Past Events

Customer experience (CX) is the sum of all experiences at various touch points a customer has with a supplier of goods and/or services over the duration of their relationship with that supplier. The sales and customer service experience begins when a customer picks up the phone or walks in the door. Customers scrutinize how they are treated after the sale as much as they evaluate a business while making the decision to buy. They are closely watching how every situation…

From Mere Satisfaction to Real Advocacy I have an issue with the word “satisfaction”. Since when is being “satisfied” a good thing? It’s a mediocre achievement. You want ecstatically happy customers, evangelists and zealots that tell you everything they love. You want passion – not satisfaction, especially in todays’ retail environment. Gain from customer feedback. As a small business owner you rely on word of mouth marketing — do you want just “satisfied” customers? By being able to move customers…

Ever wonder how are we attracting businesses to the Golden Triangle? Grab your favorite beverage and join us on a zoom chat, 4 PM on October 28. We’ll discuss our business attraction strategies and partnership with DCI. RSVP using the weblink below.

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Executive Committee Page.

It’s tough to find and keep talent. Learn what it takes to cut through the noise to find and keep the talent your business needs. Chris Czarnik, one of the nation’s top talent experts and author of the book “Winning the War for Talent”, is bringing his expertise to you December 1st, 8th, and 15th from 11 to noon. Each session will be recorded for on-demand viewing. Register here to join the sessions or to be sent a recording. Thanks to support from the…

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Board of Directors Page.

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Join us online for a free small business training! The Great Falls Public Library is hosting an online workshop for small business owners in Montana. Discover Google tools that can help business owners work and manage their business during this time of uncertainty. Plus, get insights on more online and timely resources for small businesses. In this workshop, we’ll discuss how to: Update critical business information online Keep customers informed Conduct virtual meetings Access important files from anywhere The session…

Join us for a FREE webinar on getting started with government contracting How to get started with government contracting -What is PTAC and what services do we provide? -What the government buys -First phase of pursuing government contracting -Q&A Wednesday, January 6th 12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Board of Directors Page.

Missoula-based business advisor Christine Littig will walk entrepreneurs through change management. Christine Littig is a two-time successful business owner from Missoula, Montana:  RedBird Restaurant and Bernice’s Bakery.  What defines her success?  Her business ventures were taken to the finish line:  exit by sale.  But what did it take to get there?  And what does she have to offer those currently working to find resiliency during COVID-19? Steering Your Business Through Change is a concise reflection of 4 moments of crisis…

Want learn more about the Women Owned Small Business program? Getting certified can be a great marketing tool for your business. The SBA’s WOSB program is designed to help provide a level playing field for women business owners. This small business program limits competition for certain contracts in the federal marketplace. This free webinar, will cover the changes to the SBA’s WOSB program, eligibility requirements, certification steps and help you learn if this certification is right for your business. There…

We’ve been fielding a lot of questions lately from businesses regarding the Montana COVID Stabilization Grant Reporting that is Due January 30. If you have specific questions or want further help. Nathan Reiff will be hosting a quick Q & A session on Thursday, January 14th from 12-12:30 PM MST. Register here - https://conta.cc/397Nb00

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Join the Montana PTAC for a live training on how to respond to a federal Request for Quote and Request for Proposal. Topics include: – Where to find federal opportunities – Where to find the bid documents – How to make a “go no-go” decision – Federal standard forms: What are the differences? What information goes where? – How do I know what information to submit with my offer? – Uniform Contract Format – Where do I submit my offer,…

2021 is going to be a fantastic year for the Great Falls region! We’ve got entrepreneurs lined up who are eager to unveil their upcoming projects at Ignite 2021, presented by PayneWest Insurance on Friday, January 22nd at 10:00 AM MST. Have a business startup or expansion, or a real estate development you would like to unveil? Contact Nathan Reiff at NReiff@GrowGreatFalls.org or call (406) 403-4937.

Does your business need a website? Are you intimidated or confused by the process? Would you like to learn how to create and manage your own business website? Then join us for an in depth online training course we are calling our Website Bootcamp. This three session course will teach participants how to create, build and maintain a business website from start to finish including the creation of an online store. In this course our business advisor Rich Gannon will…

Have your sales been affected by COVD19? If you could would you increase your revenue, sales, traffic, and profitability?  The Destination Creation Course helps businesses do just that. You will define your unique positioning statement about products and services you do better than anyone else. You will pinpoint your most profitable customers and reach more people like them. The proven 14-point business success strategy developed by internationally-known business consultant Jon Schallert teaches techniques to increase your ability to attract customers who are…

Women on the Rise: I Work For A Real Nut, But At least I Am Self-Employed The kickoff to our Women on the Rise Workshop series will focus on idea sharing, goal formation on starting a business. It will include a bonus session with Women who know-Retail.  They will discuss how they started and how they have prospered. Register here - https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/4867

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Board of Directors Page.

