December 2013 Newsletter - Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Transcription
December 2013 Newsletter - Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
December 2013 Annual Meeting is January 21st Luncheon Last Call for Discover Tuscany The Annual Meeting of the Kalispell Chamber will be the January 21 luncheon at the Red Lion Hotel. Come and here about some of the major economic development events planned, business promotions, plans to make Small Business Saturday bigger than ever, efforts to bring about new commercial air service, and more. continued page 3 >> Government Affairs Report The trip includes roundtrip airfare from Kalispell, fuel fees, departure taxes, 14 meals: breakfast and dinner daily, motor continued page 8 LOCAL REPORT Join Flathead business owners at Business Days at the Capitol Jan 8-9. You are invited to attend Business Days at the Capitol on January 8-9, 2014. The conference starts at noon on January 8 and ends about 1:30 am on January 9. If you plan to attend, you are encouraged to make your room reservation as soon as possible at the Best Western Great Northern Hotel 406-457-5500. Keynote speakers at the event include US Senator Jon Tester and Governor Steve Bullock. For more information, go to the Montana Chamber web site at www.montanachamber.com continued on page 7 Join us for the next Chamber international trip to Tuscany, Italy! The initial allotment of 60 seats was sold out, but we worked with our tour company to make another four rooms available. The adventure begins March 30 for 9 days/7 nights and returns on April 7. There is an optional two-day extension to Rome. >> >> Chamber Snapshot Visitor’s Center Information requests: Nov. ‘13 YTD Phone Calls: 57 1,153 Walk-ins 351 6,060 VACATION Packets Email Inquiries RELOCATION Packets 64 20 1,280 504 19 420 Web Activity Page Views 300,402 3,545,121 Top six pages Bus. Directory 14,138 167,762 Events 13,271 376,734 Hot Deals 2,174 591,735 Jobs 2,175 594,875 Info Request 238 10,621 News 306,440 887,916 Total 457,823 6.642,004 At a Glance UNWINDS >> Chamber Thank You Party Thursday, December 12, 2013 5-6:30 PM In This Issue 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 New Members New Members, continued Annual Meeting, continued Renewals First Night Flathead 2014 December Calendar Brown Bag Government Affairs Report Government Affairs, continued Chamber Choices Director’s Award BEAR Chamber Banquet Sponsors Chamber Banquet Wine Grab 2014 Economic Outlook Seminar Businessman, Businesswoman & Member of the Year Awarded 14 Great Chief Awarded Dragon Boat Posters 15 Visitor Center Volunteers Thanked Member’s Thank You Holiday Party 15 Depot Park Kalispell, MT 59901 Phone: 406.758.2800 Fax: 406.756.2805 Visit Us Online: www.KalispellChamber.com Officers Reed Gunlikson, Chairman of the Board, R. Gunlikson CPA Brian Pelc, Vice-Chairman of the Board, First Interstate Bank Lisa Brown, Secretary/Treasurer, Red Lion Hotel Dave Mitchell, Immediate Past Chairman of the Board, CTA Architects and Engineers Directors Kris Carlson, A+ Plus Healthcare Mark Gronley, Northwestern Energy Scott Hagel, Crowley Fleck Law Firm Mark Johnson, Flathead Electric Cooperative Kristen Jones, Flathead Valley Community College Jason Manger, Applied Materials-Semitool Denise Nalty, Nalty Real Estate and Property Management, LLC Chris Ohler, Insured Titles Jim Oliverson, Kalispell Regional Healthcare Bob Nystuen, Glacier Bank Jim Peterson, Valley Ford Loren Sallee, Loren’s Automotive Jerry Sorensen, Plum Creek Timber Company Holly Walsh, Western States Insurance Dave Waldenberg, Central Heating & Cooling Rick Weaver, Daily Inter Lake Ex-officio Directors Mike Pence, Flathead County Administrator Doug Russell, Kalispell City Manager Professional Staff Joe Unterreiner, President and CEO . . . . 758-2804 Chris Parson, Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . 758-2802 Diane Bebee, Administrative Specialist. . 758-2803 Rob Brisendine, KCVB Group Sales. . . . . 758-2820 Vonnie Day, Travel Counselor.. . . . . . . . . . 758-2809 Diane Medler, KCVB Director. . . . . . . . . . 758-2808 Michelle Drager, Kalispell Chamber Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758-2810 DeAnn Thomas, Business Expansion and Retention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-8077 Consulting Staff Anderson, Baker & Swanson - Government Relations Edge Communications - Media & Public Relations Janet Schwalk - Bookkeeping JCCS - Tax & Audit Counsel Partners Creative - Creative Agency Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Mission Statement The central mission of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is the cultivation and development of entrepreneurs and communities through the spirit of enterprise. New Members Please welcome these new members with your business. Absolute Refinement 17 2nd Street East Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 752-7428 [email protected] http://www.absoluterefinement.com An “executive” barbershop with a “hideaway” salon offering; cuts straight shaves, beard trims…. all with hot steam towel. And for the ladies our “hideaway salon has; cuts, colors, waxing, and more…. Big Sky Public Relations 920 East Oregon Street Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 270-2949 [email protected] www.bigskypublicrelations.com Northwest Montana-based, public relations firm specializing in the expansion, reach and reputability of companies with strong growth potential through brand development and management. Kalispell Brewing Company 412 Main St. PO Box 1886 Kalispell, MT 59903 (406) 270 1958 [email protected] www.facebook.com/KalispellBrewingCompany Kalispell Brewing Company has a 10 barrel brewhouse with an additional third vessel which allows us to do decoction mashes. Decoction mashing is an old process which harkens back to continental Europe that allowed brewers to extract sugars from under-modified malts more effectively. It is no longer necessary to efficiently extract the sugars but with our malt forward lagers, decoction mashing produces a melanoidin-laden wort, which our yeast turns into in a truly complex and