Kalispell Event Highlights: Montana Tech Leaders Explore Challenges, Opportunities of Remote Work at MHTBA’s October 11 Events Sponsored by Glacier Bank
In This Issue: Remote Work Panel Video, Announcing Local Chapters, GL Solutions Grows High Tech Jobs in the Flathead Valley, Export Montana Offers $10K Grants for International Sales
MHTBA members and guests gathered inside the historic Kalispell Mercantile (KM) building on October 11, 2022, for a networking reception following a roundtable discussion on the challenges and opportunities of remote work in Montana. Both events were sponsored by Kalispell Market President Mike Smith and the team at Glacier Bank. Photos courtesy of Clint Ekern, Sky Vault.
October 11, 2022, Hosted by Glacier Bank
October 27, 2022
By Melissa Paulsen
The Montana High Tech Business Alliance traveled along the shores of Flathead Lake to the historic Kalispell Mercantile (KM) building on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, for an afternoon roundtable covering both the challenges and opportunities associated with remote work. Facilitator Mickeli Bedore sparked engaging conversation on the future of work in Montana with panel members Kate Mayer Sr. GTM and Revenue Marketing Leader for Insight, Rachel Thompson Strategic Client Development Lead for New Era ADR, Gregg Barrett CEO of WaterStreet Company, and Kelly Schwager VP Global Communications for Oracle. Following the roundtable, guests enjoyed an evening reception hosted by Glacier Bank. Michael Smith, Glacier Bank Kalispell Market President, and his colleagues provided hors d’ oeuvres and beverages from DeSoto Grill and helped kick-off the reception’s lightning talks. The October reception marks the seventh event Glacier Bank has hosted on behalf of the Alliance since 2015.
CONNECT: Four Montana Executives Share Insights on the Impact of Remote Work
From left to right: Facilitator Mickeli Bedore with panel members Kate Mayer, Sr. GTM and Revenue Marketing Leader Insight; Rachel Thompson, Strategic Client Development Lead New Era ADR; Gregg Barrett, CEO WaterStreet Company; and Kelly Schwager, VP Global Communications Oracle.
Coming from a vast array of industries and backgrounds, four Montana executives spoke about the shifts they’ve noticed in the workforce due to an influx of remote workers during the panel “Remote Work - Challenges and Opportunities.”
The panelists covered topics such as how to bridge the gap between in-office and remote work, the new strategies their companies are implementing to make the onboarding process easier for fully remote employees, and more.
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Montana High Tech Business Alliance Announces Launch of Local Chapters
David Mayer, CEO of Endpoint Utility Corp in Kalispell, announces the launch of MHTBA’s local chapters, starting with Mayer and Rachel Thompson in the Flathead Valley as volunteer organizers.
During the lightning talks, the Alliance announced the launch of its statewide local chapters program, starting in the Flathead Valley with organizers David Mayer, CEO of Endpoint Utility Corp, and Rachel Thompson.
The mission of the local chapters program is to help Montana High Tech Business Alliance members connect with one another inside their communities. Volunteer organizers, like Mayer and Thompson, will coordinate meeting times and select a venue in their cities to host local events while the Montana High Tech Business Alliance will provide staff support for event registration and marketing.
Local chapters will provide increased opportunities for in-person networking as well as a chance for companies to make a difference in their communities.
“Not only do we want to do all of the social and networking things that are super valuable for all of us, but if 20 or 30 of us [are] saying, ‘Hey, we're really passionate about this [idea], and we want to do this here,’ we can make a really big difference,” Mayer said.
PROMOTE: Kalispell-based GL Solutions Plans to Double Its High-Tech Workforce in the Next Year
Bill Moseley, CEO of GL Solutions, discusses how the local business culture influenced his decision to relocate GL Solutions to Montana and the company’s plans for growth within the next year. GL Solutions supplies state governments with regulatory software that helps these agencies operate more efficiently and effectively.
Bill Moseley, CEO of GL Solutions, explained how the warm reception he received from the Kalispell community spurred his decision to relocate the company to Kalispell from Bend, Oregon in 2021.
“We were looking for a better tax regulatory place to do business,” Moseley said. “The thing that really stuck out in my mind was that the [Kalispell community] wanted us here as a place for their kids to work, so that spoke a lot to the community and the kind of business environment we're trying to create.”
Named as one of MHTBA’s High-Growth Companies to Watch in 2022, GL Solutions supplies state governments with regulatory software that helps these agencies operate more efficiently and effectively. Currently, GL Solutions has customers in 24 states.
GL Solutions moved 10 employees from Bend into its Kalispell office and has hired 45 more employees to date. Within the next year, GL Solutions seeks to double in size and create more high-tech job opportunities within the Flathead Valley by hiring roles in quality assurance, software development, and more.
ACCELERATE: Export Montana Offers $10K Grants and Programs to Assist Montana Businesses with International Sales
International Marketing Officer for Export Montana, Canon Luerkens, (right) highlights the opportunities and programs available to Montana companies to help them compete around the globe.
Canon Luerkens, Int’l Marketing Officer for Export Montana, shared exciting international sales opportunities available through Export Montana’s variety of programs and grants that are specifically intended to help Montana businesses expand into international markets.
“We are the easiest program you'll ever work with,” Luerkens said. “We surveyed the companies that we work with, [and] they spent 20 minutes on our application, 20 minutes on the reimbursement, and so you can probably get $10,000 bucks from us. We also have a great network of international consultants that we work with who do a fantastic job.”
Export Montana has participated in global trade shows across Europe, South America, and Asia. In addition, Export Montana runs a variety of international trade missions and offers grants up to $10,000 per month set to 50% reimbursement. Numerous high-end products like advanced machinery and semiconductors are shipped all over the world from Montana, and there are plenty of opportunities for software companies to get involved. Luerkens estimated about 40% of exports are software or software related products.
“We get a big federal grant each year and with that [grant] we help companies attend international trade shows, pay for compliance testing, patents, trademarks, international digital marketing, and website development with an international lean to it,” Luerkens said. “Anything that you're doing with international sales, [Export Montana] can help you.”
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 Author: 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.