Webinar Archive

January 18, 2024

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, all entities organized and operating in the United States will be required to register their “beneficial owners” with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). In this webinar co-hosted by the Alliance and Parsons Behle & Latimer, attorneys Ross Keogh and Tyler MacKay discuss the CTA and its implications for Montana business owners such as what constitutes a “beneficial owner,” penalties for non-compliance, and which businesses are required to register.

January 4, 2024

In the last five years, Montana's bioscience sector has grown rapidly as researchers and companies accelerated innovation in response to industry changes and COVID-19. In this webinar co-hosted by the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative, moderator Nicole Rush, Deputy Director of the Missoula Economic Partnership and a bioscience workforce specialist, and guest speaker Karen Brown, Founder of KLEO Research in Missoula, offer insights and strategies based on the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative’s half-decade helping leaders across Montana navigate evolving workforce needs.

November 16, 2023

In this in-depth session tailored to HR professionals, in-house counsel, and business owners, Parsons Behle & Latimer employment law attorney, Liz Mellem, provides important considerations concerning hybrid and remote work, including accommodations for disabilities, state laws that apply to a remote employee and the issues those laws may create, and logistics of terminating a remote employee.

November 14, 2023

On November 14, 2023, the Alliance co-hosted a webinar with The Last Mile technology training program to help Montana tech employers discover resources available to support fair chance hiring. The Last Mile is an innovative technology training program supported by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte that aims to disrupt the cycle of incarceration through technology education. The Last Mile reduces recidivism by teaching justice-impacted individuals to create websites and full-stack web applications using industry-standard technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node, Express, and MongoDB as well as employability skills.

November 8, 2023

AI has long been a vital tool for security teams. With the rapid advancement of Generative AI, there is growing interest in how AI, specifically Generative AI, can enhance security measures and how potential adversaries may utilize GenAI against an organization. In this webinar co-hosted by Vision Net and moderated by MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson, a panel of distinguished security professionals discuss the impact of AI on security, with a particular focus on Generative AI. Guest speakers include Sandy Dunn, vCISO QuarkIQ; Sean Wright, SVP Global Information and Physical Security, UMG Resident CSO, Stealth; and Ben Mayo, Head of Security and Lead Engineer, Vision Net.

September 7, 2023

Life science researchers and entrepreneurs need to understand the value of their assets to make value-driven decisions. This webinar, co-hosted with the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative, covers the basics of asset valuation for Montana firms engaged in biotechnology, pharma, medtech, or diagnostics. MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson facilitated the conversation and guest speakers include Merlin Greuel, director at Bioscience Valuation, and Joachim Greuel, co-founder and managing director of Bioscience Valuation.

August 23rd, 2023

Learn more about the ARPA cybersecurity reimbursement program and hear insights from some of Montana’s top IT experts on how businesses can be proactive against cyberthreats in this web panel co-hosted with Fisher’s Technology. MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson facilitated the conversation. Guest speakers include Ryan Alter, Professional Services Director, Fisher’s Technology; Matt Durrin, Director of Training and Research, LMG Security; Dena Johnson, Business Insurance Sales Executive, PayneWest Insurance, a Marsh McLennan agency; and Vena Dagnall, Public Outreach and Operations Manager, Montana Department of Commerce, Business MT division.

February 22nd, 2023

Explore entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway and hear from Montana State University alumni & faculty who have launched promising tech startups in this roundtable co-hosted by MHTBA and MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering in celebration of Engineer’s Week. The engaging conversation was facilitated by MHTBA Executive Director Christina Henderson. Guest speakers include Sam Atkins, President and Co-Founder at Foothold; Dr. Anja Kunze, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Montana State University and Co-founder, NanoMagnetic Solutions; and Dr. Brock LaMeres, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, MSU and Founder, Resilient Computing.

