From left to right: Christina Henderson, Executive Director, Montana High Tech Business Alliance (MHTBA) and Montana Jobs Network; Jessica Smith, Assistant Professor and Biotechnology Program Director, Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC); Jake Clark, Vice President, Great Falls Development Alliance; Cassandra Sunell, Bioscience Program Manager, Accelerate Montana and Interim Executive Director, Montana BioScience Alliance; and Patrick Haffey, Founder, Selkirk Pharma. The panelists discussed Montana’s biotech workforce pipeline, economic development strategies, and opportunities for industry growth during “The Future of Biotech in the Big Sky” at FVCC. (Photo courtesy of Mike Braun, Director of Employer Partnerships for Accelerate Montana.)

January 7, 2025

By Melissa Paulsen

On December 12, 2024, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance (MHTBA) and Montana BioScience Alliance co-hosted “The Future of Biotech in the Big Sky” at Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) in Kalispell. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including business leaders, K-12 educators, students, higher education leaders, and elected officials, to explore opportunities for growth in Montana’s biotech sector.

Moderated by MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson, the panel featured four industry leaders:

Jake Clark, Vice President, Great Falls Development Alliance
Patrick Haffey, Founder, Selkirk Pharma
Jessica Smith, Assistant Professor and Biotechnology Program Director, FVCC
Cassandra Sunell, Bioscience Program Manager, Accelerate Montana and Interim Executive Director, Montana BioScience Alliance

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

Economic Development Paves the Way for Innovation

Panelists emphasized the critical role of local workforce development and capital investment in driving Montana’s biotech growth.

“Economic development is the number one way to have an impact on outcomes in your community,” said Patrick Haffey, Founder of Selkirk Pharma in Spokane, Washington. “I would encourage other rural or semi-rural areas to not let what you don't have keep you from promoting what you’re good at and what you do have—which is an educated blue-collar workforce.”

Jake Clark, Vice President of the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA), highlighted the GFDA’s success in leveraging local assets through strategic planning, such as commissioning a bioscience sector study to identify growth opportunities.

“We noticed a lot of vertical integration with our local colleges,” Clark said. “A high school student in Great Falls now has a really integrated pathway to being a doctor … so [we’re] finding other ways to have workforce pathways that are easy.”

Clark added that the GFDA plans to introduce more manufacturing opportunities to its strong biotech ecosystem soon.

Career Readiness Programs Prepare Montana’s Next Generation

FVCC’s Running Start Biotechnology Program Offers BACE Certification

Flathead Valley Community College is advancing Montana’s biotech workforce pipeline through its innovative Running Start program. This initiative allows high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to earn up to six free college credits while gaining hands-on biotech experience.

“Every year we have about five to seven sections that are full of students taking Intro to Biotechnology and getting exposed to the biotechnology world while earning college credit,” said Jessica Smith, Biotechnology Program Director at FVCC.

Students in the program can earn the industry-recognized Biotechnology Aptitude Credentialing Exam (BACE) certification, preparing them for entry-level biotech careers.

“[BACE] doesn't just prepare students on the biology laboratory side, but also prepares them to work in the industry,” Smith said. “[Students] learn about good manufacturing and laboratory practices, quality control, and quality assurance that [they] don't necessarily get in academia.”

Accelerate Montana Creates Accessible Biotech Career Pathways

Accelerate Montana, in partnership with the University of Montana, Glaxosmithkline (GSK), and the Montana BioScience Alliance, offers rapid training modules on federal regulations, quality assurance, and quality control.

These modules provide accessible career pathways for Montanans eager to enter the biotech workforce. The modules allow students to continue their education while honing transferable skills for cross-sectors like manufacturing, medical technology, and photonics.

“No matter where [students] take an off-ramp, [they] have the ability to find something that speaks to [them],” said Cassandra Sunell, Bioscience Program Manager for Accelerate Montana. “If [they’re] enjoying a certain process, like the quality assurance or quality control, then [they] can go back to school and continue to promote [themselves].”

Accelerate Montana plans to expand its biotech training programs statewide, including Hamilton, in 2025.

Opportunities Abound in Montana’s Growing Biotech Industry

Montana’s biotech industry is poised for significant growth in the next five years, including potential for innovation in:

Biotech Support Services
Contract and Specialized Manufacturing
Dry Land Agriculture
Medical Technology
Pharmaceuticals
Photonics
Sustainable Energy
Workforce Development

“Montana was number one in the nation for employment rate percentage growth in the life sciences from 2016 to 2021,” Sunell said. “What we're seeing for demand for those jobs is a high school equivalent [education] or more in Montana, specifically for manufacturing. [Accelerate Montana] is looking at doing more with photonics, biosensing, semiconductors, and a lot of great things that are already happening here in Kalispell.”

Industry groups like the Montana BioScience Alliance play a vital role in fostering growth.

“Montana may be known for its wide-open spaces and natural beauty, but we're also becoming a leader in bioscience, said Cynthia Tsai, President of the Montana BioScience Alliance. “Companies here are creating lifesaving therapies, developing sustainable solutions, and pushing the boundaries of technology, all while keeping the unique character of our state at the heart of their work.”

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: 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.

The Future of Biotech in the Big Sky: Four Industry Leaders Highlight Growth Opportunities for Montana’s Biotech Workforce