well-balanced Montana-made beer. Sure, we could try to compensate with specialty grains, but it just wouldn’t taste the same. With our lager beers, we’re after superior taste. Decoction mashes may take more time and be more labor intensive but we believe, like all good things, it’s worth the wait. Kalispell Brewing Company serves unfiltered draft beer from six serving tanks. By not filtering our brews, we’re not stripping the beer of flavor and you’re not losing out on taste. Our system was made by Specific Mechanical in Victoria, British Columbia. continued next page >> 2 Mission Valley Travel, Inc 109 Cooperative Way Suite 110 Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 758-4848 [email protected] http://www.mvti.com Travel Agency, Airline Tickets around the world-individual rates, group rates and Humanitarian Discounts available. Cruises, Vacation Packages, Visas and wholesale travel Annual Meeting is January 21st Luncheon The luncheon is scheduled for noon - 1:30 pm on Tuesday, January 21 at the Red Lion Hotel. Luncheon tickets are $18 each. Tables of eight may be reserved for $135. Tickets are purchased in advance by calling 406758-2803 or register on-line at www.kalispellchamber.com. Renewals VilJoya Independent Living Big Sky Family Medicine Brendan House Bruce Tutvedt CityServiceValcon D A Davidson & Co Flathead Beverage Co Flathead Farm Mutual Ins. Co. Home Health - Home Options Occupational Health Svc Plum Creek Timber Company The HealthCenter 119-5th Ave W Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 755-2287 [email protected] http://www.viljoya.com VilJoya Independent Retirement Living offers residents a safe caring community where you do not have the worries of maintaining your own home. VilJoya consist of six private villa apartments conveniently located in downtown Kalispell, Montana. Inclusive affordable monthly rent includes: Daily meals, housekeeping, utilizes, activities, full size kitchens, dining, living area, bedroom, washer & dryer. Your family pet is welcome. Schedule a tour and find out why we LOVE it here! LUNCH IS ON US. Flathead Regional Business Center 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 758-2800 (406) 758-2805: Fax >> from the cover Practical Financial Solutions Inc 315 W Montana St Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 257-8198 [email protected] 20+ years 10-19 years Frugals Summit Preparatory School 5-9 Years FH Stoltze Land & Lumber Co Montana Land and Home, Inc Waatti Engineering Western Outdoor 1-4 Years Crevier’s Academy of Cosmetology Easter Seals-Goodwill Kalispell Electric Keller Williams Realty Northwest Montana Mann Mortgage LLC Montana Chamber Choices Swan Mountain Outfitters 3 Business Expansion and Retention DeAnn Thomas, Director (406) 250-8077 [email protected] www.nwmontanabear.com Flathead Community Foundation Lucy Smith, Executive Director [email protected] www.flatheadcommunityfoundation.org Flathead Job Service Workforce Center Mora McCarthy, Business Resource Consultant Mike Jackson, Business Resource Consultant (406) 758-6241 [email protected] www.employflathead.com Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Joe Unterreiner, President (406) 758-2804 [email protected] www.kalispellchamber.com Kalispell Chamber Foundation Michelle Drager, Director (406) 758-2810 [email protected] Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau Diane Medler, Director (406) 758-2808 [email protected] www.discoverkalispell.com Manufacturers Alliance [email protected] 406-758-2800 Northwest Montana SCORE Liz Scholter, Chapter Chair (406) 756-5271 [email protected] Procurement Technical Assistance Center Doug Bolender, Director (406) 755-4221 [email protected] help us to produce this year’s event with a tax-deductible donation. FREE Family Activities at the Kalispell Center Mall First Night® Flathead 2014 December 31, 2013 A Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Gala in downtown Kalispell! First Night® Flathead, an alcohol-free, family-oriented public gala, returns this year for its 15th annual celebration in Downtown Kalispell offering a wide range of musical styles and ensembles presented by our very talented local artists and artists from throughout the state. Whatever your favorite kind of music or entertainment, you are sure to find it at First Night! There are more artists in one place, on one night at First Night Flathead than anywhere else in the Valley at any other time of the year. We are currently in our fundraising phase and while times are still difficult for many, we ask the community to support FNF 2014 with cash donations as this annual festival is a time a time of hope and joy, a coming together as a community every year in celebration, an event that is beloved by the families and artists of the Flathead Valley. Please Our First Night® Flathead celebration includes Free Family Activities at the Kalispell Center Mall – our gift to the people of the Flathead Valley. Taking place on the afternoon of December 31st from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the free fun includes Hat Making, Face Painting, Jewelry Making, Hula Hooping, and the First Night® Flathead 2013 Commencement Parade. Returning this year to delight children and adults alike is Clifford, the Big Red Dog! First Night® Flathead 2014 Performance Admission Buttons on sale December 20th! Admission Buttons go on sale at 15 outlets throughout the Valley on December 20, 2013. Your First Night® Flathead button is valid for admission to all performance venues in downtown Kalispell hosting performing artists from 7:00 pm – 12:30 am on New Year’s Eve. Admission Button prices, which have remained the same since 2008, are $12 in advance and $15 at the door of performance venues. Children 12 and under are free while accompanied by an adult with a FNF button. Visit our website for a complete list of advance button outlets, performance venues and performing artists. Support First Night Flathead 2014 First Night® Flathead is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is funded solely by community support. The scope and variety of each year’s event is determined by the amount of financial support we receive from the community. Donations in any amount are always gratefully accepted. Please 4 consider becoming a sponsor with a business or personal donation. We budget to the bone and everything we raise goes right back into the local economy. Our Sponsors receive exceptional promotional benefits and all donors will be listed for one year on the FNF website. Please take this opportunity to receive a tax deduction while making a direct contribution to our community. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 3121, Kalispell, Montana 59903 or brought to the First Night Flathead table in the Red Lion Convention Center Lobby on Dec 31st, 2013 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm or 7:00 pm – 12:30 am at all performance venues. Complete information on Sponsorships, Performance Venues, Artists, Advanced Button Sales Outlets, Volunteers and Free Family Activities is available on line at www.FirstNightFlathead.org. First Night® Flathead Contact info: Organizer Patrice Manget at 406-253-2471 and/or [email protected] for all info. PR/Marketing Director Jill Redmond at 406-257-1535 and/or [email protected] for Press and specific Sponsor level benefits info Chamber Calendar Sunday 1 Monday 2 Tuesday 3 Wednesday 4 Education and Communications 8:00 am December 2013 Thursday Friday 5 6 Art Walk 5-9 pm Saturday 7 Kalispell TBID Board Meeting 3:00 pm 8 9 15 16 22 23 29 Government Affairs Noon 30 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 Executive Board Meeting 7:30 am Chamber Board Meeting, Homewood Suites 7:00 am Chamber Christmas Party 5:00 pm Agribusiness Meeting 8:00 am Christmas Eve Christmas Day Office closes at noon Office closed 31 First Night Flathead 7:00 – 12:30 am Look for this event in January 2014: 1 New Year’s Day –office closed 8-9 Business Days at the Capitol – Helena 21 Kalispell Chamber Annual Meeting, Red Lion New Year’s Eve 5 6 All Meetings are at The Chamber unless otherwise stated. Brown Bag Series: Blueprint for Business Success Winter 2014 Become an Employer of Choice Blueprint for Business Success brown bag sessions feature business professionals facilitating informative discussions. Receive relevant information and have an opportunity to ask questions of the professionals and network with peers. Who should attend? Employers interested in maximizing their human resources, developing more effective organizations and becoming employers of choice. Why? Reducing employee turnover saves you time and money. Motivating and energizing your employees helps make your business successful. Making better decisions quickly requires more and better information. Exchanging ideas, insights and real-world solutions directly impacts your bottom line. Utilizing all available resources to operate and grow is smart business. Calendar of Events Time: Location: Noon - 1pm FVCC Arts & Technology Bldg Room 139 RSVP: Tim Frye 758-6259 or [email protected] Cost: No Cost! JANUARY 8 2014 MARCH 12, 2014 FACILITATOR: Mike Gwiazdon Sportsman Ski Haus Giuseppe Caltabiano, President Nxgen DECEMBER 2013 NO BROWN BAG FEBRUARY 12, 2014 TOPIC: Employee Retention and Business Branding FACILITATOR: Sara Stone, Flying Horse Communications TOPIC: See you in January. TOPIC: Effective Marketing and Advertising Flathead Job Service Employers Council 6 TOPIC: Marketing Strategies: The Local Competitive Edge Government Affairs Report Government Affairs Committee agenda set for Dec 9. The committee will meet on Dec 9, at noon, in the Chamber conference room. Bring your own lunch. The agenda will include: Mayor-elect Mark Johnson, Business Days at the Capitol registration, commercial air service, and Interim Session activity. This meeting is open to all members. STATE REPORT Children, Families, Health and Human Services interim committee met in November in Helena to being work on SJR20 – study of prescription drug abuse. Three separate panel presentations covered perspectives from healthcare providers and law enforcement. Speakers offered ideas for reducing abuse and diversion of drugs including improved education on prescribing practices; using consent forms for patients using opioids, drug testing patients on opioids to make sure they are not selling or diverting their medications; and improving the prescription drug registry for real-time information. The drug registry was established in 2012 in the Attorney Generals’ office and contains information on more than 3.8 million narcotic prescriptions to about 543,000 patients. The registry is used by approximately 20 percent of healthcare providers and discussion focused on how to enhance the registry by more providers. Additional discussion on SJR20 will occur in January with a focus on abuse in state-run programs such as workers’ compensation and Medicaid. The committee also continued its work on HJR16 study of state institutions hearing from community services providers about how to enhance crisis intervention services and improve funding for community treatment. Other suggestions include moving people from state institutions to smaller community based facilities; improved screening for people in the criminal system for mental illness; and >> from the cover creating family based substance abuse programs. The next meeting is January 10, 2014. Rep. Scott Reichner (RBigfork) serves on this committee. Economic Affairs interim committee is looking closely at several topics related to workers’ compensation insurance as directed by HJR 25 study, including the regulatory structure of the Montana State Fund (MSF). A working group was established and will meet December 18 to analyze the costs and benefits of changing the organizational and regulatory structure of the MSF. Various parties including MSF, the State Auditor’s office and policyholders are discussing restructuring options along with ideas about how to handle the Old Fund cost to the state treasury. Senator Bruce Tutvedt (R-Kalispell) chairs this committee. The next meeting is January 27-28 in Helena. The Education and Local Government interim committee will meet in Helena on December 2 to hear a progress report on