February 22nd, 2023

To help increase the pipeline of students into high-paying tech jobs in Montana, leaders from some of Montana's top tech employers shared what they do, who they hire, and how students can land a job or internship with their company during MHTBA’s Employer Panel co-hosted by MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering in honor of Engineer’s Week. Panelists include Shawna Alexander, Engineering Senior Manager with Boeing; John Suh, Founding Director, New Horizons Studio, Hyundai Motor Group R&D Division; and Tony Rosanova, President/Chief Technology Officer, Zoot Enterprises.

January 12th, 2023

Studies show Montana’s bioscience industry is a rapidly growing and high-paying segment of the economy. Co-hosted by the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative, this virtual panel offers insights from diverse professionals into how individual companies can effectively plan for growth, and how we can scale Montana’s biotech ecosystem. Guest speakers include Liz Marchi, Head of Community Engagement, Two Bear Capital; Choyce LaRue, Financial and Leasing Expert, Thermo Fisher Scientific; Matt Mellott, Commercial Real Estate Advisor, SterlingCRE, and Cynthia Ekberg Tsai, CEO, Healthquest.

December 8th, 2022

Montana’s film and media industry is booming, creating jobs and business opportunities for Montanans working on popular TV shows like Yellowstone or movies with famous actors like Academy Award-winner J.K. Simmons. Learn how to get started in Montana’s film industry, discover how Montana businesses can capitalize on local productions, and meet a diverse group of Montanans who have built successful careers and businesses working in media and film in this virtual panel co-hosted by the Media Training Center.

November 14th, 2022

In 2022, three Missoula-based companies reached significant growth milestones. Panelists Kate Pace, Director of Strategy Operations for Cognizant ATG; Joshua Spitzer, COO & CFO of onX; and Ryan Hansen, Founder of Pathlabs/Joinr (formerly Lumenad) shared the exciting growth opportunities their companies have had in 2022 as well as their insights on the future of Montana as a tech hub. The engaging conversation was facilitated by Christina Henderson, executive director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance.

November 10th, 2022

Montana is a great place to launch a world-class career in biotech. From supporting clinical research to improve healthcare for underserved populations, to building software to diagnose diseases through gene sequencing, get inspired to build your own career at the intersection of the biosciences and technology. Co-hosted by the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative, this webinar features guest speakers Karen Brown, PharmD, Founder and CEO of KLEO Research, Moses Leavens, PhD, Protein Biochemist at McLaughlin Research Institute, and Andreas Scherer, PhD, President and CEO of Golden Helix.

October 11th, 2022

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. The four panelists shared with MHTBA and its members the shifts they’ve encountered in the workforce due to an influx of remote workers. Hosted by Glacier Bank.

Jul 12, 2022

IT is a growing field with lots of jobs in Montana. In this interview, CEO David Mayer and COO Neil Photikarm of Endpoint Utility Corp in Kalispell offer advice on how to get into the popular field of IT and how future employees can excel in an IT career, Recorded June 22, 2022 as part of the Montana High Tech Careers series.

June 15, 2022

Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Director of Product Management & Engineering, Web3 Identity at Unstoppable Domains, joins Montana High Tech Business Alliance Executive Director Christina Henderson to discuss the ever changing world of Web3.0 and what it means for the future of business in Montana. Hosted by the Bozeman Event Space.

Nov. 10, 2021

The second Montana – Israel Virtual Trade Forum highlights opportunities to build trade between Israel and Montana, with a specific focus on digital health. During this virtual event, participants hear from experts from Israel and Montana sharing overviews of their respective industries and innovative technologies. The Governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte, provides welcoming remarks and Israeli Consul General, Shlomi Kofman, also joins.

Oct. 28, 2021

Across the country, millions of workers are taking the leap and leaving their jobs - a phenomenon known as "the Great Resignation." Join the MHTBA and Within People for a conversation exploring the data behind the Great Resignation and unpacking the keys for organizations looking to retain great talent and reduce the impact of potential turnover.

Sept. 27, 2021

If you are a U.S. technology business considering an investment involving a foreign person, certain transactions may be subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a federal interagency group charged with protecting national security. This webinar led by international transactions expert Ama A. Adams will help Montana investors and companies better understand the CFIUS process, its authority and how to comply.

