Last Friday was the BBQ Blitz at the Mansfield Convention Center in Great Falls, Montana. The event was organized by Family Connections MT to support local children and families in north-central and northeastern Montana. It was a night of fun, with good food, good music, and good people!
The event was filled with delicious BBQ by Clark and Lewie's, Brews, Music by Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, Dancing, Silent & Dessert Auctions, Photo Booth, Games, 50/50 Raffle & more!
Vision Net was one of the proud sponsors of this amazing fundraiser. As a Smoking Hot Sponsor, we had a table at the event and some of our employees attending it. We were impressed by the event's organization and the tireless dedication of the volunteers!
BBQ Blitz 2019 is in the books! Thank you to everyone who came out and supported Family Connections Montana! What a fabulous night!!
Fri, 11 Oct 2019, 08:00 AM - Fri, 11 Oct 2019, 05:00 PM | Big Horn Resort, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member
Description:
LIVE2LEAD Billings is a full-day, leader development experience designed to equip attendees with new perspectives, practical tools and key takeaways. They’ll learn from world-class leadership experts, be prepared to implement a new action plan, and start leading when they get back to the office with renewed passion and commitment.
Speaker that will appear via Simulcast:
JOHN C. MAXWELL, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 30 million books, has been identified as the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association® and the world’s most influential leadership expert by Business Insider and Inc. magazine. Dr. Maxwell has also received the Horatio Alger Award, as well as the Mother Teresa Prize for Global Peace and Leadership from the Luminary Leadership Network. His organizations—The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation—have trained millions of leaders from every nation in the world.
RACHEL HOLLIS is a #1 New York Times & #1 USA Today Bestselling Author, a top business podcaster and one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the world. As a bestselling author and wildly successful lifestyle influencer she has built a global social media fanbase in the millions. Known as “the Tony Robbins for women” because of her motivational, high energy style and her unique ability to empower and embolden a female audience. She’s a proud working mama of four and a big fan of the small town in Texas hill country that the Hollis family calls home.
ANGELA AHRENDTS was most recently Senior Vice President of Apple Retail based in Cupertino, CA.During her five years she integrated Apple’s physical and digital businesses to create a seamless customer journey for over a billion visitors a year. Before her transition to Apple, Angela served at Burberry as Chief Executive Officer for nearly nine years where her leadership focus on culture, values and positive energy resulted in tripling the business and quadrupling the share price. Angela has consistently been recognized by Forbes, Fortune and the BBC as a Top 100 Global Executive and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Ralph Lauren Corp. and Airbnb, and a Well Member with charity: water.
MARCUS BUCKINGHAM is a global researcher and thought leader focused on unlocking strengths, increasing performance and pioneering the future of how people work. Building on nearly two decades of experience as a Senior Researcher at Gallup Organization, he currently guides the vision of ADP Research Institute as Head of People.
CHRIS HOGAN is the #1 national best-selling author of Everyday Millionaire and Retire Inspired: It’s Not an Age. It’s a Financial Number. For over a decade, Hogan has served at Ramsey Solutions, spreading a message of hope and financial peace across the country as a financial coach and Ramsey Personality. Hogan helps people plan for their future and reach their retirement goals through his Retire Inspired Podcast and live speaking events.
After the Speakers there will be a catered lunch. Then a panel of community leaders will host a QA session on what was discussed during speaker slots.
There will be some exercises that focus on team building and coaching presented by Justin the host of the event.
Thu, October 10, 2019 - 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM MDT | Regus Downtown Bozeman 5 W Mendenhall St #202 Bozeman, MT 59715
Description:
The LinkedIn Local Bozeman Area meetup group is an opportunity to meet our regional LinkedIn connections face-to-face, and to strengthen the online relationships we form by getting to know the person behind the profile.
The October meetup is co-hosted by Mallory Thompson and Randall Russo. Wine and appetizers will be served; any funds remaining after expenses are covered will be donated to Gallatin Valley Farm to School. This is a not-for-profit event.
Guest speaker Katie Smith parlays her background as a backcountry wilderness guide to guide business owners, entrepreneurs, and teams through the wilderness of marketing. She will share some of her tips for creating a strong marketing strategy.
