The Progress Volume 34, Issue 4
Wednesday April 9th - 11:30 a.m. Beautify Butte Kickoff Meeting @ Chamber Monday, April 21st - 11:30 a.m. Executive Board @ Chamber Tuesday April 22nd - 8:30 a.m. CVB Meeting @ Chamber Wednesday April 23rd - 12 noon Chamber Ambassadors Thursday April 24th - 12 noon Board Meeting @ Christina’s Cocina Tuesday, April 29th - 12 noon Advantage Butte @ Perkins
www.buttechamber.org
(406) 723-3177
The past four weeks have been extremely busy thanks to the tournaments and swim meet that were held in various venues throughout our community. The Tourism Improvement Business District (TBID), Butte-Silver bow and donations from the Butte business community provide Advantage Butte the necessary funding to assist the various entities to bid on these events. The YMCA, Maroon Activity Center and the Butte Civic Center did an extremely great job in hosting and welcoming the thousands of people who traveled to Butte to attend their respective events. The Butte Chamber of Commerce hosts hospitality rooms at each venue to welcome coaches, officials and other people associated with the schools/teams that are in attendance. People who experience the hospitality rooms tell us they are second-to-none in the state of Montana and are extremely grateful and thankful for the way they are treated when they come to Butte. These people become our ambassadors when they return to their communities. None of this would be possible without the army of volunteers who help at each event. Many of these events start at 8 a.m. and finish at 10 p.m., with volunteers donating their assistance for the entire day and weekend. Think about a February or March without these events in our community…. Instead of the hustle and bustle of people from all over the state of Montana on our streets and in our businesses, it would be very quiet and a large void of revenue. These are events that we cannot take for granted, but we should be very appreciative for the positive financial impact that they provide to us. The majority of funding for the hospitality rooms comes from the proceeds of the Southwest Montana High School All-Star Basketball Classic that was held at the Montana Tech HPER Complex on Tuesday, March 18th. The proceeds collected that night will go toward stocking hospitality rooms for the upcoming 12 months. Thank you to everyone who attended, either as a volunteer or a spectator for contributing to this financial impact to our community.
Marko’s Message Chamber Choices Bill Drury CVB Update Business Card Social Lone Peak / Ribbon Cutting Volunteer Opportunities Charter Business Services Southwest Montana AllStar Basketball Classic
We are looking forward to three large events in the near future. The Montana State AAU Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament will be held April 4-6 at the Butte Civic Center. It is anticipated that over 1200 wrestlers will be coming to Butte for the weekend. The Eastern Class AA Divisional Track and Field Meet will be held at Bulldog Memorial Stadium-East Middle School on May 23-24 and the following weekend, on May 30-31, the State A & B Track and Field Meet will also be held at Bulldog Memorial Stadium. Butte is fortunate to have been chosen to host these upcoming events that will bring hundreds of visitors to our community. Volunteer opportunities still exist for these events if you would like to get involved. The Chamber is assisting with coordinating the volunteer rosters and scheduling for these events as well. If you are interested in seeing the list of time slots which still need to be filled with eager, friendly faces to represent Butte’s fine hospitality to hundreds of outsiders, visit the Chamber's volunteer opportunities hub at www.volunteerbutte.us where you can view the open time slots for each event and sign up to help out! It has certainly been a wonderful year and hopefully we can be even more successful in the upcoming year.
Economic Update Upcoming Events
Sincerely,
MHSA Letter Business Trends
Please also refer to the letter from the Montana High School Association’s Executive Director to Civic Center Manager Bill Melvin about the quality and hospitality that visitors experienced when attending Butte-hosted tournaments this year. Letter on page 14 inside.
Executive Director
Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce Visitors’ Center 1000 George St. Butte, MT 59701
Marko Lucich Executive Director mlucich@buttechamber.org
Maria Pochervina CVB Director/TBID Executive Secretary mariap@buttecvb.com
Stephanie Sorini Marketing, Membership & Bookkeeping Director marketing@buttechamber.org
Cheryl Ackerman Receptionist/Staff Associate bsbchamber@gmail.com
(406) 723-3177
Shane McCarthy, Safeway
Don Peoples, Individual Member
Desiree Shogren, Comfort Inn of Butte
Cindi Shaw, Council of Commissioners
Ed Stepan, RED Silicon
Pat Fleming, Fleming & O’Leary Attorneys
Paul Tash, Tash Communications
Jim Woy, Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C.