the management of electronic records; an update on the MT Indian Language Preservation program; a review of charter school bills prepared for the 2013 Legislature; a report on school transportation funding and safety audit; and a review and discussion on the Shared Policy Goals for Montana’s systems of education. The next meeting is January 30-31. Rep. Dan Salomon (R-Ronan) serves on ELG. Energy and Telecommunications interim committee met on November 8 in Helena to learn about the proposed sale of PPL MT to Northwestern Energy (NWE). NWE will own more than 60 percent of its resources, providing more stable rates over the long term to MT customers according to the company. The sale includes the purchase of 11 PPL MT dams (about 633 megawatts). The sale will require approval by the MT PSC and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 7 ETIC is also looking at the issue of competitive bidding and procuring electricity supply. The discussion provided the committee members with a more in-depth view of resource planning and procurement, specifically the competitive solicitation process used by NWE. The next meeting of the ETIC is March 21, 2014. Environmental Quality Council’s next meeting is January 8-9; however two work groups established by the committee are meeting regularly. The SJR15 (study of state and federal lands) work group is meeting every other week by teleconference to identify risks and concerns associated with federal land management in MT. Senator Jennifer Fielder (R-Thompson Falls) chairs the work group and is joined by Rep. Ed Lieser (D-Whitefish). In addition, the SJR4 work group is continuing to study state-owned heritage properties. This group has identified a number of statutory funding and government provisions that may be suggested for legislative changes in 2015, such as administrative rules governing how real property sales are conducted by the Heritage Commission and potential funding for the Cultural and Aesthetic Grant program. Finally, the EQC is monitoring a Governor appointed task force to review potential changes to hunting and fishing licenses and fees. So far, recommendations by the task force include standardizing the free and discounted license program for youth, seniors and disabled; incorporating fishing and hunting access fees into a base conservation license; and evaluating the 10 year funding cycle for FWP. Law and Justice interim committee will meet in Helena on December 5 to continue its study of the Board of Pardons and Parole and family law issues. continued next page >> Government Affairs Report A series of panelists from the criminal justice and parole system will talk about the current parole system and its challenges. In the afternoon, LJIC will hear ideas for changes to family law and parenting plan guidelines. Representative Steve Lavin (RKalispell) serves on Law and Justice. Legislative Audit Committee elected new leadership including Rep. Randy Brodehl of Kalispell as its new presiding officer. The committee reviewed twelve recent audits of state agencies and programs. The Legislative Audit Division provides independent and objective evaluations of government programs and operations. For specific audit findings, visit www.leg.mt.gov/audit Legislative Council will meet on January 8 in Helena. Senator Chas Vincent and Speaker Mark Blasdel serve on the Council. Legislative Finance Committee will hear an update on the state budget and revenue trends at its December 9-10 meeting in Helena. It will also hear information related to the state pay plan including recruitment, retention and compensation trends; receive reports on Medicaid spending and major information technology programs. Revenue and Transportation interim committee will meet on December 4-5 to continue its focus on two studies: SJR23 – study of taxpayer appeal process and SJR26 – study of oversized loads. The committee will learn about other state taxpayer appeal processes and how Montana’s statutes compare with the American Bar Association’s model statutes for tax tribunals. The committee will receive a briefing on the movement of oversized loads and discuss the DOT’s authority to create oversized load corridors in the state. >> from page 7 session. In addition, the committee will hear two reports on the tax credit for planned gifts made to qualified charitable endowments and the tax credit for blending biodiesel fuel. Senator Janna Taylor (R-Dayton) serves on RTIC. State Tribal Relations interim committee has not scheduled its next meeting. State Administration and Veterans Affairs committee will meet on December 10, 2013 in Helena to continue to look at the state pension system and election issues. Senator Dee Brown (R-Hungry Horse) chairs SAVA. Water Policy interim committee will meet again on January 6-7 in Helena. Senator Chas Vincent (R-Libby) chairs this committee that focuses on the complex issue of water. The Montana Land Board met in November and reports its land holdings generated almost $120 million for the school trust over the past year. The money it generates with land leases, logging and other activities is used to help pay for schools. It’s land holdings are worth roughly $2.6 billion and about eight percent of state school budgets come from the land trust. The next meeting is December 16 in Helena. Sage Grouse Advisory Council prepared its final draft recommendations and sought public comment around the state in a series of Open House meetings in November. The draft Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy is available on line at www.fwp.mt.gov/management/ sagegrouse/habitatconservation Final recommendations are due to the Governor in January. On December 5, the Legislative Fiscal Division will present a general fund status report with revenue trends. The update will serve as a trial revenue estimate prior to the 2015 legislative 8 Last Call for Discover Tuscany >> from the cover coach, admissions, and baggage handling. Highlights include: a full day in Florence, a full day in Siena and San Gimignano, a full day tour of the Chianti Region, and a half day tour of Pistoia. The cost is $3,249 per person double