MHTBA and MSU College of Engineering Event Highlights: How to Get Montana Tech Jobs & Internships Employer Panel, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at MSU Roundtable, Montana Robotics Alliance
On February 22, 2023, MHTBA members and guests gathered inside Inspiration Hall for a series of events in celebration of Engineer’s Week in Bozeman to help increase the pipeline of students into high-paying tech jobs in Montana. Sponsored by Dean Brett Gunnink and the Montana State University Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. Photos courtesy of Tyson Krinke, Bright Side Photo & Video.
February 22, 2023, hosted by Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering
March 16, 2023
By Melissa Paulsen
The Montana High Tech Business Alliance traveled to Bozeman and partnered with Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering to co-host a series of events in celebration of Engineer’s Week on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. The events inside Inspiration Hall were facilitated by Christina Henderson, executive director of the Alliance. During the employer panel “How to Get Montana Tech Jobs & Internships,” leaders from Boeing Helena, Zoot Enterprises, and Hyundai Motor Group gave students advice on landing internships with their company and highlighted the positions they typically hire. The roundtable “Innovation & Entrepreneurship at MSU” spotlighted entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway and featured MSU alumni and faculty who have launched promising tech startups such as Foothold, NanoMagnetic Solutions, and Resilient Computing.
Following the two roundtable discussions, guests networked during the evening reception hosted by MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. The Dean of the College of Engineering, Brett Gunnick, helped kick off the reception’s lightning talks. Gunnick and his colleagues also provided an assortment of snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for MHTBA guests and students to enjoy. The February reception marks the second event MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering has hosted on behalf of the Alliance.
CONNECT: Three of Montana’s Top Tech Employers Highlight Job and Internship Opportunities for Students
From left to right: John Suh, Founding Director of New Horizons Studio Hyundai Motor Group R&D Division; Tony Rosanova, President and Chief Technology Officer of Zoot Enterprises; Shawna Alexander, Engineering Senior Manager for Boeing Helena; and Facilitator and MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson. Photo courtesy of Melissa Paulsen, Montana High Tech Business Alliance.
Panelists Shawna Alexander, Engineering Senior Manager for Boeing Helena, John Suh, Founding Director of New Horizons Studio Hyundai Motor Group R&D Division, Bozeman, and Tony Rosanova, President and Chief Technology Officer of Zoot Enterprises in Billings and Bozeman shared their tips for students pursuing internships during the employer panel “How to Get Montana Tech Jobs and Internships.”
Each company hires for a variety of jobs ranging across several engineering disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, and quality engineering, as well as roles in robotics, manufacturing, control software development, and more. For individuals without a background in engineering, positions in project management, business operations, sales and marketing, human resources, and finance are often available.
The three leaders also discussed their career journeys, what qualities and skills they frequently look for in an intern, and initiatives underway at their companies to help increase the pipeline of students into Montana’s robust high-tech industry. Students and MHTBA guests had opportunities to ask questions during the panel and network with the employers one-on-one afterward at the reception.
Watch for more articles with key takeaways from the employer panel as well as the innovation and entrepreneurship roundtable in a future newsletter.
PROMOTE: MSU Alumni and Faculty Share Their Entrepreneurial Experiences and Advice for Launching Tech Startups
From left to right: Panelists Sam Atkins, President and Co-Founder of Foothold; Dr. Anja Kunze, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at MSU and Co-Founder of NanoMagnetic Solutions; Dr. Brock LaMeres, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at MSU and Founder of Resilient Computing; and MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson.
During the roundtable “Innovation & Entrepreneurship at MSU,” students and MHTBA guests heard from MSU alumni and faculty members who have launched promising tech startups. The panel included Sam Atkins, President and Co-Founder of Foothold in Butte, Dr. Anja Kunze, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at MSU and Co-Founder of NanoMagnetic Solutions in Bozeman, and Dr. Brock LaMeres, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at MSU and Founder of Bozeman-based Resilient Computing.
From building sustainable and affordable prefabricated housing, developing advanced tools that use magnetic forces for gene editing, to constructing ultra-reliable computers that can withstand radiation in space, the panelists shared how their unique companies were founded and their advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The panelists also credited the MSU Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s annual $50K Venture Competition as a key component to advancing their entrepreneurial careers.
“[The Venture Competition] was like a milestone to hit,” Atkins said. “It helps you believe in yourself, and it helps other people believe in you. I fully encourage anybody who’s out there thinking about [entering] to take a crack at it.”
In 2020, NanoMagnetic Solutions placed second overall in the $50K Venture Competition for traditional ventures. Both Resilient Computing and Foothold won first place in 2021, with Resilient Computing earning first in traditional ventures and Foothold in the social ventures category.
The Venture Competition prize money for 2023 has increased from $50K to $75K.
Additionally, the three panelists touched on their approaches to raising capital, the steps they’ve taken toward licensing and developing their intellectual property, and their insight into how to help advance entrepreneurship in Montana.
ACCELERATE: The Montana Robotics Alliance Advocates for Youth Robotics Programs Statewide
Julie Heller, a representative from the Montana Robotics Alliance, speaks about how the nonprofit partners with the MSU Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering to advocate for FIRST robotics programming in Montana.
Julie Heller, a representative from the Montana Robotics Alliance, explained how the recently established nonprofit supports youth robotics programs statewide during the reception’s lightning talks.
The Montana Robotics Alliance works toward putting FIRST robotics programming out across the state in conjunction with the MSU Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering.
Founded in 1989, the FIRST robotics program is designed to inspire youth participation in science and technology through robotics competitions for elementary, middle school, and high school students nationwide. MSU hosts competitions like the FIRST Lego League (FLL) and FIRST Technology Challenge (FTC).
In the FIRST Lego League, students grade 4-8 spend weeks building and programming robots made from Lego kits to complete a series of missions. The FIRST Technology Challenge is intended for students grades 7-12 and requires participants to create more complex robots that compete in a larger arena. The FIRST robotics program and Montana Robotics Alliance not only makes STEM education accessible and fun, but also inspires youth to pursue careers in the vast field of STEM and instills self-confidence and the importance of teamwork.
The Montana Robotics Alliance’s website also features an intuitive map of FIRST robotics team locations across the state, as well as helpful information about grants and funding, team resources, and an events calendar to track upcoming competitions.
To learn more about the Montana Robotics Alliance, access volunteer opportunities, or to check for upcoming FIRST robotics events near you, please visit their website or reach out to info[at]mtroboticsalliance.org.
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.