What: The Bureau of Business and Economic Research’s mid-year economic update
When: Tuesday, August 1st - Thursday, August 3rd
Billings - Aug. 1st, 7:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Bozeman - Aug. 1st, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Butte - Aug. 1st, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Helena - Aug. 2nd, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Great Falls - Aug. 2nd, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Missoula - Aug. 3rd, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Kalispell - Aug. 3rd, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Where: The BBER’s mid-year economic update will travel to the following seven cities:
Billings - Big Horn Resort
Bozeman - Best Western GranTree Inn
Butte - NorthWestern Energy General Office
Helena - Best Western Great Northern Hotel
Great Falls - Hilton Garden Inn
Missoula - Hilton Garden Inn
Kalispell - Hilton Garden Inn
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE EVENT:
The Bureau of Business and Economic Research’s mid-year economic update program provides an in-depth overview of Montana’s economy. This year’s special focus will be on the adequacy of Montana’s electric supply. After decades of being a net exporter of electricity to neighboring states, Montana is becoming a state that imports power more often. On the days and hours when Montana does import power, the state competes in a regional market with some very hungry mouths. States like California, in particular, import more than 25% of the power they use. A potential power crunch in our future puts economic growth in jeopardy.
The mid-year economic update program is 90 minutes long and the $35 registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, or appetizers depending on the city.
Guest Speakers:
Patrick Barkey
Director of the BBER
Patrick Barkey has served as Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research since 2008. He has been involved with economic forecasting and policy research for more than 30 years, in both the private and public sectors. His recent research has been on the economic impact of energy development, the property tax treatment of the telecommunications industry and the economic impact of trade with Canada. He holds a B.A. and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan.
Todd O’Hair
President and CEO at Montana Chamber of Commerce
As President and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, Todd O’Hair works with over 2,000 business members representing every size, industry, and region in the state. A Montana native, O’Hair hails from Livingston where his family owns a multi-generational family ranch. Before being named President and CEO of the Montana Chamber, he was the Senior Manager of Government Affairs for a major coal mining company, Cloud Peak Energy. While at Cloud Peak, he served on the Montana Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was the chair of the board in 2016-17.