occupancy. Single travel is available with a supplemental fee of $650. Final payments are due in December. Don’t miss this special opportunity. Due to limited seating, we encourage you to make your reservation as soon as you have made your decision in order to avoid disappointment. For further information and registration, contact Diane at 406-758-2803 or click http://www.kalispellchamber.com/ programs-events/tuscany-italy/ Montana HealthCare Forum a Success! Health Insurance Updates and More! The Montana HealthCare Forum Helping small businesses solve was health startedthe years agoinsurance to bringpuzzle a diverse group of individuals and interests together to discuss problems and improvements associated with healthcare delivery, costs, Visit and chamberchoices.com ĨŽƌŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ programs. Each November, the Forum holds a conference to highlight what has been done, what is being done, and what should be done to improve healthcare and make it more affordable. This year’s conference centered on the changes taking place in Montana and what Montanan’s should do next to improve healthcare. Let’s take a look at some information shared at the conference. The office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance gave updates on Health Insurance. Most individuals are familiar that the federally built, federally maintained Marketplace is not working properly. The Commissioner’s office is meeting with officials to try and find out when this will be fixed. Their office is working to continue to do outreach and education all over the state of Montana on how we can adjust to these health insurance changes. They are answering questions through their new website www. montanahealthanswers.com. Anyone with questions is encouraged to get on and get their questions answered. The Montana PCMH Act is another hot topic. Patient-Centered Medical Homes or PCMH SB84 is a model of health care delivery that emphasizes primary health care, coordinated care and prevention. In the PCMH model, insurers will pay an incentive based on the quality of the care received rather than that quantity of care provided. SB84 establishes standards and structures for a statewide PCMH YƵĂůŝƚLJ͕ĂīŽƌĚĂďůĞŚĞĂůƚŚŝŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ϭϭďĞŶĞĮƚƉůĂŶƐƚŽĐŚŽŽƐĞĨƌŽŵ >ŝĨĞŝŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞĂŶĚĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚĂƚ ŶŽĞdžƚƌĂĐŽƐƚ First dollar coverage for yearly ƉƌĞǀĞŶƟǀĞĚĞŶƚĂůĞdžĂŵ Sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce and endorsed, local Chambers hŶĚĞƌǁƌŝƩĞŶďLJůƵĞƌŽƐƐ ĂŶĚůƵĞ^ŚŝĞůĚŽĨDŽŶƚĂŶĂ ŶŶƵĂůs^WtĞůůsŝƐŝŽŶdžĂŵΠ program. Dr. Paul Grundy, MPH, is the “guru” for PCMH and the director for Global Healthcare Transformation for IBM. During the HealthCare Forum conference, he shared many data points on how PCMH is beneficial on a cost basis as well as overall patient care. He spoke to physician’s getting away from episode of care to management of a population by using PCMH. Another piece to the updates on Health Insurance is the people who work directly with it. The Affordable Care Act allows for two consumer assistance roles. Those roles are the Navigators and the Certified Application Counselors. The Navigators are contracted through grants and will be the ones who carry out outreach and education as well as enrollment assistance. Certified Application Counselors (CAC’s) are only offering enrollment assistance. All of these assistor roles must complete federal and Montana-specific training to obtain these certifications. The CSI office has a list of all certified navigators, CAC’s and agents to help answer your questions at www.montanahealthanswers. com. According to the office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance in Montana currently there are 69 CAC’s, 26 Navigators and 291 Certified Exchange Producers. These people are here to answer questions that employers and individuals might have regarding health insurance. The insurance market is constantly changing these updates shared at the conference provide an updated look at what is happening in Montana. Montana Board Chairman Reed Gunlikson presents Denise Nalty with a Director’s Award and thanks her for her six years of service on the Board. 9 Your NW Montana BEAR Is the BEST In the State We Can Help Your Business Too! NW Montana Business Expansion and Retention Partnership Ready to assist your business with tools and support to become a successful, vibrant part of the local economy! a In two years, July 2011 to Oct. 2013, NW Montana Business Expansion and Retention Partners set three state records by enthusiastically providing services to businesses in the Flathead area. Most BEAR services are free or minimal cost. BEAR Facts - In Only 2 Years in the Flathead Valley: a NW MT. BEAR conducted over 200 local business visits with businesses just like yours to determine how we can help each business. a NW MT. BEAR served over 300 businesses by providing the services listed below; most of our services are free or minimal cost. a BEAR awarded over $250,000. to 130 local businesses for training to over 280 employees. a BEAR partners have helped businesses receive thousands of dollars in financing and business capital. a BEAR Business partners are recognized professionals with the skills and experience to work with any size or type of business. LOOK and USE these BEAR Business Services – And Many More • Hiring and Building Human Capital • Financing and Capital • Business Leadership Training • Marketing Plans • Regulatory Requirements • Government Contracts • Relocation & Expansion • Business Plans • Employee Training & Education • Information Technology • Web Development • Personnel Management • Employee Training Grants • Manufacturing Assistance • And MANY, MANY More Services • Energy Auditing • Strategic Planning • Networking BEAR Partners • Director, NW Montana Business Expansion And Retention Partnership (BEAR) • City of Kalispell Community & Economic Development Department • Flathead Building Association • Flathead Job Service • Flathead Valley Community College Workforce