Alana Ferko, Butte Plaza Mall
Lynn Lloyd, Montana Standard
Linda Granger, School Trustee/Highlands College
Kevin Dennehy, St. James Healthcare Foundation
Paul Babb—Northwestern Energy
Chris Ackerman, Cherry Creek Radio
Tami O’Connell, Stix & Stonz
Herb Kelsey, Farm Bureau Financial
Karen Corbin, KXLF TV
Judy Jonart, School District #1
Maura Uggetti, Copper Ridge Healthcare
Andy Zdinak, BLDC
Becky Sprunger, United Blood Services
Jeff Gorman, McDonald’s
Colin Higgins, Mackenzie River Pizza
Kristen Rosa, Butte-Silver Bow
Bob Bentley, Jr., Bentley Construction
Machelle LeProwse, JCP
Matt Vincent, BSB Chief Executive
Todd Tregidga, Montana Tech
Donald Blackketter, Chancellor Montana Tech
Pete Akey, Glacier Bank
Paula Ruark, Town Pump Hotel Group
Jim McKenzie, Newland & Co.
Paula Ruark, President Town Pump Hotel Group
Pete Akey, President-Elect Glacier Bank
Jim McKenzie, Treasurer Newland & Co.
Ed Stepan, Vice President REC Silicon
Mark Hughes, Vice-President Super 8/CVB President
Desiree Shogren, Vice-President Comfort Inn of Butte
Paul Tash, Vice-President Tash Communications
Todd Tregidga, Vice-President Montana Tech
Change can be exciting, innovative and rewarding; we anticipated this type of change with the decision to endorse the Associated Employers Benefit Plan and Trust. AE Group Benefit Plan and Trust can provide Chamber Choices members and small businesses across Montana a variety of options in Health Benefits that we have offered in the past- and more such as: group medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans. AE Benefit plans operate in a similar way Chamber Choices operated before, the AE Benefits Plan offers saving to its members in the form of rate stabilization. Another benefit to the AE Trust is that administrative costs are less than 10%, whereas with most insurance carriers it is around 20%. AE also brings new options to small businesses with the AE Private Exchange, “Bright Choices.” Bright Choices is a different way to buy employee benefits. This online portal allows you to give your employees a set amount of money or defined contribution and then each employee has the option to choose the benefit package that best suits their needs. In addition and separate of the Private Exchange, AE Group Benefit Plan and Trust offers several health insurance options as well as ancillary benefit options. The AE Health Trust offers its members a self-funded group trust with many different deductible and coinsurance options that can be tailored to fit the needs of your organization. Members can choose from High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP’s) or traditional plans that are also HSA eligible plans as well. Just like Chamber Choices, AE offers a variety of ancillary benefits such as Vision Service Plan (VSP), Dental benefit options and many more. Remember: Chamber Choices coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield can continue until your renewal in 2014. Then, the Affordable Care Act requires you to select another choice. Chamber Choices will no longer be an association health insurance program once those renewals are complete. However, Chamber Choices encourages you to check out our new endorsee-Associated Employers.
For more information on Associated Employers: Go to www.associatedemployers.org or if you have other questions please contact Kim Weisert at (406) 442-2405 ext. 105 or kim@montanachamber.com
Volume 34, Issue 4
Page 3
Refreshing • Inspiring • Enlightening • Motivating • Educational • Practical
Dear Chamber of Commerce Member: Here are the shocking facts about internal cooperation, motivation, and teamwork: (Gallup's 2013 State of the American Workplace Report)
FACT:
52% of employees have a perpetual case of the Mondays - they're present but not engaged or excited about their jobs.
FACT:
18% of employees are actively disengaged or, as Gallup CEO, Jim Clifton, put it in the report, "roam the halls spreading discontent."
FACT:
Actively disengaged employees cost companies up to $550 billion in annually lost productivity.
FACT:
This adds up to 70% of staff that "have little or no concern about customers, productivity, profitability, waste, safety or mission,” says Clifton.
The #1 requested skill employers ask MBA programs to teach is THE ABILITY TO WORK IN TEAMS!
If you want to help every employee reenergize teamwork, cooperation, motivation, focus and productivity THIS IS THE WORKSHOP!! SPONSORS:
Butte Brewery Meeting Rooms, 465 E. Galena, Butte, MT 59701 To Register: Call (406) 723-3177 or Fax (406) 723-1215
More information?