Join the #LinkedInLocal Movement! LinkedIn Local events are organic meetups of LinkedIn members that provide an opportunity to network, build community, share best practices for using LinkedIn, and discuss the latest industry trends.
These events are not officially hosted or sponsored by LinkedIn. Instead, these meetups are organized by members and are encouraged and supported by LinkedIn, who sees these events as great examples of how members can build their professional community on LinkedIn.
The first #LinkedInLocal meetup was hosted in 2017 by Anna McAfee in Coffs Harbour, Australia. Now, LinkedIn Local has become a movement in comunities large and small, all over the world. Learn more here.
Why should you come? To meet people for no other reason than to get to know them, and let them get to know you, and ultimately expand your social- and professional circles with like-minded people.
October 2 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm | Great Falls Civic Center
Description:
What's a Charrette, your might ask? Think of it as a high-energy brainstorming session.
Great Falls Development Authority have identified blocks in downtown Great Falls that they believe have the most untapped potential. But what they become, that's what YOU get to decide.
Join Neighbors, Developers, Property Owners, Resource Providers, and more on Wednesday, October 2nd for a visioning session on what we hope our downtown can be! They will focus efforts on blocks that are ready to transform!
Pizza and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Please RSVP so they know how much to bring!
Thu Oct 17 2019 at 06:00 pm | Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Description
Montana Business Assistance Connection is calling all entrepreneurs! Do you have an idea for a startup, have you just launched a business, or are you a seasoned entrepreneur? Come join them at the 2019 Accelerated Startups: Demo Night on Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 6-9 PM in the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds Entry Hall.
Last year, MBAC launched its first startup incubator program, Accelerated Startups. Their model is goal-driven, focusing on accountability, resources, education, and support to make startup ideas and growth a reality. The program builds to this Demo Night, when participants have the opportunity to introduce their business to the community and potential investors.
In addition to meeting the 2019 Accelerated Startups program graduates, come learn more about the resources available to startups in Helena.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar will be available.
There are 12 MFG Day events planned in Kalispell through October 2019.
Description:
Held annually on the first Friday in October, Manufacturing Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders.
THE MANUFACTURING DAY MISSION
Manufacturing Day addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is — and what it isn’t. By working together during and after MFG DAY, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry.
MFG DAY is designed to amplify the voice of individual manufacturers and coordinate a collective chorus of manufacturers with common concerns and challenges. The rallying point for a growing mass movement, MFG DAY empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive.
The Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors are pleased to announce their featured speaker for the 2019 Annual Banquet on Wednesday, October 9th as top business and motivational speaker, founder and CEO of FUBU Clothing, Shark Tank Reality TV Judge and Best Selling Author, Daymond John!
Daymond teaches audience members how to apply his successful methods to a wide range of businesses today. He shares winning tips for negotiating and negotiating for women, boosting sales, improving employee morale, increasing productivity, and optimizing staff talents. Daymond’s pragmatic advice resonates with everyone from students and entry-level employees to small business owners and corporate CEOs. Each will walk away with invaluable tools to incorporate into their professional endeavors.
As a motivational speaker, Daymond’s quintessential rags-to-riches success story of sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance as well as the unique and charismatic way he communicates it, will inspire any audience. Much more than a business advisor, Daymond shares his unique goal setting and achieving strategies, which will empower audience members to make positive changes in every aspect of their lives for immediate and long-term success. “The Shark” Daymond John, will reveal how you too can live the American Dream.
Every child deserves a successful future: BBQ Blitz 2019
Vision Net is one of the proud sponsors of the BBQ Blitz 2019, held by Family Connections Montana, on October 4th. All proceeds will benefit Family Connections programs for families and children in north central and north eastern Montana.
Join Family Connections for a Smoking Hot evening of BBQ, Brews, Music by Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, Dancing, Silent & Dessert Auctions, Photo Booth, Games, 50/50 Raffle & more!
BBQ Blitz admission ticket prices – $30 adults (18+), $10 Youth (ages 6-17). children ages 5 and under are FREE! Food & Beverages available for purchase.
Don’t miss this AMAZING event and support local children and families in north central and north eastern Montana!
Retirement Party: Dick Egan
Today we said a very fond farewell to Dick Egan. He has worked at Vision Net since April of 2003 and has been, among other things, a TAC Supervisor, Network tech, Facilities go-to guy, and has spent the last ten years working with the PSAP team, where he will be sorely missed.