Training • Kalispell Chamber of Commerce • Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau • Kalispell Small Business Development Center • Montana Manufacturing Extension Center • Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center • Montana West Economic Development & The Flathead Co. Port Authority • Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) • Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Business support and expertise are just a call away. Call today for a BEAR visit to your business. DeAnn Thomas, Director, NW Montana BEAR Partnership, 406.250.8077, [email protected] 10 109th Annual Banquet & Auction THANK YOU TO OUR 2013 BANQUET SPONSORS! BUSINESSMAN SPONSOR WINE SPONSOR GREAT CHIEF SPONSOR BUSINESSWOMAN SPONSOR SILVER SPONSORS HOST SPONSOR TABLE SPONSORS PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR GENERAL SPONSORS Crowley Fleck Flathead Valley Community College Kramer Enterprises Mountain West Bank Rocky Mountain Bank Silverbrook Estates Three Rivers Bank CenturyLink CTA Architects & Engineers Drager Group First American Title Company of MT First Montana Bank JE Engineering JPL2 Consulting Parkside Federal Credit Union R Gunlikson CPA Valley Ford BANQUET AWARD WINNERS 42nd Great Chief Van Kirke Nelson, MD Businessman of the Year Tom Lund, Rocky Mountain Bank Businesswoman of the Year Debbie Kramer, Three Rivers Bank Member of the Year Allison Rold, Wild Horse Limousine THANK YOU TO THE BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS The Kalispell Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, supports the mission of the Chamber and its work in community and economic research, economic development, and leadership development. AAA of Montana U Alpine Theater Project U Belton Chalet U Blacktail Mountain Ski Area U Blue Canyon U Brannigans U Brix Bottle Shop U Buffalo Hill Golf Course U Certified Rolfing U Complete Nutrition U Conrad Mansion Museum Counter Assault U Craggy Range Bar & Grill U Crevier’s Beauty School U Crown of the Continent U CTA Architects and Engineers U Daily Inter Lake U Eagle Bend Golf Course U Flathead Beacon UÊ Frontier Builders Glacier Park Boat Company UÊGlacier Raft Company U Glacier Symphony U Glacier View Golf Course U Great American Grill U Hilton Garden Inn U Homewood Suites U Insty-Prints U Insured Titles UÊJoe and Colleen Unterreiner KAJ-TV UÊKalispell Chamber of Commerce U Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau U Kandahar Lodge U KGEZ U Angel Massage Therapy, LLC U M Team Motivation U MacKenzie River Pizza UÊMission Valley Travel UÊMontana Trolley MT Liquor & Wine U Natural Grocers U Northern Pines Golf Course U Northwest Montana Fair U PayneWest U Pets-Plus U Raven U Red Lion Hotel U Ridge Distillery UÊRocky Mountain Bank U Split Rock Café UÊÊSportsman Ski Haus Summit UÊSweet No Wheat U Tamarack Brewing Company U Taste of Bigfork U Taste of Kalispell U Village Greens Golf Course U Whistling Andy’s UÊWhitefish Mountain Resort U Whitefish Theater Company U Wild Horse Limo THANK YOU TO THE BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO PURCHASED LIVE AUCTION ITEMS Barbara Schwarz, Kramer Enterprises UÊBob Nystuen, Glacier Bank UÊBrian Clark, Fun Beverage UÊBrian Pelc, First Interstate Bank UÊDebbie Waldenberg, Central Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electircal John Barton, Certified Rolfing UÊJonathan Kuntz, Applied Materials UÊKaren Witt, NxGen Payment Systems UÊMark Priess, Glacier National Park Conservancy UÊMark Twichell, Merganthaller Transfer Brad Buls, Mountain West Bank UÊDiane Kautzman, Rocky Mountain Bank UÊSteve Moss, Whitefish Credit Union UÊSuzy Williams UÊTom Lund, Rocky Mountain Bank DESTINATION FLATHEAD INITIATIVE 100% of the proceeds from the Auction are dedicated the Destination Flathead Initiative. Destination Flathead supports greater access to the Kalispell area, through: securing completion of the Kalispell Bypass, expanding commercial air services and facilities, developing the Kalispell Rail Park, and strengthening passenger rail service. 11 2014 Economic Outlook Seminar: Feb 14 in Kalispell 109th Annual Banquet, Auction & Wine Grab The Kalispell Chamber wishes to thank the following The Kalispell Chamber wishes to their support of the 2013 Wine Grab! thank theforfollowing for their support Building Supply, Inc. Bank Alpine Lighting of the 2013 WineGlacier Grab! Ohs’ Body Shop American Homestead Mortgage Hops Banc Home Loans Immanuel Lutheran Park Side Federal Credit Union Alpine Lighting Lake Blaine Resort Payne West Communities Brent Hall - ProBuild American Homestead Mortgage Loren’s Auto Repair, IncInsurance Precision Engineers Brix Bottleshop Insured McDonald’s Titles Banc Home Loans Pro Clean JCCS Carbonari & Associates Brent Hall - ProBuild Montana Coffee Traders Brix Bottleshop The Mountain Trader ProBuild JE Engineering Carol Nelson Design CarbonariCentral & Associates NAPA Raymond James Heating, Cooling, Joe Unterreniner Carol Nelson Design Nickel Auto Group Red Lion Hotel John Agnew Plumbing & Electrical Central Heating, Cooling, North Bay Grille Scotti Belli Cornerstone Wealth Management John’s Angels Plumbing & Electrical Northwest Automotive Super Kalispell Dairy Queen Dan and Kate Neitzling Cornerstone Wealth Management Northwest Drywall1&(city center) Kalispell Grand Hotel Supply,Swan Gardens Dan and Kate Datis Neitzling Building Inc.Lake Cabins Sykes Kalispell Toyota Defiance Machine Datis Gardens Ohs’ Body Shop Defiance Machine Park Side Federal Credit Union Taste This! Dorinda Gray Kramer Enterprises Dorinda Gray Drager Group The Relax Room Lake BlainePayne Resort West Insurance Drager GroupEisinger Honda Precision Three Rivers Bank Loren’s Auto Repair, Inc Engineers Eisinger Honda Pro Clean Tinseth & Associates McDonald’s Enterprise Rent A Car Enterprise Rent A Car ProBuild Montana Coffee Traders James TireRama Evergreen Disposal Evergreen Disposal Raymond Far Tours West Boat Tours The MountainRed Trader Far West Boat Lion HotelTorrent Technologies Valley Bank Farm-to-Market Pork NAPA Farm-to-Market Pork Scotti Belli Valley Ford Nickel AutoSuper Group 1 (city center) FirstTitle