I’m home after traveling to Los Angeles and Tacoma, in February, attending travel shows promoting Butte and Southwest Montana to domestic and international tour operators. These shows are attended by the Montana Office of Tourism, Glacier Country, and Paula Ruark representing thirteen (13) Town Pump hotels. All of us work together toward the goal of keeping visitors in Montana one more night if not more. All of these shows are wonderful, as I meet with planners and decision makers face-to-face in an appointment style format. Butte’s close proximity to Yellowstone and Glacier is my lead when I begin my appointment with tour operators then I am able to follow-up with our offerings in both our community and nearby attractions I was in Calgary, exhibiting at The Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show. This was the fourth year the Butte CVB exhibited. Last year I was so surprised at the number of Canadians who knew about our 3 summer signature festivals and their interest in our city and history. In early May, Butte is hosting Montana Office of Tourism’s Visitor Center Information (VIC) training for the employees from the various VIC’s across the state. What a great way to showcase Butte to the very individuals who chat with our visitors. True to form, these people will be “wowed” in and by Butte, the goal is to keep Butte “top of mind” throughout the entire summer. You will see us traveling around town in the Trolley, May 8 & 9, be sure to wave!! In mid-May the hoteliers will be working together to invite the association market to Butte for a familiarization trip showcasing our offerings for meetings and conferences. John Raymond has taken the lead on this project by surveying the association market for their interest in Butte and the possibility of visiting us, the response has been very positive. Mark or “muck” your calendars for August 23rd for the 2nd Annual Running Amuck for Scholarship Bucks. We encourage everyone to participate, invite friends and family to Butte for this great fundraiser. I hope all of you have a blessed Easter!!
CVB/TBID
Page 5
The Progress
The Chamber combined forces with local Toastmaster clubs for a fun and informative business card social last month. The Chamber of Commerce building was packed with upwards of 50 smiling faces ready to network and enjoy refreshments. Everyone enjoyed beverages donated by Thompson Distributing, the Quarry Brewery and Walmart. Chef’s Garden satiated palates with a wonderful appetizer spread. Three gift baskets were filled with items donated by The Copper Shop, Headframe Spirits, Starbucks, and Lisa Wareham Photography. The Top O’ the Mornin’ and Uptown Toastmaster clubs came together to highlight for Chamber members the many benefits to their businesses becoming a Toastmaster member provides. The evening kicked off at 5:30 pm with Peter Frumenti, Toastmaster Area 13 Governor, introducing the Toastmaster of the evening, David Skattum DTM. David was recently awarded Toastmaster of the year and is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). He owns Gutter Solutions in Livingston and shared the many ways
Top O' The Mornin' Club Meetings are held: Mondays @ 6:30 a.m. at Perkins http://3777.toastmastersclubs.org
Uptown Toasters Club Meetings are held: Tuesdays @ 12 noon at the Butte-Silver Bow Public Library http://3777.toastmastersclubs.org
Toastmasters has helped business owners and local Montanans like him. Long time Toastmaster member Dan Matteucci left the crowd in stitches with his humorous speech followed by a Topic Session™ lead by Russell O’Leary. The Topic Session gave a chance for current members of Toastmasters and Chamber members to practice their impromptu speaking skills with 1-2 minute answers to a question posed by the evening’s Topicmaster Russell O’leary, VP of Membership for Uptown Toasters. Toastmasters has been helping Butte residents become better communicators and leaders for over 40 years. Additionally, this year a Speechcraft event is being offered by our local Toastmaster Clubs to provide local business owners and their employees an avenue to improve their communication and presentation skills. The Speechcraft workshop series will begin in April; it will be offered at $49 and includes 6 months membership to a local Toastmasters club. For more information on Speechcraft or anything Toastmasters contact Brandi York at 565-2277.
Improve Your Business through SELF Improvement!
– Contributed by Jennifer Lince Uptown Toasters Club Member
Volume 34, 34, Issue Issue 44
Page 7
Approximately 1000 people were at the Montana Tech HPER Complex to witness two outstanding basketball games. Twenty four girls and twenty four boys were selected to play in the Southwest Montana High School AllStar Classic. The proceeds from this game are used to fund hospitality rooms at sporting events during the course of the upcoming year.
