Lineup of meetings to help budding entrepreneurs [Missoulian (MT)]

A new lineup of brown bag lunches and evening meeting hosted by the Missoula Economic Partnership will begin in October, continuing the organization's Innovation Initiative series aimed at giving budding entrepreneurs a chance to interact with community experts speaking on a wide range of business topics.

New this month is the "Five Key Consultants" panel that will bring together an attorney, banker, accountant, insurance agent and human resource specialist. The group represents the five professionals critical to the success of any business, said James Grunke, MEP president.

"I think this will be the best session we'll ever do," Grunke said. "It's not just important to have them involved when things are bad, they're a partner. They need to be involved as a partner and that's what they want."

The "Five Key Consultants" panel will be held Oct. 2 beginning at 5:30 p.m. On the panel is Mountain West Bank'sTom Severson; Mark Munro with the Garlington, Lohn and Robinson law firm; Jim Galipeau with JCCS accounting and financial advisers; Tim Garden and Colt Palmer of Payne West Insurance; and Connie Kulbeck, an HR specialist with Associated Employers.

All the Innovation Initiative sessions are held at Montana Technology Enterprise Center, 1121 E. Broadway.

Brown bag lunch sessions are typically held on Thursdays at noon. Evening panels are typically held on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.

Along with the "Five Key Consultants" panel, there will be panels on everything from intellectual property, nontraditional training and Google analytics.

The Innovation Initiative panels are free, and meant to provide a place were experts share intimate business advice to any interested community members in an informal setting, said Melanie Brock, MEP director of strategic initiatives.

Summer sessions were well attended, Brock said, with 15 to 20 participants attending each meeting.

"It's this exciting, dynamic group setting," she said. "That's what makes it so exciting. People are taking notes and walking away with good ideas they can implement immediately."

Brock is MEP's newest employee, hired in September after she finished a year-long stint as acting executive director for the Missoula Downtown Association.

"It's always been our plan to have a fourth employee. The time was right and the talent was right," Grunke said of Brock.

Brock's previous work includes serving as a field representative and communications director for Sen. Max Baucus, as well as the finance director for Gov. Steve Bullock's campaign fund, Friends of Steve Bullock.

Brock will handle external affairs for MEP, including investor relations, the Innovation Initiative events, governmental affairs and entrepreneurship programs.

Brock's campaign and governmental work, along with her work with Missoula businesses with MDA, made a her a perfect fit for the job, Grunke said.

MEP was founded in 2010 through Mayor John Engen's Best Place Project.

The partnership has raised more than $3 million to carryout a 5-year economic development plan.

"We're starting year 3," Grunke said, "the work load has gotten bigger... There's so much happening."

MEP gathers feedback and ideas from attendees to help set its panels and speakers for the Innovation Initiative sessions.

Grunke often hears businesspeople hoping to grow their companies say they need help from professionals like HR specialists.

"It's one of the things we hear more often than not, 'I need some HR help,' " Grunke said.

That's the goal of the sessions, he said, to help entrepreneurs advance their ideas and businesspeople grow their businesses.

Oftentimes, the panelists benefit along with attendees from the conversations and connections made at the events.

"The panelists do it to share, but they do get business opportunities out of it," Grunke said.

A full list of Innovation Initiative Fall 2013 events can be found at missoulapartnership.com.

The Innovation Initiative also includes onsite counseling services and peer networking opportunities.

It's presented in cooperation with MEP, the Hellgate Venture Network and the University of Montana.