American Title First American Flathead Farm Mutual North BaySwan Grille Lake CabinsValley Linen Flathead Farm Mutual Flathead Flathead Valley Discovery Sykes Virtual Circuit IT Valley Discovery Northwest Automotive Friends of Friends the Chamber Taste This! Vision Energy of the Chamber Northwest Drywall & Glacier Bank The Relax Room Hops Three Rivers Bank Immanuel Lutheran Tinseth & Associates Communities TireRama Insured Titles Torrent Technologies JCCS Valley Bank JE Engineering Valley Ford Joe Unterreniner Valley Linen John Agnew Virtual Circuit IT John’s Angels Vision Energy Kalispell Dairy Queen Kalispell Grand Hotel Kalispell Toyota Kramer Enterprises 12 Making Montana the First Best Place: How Entrepreneurship is Creating High Paying Jobs RightNow Technologies was founded in 1997 in a spare bedroom in Bozeman, Montana. By the time the company was acquired by Oracle in 2012 for $1.8 billion, RightNow was Bozeman’s largest commercial employer and the only publicly traded technology company in the state. RightNow had more than 1,100 employees, with half of them in Bozeman and over 40 percent of those employees were graduates of the Montana University System. Their average Montana wage was $86,000, more than double the state average. The one-time sale created an almost $80 million increase in wages and salaries in Gallatin County in 2012 and has led to a new generation of Montana technology startups. Greg Gianforte, founder of RightNow Technologies, will give a first-hand account of this Montana success story and discuss the potential for entrepreneurship to create more high-wage jobs in our state at the 39th Annual Montana Economic Outlook Seminar. This half-day seminar and luncheon will highlight the latest economic trends for local, state, and national economies. Bureau economist Patrick Barkey will present economic forecasts for each seminar city, and industry experts will provide the outlook for Montana’s important sectors: energy, nonresident travel, health care, agriculture, real estate, manufacturing, and forest products. Continuing education credits are available. Groups of five or more may register at a discount. To register, contact: Christina Henderson, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 406.243.5113 or [email protected] Chamber Recognizes Top Businesspeople Posted: Friday, November 15, 2013 6:00 am The Daily Inter Lake The Kalispell Chamber also names a Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year. This year’s businessman is Tom Lund, president of Rocky Mountain Bank in Kalispell. Lund was founding president of the bank in 2004. “He grew the bank from an empty field to having deposits of $21 million and commercial loans of $27 million and over 800 customers,” Mark Johnson wrote in support of Lund’s nomination. “Once the Rocky Mountain Bank was in operation and growing its customers’ base, he acted Tom Lund as a mentor not only to his direct employees but for employees and officers in many banks in the Rocky Mountain system.” raise more than $50,000 to build homes for wounded and disabled veterans. She also showed her commitment to the military by leading the charge to send five tons of Christmas presents to troops in Afghanistan through her co-founding of Operation Santa. She also has been a chairwoman for Habitat for Humanity, director of the Glacier Institute, served on the United Way advisory panel and was a board member for the Flathead Building Association. She also participates in community programs sponsored by Three Rivers Bank — Highlander Track, Highlander Cross Country and Heritage Club. She was nominated by Brent Hall, who praised Kramer for her professionalism and willingness to help others in their careers. Johnson pointed out that Lund has always been active in local Chambers of Commerce. He is currently vice chairman of the Kalispell urban renewal agency and a member of the School District 5 long-range planning committee, Montana West Economic Development and West Side Tax Increment Board. “She has made friends with other bankers, sharing ideas and discussing banking industry issues and also relating these issues to the building industry,” he wrote. “She is called by many builders and subcontractors and vendors for banking advice. Lund’s also has been greatly involved in the Catholic church and local service organizations wherever he has lived. Businesswoman of the Year is Debbie Kramer, who is in charge of human resources for Three Rivers Bank. She is also a co-owner of builder and contractor Kramer Enterprises Inc. “As far as success in her job, Deb has been at Three Rivers Bank for 25 years, starting as a drivethrough teller to now being Vice President of Operations and a senior officer.” Kramer’s volunteer pursuits have touched many areas of the community. She is co-founder of the Flathead chapter of Finally Home, through which she helped Kalispell Chamber’s Member of the Year is Allison Rold of Wild Horse Limousine. Debbie Kramer Allison Rold Reprinted with permission of the Daily Inter Lake 13 Doctor Wins Chamber’s Top Award Great Chief Dr. Van Kirke Nelson Posted: Friday, November 15, 2013 6:00 am The Daily Inter Lake realm and in the arts. Even though Dr. Van Kirke Nelson delivered thousands of babies in his obstetrics and gynecology career before he retired in 2002, he still always found time for numerous valley and state causes, especially in the health-care For his devotion to the Flathead Valley and his work in making Northwest Montana a better place, Nelson was given the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s Great Chief award for 2013 Thursday night at the Chamber’s 109th annual banquet. In a nominating letter, Jim Oliverson, spokesman for Kalispell Regional Medical Center, detailed the wide variety of recipients of Nelson’s time and energy. “His shouts for more help for women’s and children’s health were heard all the way to Washington, D.C. He was a driving force behind the improvements at Legends Field. He and his wife served as community leaders on the campaign for the Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Science.” Nelson, who started his medical