One Nation, Under God
One Nation, Under God
Class V at the Billings Gazette on October 28th. Back (L to R) Cameron Wholschlegel, Josh Senecal, Simon McCann, Chisholm Christensen, Peter Taylor, Weston Merrill, Brian Hogue, Christopher Anderson. Front (L to R) Micah Jam, Tyler Tintzman, Shauna Dunn, Cassi Hammerness, Shelby George, Tracy McIntyre, Jessica Murray, Clay Redding, Katie Kuhr, David Crasco, Lacey Morrison, Amy Schulte. Courtesy Photo.
Phillips County resident David Crasco just returned from three days in Billings as part of REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership). For David and other members of REAL Montana Class V, this was the second seminar in their two-year educational program.
The focus of the seminar was media & communications. While in Billings, class members received individual training on vocal control and how to effectively communicate in a media interview, followed by 12 live television and radio interviews across the city. They took part in editorial meetings at KULR-8 and KTVQ-2 news, and learned about print and online communication at the Billings Gazette. The class received tips for engaging the media and telling their story through social media, and media professionals hailing from ExxonMobil, the CHS Laurel Refinery, and NorthWestern Energy conducted a crisis management panel. A networking banquet at the Billings Depot was attended by program alumni, sponsors, and industry leaders. The session concluded with a team building exercise at a local escape room, followed by a discussion on developing a transformational leadership style and how to manage conflict.
Crasco commented, "It was great to meet the professionals of our local media sources that we depend on for our news and weather. It was fascinating to see how hard they work behind the scenes bringing us important information every day."
Twenty of Montana's top natural resource industry leaders from across the state were competitively selected to take part in REAL Montana Class V. The program's mission is to build a network of informed and engaged leaders to advance the natural resource industries in Montana. The two-year leadership program features eight in-state seminars; a five-day national study tour in Washington, D.C .; and a ten-day international trip. Seminars include training in natural resource development, agriculture institutions and agencies, public speaking/media, economics, state and federal policy, international trade, urban/rural relationships, water issues, and other current industry topics.
REAL Montana is funded through a partnership with Montana State University Extension and private industry. Oversight is provided by an advisory board of industry leaders.
Complete program information is available at http://www.realmontana.org.
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