MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

• Author: Tilleman, Suzanne
• Position: LETTER

It is an honor to address the readers of this special edition of the Montana Business Quarterly featuring the Montana economic report. We all have a very important stake in helping the Montana economy thrive, and there is plenty of thought-provoking material here to helps us better understand the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead.

We pride ourselves at the College of Business at the University of Montana in preparing our students for the future. The year 2020 and the pandemic accelerated many trends, making the future arrive a bit quicker. I am proud of the way our students and my colleagues adapted to and embraced the combination of in-person and remote instruction. Although challenging, it has been rewarding to continue our emphasis on student-centric learning in order to help them achieve successful careers.

As you glance through this issue, you will read about the industries that are the engines of our state economy, as well as what we can expect in the coming year. I have always been a fan and a regular attendee of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research's economic outlook seminars, and this year's program looks like one of the best ever.

As dean of the College of Business, I am already working with many of you to bring your stories and skills into our classrooms as we prepare our future leaders. The talents, resourcefulness and dedication of Montana's businesses are outstanding. This has been...