practice in the Flathead Valley in 1962, recently retired after 37 years on the board of the ALERT air ambulance, for which he was a charter member. He combined his knowledge of fine art with his passion for saving lives to help forge the art auctions that have become a main event at the annual ALERT fundraising banquets. In May, Nelson was presented with the Montana Mentor Award by Flathead Valley Community College president Jane Karas. She wrote a letter in support of his nomination for Great Chief, citing his assistance with the college’s health care programs in fundraising and partnerships with Browning and Blackfeet Community College. Karas also expressed her appreciation for Nelson’s engagement in the arts, such as his sponsorship of Fine Arts Night and his willingness to help appraise art that has been donated to the college. “In the spirit of ‘It’s always better to give than to receive,’ Kirke is always first in line to commit to noble and worthwhile causes, especially if it relates to our youth,” wrote Robert Nystuen, president of Glacier Bank, for which Nelson also served on the board of directors. “The generosity of monetary gifts from Kirke (and Helen) Nelson are certainly noteworthy and admirable, but they paled by the gifts of time, dedication and love for this community.” Reprinted with permission of the Daily Inter Lake 14 Come Celebrate the Season with us at the Chamber You are invited to join us in the Chamber Building, 15 Depot Park from 5-6:30 PM on Tuesday December 12 for our annual Member’s Thank You Holiday Party. Thank You To Our Visitor Center Volunteers! Every summer our faithful volunteer team welcomes thousands of travelers to the Kalispell Visitor Center. From June through September, 2013, we served 4,666 walkin guests, handled 631 phone calls and mailed out 673 visitor information packets. Our volunteers answered questions about Glacier Park, Flathead Lake, lodging, restaurants, campgrounds, museums, hiking, fishing, special events and much more. This summer we were fortunate to have five student volunteers from Flathead and Glacier High Schools join our Visitor Center team. In addition, Harrison McGillen and Haakon Sande, participants in the International Baccalaureate program at FHS, completed research projects benefitting the Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau and the Crown of the Continent Travel Planner Website. On November 12th, we took a group of Visitor Center volunteers for a ride on the Montana Trolley and visited Kalispell Hilltop Inn, Hilton Homewood Suites and Best Western Flathead Inn & Suites. We were all impressed with the hospitality and devotion to guest comfort shown by each of these facilities. We’d like to express our appreciation to the following Visitor Center volunteers: Laurel Thompson, Lillian Hinkley, Tammy Yonkers, Joanne Ross, Delores Bunyea, Su McCadden, Harrison McGillen, Haakon Sande, McKenna Miller, Will Thompson and Jackson Day. 15 Vista Linda Mexican/American Restaurant • Cantina • Catering This year we will again be donating 100% of our Split the Pot for the evening to our local Kalispell Food Bank. We are hoping that our members will be generous with their donations. Vista Linda will be preparing the food. THE WORLD IS COMING TO WHITEFISH JOIN THE FUN!! An Introduction for Sponsors January 2014, Whitefish will host an event that is unique among winter sports; our own version of Montana’s Extreme Winter Games. It is an opportunity for thousands of spectators to be entertained by a great competition combining skiing, horsemanship, and all the fun social aspects of Whitefish’s legendary Winter Carnival. Pre-Event Media: By The Numbers: The Dates: January 24-26, 2014 Spectators: Estimated 3000 daily The Location: Whitefish City Airport and Downtown Whitefish The Non-Profit Beneficiary: WINGS, Cancer Support and Human Therapy on Horseback Platinum Sponsor $3,000 Gold Sponsor $1,000 Silver Sponsor Coordinated PR effort for months prior Posters distributed at retail locations throughout the Flathead Valley Print ads-local / week prior Radio ads / week prior $500 Bronze Sponsor $250 The Hype: $15,000 added money –The biggest Skijoring purse in the World…nearly $20,000 last year Sponsor Benefits: Branding, Promotions, Direct Sales & Advertising The Poster: Hundreds of promotional event posters distributed throughout the Flathead Valley. Your company logo or name included on the base of the poster. The website: www.whitefishskijoring.com, updated, with recognition for all sponsors at all levels, including links to sponsor websites and promotional weekend events. The Commemorative T-shirt: All competitors, volunteers and sponsors will receive the Commemorative T-shirt with your logo and name on it. Banners on Jumps or Start Wall: The jumps are the focal point of the race course for thousands of spectators and the photographers who capture the action. Print/Newspaper Ads: Both pre‐event post‐event “thank you” can include your company logo or your name. Live Announcer Mentions: Joe Warner is one of the best rodeo announcers in the entire Pacific Northwest. He does an excellent job “sprinkling” sponsors mentions and brief “LIVE ADS” during any lull in the action on the racecourse. Let the thousands of spec‐ tators know about your business (And that you want their business!!) Contact Scott Ping #406-261-7464 www.whitefishskijoring.com for complete sponsorship opportunities BE EVERYWHERE YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE LOOKING with CenturyLink Yellow Pages Online and Print Services. How your customers search for local businesses: 75% use Search Engines 66% use Print Yellow Pages 52% How CenturyLink Yellow Pages gets your business noticed: ` Effective ` Social Websites Media & Mobile Presence ` Online Listing Monitoring ` Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ` Search Engine Marketing (SEM) ` Eye-catching Print Ads use Internet Yellow Pages 34% use Social Networks Get your business the exposure it needs to succeed. CALL 1-888-9-CTL BOOK VISIT CenturyLinkYellowPages.com REAL. AFFORDABLE. RESULTS.
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