Conference Schedule

The conference program is still under development and subject to change. Please check back regularly for updates and more specific details on the agenda and speaker line-up.

Thursday, October 25th

9:00 AM	Registration Opens
10:00 AM	Welcoming Remarks: Jonathan Weber, NewWest.Net
10:15 AM	Economic Outlook: Key Trends Driving the Northern Rockies Real Estate Market The sub-prime mortgage debacle and the national pullback in the real estate market have left many professionals wondering about the health of the industry. The Northern Rockies have been less impacted than some regions, but there are certainly areas of weakness. Last year, in his talk at Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies, renowned regional economist Christopher Thornberg predicted many of the developments that have unfolded over the past year. In this session Thornberg will give his analysis and predictions for the next 18 months. Christopher Thornberg, Beacon Economics Discussion: Robert Struckman, NewWest.Net; John Thee, Washington Corporations
11:00 AM	Regional Real Estate: What's Hot and What's Not With many different types of communities and many different types of development projects, different parts of the Northern Rockies will feel the shifts in the market differently.What towns and regions are the strongest? Which market segments are proving the most robust? This panel of professionals from around the region will tell us what they are seeing in various markets today, and where they expect them to go in the short-to-medium term. Panel: Bill Perrin, Farmers State Bank Mary Yardley Marry, Missoula Organization of Realtors Mike Barrett, Prudential Montana Real Estate, Bozeman Ed Morse, Morse & Co., Coeur d'Alene
12:15 PM	Lunch
1:30 PM	Land Use Law, Water Resources, and Growth Management in Montana In the fast-growing counties of Western Montana, there is an enormous amount of confusion and frustration over planning, zoning, sub-division regulation and water resource issues. What do the state laws require, and how can they be used to promote good outcomes on controversial projects? How can water resources be best managed to preserve water quality and availability? And how can rules governing land use and water – which are currently independent of one another – be made to work together? This session will feature presentations from a leading policy maker and two leading land-use law practitioners. Presenters: Alan McCormick, Garlington Lohn & Robinson Mary Sexton, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Michelle Bryan Mudd, Land Use Clinic, University of Montana School of Law
3:30 PM	Break
3:50 PM	Towards a More Rational Growth Planning Regime: What Can Be Done? There are no easy solutions to many land-use issues, but at the same time both citizens and development professionals believe we can do a much better job of creating the kinds of outcomes that almost everyone desires: attractive, community-friendly development that's sustainable, affordable, profitable and  protective of wildlife and open spaces. What kinds of policy changes – and changes in thinking – are needed to accomplish that? A round table discussion. Panel: Bill VanCanagan, Datsopoulos MacDonald & Lind Perry Ashby, Wesmont Builders & Developers Carlotta Grandstaff, Ravalli County Commissioner JP Pomnichoski, state legislator, Bozeman Moderator: Jonathan Weber, NewWest.Net
5:00 PM	Building the Best of the Northern Rockies Dennis Glick and the Sonoran Institute have scoured the region to show that, indeed, good development projects that respect widely held community values can be done. The result is a stunning book, Building the Best of the Northern Rockies, and Dennis will present some highlights from that work and talk about what made these projects possible. Dennis Glick, the Sonoran Institute
5:30 PM	Building the Best in Downtown Missoula The old Champion Mill site along the Clark Fork river in downtown Missoula has long been eyed as a prime redevelopment site. After many years of complicated negotiations, a project known as the Old Sawmill District is now springing to life. Boulder investor Ed Wetherbee and Missoula builder Kevin Mytty are the key forces behind the project - and the Missoula Redevelopment Agency played a critical role as well. This session will feature one of the first public presentations of the project, and a lively discussion with the principals. Ed Wetherbee, Boulder Ventures Kevin Mytty, Shelter West Ellen Buchanan, Missoula Redevelopment Agency
6:00 - 8:00 PM	Cocktail Reception - Sponsored by Farmers State Bank

