Tester announces first set of panelists for upcoming small business workshop

Senator’s next workshop to be held March 7 in Helena

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today announced the participants for his “Made-in-Montana Success Stories” panel at his upcoming Manufacturing Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Helena on Friday, March 7.

Tester’s 14th small business workshop will connect national manufacturing industry leaders with Montana businesses to expand economic opportunities and create jobs in the Treasure State.

Tester’s five “Made-in-Montana Success Stories” panelists include:

• Paige Montague – MyTopo.com, a Billings company that provides custom printed maps for professionals and recreational users
• Ashley Moran – Fort Peck Tech Manufacturing, a tribal-owned business that offers welding services and fuel systems for the United States military
• Tom Spika – Spika Welding, a Lewistown center that designs and produces high-quality work platforms and ground support equipment
• James Stephens – Blue Marble Biomaterials, a Missoula firm that processes chemicals to replace petroleum in household products
• Bill Nicholson – inDimension3 Printing, a Kalispell plant that produces 3-D printers

Tester’s workshop will be held on March 7 at Carroll College’s Campus Center – known as the ‘Cube.’

“Montana is rich in natural resources, and our manufacturing industry knows how to responsibly use our resources to create the products that America and the world need,” Tester said. “This workshop will highlight the tools that manufacturers need to compete in the 21st Century so we can continue to strengthen our industry and create more jobs here in Montana.”

Tester’s morning workshop, which begins at 8 a.m., is free and open to the public. Montanans interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at www.tester.senate.gov/rsvp. More information about the workshop, including the keynote speaker, will be available soon.

Tester’s Helena workshop builds on the success of his 13 previous small business workshops held across Montana. More that 2,000 Montanans have attended Tester’s workshops.