July 21, 2021

Remote work, evolving needs, and workforce migration have shaken up Montana’s hiring landscape. Experis VP of Global Market Intelligence Raleen Gagnon to discuss workforce and recruiting within Montana’s technology sector. Raleen will discuss nationwide market trends and how local workforce movement and migration data correlate to housing pressure points and hiring challenges.

June 24, 2021

Emerging from a global pandemic that has forced many organizations to reimagine the way they work and rethink talent attraction and retention, cultivating cultures of performance to drive growth has never been more important. Join us for a deep dive into understanding the changing world of work and key ways to harness culture to drive growth.

May 27, 2021

As companies grow, the experience of them changes as more people get further away from the core. New cultural challenges can emerge and it can be difficult to maintain the essence of what made the business successful as they evolve. Join us for a deep dive into codifying the DNA of your culture and onboarding new team members into that culture in a strategic way that amplifies your growth ambition.

May 19, 2021

Struggling to succinctly convey a value proposition and opportunities for investment when pitching your technology, service, or idea? Hear from startup and investment leaders in Montana's biotech space on growing new companies, R&D partnerships, and raising money on the road.

April 29, 2021

Committed to attracting and retaining great talent? As the world changes, so is what people are looking for work to be. This first session will be a deep dive into how your culture is key to attracting great talent and helping people work together in new ways. We’ll explore the keys to a powerful employer brand, the cultural drivers that attract great talent, and tangible ways to drive employee engagement and retention.

April 8, 2021

The audiochat app Clubhouse grew 10x in two months earlier this year. In an effort to help educate Montana's tech community about the app and its benefits, MHTBA Board Chair and VP Global Communications for Oracle Kelly Schwager will give us the lowdown via Zoom and then take us onto Clubhouse for a short discussion.

March 31, 2021

Google is launching a significant algorithmic update in late spring, and if you or your competition currently have a ton of traffic, that may not be the case after the Page Experience update. In the Page Experience webinar, Austin will help you understand: what is being updated in the algorithm, tools you can use to determine how you'll be affected, what you'll need to update, how to make adjustments.

March 24, 2021

Learn about companies in Ireland and Montana working on the new frontiers of bioscience in this free webinar hosted by the MHTBA, the Montana BioScience Cluster Initiative, BioScience Alliance, and the Montana World Trade Center.

February 2, 2021

On Dec. 2nd, we hosted the webinar Creating a Better Employee Experience During COVID Times where Kendall Clifton-Short of Within People explored how to: understand the trends facing the future of work as a result of COVID, rethink the mechanisms that drive culture in a remote world, and build trust and strengthen connection across your virtual or hybrid culture. This session will help leaders deep dive into navigating the new challenges of a changing world.

January 28, 2021

In this free webinar, hear from three biotechnology leaders whose companies were featured in our Montana Biotech Companies to Watch 2020 list and learn about their innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth. Speakers: Elizabeth "Tess" Corbin, CEO of PurCell Bio; Karl Sebby, President and Co-Founder of Truwl; Andreas Scherer, President and CEO of Golden Helix.

December 10, 2020

Searching for real advice among the buzzwords? Join the Alliance and Jakki Mohr, Regents Professor of Marketing at the University of Montana College of Business, to explore strategic tech marketing basics focused on the customer. The webinar will begin with a quick overview of the strategic, traditional/functional, and tactical marketing industry lenses and discuss how those frameworks can guide your company's product and customer experience. Discover how to craft a compelling value proposition, leverage customer insights to guide your road map, identify your customer journey, and translate those metrics into an effective call to action.

December 2, 2020

As new pressures emerge from an ongoing pandemic, leaders are looking to build resilience and find new ways for teams to work and perform at their best.

In this webinar, Kendall Clifton-Short from Within People explores how to understand the trends facing the future of work as a result of COVID, rethink the mechanisms that drive culture in a remote world, build trust and strengthen connection across your virtual or hybrid culture, and create an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive in disconnected times.