In the girl’s game that started at 6:00 p.m., the Big Sky All-Star team beat the Treasure State All-Stars by a score of 96-81. The Big Sky team was coached by John Thatcher and Lindsey Thatcher. Players from Butte High School, Butte Central, Harrison and Drummond were all members of the Big Sky team. Kevin Engellant and Scott Connole had the honor to coach the Treasure State girls. The Treasure State All Star team consisted of players from
Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Twin Bridges, Boulder and Dillon. Taylor Flynn from Anaconda edged out Molly Peoples from Butte Central in the three point contest. In an amazing game in the boy’s game, Big Sky beat the Treasure State team 94-90. Coaches for the game were Jim Konen and John “Skeez” Sullivan heading up the Big Sky All Stars and John Sullivan and Anthony Connole for the Treasure State team. The Big Sky team consisted of student athletes from Butte Central, Butte high, Philipsburg, Deer Lodge, Whitehall, Twin Bridges and Boulder. The Treasure State team had players from Dillon, Anaconda, Ennis, Lima and Drummond. Kevin Oberweiser from Drummond won the boy’s 3point contest. Cheerleaders from Butte Central and Butte High provided support for
teams during the evening. The Butte High Band and Drum Line along with the Anaconda High School Band and Drum filled the HPER with music for the entire evening. Dynamic Dance provided half time entertainment for each game with their usual high energy performance done to perfection. This evening would not be possible without the tremendous support of Montana Tech, coaches, players, volunteers, news media, referees, score keepers and the master mind of this game, Don Peoples Jr. The Butte Chamber of Commerce thanks all of you for your time and support. You are all very much appreciated.
Photos Courtesy of Cheryl Ackerman Volume 34, Issue 4
Page 9
Excerpted information from the
February 6, 2013
John Kasperick
Presentations by
Economist Director Financial Planning & Analysis
Paul Polzin
Director Emeritus
On February 6th, the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, a research department within the School of Business Administration at The University of Montana, brought their 2014 Economic Outlook Seminar to Butte. Local civic and business leaders spent the morning listening to the leading economists in the state give their predictions for the state and local economy in the upcoming year. On these next pages, the Chamber has selected information from these presentations specifically relating to our local business climate and population.
Page 10
Silver Bow County’s population stood at 34,403 people as of census estimated 2012.
This was the 7th consecutive year of slow growth and the longest consecutive growth since prior to 1920.
Average 0.4% growth per year, and Silver Bow County has added nearly 1,000 people since.
The Progress
Slow Growth Continues Silver Bow County saw continued growth in employment and earnings in 2013 as the recovery from the great recession continued. Overall employment above the pre-recession levels, and the number of unemployed and unemployment rate continued to drop in 2012. Growth in goods producing manufacturing (SeaCast) and mining area, along with education and health care, leisure/hospitality (Holiday Inn Express), MT Tech and NWE utility hiring, and construction of MCDC drove growth in 2013. Recent closures announced in the trade and hospitality industries. Going forward, the construction in uptown of the $25 million NWE general office, upgrades to the uptown YMCA building, potential SW MT VET center, added mining from Highland Gold Mine, continued manufacturing additions, growth in trade and utilities, added MT Tech state employment, and stability in professional/business services, and health care, will be partially offset by reductions in leisure/hospitality and smaller federal government reductions. Growth slows after 2015 with completion of NWE building construction. Unemployment rate dips below 5% in 2014. Diversification over the years has led to a stable economy in Silver Bow County. The county was able to weather the storm of the most recent downturn, and has recovered the jobs lost between 2008 and 2009. The unemployment picture continues to improve, but is still above historic levels.
This information and more can be downloaded or reviewed on the Bureau of Business and Economic Research website under 2014 Economic Outlook Seminar.
4-on-4 full-court Basketball Tournament Benefiting Mariah's Challenge More Information: Mike Bauer MikeB3211@yahoo.com
Volunteers needed for hospitality room. Visit www.volunteerbutte.us to help!
8 p.m.
The rock musical that sparked a revolution & ignited a generation! All the chart-topping songs that became anthems of counter-culture including "Aquarius,” & “Let the Sun Shine In.” Please call The Mother Lode at 723-3602 or www.buttearts.org for additional information.
7:30 a.m.
Building Your Customer Profile - Using demographics and key data to identify, understand, and target your key customers! Presented by Dr. Traci O’Neill, BS, MBA, Ed.d Brought to you by the Butte Chamber and the BLDC. RSVP online or call the Chamber 723-3177.
7:30 p.m.
Please call The Mother Lode at 723-3602 or www.buttearts.org for additional information.
"Embracing Technology for your Small Business" www.regonline.com/investinsuccess2014 for more details.
7:30 p.m. Date TBD 7:30 a.m.
Building Marketing Strategies Aimed at Reaching Your Target Customer - Relationship marketing: what is it and why is it important! Presented by Dr. Traci O’Neill, BS, MBA, Ed.d Brought to you by the Butte Chamber and the BLDC. RSVP online or call the Chamber 723-3177.
7 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
An evening of Russian and French Classics For additional details call 723-3602 or visit www.buttesymphony.us
6 p.m.
5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
For additional details: www.facebook.com/uptwonartwalk
8:30 a.m. - noon
See Page 6 for more information.
300 Mount Highland Drive
Date TBD 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
465 E. Galena
Volunteers needed for hospitality tent & track and field events. www.volunteerbutte.us to help!
