The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Internationally Renowned Barbara Wold in Missoula for Business Workshops May 7-8

The Missoula Downtown Association presents Barbara Wold. An expert in retail sales and tourism, Wold will hold three business development workshops and a keynote luncheon May 7 & 8th.... more

Winning Against the Chain Store

By MARK RIFFEY - Yesterday, I sat down in a store that’s part of a Montana-based coffee shop chain. I drove past a national coffee chain to reach this place. Why should I drive past them to vist you?... more

Liz Marchi: Manners, the Masters and Equal Pay

By LIZ MARCHI - Be on notice, hitting on women is unwelcome and exhibits the worst in manners. Sexist comments and jokes are NOT funny.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of April 20

Jobs this week: A Program Coordinator for a transitional housing program, Assistant Travel Counselor, Case Manager, Sales and Services Coordinator, Shipping & Receiving Clerk, and More!... more

The Hardest Part of Helping A Business

By MARK RIFFEY - There are a lot of rewards that come with helping businesses improve beyond what they expected.... more

Public Invited to Learn About Downtown Two-Way Traffic Plan

Learn more about the City's study to convert Front and Main Streets back to two-way traffic; TONIGHT Tues., April 14, at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 140 W. Pine St.... more

Prepare for the Fair: Workshops Available for the April 21 Career Fair

Western Montana’s Largest Career Fair happens only once a year. With close to 100 employers looking for workers, it’s worth it to prepare now for the April 21 event.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of April 13

Jobs this week: A Warehouse/Delivery Person, Infant/Toddler Teacher, Bank Teller, Custodian, Residential Cleaners, Live-in Hotel Manager, and More!... more

Liz Marchi: Give Me Patience for Parents

By LIZ MARCHI - I am flying back to Bozeman after spending two weeks with my Mom and Dad and family in Alabama. I am so conflicted about them these days. ... more

Sales That Hide From You

By MARK RIFFEY - How do you find hidden sales in your prospect list? How do you know when lead is no longer interested in buying? How do you know when they are ready to buy? ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of April 6

Jobs this week: A Sandblaster/Powder Coat Painter, Business Manager, Receptionist, Prosecuting Attorney, Guest Services/Front Desk Worker, CDL Truck Driver/Laborer and More!... more

How To Build a Follow Up System

By MARK RIFFEY - It’s important to develop a system of consistently following up with your clients. A system can all but eliminate the cracks.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 30

Jobs this week: Case Manger RN, Window Cleaner, Real-Estate Loan Originator, Janitor, Research Assistant, Bookkeeper and more!... more

Everyone Can Sell, If you Train Them

By MARK RIFFEY - Sales taining matters--for everyone and on every shift. Here's why--you do the math.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 23

Jobs this week: Certified Nursing Assistants, Over-the-road Truck Drivers, Production Workers, Direct Care Providers, Receptionish/Secretary, Cemetary Groundskeeper and more!... more

A Simple, High-Value Tactic That Many Miss

By MARK RIFFEY - FOLLOW UP: The most common reason that follow up doesn’t happen is that there’s no system to manage it. Without a system those follow up tasks are soon forgotten.... more

DIRECTV Partners with Easter Seals-Goodwill to Collect Donations and Electronic Waste

Here's a FREE and EASY way keep your non-hazardous computer/electronics out of the Landfill: Dropoff On March 28 from 10 am-4pm at DIRECT TV.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 16

Jobs this week: Wildland Firefighters, Cashiers and Retail Sales Positions, Summer Recreation Jobs, Housekeepers, Personal Care Attendant, Licensed Clinical Social Work, RN Case Manager, and more!... more

What’s Holding Your Business Back?

By MARK RIFFEY - Are sales down? Don't get desperate. Get Facts. When an owner is desperate for business, (at least) two things often take place in an effort to turn things around:... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 8

Jobs this week: A Project Manager/Lead Carpenter, Construction Laborer, Seasonal Nursery Yard Position, FT Cashiers, Houseman / Weekend Maintenance Worker, and More!... more

Desperate for Business?

By MARK RIFFEY - Are sales down? Don't get desperate. Get Facts. When an owner is desperate for business, (at least) two things often take place in an effort to turn things around:... more

Employers Can Reserve Space Now for Missoula Career Fair

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS: Employer registration is under way now for the Missoula Job Service Career Fair, April 21, at the Hilton Garden Inn. Sign-up Now!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 2

Jobs this week: Employees to Fish and Process Fish in Alaska, Convery Belt Trainee, