MSU Billings News Services

The Montana State University Billings College of Business has joined an elite group of colleges, thanks to The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
AACSB International announced in April that MSU Billings is one of 14 institutions of higher learning from nine countries to have earned accreditation in business this year.
The MSU Billings College of Business is now one of fewer than five percent of the world’s business schools to have earned this distinction and one of only 60 undergraduate business schools that are AACSB accredited.
AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. There are 593 business schools in 37 countries that maintain AACSB accreditation. Similarly, 173 institutions now maintain an additional specialized AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.

Chamber VP named

The Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau has named Alex Tyson as its vice president.
“Alex’s energy and desire to serve her hometown through building our quality of life and supporting the business community has been invaluable to the growth of our organization,” said Chamber/CVB President/CEO John Brewer.
In addition to increased administrative duties, Tyson continues her duties as community relations director, which includes member and community communications, membership sales and services and overseeing a department of four team members. Tyson has been on the Chamber/CVB team since the summer of 2007.
Prior to working at the Chamber/CVB, Tyson worked for Evening Post Publishing Co. for 13 years as a photographer, reporter, producer and anchor at KTVQ in Billings and KRTV in Great Falls. She taught Broadcasting 101 at MSU Billings helping mold a new generation of local communications students. 
Tyson is a graduate of Montana State University Billings and serves as president of the MSU Billings Alumni Advisory Board as well as on the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee. In 2009, she was named one of the 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in the Chamber world by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.
Tyson and her husband, Calvin, have two boys, ages 8 and 4. They love the quality of life Billings offers.

Radio stations exchanged

Connoisseur Media LLC has announced an exchange of assets between itself, Elenbaas Media Inc. and Cherry Creek Radio whereby Connoisseur Media will acquire 730 AM licensed to Billings and Elenbaas will acquire 93.3 FM, also licensed to Billings.
This will dispose of the remaining Billings assets of Cherry Creek Radio, and was covered as a part of the recent sale to Connoisseur.
“We are delighted to be able to add 730 AM to our expanding Billings cluster,” said Connoisseur General Manager Cam Maxwell. “This will make Connoisseur Media the largest radio operator in the region with six stations in the Billings market.”
In addition to 730 AM, which will have a new format, Connoisseur Media also operates the following radio stations in the Billings market: KRKX-FM,  “Big Sky Country”, at 94.1, KRZN-FM, “The Zone”, a rock station at 96.3, KWMY-FM, classic hits ”MY 105.9”, KPLN-FM, 106.7, a modern hits music station also known as “The Planet”, and KBLG-AM, a news/talk station at 910.
“The ability to carry KURL programming on an FM translator, 97.5, that began in the summer of 2008 was very popular with our Billings area audience, and now being on a 100,000 watt FM will boost our range enormously, day and night,” said Herm Elenbaas, owner of KURL radio.
“Elenbaas Media Inc. will retain the KURL call letters in the deal,” Elenbaas added. “We want to continue to use KURL considering our long history with our listeners and to reassure them that the format that they’re used to will not change except for the radio frequency.”

BSEDA hires Vannatta

Jeremy Vannatta has joined the Big Sky Economic Development Authority as the director of new business recruitment and retention. He will also manage marketing and public relations for the organization.
Prior joining Big Sky Economic Development, he served as Rimrock Mall’s senior marketing manager for the past seven years. Former positions include the post of vice president of the Billings Area Chamber of Commerce.
Vannatta had also served as the head of marketing for Thrifty Car Rental locations in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho and as a news producer for Billings’ CBS affiliate, KTVQ-2.  
He currently sits as the past-president of the Montana State University Alumni Association Advisory Board, and is serving on the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Steering Committee. Vannatta holds a bachelor of science degree in media communications with an emphasis in marketing from MSU Billings.
He and his wife, Haley, are publishers of Yellowstone Valley Woman magazine. They have three boys, Tyler, Caden and Luke.
“The Big Sky Economic Development Authority makes a tremendous positive impact on our community,” Vanatta stated. “Billings and the outlying area have so much to offer for business, tourists, and the people who live here. I’m proud to take on a role as part of a well-respected team where I can help grow the city I love.”

Top employee named

Sue Arneson, of Youth Dynamics in Billings, been named Employee of the Quarter for the organization’s Eastern Region.
Ms. Arneson is a care manager,  an  advocate for at-risk youth and foster parents who has worked for Youth Dynamics for 22 years.
Youth Dynamics is one of the state’s largest youth/family agencies and provides services for Montana kids in over 15 locations.

Microsoft training offered

HELENA – The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has announced a public-private partnership with Microsoft’s Elevate America program to offer thousands of Montanans free computer e-learning courses on programs like Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows along with certification exams and advanced IT professional courses.
Montana’s Department of Labor and Industry has made voucher codes for free access to Microsoft e-learning programs available to the public on the website: jobs.mt.gov. Click on “Elevate America.”
There are 2,500 vouchers for Microsoft e-learning courses, 2,500 vouchers for Microsoft business certification courses and 625 vouchers for access to selected advanced IT professional courses.
Certification takes place through Certiport sites available through Aug. 18. To find a Certiport testing location near you, visit jobs.mt.gov.