Our CEO, Corey Jensen, gave Dick a recognition plaque and said some words to him:
Dick, from the bottom of my heart, your are an inspiration. We all aspire to be as good as you, thank you for all the influence you have on us, whether you know it or not. You truly are an institution here, that we'll not replace easily. Make sure to stop by to say hi, we certainly will miss you.
Corey Jensen - Vision Net President & CEO
Dick thanked him and said that Vision Net we'll continue doing great because we have a really good crew here.
We all hope Dick enjoys his well deserved retirement.
Employee Spotlight: Janine Brester
This month’s Employee Spotlight features the Staff Accountant from our Billings office, Janine Brester! During the interview she gives her first impressions about Vision Net and tells how it works being in a different office than her manager.
What is your position here at Vision
Net and what do you do?
I am a Staff Accountant and I help Becky, the Account Manager, close the financial records on a monthly basis and prepare the monthly financial statements for the CEO and Board of Directors. Also, complete various other accounting duties, such as reconciliations, variance reports and budgets.
How long have you worked at Vision
Net?
I started at the end of January (2019).
What made you choose Vision Net?
Vision Net provided me an opportunity to continue to grow on my past 15 years of public accounting experience, in the private industry within a company. Also, Vision Net’s culture, values and ethics was a good fit for me.
What’s your favorite Vision Net perk?
The people.
What are the challenges of being in our Billings office and working on a daily basis with your manager who is located in Great Falls?
It works very well. We use Vision Connect for most of our training, which works well being able to share our screens with each other, while having discussions over the phone.
What are 3 words to describe Vision
Net?
Network, Fiber Optics and Communications.
What advice do you have for prospective
Vision Net candidates?
It’s a great company to work for, with great benefits and good people.
What’s the first thing you do when
you get to work each morning?
Check my email account and respond to any emails.
What do you like most about your
job?
The accounting aspect of preparing the financial statements and analyzing the fluctuations from month to month.
What do you find the most
challenging about your job?
The accounting rules and regulations and how to properly implement any changes, along with properly completing any reports and filing them on time.
What people would never guess you do
in your role?
Backup for Payroll.
Are there any projects you’ve worked
on that you’re proud of?
I’m fairly new here, we are almost done with the budget so it can be presented to the Board for approval. I know there will be additional projects in the future.
What’s something that you’ve learned
at Vision Net?
I would say learning and understating the internal accounting system in the short amount of time that I’ve been here. Also, learning all the various acronyms within each department.
What do you like to do when you
aren’t working?
Travel, golf, concerts and watch my son play hockey and baseball.
What has been the most important
innovation you have witnessed in your lifetime?
Cell phones and all of its capabilities.
Do you have a favorite newspaper,
blog?
Billings Gazette, Accounting Journal and for fun People magazine.
What was the last movie you saw in
theaters?
Avengers Endgame.
Do you have any talents or hobbies?
Playing golf.
Janine playing golf during the 17th Vision Net Golf Tournament, June 2019.
How do you define success?
Success is defined by establishing goals and achieving them. In order to do that, you have to develop a good foundation with your coworkers and team, and work together to meet those goals.
Thanks Janine, we are happy to have you as part of the Vision Net team!
Helena Public Schools selects Vision Net's New Fiber Network
We’re thrilled to share that Helena Public Schools has selected Vision Net’s new broadband solution — a 23-mile fiber optic ring surrounding the city — to power its online educational experience. Vision Net singled out Helena last year as an underserved metropolitan area with a need for reliable, high-speed connectivity.
The city has struggled with numerous and extended internet outages over the past couple years, leading to significant downtime for area businesses. Schools also have suffered the consequences, with limited to no access to critical extended learning opportunities when service dropped. Vision Net’s new fiber network is designed to address these issues, delivering fast connectivity and dependability, along with 24/7, 365-days-a-year monitoring and secondary connectivity — essentially a backup plan should one connection go out.
Schools nationwide rely on high-speed Internet to provide a robust learning environment and streamlined administrative solutions. Helena Public School’s decision to tap Vision Net’s new fiber optic ring ensures area students are competing — and learning — on a level playing field while preparing them for future employment in a global environment.
