December 19, 2024

By Christina Henderson and Melissa Paulsen

On December 12, 2024, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance (MHTBA) co-hosted “The Future of Biotech in the Big Sky” with the Montana BioScience Alliance at Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) in Kalispell. Attendees represented a cross-section of stakeholders in biotech workforce development including business leaders, K-12 educators and students, higher education leaders, and elected officials.

MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson facilitated an industry panel on Biotech Workforce with guest speakers from across Montana including Jessica Smith, assistant professor of biology and biotechnology program director at FVCC; Jay Clark, VP of the Great Falls Development Alliance; Cassandra Sunell, bioscience program manager for Accelerate Montana; and Patrick Haffrey, founder of Selkirk Pharma in Spokane, Washington.

Topics of discussion included the biotech workforce pipeline and career readiness programs for high school and 2-year college students, economic development strategy, and opportunities for growth in Montana's innovative biotech industry. Stay tuned for a recap of the panel coming soon.

The event also featured three exciting pitches from Biotech Companies to Watch, including Titin KM Biomedical in Belgrade, Purcell Bio in Bozeman, and Swan Valley Medical in Kalispell. Pictured here is Tess Corbin, founder of Purcell Bio.

Prior to the evening networking session, Montana BioScience Alliance Board President, Cynthia Tsai of Healthquest (pictured) and Interim Executive Director Cassandra Sunell, announced the inaugural Sharon Peterson STEM Scholarship. The scholarship honors Peterson's legacy by awarding $2,500 to select Montana STEM teachers preparing the next generation of biotech workers.

About the Publisher: Launched in 2014, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit association of more than 200 high tech and manufacturing companies and affiliates creating high-paying jobs in Montana. For more information, visit MTHighTech.org or subscribe to our biweekly newsletter.

About the Authors: Christina Henderson has served as executive director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance since its launch in April 2014. She holds an English/Education degree from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the University of Montana

Melissa Paulsen is the communications coordinator for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2022 with a BFA in creative writing and a minor in history.