From Our President/CEO
Todd O'Hair

Our oldest son, Nathan is home from medical school at OHSU in Portland. Paul Allyn, our 17 year old has his winter break divided between working at Murdoch’s Farm and Ranch Supply and a goose hunting trip near Glasgow. Sophie, almost half way through her 8th grade year, can hardly wait for basketball season to start.  Both my parents are healthy and living their best life ever, working every day on the family ranch.

I’m blessed. This Christmas, I’m especially thankful for all that is right in this world. 

As we roll into the holidays and wrap up the year, make sure you take time to stop and appreciate what’s most important to you. We will pause the Montana Business Brief next week as the Chamber team takes time to rest ahead of a busy January. It will resume in the New Year on Wednesdays to include Capitol Connection Roundtable recaps.

Thank you for your support and commitment to the Montana Chamber of Commerce and the great state of Montana

Merry Christmas!  
2023 CAPITOL CONNECTION ROUNDTABLES
68th MONTANA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
JOIN US - VIRTUALLY: Beginning Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 12 noon, and every Tuesday during the 68th Montana Legislative Session, the Montana Chamber Government Relations team including Todd O'Hair, President & CEO, Charles Robison, Government Relations Director, Sheridan Johnson, Government Relations Specialist, Chamber Board Members, private industry and association leadership, and YOU for a brief discussion around the week ahead, strategy on the Chamber's nine priority bills it plans to introduce, support for others' bills, and our defense against bad bills being put forth.
NEWEST TREASURE STATE MEMBER
BNSF Railway has been a member of the Montana Chamber since 1960 and we cannot thank them enough for continuing to invest both intellectual and financial capital in the organization. Matt Jones as Immediate Past Chair of the Montana Chamber Board has helped ensure the implementation of Envision 2026 and the leadership transition which brought Todd O'Hair onboard as President & CEO. For that we are grateful.

"BNSF Railway is proud to be the newest Treasure State Member. We stepped up our investment because the Chamber’s work continues to produce tangible value for businesses that operate in Montana."

— Matt Jones, Executive Director State Government Affairs (Montana and Idaho), BNSF Railway; Immediate Past Chair, Montana Chamber Board of Directors

BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies. BNSF operates approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com.
2023 BUSINESS DAYS - SOLD OUT!
RECEPTION TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Lawmaker Appreciation Reception & Banquet
Monday, January 2 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm | $85 per person | Helena Civic Center

DON'T MISS OUT on the single biggest networking event of the year. Join hundreds of power brokers from the public, private and nonprofit sectors for three hours of conversation following the first full day of the session.

Lawmaker Appreciation Reception & Banquet Sponsor:
Business Days at the Capitol have already SOLD OUT. We are grateful so many will join us as we welcome the 68th Montana Legislature into session. Guests include Governor and First Lady Gianforte, Lt. Governor Juras, and other statewide elected officials. Government relations, business executives and business owners, association representatives, and more will be in attendance. 
THANK YOU to Our Generous BUSINESS DAYS SPONSORS!

Hospitality: Healthy is Wellness

Platinum: Applied Materials, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana; First Interstate Bank; Montana Department of Commerce; Montana State Fund; Montana State University; New Horizons Studio; NorthWestern Energy; Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education; Republic Services; Stockman Bank; University of Montana; and Valley Bank of Helena

Gold: Allegiance; Atlantic Richfield Company; Blackfoot Communications; Boeing; Charter Communications; Fidelity Diagnostics Laboratory; PacificSource Health Plans; and The Washington Companies

Silver: Crowley Fleck; Montana's Credit Unions; and University of Washington WWAMI

Bronze: Amazon; Billings Clinic; Enbridge; Montana Secretary of State, Montana Travel Association; PayneWest Insurance; and Reach Higher Montana

Copper: ALPS, Consumer Energy Alliance; Leadership Montana; Midland Claims Service, Inc. and Industrial Injury Claims®; Montana Bankers Association; Montana Hospital Association; Montana Hydraulics; Mountain Health Co-op; Pinion; and Silverthorn Renewables

THE PROSPECTS: PRIZE PURSE DONATION
THANK YOU Two Bear Capital for Your
Prize Purse Sponsorship!

"Youth Entrepreneurs has a unique way of teaching problem-solving. As business people in venture capital, we know the future depends on those who think differently, see the opportunities in problem-solving, and are not afraid to fail."

— Liz Marchi, Head of Community Engagement, Two Bear Capital; Board Member, Montana Chamber of Commerce
The Prospects is an annual virtual statewide entrepreneurship competition with scholarships and cash prizes for high school students’ new ideas and existing small businesses, leading to opportunities for mentoring, internships, apprenticeships and work-based learning.

We are encouraging Montana students to pitch their ideas about the businesses they already run or the next big thing to win cash, prizes, and scholarships! The prize purse is growing and there is no idea too big or too small. We are excited about the upcoming submissions! 

Contact Tiana Yates, Workforce Development Specialist to support your local entrepreneurs!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced Amazon’s first facility in Montana is currently under construction in Missoula. The site, located at 9121 Cartage Road, will be a 72,000 square foot delivery station. Categorized as the “last mile” stage of the shipping process, the new delivery station will receive orders from larger Amazon facilities across the United States and dispatch delivery vans to bring those orders to customers’ front doors. Representing Amazon’s first major investment in Montana, the new facility will create more than 100 new jobs.
Grover Wallace & Associates, Leadership and HR Resources, LLC

GROVER WALLACE is a seasoned Human Resource and Leadership professional with over 38 years in all facets of the HR profession. Grover has worked predominantly in the mining sector with HR and Safety experience in Coal, Gold, Trona, Platinum/Palladium and Contract drilling. Grover has held senior HR and Safety leadership roles with Peter Kiewit Mining, Solvay, First Drilling (formerly Connors), AngloGold Ashanti, Newmont and most recently Sibanye-Stillwater in Southern Montana. 
TOOLKIT TO HELP BUSINESSES ENGAGE STUDENT WORKERS
The Montana Work-Based Learning Collaborative, a network of public and private partners working to expand and improve on-the-job learning for Montana students, has released its first Work-Based Learning Toolkit for Employers. The toolkit is available for download from the Reach Higher Montana website.
MONTANA BUSINESS NEWS
Governor signs off on broadband expansion funding... READ MORE
Molson Coors Facility Recognized for 'Exemplary' Safety Record... READ MORE
Students increase their knowledge vital to today’s marketplace through City College at MSU Billings’ business program... READ MORE
THIS BUSINESS BRIEF IS SPONSORED BY