Help support Digger Athletics and win a PILE OF CASH with Udder Insanity. On Saturday, May 3rd, one lucky person will win $10,000! Join in the fun and see if the cow finds your spot. Tickets are only $20 but worth $10,000 in fun and excitement. Raffle tickets can be purchased from a Montana Tech student athlete, Digger Athletics Association Board Member, or by contacting Digger Athletics Association at (406) 496-4401.
Page 14
The Progress
Butte Plaza Mall Shopping Center Alana D. Ferko, On Site Manager 3100 Harrison Avenue Butte, MT 59701 Phone: (406) 494 3362
Mall Store Directory Asia Garden
(406) 494-2022
Bath & Body Works
(406) 533-1568
Butte Plaza Mall Management Office
(406) 494-3362 (406) 723-3361 ext:6400
Butte Public Library South Branch Carmike Cinemas/Plaza 6 Theatre
(406) 494-3340
Christopher & Banks
(406) 494-8385
Claire’s
(406) 494-8115
Curly’s Shoe Boutique
(406) 723-4549
First Citizens Bank ATM
(406) 494-4400
General Nutrition Center
(406) 494-6317
Herberger’s
(406) 494-5366
Higgin’s Hallmark
(406) 494-2244
JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts
(406) 494-2565
Keenan Jewelers
(406) 494-2897
Maurices
(406) 494-3287
Montana Army National Guard Recruiting Office
(406) 494-8412
Montana Magic
(406) 494-4499
Moses for Men
(406) 494-5168
Our Lady of the Rockies Gift Shop & Tour Office
(406) 782-1221
Payless ShoeSource
(406) 494-4149
Radio Shack
(406) 494-3151
Riddle’s Jewelry
(406) 494-4534
rue21
(406) 494-7819
Solutions Mind, Body & Soul
(406) 560-2744
Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel Project & Gift Shop
(406) 494-7775
Sports Connection
(406) 494-3907
Tippin’ A Glass Café
(406) 221-7035
Vanity
(406) 494-3536
Second Edition Books Used Bookstore Ann Finch Johnston 112 S. Montana Street Butte, MT 59701 Phone: (406) 723 5108 secondedition@bresnan.net www.secondeditionbooksbutte.com
ReMax Premier Properties Real Estate Denise Kelly 1617 Harrison Avenue Butte, MT 59701 Phone: (406) 299 3500 Denise.Kelly@remax.net www.swmtproperites.com
Chris J. Weisnefels, CRNA, PLLC Butte Pain Medical Practice Blair Weisenfels 330 Canada Creek Drive Butte, MT 59701 Phone: (406) 498 2360 Buttepain@gmail.com
Freedom Travel All Service Travel Agency Geri Grose, Manager 2403 Bayard Street Butte, MT 59701 Phone: (406) 494 4993 1-800-494-4140 Geri.Grose@FreedomTravelButte.com www.FreedomTravelButte.com
Watch for the updated New & Reinvesting
Members list in the May issue of The Progress next month!
Members—if you have had any changes to your
business name, address, management or contact information, please make sure that the Chamber has been informed!
Send an email to marketing@buttechamber.org with your new details so your listing can be updated!
*new members become active and are listed when payment is received.
PERIODICALS U.S. POSTAGE PAID BUTTE, MT
The Progress 1000 George St. Butte, MT 59701
POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: Chamber of Commerce, 1000 George St., Butte, MT 59701. Membership investment includes $3.00 per year subscription. The Progress (USPS 124-550) is published monthly by The Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce, 1000 George St., Butte, MT 59701. Periodical Postage Paid at Butte, Montana.
MONTH/YEAR January 2013
MONTH/YEAR January 2014
% CHANGE
MONTH/YEAR February 2013
MONTH/YEAR February 2014
% CHANGE
236,840.00 236,840.00
334,969.49 334,969.49
+ 41.4% + 41.4%
417,607.36 654,447.36
WATER
13,744
13,787
+ 0.3%
13,749
13,789
+ 0.3%
EMPLOYMENT Labor Force Employment Unemployment Unemployment Rate
17,304 1009 5.5
16,801 929 5.2
- 2.9% - 7.9% - 5.5%
18,948 17,365 984 5.4
17,948 16,902 1,046 5.8
- 2.2% - 2.7% + 6.3% + 5.5%
17 2
9 1
- 47.1% - 50.0%
18 7
2 1
- 88.9% - 85.7%
CONSTRUCTION Year to Date
1,329,792.25 + 218.4% 1,664,761.74 + 154.4%
MAIL Tourism Requests General Information