September 22, 2020

Faced with reduced revenues and a shaky economy, business owners are looking for ways to conserve cash. But slashing employee benefits without a bigger strategy can undermine company culture and cause good workers to leave. Zach Schmidt, Financial Advisor at Waypoint Wealth Management in Bozeman, has helped many Montana tech leaders add value for employees while lowering costs. In this free webinar, you’ll learn how to: retain key employees you can’t afford to lose, design programs that encourage upward financial mobility, and find creative solutions for retirement.

September 9, 2020

Transportation is an ongoing challenge for business connectivity across Montana. Long drives and expensive flights are typically the only alternatives for in-state business travel. The recent push to restore passenger rail across southern Montana could have immediate economic benefits: easier, more affordable trips between cities; ability to work while traveling; less environmental impact; safer travel to Cat/Griz games; and 15:1 return on investment for the state.

August 20, 2020

More than 8 percent of Montanans are Native – the 5th highest ratio in the U.S. And Indigenous young people are a cornerstone of our future workforce. About 14 percent of Montana’s school-age population is Native American compared to about 1 percent nationally.

Montana’s diverse tribal communities play a vital role in Montana’s history, culture, and economy. And yet, many non-native tech leaders know little about their Indigenous neighbors. Misty Kuhl, Aaniiih Member of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, will address common areas of confusion.

August 6, 2020

The pandemic has shifted more business transactions online than ever before. Now is the time to reinvent your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy to leverage the new digital economy.

Austin Walker is the founder of Inbound Creation and a Marketing instructor in the University of Montana College of Business. He holds an MBA from the University of Montana.

July 23, 2020

Almost overnight, COVID-19 has made traditional office designs obsolete. As businesses evaluate how to bring employees back safely, whether to renew leases, and how to approach remodeling and new builds, many questions arise, such as: How do we redesign workspaces, public areas, and conference rooms to meet new safety guidelines? What changes do we need to make to traffic flow and signage to maintain proper social distance? How will we provide convenient access to PPE? What materials, furnishings, and design principles will make our spaces both safe and welcoming? How can technology help solve our new challenges?

June 23, 2020

In coming weeks, the MHTBA will be offering a three-part interactive workshop on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Tech Companies in partnership with the University of Montana Corporate Training Programs.

In this free one-hour webinar, UM instructors will introduce some key concepts and methods for effective promotion and development of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in the workplace and answer questions from tech leaders.

Instructors: Michael Cassens, Theresa Floyd, Elizabeth Hubble, Tobin Miller Shearer.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Did you make fast changes to support remote work? You’re not alone. In this time of crisis, many organizations quickly deployed remote workers, and spun-up new VPN and cloud instances that could result in security gaps. With employees working from home and sometimes even using their own personal devices, hackers have quickly pivoted.

Coronavirus phishing attacks increased 667% in March, Zoom attacks are rising, and hackers are increasingly targeting VPNs. How can you protect your organization during these challenging times?

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

The pandemic has sparked many new tech-related needs across Montana. Challenges like connecting kids to online school, delivering mental health services virtually, and building software to efficiently allocate available resources. Every day, our members use technology to find creative solutions to hard problems. You have already helped in so many ways, such as making masks, offering pro bono services, and giving financially. The Montana High Tech Business Alliance is launching an initiative with nonprofit partners to see if we can help match urgent local needs to tech leaders with expertise, volunteer hours, software/hardware, or philanthropic funds to give.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The pandemic has sparked many new tech-related needs across Montana. Challenges like connecting kids to online school, delivering mental health services virtually, and building software to efficiently allocate available resources. Every day, our members use technology to find creative solutions to hard problems. You have already helped in so many ways, such as making masks, offering pro bono services, and giving financially. The Montana High Tech Business Alliance is launching an initiative with nonprofit partners to see if we can help match urgent local needs to tech leaders with expertise, volunteer hours, software/hardware, or philanthropic funds to give.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

In January, Next Frontier Capital announced that in 2019 alone, for the first time ever, venture capital investment in Montana exceeded $150m dollars. In this free webinar, partners from NFC will explain why they are optimistic about the future for Montana and the Rocky Mountain West. Speakers: Les Craig: Partner, Next Frontier Capital, Former Director MSU Blackstone LaunchPad; Julie Penner: Venture Partner, Next Frontier Capital, Former Director of Techstars Boulder.

