday, January 9 - 8:00-9:00am Colter Coffee, Kalispell Each month Flathead Area Young Professionals (FAYP) hosts a morning session for young professionals to grow both personally and professionally with presentations and discussions on a variety of topics. This month, kick off 2018 the right way with a session from LC Staffing on career goal setting: When you think of your goals for the coming year, do they include your career? Where do you want to be in five years? What will you be doing and what steps will you take in order to get there? Know a young professional who isn’t yet part of FAYP? Direct them to www.kalispellchamber.com/fayp or have them contact fayp@kalispellchamber.com!
Milestone Membership Celebrations This January 30+ Years
5 Years
Montana Brokers Inc Realtors United Way for Northwest Montana Sportsman & Ski Haus KCFW-TV CHS Mountain West Co-Op Rosauers CenturyLink Mooses Saloon Family Health Care Meredith Construction Co Greg Bain & Company Flathead Lake Lodge PayneWest Insurance - Kalispell Glacier Park International Airport
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake Glacier Stone Supply, LLC Flathead Valley LIVE on Stage
20 Years A Plus Health Care MacKenzie River Pizza South Swank Enterprises
10 Years Flathead Beacon
1 Year
Access Montana Axiom Builders Group Barn Door Event Rentals Blacktail Mountain Ski Area Complete Restoration LLC Direct Source Cabinets and Design First National Pawn Frontline Advisors, LLC Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. Holt Stage Hideaway Inspired Women Locations Montana Real Estate - Jeanie Deetz Montana House Inc. North Forty Resort Northwest Drywall & Roofing Supply Inc. Oh Shoot! Photo Booths Phil Quigley & Associates
s p a c e PILATES Sassafras/First Choice Decor The Brass Tap The Lawn Ranger Lawn Care LLC thrive! inc. Westward Bound Real Estate
New Members