Program

8:00 am – 8:10 am
Introduction

8:10 am – 8:20 am
Montana’s Health Care Economy
Jeff Michael, Director of Research, Bureau of Business and Economic Research

8:20 am – 8:55 am
U.S. and Montana Outlook
Jeff Michael, Director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research

8:55 am – 9:15 am
Housing and Construction Outlook
Derek Sheehan, Economist, Bureau of Business and Economic Research

9:15 – 9:20 am
Q&A Panel

9:20 am – 9:30 am
Break

9:30 – 9:50 am
Tourism and Recreation
Melissa Weddell, Director, Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research

9:50 to 10:10 am
Agriculture Outlook
Joel Schumacher, Extension Specialist, Montana State University

10:10 – 10:30
Manufacturing and Higher Education
Brietta Russell, Bureau of Business and Economic Research

10:30 – 10:40
Q&A Panel

10:40 – 10:50
Break

10:50 – 11:05
Local Outlook
Jeff Michael, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana

11:05 – 11:20
Local Economic Expert

11:20 – 11:30
An Update on Our Energy Investment
Jason Merkel, Vice President of Operations, NorthWestern Energy

11:30 – 11:50
Break and Lunch

11:50 – 12:10
Keynote: Future-Focused Health: How Montanans are Working to Redesign Health Care
Ed Buttrey, Montana Hospital Association

12:10 – 12:50
Health Care Panel Discussion, moderator Matthew Fete, UM College of Health

12:50 – 1:00
Conclusion

1:00 pm
Adjourn