To learn more about Helena Public Schools’ decision to partner with Vision Net, please read the full press release here.
Join the 2019 Leadership Montana
Signature event - The Confluence to be held in Bozeman on September 18-20,
2019. During these two and a half days, they will explore challenges and
opportunities facing Montana with a diverse group of leaders from business,
education, government, nonprofits, health care, agriculture, and more.
Wednesday, September 18
2:30-4:30pm - Gracious Space Workshop
4:30-6:00pm - Reception
6:00-8:30pm - Lessons in Leadership with Eduardo Garcia.
Thursday, September 19, 8:30am - 6:00 pm
8:30am Confluence Welcome
9:00-11:30am Inspire!
11:30am-1:45pm Listen, Learn, Lunch
2:30pm-5:00pm Tours
5:30-6:30pm Reception
6:30-8:30pm Class and Small Group Dinners
Friday, September 20, 8:30am - 2:00pm
8:30am-10:00am Montana's Growing Technology Industry
10:15am-12:15pm Managing Passion in an Intense World with Shannon Stober
Join Carroll College and Helena Leaders Network for
Networking 101 on September 17th from 4-6 pm at Carroll College (lower cube).
Hear from Carroll
College Alumni, Alana Cunningham, and Anderson ZurMuehlen's Business
Development and Marketing Director Ali Mandell. They will discuss tricks, tips,
do's and don'ts when it comes to networking. The evening will also include a
round robin where you can network local business professionals and also have
the opportunity to set up your LinkedIn profile!
LOCATION
Carroll College 1601 N Benton Ave, Helena, Montana 5960
Come enjoy networking with other business owners.
Light appetizers provided. No-host Bar.
The event is FREE to attend. Bring business cards.
Registration is required.
LOCATION
Rumour Restaurant, 1855 Stephens Avenue,
Missoula, Montana 59801, Missoula, United States
What a great way to end the week! This Friday at Vision Net Great Falls office, we had delicious Tacos during our Company BBQ thanks to our Business Development team. The food and fun started at 11:30 in our pergola.
It's been a tradition in our company to hold cookouts during summertime and we can all agree that this has been an amazing summer!
Vision Net BBQ
Employee Spotlight: Dick Egan
Since we launched this blog, we decided to create an Employee Highlight series to offer an inside look at our company culture and profile the talented individuals who help us to bring innovation and technology to Montana.
For this month we spoke to Dick Egan, he has been working for Vision Net for 16 years! He is one of our E-911 Technicians and he will be retiring next month. We certainly will miss him because one of his mottos is “if it needs done Dick takes care of it” and we couldn’t come up with a better description than that for this outstanding member of our team.
What are 3 words to describe Vision Net?
Innovative, growing and fun!
How has Vision Net changed since you started working
here?
When I started it was primarily helping our telecom owners and their customers with internet support. OUR NOC just consisted of a state hot line and a wholesale hot line, so 2 Lines basically was our NOC. That’s grown into all the monitoring that you see today, the nationwide customers of support and 911.
What does your job entail?
Installing and maintaining 911 systems and the network that
supports them all.
What’s a common question you get from customers?
“Can you add a user for us?” We usually know that there is a
problem before the customer does so we are more proactive than reactive.
What do you like most about your job?
Satisfaction of helping people out and making sure the work
gets done.
What do you find the most challenging about your job?
Staying on the top of new technologies because the 911 field
right now is blossoming. We are going to an E-911, or esi net, which is IP
based as opposed to analog.
What would people never guess you do in your role?
I change lightbulbs!
What advice do you have for prospective Vision Net
candidates?
Always treat your customers as treasures.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
Binge watching TV! Fixing and repairs shows, dramas, all
kinds of different shows.
What has been the most important innovation you have
witnessed in your lifetime?
The thermos! Because it keeps the hot stuff hot and the cold
stuff cold, but how do it know.
Do you have a favorite newspaper or blog?
I read the Great Falls Tribune every day.
Retirement
I am passing the torch! I think we will get a really good
candidate. And hopefully I’ll have enough time to show him all things that
needs to get done. If not, I’m sure Gary will get him up to speed.
Farewell Dick, we wish you the best! The Vision Net team
couldn’t be more grateful to you.