When you hear about TikTok, do you think of Ke$ha’s 2009 smash hit song? There are all sorts of social media platforms available, and if you’re not on them, you’re missing out on client interactions. This session will not teach you the inner workings of all the social media platforms out there, but it will help you develop an engaging and entertaining social media presence. We will focus on TikTok, but the concepts we discuss can be applied to any…

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Developers, investors and business professionals throughout the Golden Triangle: join us Friday, February 5th at 7 AM as we continue our virtual installment of Investor Development Coffee. Come share and learn from other members with questions, concerns and updates about projects throughout the region. Now more than ever, keeping in touch and discussing how we find opportunities in the trade area is crucial. Join us via Zoom. If you would like to attend the meeting, email TSchreiner@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 406.781.9499…

Women on the Rise: When you Say "Sign Here" I Smell Trouble! The In's and Out's of contracting, negotiating, protecting and selling your product. Register here - https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/4868

Select Great Falls Montana for your next Agribusiness and/or Manufacturing location! In this interview style, one hour event you will hear from multinational corporations who have selected Great Falls, Montana, for their US location. “The unique position of Great Falls on the interstate form Calgary allows us to efficiently connect internationally.” Lee Klette, Senior Manager, FedEx Ground https://growgreatfallsmontana.org/select-usa/

So you are looking into Government Contracting and you've found a bidding opportunities. Maybe you can put together a winning proposal. But what else can you do to increase the chances of actually winning the bid? In this workshop, you'll learn how federal government contracting officers search for and evaluate small business contractors through the SBA's Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) database. You will also learn how to make your business more visible to agencies. Lead trainer Lillian Sunwall will…

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Executive Committee Page.

Join the Billings PTAC for a virtual industry day with the National Parks Service and learn more about how to do business with this federal agency! Topics covered include: - Overview of NPS: their purpose and mission - How does NPS purchase goods and services? What purchasing vehicles do they use? - What types of goods and services does NPS typically purchase? - Forecast of opportunities - Where/how to find opportunities over the $25K threshold and under - What vendors…

Join the Billings PTAC for a virtual industry day with the Forest Service and learn more about how to do business with this federal agency! Topics covered include: - Overview of the Forest Service: their purpose and mission - How does the Forest Service purchase goods and services? What purchasing vehicles do they use? - What types of goods and services does Forest Service typically purchase? - Forecast of opportunities - Where/how to find opportunities over the $25K threshold and…

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Board of Directors Page.

Women and men both carry implicit biases that affect daily, human interactions- especially with women. Gain skills to support your coaching of women and learn how to leverage language that connects with them in session or for outreach campaigns. March is Women's History Month, so we'll take this opportunity to distinguish how to best communicate with women. Whether they are your customers, your employees, or fellow female entrepreneurs, women send and receive messages differently so it is important to know…

Planning to sell your business triggers the need for exit planning. And exit planning is estate planning for business owners looking to sell to a third party, or pass it on to the next generation. Attend this FREE webinar presented by Keith Tokerud, Esq. of Scott, Tokerud & McCarty, P.C. to see what upcoming tax changes are on the horizon, and how they might effect your business or estate. Register here - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7816122213055/WN_twBpd4JeQmy2d8LFexW3fw  

Developers, investors and business professionals throughout the Golden Triangle: join us Friday, March 5th at 7 AM as we continue our virtual installment of Investor Development Coffee. Come share and learn from other members with questions, concerns and updates about projects throughout the region. Now more than ever, keeping in touch and discussing how we find opportunities in the trade area is crucial. Join us via Zoom. If you would like to attend the meeting, email TSchreiner@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 406.781.9499…

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Business Resources for Montana National Guard/Reserve Service Members (Class 1) Are you a Montana National Guard/Reserve Member or military spouse interested in small business ownership? This two hour class introduces you to the resources specifically available to you right here in Montana as you look to start or grow your business. With special guests from the Montana SBA, Veterans Business Outreach Center, and resource partners across Montana you’ll learn how to connect with resources to help your business thrive. Sponsored…

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Executive Committee Page.

Business Resources for Montana National Guard/Reserve Service Members (Class 2) Are you a Montana National Guard/Reserve Member or military spouse interested in small business ownership? This two hour class introduces you to the resources specifically available to you right here in Montana as you look to start or grow your business. With special guests from the Montana SBA, Veterans Business Outreach Center, and resource partners across Montana you'll learn how to connect with resources to help your business thrive. Sponsored…

Join the Great Falls Development Authority for a 1-hour workshop where together we will brainstorm how to make Great Falls a remote worker ready community. We will watch several short clips from a recent webinar "Remote Ready Cities" by Fourth Economy and Livability Media and discuss how we can implement these ideas in the Great Falls market. Learn more and register here - https://conta.cc/3rnaDP0

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Executive Committee Page.

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Board of Directors Page.

Topic: As part of renewed disaster preparedness awareness, all businesses must manage risk. And risk doesn't just include basic insurance on your company assets. Especially as companies grow, they take on additional risks through employees, contracts, partners, and especially related to the lingering impacts of COVID-19. This webinar will touch on three types of risk and five risk management strategies for growth-focused companies. Learn more and register here - https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/4817