Friday, October 26th

8:15 AM	Welcoming Remarks: Missoula Mayor John Engen
8:30 AM	The New Western City The West is often thought of as a rural area, but in fact a higher portion of people live in cities in the Northern Rockies than in any other part of the country. And many smaller urban areas such as Missoula and Bozeman are now beginning to think of themselves as true cities that need to think in terms of urban approaches to problems. Brownfield development, redevelopment, infill, condo development, mass transit – what new approaches are needed to effectively tackle these challenges? Panel: Roger Millar, Missoula Office of Planning and Grants Jeff Krauss, Mayor of Bozeman Ron Ueland, Ueland Family Limited Partnership, Butte John Carroll, Carroll Investments, Portland Moderator: Jonathan Weber, NewWest.Net
9:20 AM	Urban Development Showcase: Great Projects from Around the Region Presenters: David Hale, Linen District, Boise Brent Moore, CTA Architects, Red Lodge Paul Johannsen, Great Northern Ventures LLC, Whitefish Randy Hafer, High Plains Architects, Billings
10:20 AM	Break
10:40 AM	Land Asset Management on Private Timber Lands With its vast land holdings across Montana and many other states, Plum Creek's approach to rural development will have a huge impact on many communities. Jerry Sorensen's talk will offer valuable insight into the company's thinking and what we might expect from this critical player. Jerry Sorensen, Plum Creek Timber Company
11:10 AM	Maintaining Rural Lifestyles and Economies in the Age of Development The ranching, timber and mining economy of the rural West is a thing of the past – but that doesn't mean that 20-acre ranchettes and trophy fishing properties are the only option for the future. This session will focus on innovative ideas in rural development and how we can maintain some of the essential values of rural areas. Panel: Joshua Spitzer, Sun Ranch Institute Hank Goetz, Blackfoot Challenge Wendy Ninteman, Five Valleys Land Trust Brett DeBruycker, Dutton farmer and rancher Moderator: Courtney Lowery, NewWest.Net
12:00 PM	Greenfield Development Showcase: New Towns and New Communities in the Northern Rockies Presenters: Nick Kaufman, WGM Group, the new town of Three Forks Ken Madden, Shiloh Land and Development, Flatiron Ranch Jim Gill, Bitterroot Resort
12:40 PM	Lunch
1:50 PM	Architecture and Community: Innovative Design Strategies Forward-thinking architects increasingly view their challenge as not just designing nice structures, but understanding how those structures fit into a larger fabric and what has to happen around them to make them successful. Don MacArthur, one of Missoula's most innovative architects, will set the stage for the design conversation with a forward-looking view of what architects need to focus on and how they can steer development in a positive direction. Don MacArthur, MMW Architects
2:30 PM	Development and Sustainability: Tapping the Green Marketplace Sustainability and the environment is at the center of virtually very conversation about architecture and development these days. But is it mostly talk? How can we marry the widespread desire to be protective of the environment with the equally widespread desire for all the creature comforts? Panel: Jeffrey Crouch, Kibo Architects Betsy Hands, HomeWORD Rick Wishcamper, Rocky Mountain Development Group (Wilma Theatre) Jennifer P. Zung, Harmony Design & Engineering, Driggs, Idaho Moderator: Jonathan Weber, NewWest.Net
3:30 PM	Break
3:40 PM	Architecture Unplugged: Nature as Design Inspiration Lori Ryker has spent much of her career understanding how the natural world can be an inspiration for architects – and the latest result is an approach she calls Remote Studio. The author of the acclaimed book Off the Grid, Ryker's approach is controversial in some quarters, but certainly creative. Lori Ryker, the Artemis Institute
4:20 PM	Imagining the New West: What's Next Panel: Jonathan Schechter, Charture Institute Gary Ferguson, writer Peter Stark, North Slope Sustainable Wood Steve Loken, Loken Builders Moderator: Jonathan Weber, NewWest.Net
5:30 PM	Conference Adjourns