April 23, 2020

This free webinar in partnership with MonTEC/Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative and the Montana Bioscience Alliance will highlight the life-saving work of Montana healthcare and biotech companies conducting R&D to meet vital needs during COVID-19.

Hear from: James T. Woodson: MD, FACEP, Founder and CEO, Pulsara; Jay Evans, Ph.D.: Cofounder and CEO, Inimmune; Jeff Fee: Cofounder and CEO, PatientOne; Sarj Patel: Ph.D, Cofounder and President, and Chris Booth, Ph.D., Cofounder and CEO, FYR Diagnostics.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Two Bear Capital is led by Mike Goguen, a 20-year veteran of Sequoia Capital. Between 1996 and 2016 Mike sponsored and led 54 company investments to a combined market value exceeding $64 billion. Mike had 26 companies exit above $100 million – 11 of those above $500 million, 6 above $1 billion and 3 above $10 billion in peak market value. He led investments across sectors including cyber security, bioinformatics, biopharma, IT infrastructure, and semiconductors. In this free webinar, Mike Goguen will share insights from his successful VC career in Silicon Valley. Learn how Mike found opportunities through the dot com crash, the great recession, and the clean tech bust and how he’s applying those lessons to COVID- 19. Hear why he decided to build Two Bear Capital in Whitefish, Montana and invest in healthcare and biotech.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

COVID- 19 crisis has caused drastic upheaval for businesses, and tech leaders are faced with numerous communications challenges. How well you rise to the occasion could impact your business and your brand for years to come. In this free webinar, communications veteran Kelly Schwager will offer best practices for communicating in difficult times.

Kelly Schwager currently serves as Vice President, Global Communications for Oracle. Previously, Kelly served as Executive Vice President and General Manager for Edelman, the largest public relations firm in the world. Edelman Silicon Valley represented brands including Adobe, eBay, HP, GE, Juniper Networks, and Samsung. Prior, Kelly held various leadership roles with tech players including SAP, Streetline, Symantec, VERITAS, and USWeb.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Investors are hustling to help their portfolio companies survive the fallout from COVID- 19. In this free webinar, seasoned operating executives and investors will share their best advice on how early stage and high-growth startups can pivot their business models, plan for business continuity, manage cash flow, and live to fight another day.

Speakers are Susan Carstensen: Co-founder, Yellowstone Growth Partners; Former COO and CFO, RightNow Technologies; Pat LaPointe: Managing Director, Frontier Angels; Founder, Early Stage Montana; 20-year serial tech entrepreneur; and Bill Stoddart: Co-founder, HomeStake Venture Partners; Founder of NorthFork Financial, GreenDrinks Bozeman and CeedNET.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

During the COVID-19 crisis, many Montana businesses are depending on funds from the CARES Act to retain employees, continue product development, and in some cases, re-open their doors once the stay at home orders are lifted. In this free webinar, Congressman Greg Gianforte, founder of RightNow Technologies in Bozeman, will walk MHTBA members through the many provisions in the nearly 900-page bill including tax deferrals, tax credit, commercial loan modifications, expanded unemployment, direct payments to individuals, 401k modifications, and more.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

The outcomes of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act are evolving day by day. Get the latest insider information about how to access the resources available to Montana tech leaders.

Speakers: Ken Fichtler, Chief Business Development Officer, State of Montana; Brent Donnelly, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration.

The speakers will be joined in a Q&A session by legal and banking experts: Barry Johnston, Chief Credit Officer, Glacier Bancorp; Erin McCrady, Partner, Corporate Finance & Public Finance, Dorsey & Whitney LLP.