On Thursday, December 5, 2024, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance and Montana Jobs Network (MJN) board members spoke with 9-12 grade students at Winifred School about career opportunities in technology fields and learned about students’ interests and future goals. By giving to the MJN, you’re not just investing in careers—you’re keeping Montana families together and helping our communities thrive.

December 23, 2024

By Christina Henderson

Dear Friends,

We believe that one of Montana’s most valuable natural resources is its people. Yet far too many Montanans feel forced to leave their homes and families to find high-paying careers elsewhere.

At the Montana Jobs Network (MJN), we’re working to change that story by connecting students, young professionals, and underserved communities with the skills and opportunities they need to equip themselves for the jobs of the future—and to thrive right here in Montana.

This year, with your support, we’ve advanced our mission by:

• Preparing Montanans for the Jobs of the Future
  In an age of AI and rapid technological change, we’re one of the few organizations deeply aligned with the industry’s fast-changing needs. Through resources like our 10 Hot Montana Photonics Jobs for 2024 report, we’ve highlighted high-growth opportunities, ensuring Montanans are aware of the skills required to work in these emerging fields. We know that AI is drastically changing both the global job market and hiring patterns in Montana. We facilitate intentional collaboration across industry and education to enable approachable AI skill-building and increase the resiliency of Montana’s workforce. 

• Providing Mentors and Resources to Guide Young People
  We’re empowering the next generation by connecting them with mentors, role models, and practical resources that open doors to high-paying, high-growth careers. Events like the Biotech Workforce Expo, and coordinated workshops with educators, K-12 students, and industry leaders are helping young Montanans better understand and find on-ramps to these dynamic career pathways.

• Reaching Every Corner of Montana
  Whether visiting students in The Last Mile program at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge or speaking to the entire high school of about 40 students in Winifred, we remain steadfast in our commitment to Montana’s rural, tribal, and underserved communities. By traveling the distance to schools and workforce events, we’ve shared career opportunities, fostered connections, and shown up where we’re needed most. Our presence in these communities ensures that every Montanan, no matter where they live, can access pathways to high-paying careers.

From left to right: MJN and Alliance board members and Executive Director Christina Henderson spoke to 9-12 grade students at Winifred School about high-paying tech career opportunities in Montana. The MJN hosted the inaugural Biotech Workforce Expo with Missoula College in Feb. 2024. In October, Henderson traveled to Montana State University in Bozeman to share the 10 Hot Montana Photonics Jobs for 2024 report with students and faculty at the annual OpTeC Conference. The MJN's "Hot Montana Jobs Showdown" game with fly swatters was a big hit with 7-12 graders from Lewistown, Stanford, Winifred, and Fort Belknap at the Workforce Expo in Lewistown, hosted by Allied Steel and the Montana Department of Labor this fall.

Tom and Mary Lou Stergios, founders of Craton Consulting and generous supporters of MJN, share why they’ve chosen to invest in Montana’s future:

“We believe in the MJN’s mission because it ensures that Montana’s greatest asset—its people—have the opportunities to thrive in their own communities,” said Tom Stergios. “Supporting the MJN is an investment in our state’s future.” 

🎁 This holiday season, you can help us expand this work into every corner of Montana.

Your donation will:

• Fund travel to rural and Indigenous communities like Fort Peck and Miles City.

• Provide supplies for school visits, workforce expos, and career exploration activities.

• Enable our staff to deliver life-changing resources to Montana’s future workforce.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters like Tom and Mary Lou Stergios, we’ve raised $10,000 so far. Help us match this amount by the end of the year! Donate online or send a check to Montana Jobs Network, 1121 E. Broadway St. Ste 108, Missoula, MT 59802.

Why Your Support Matters

By giving to the MJN, you’re not just investing in careers—you’re keeping Montana families together and helping our communities thrive. Join us in building a stronger, more connected Montana for generations to come.

Thank you for believing in Montana’s future. Together, we can empower the next generation to succeed right here at home.

Warm Wishes,

Christina Henderson
Executive Director
Montana Jobs Network

Sponsorship and Partnerships

If you or your organization would like to work with our team at the Montana High Tech Business Alliance and Montana Jobs Network to support a particular community or project, please contact Christina Henderson, Executive Director, director[at]mthightech.org.

We're also looking for passionate volunteers to make an impact through mentoring, speaking engagements, event planning, sponsorship, and more. Complete our volunteer interest form to share your ideas and let us know how you'd like to get involved. Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news and updates.

Thank you for your consideration,

Christina Henderson

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. The Montana Jobs Network is the charitable nonprofit arm of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance and works to empower Montanans to launch high-paying careers.

About the Author: 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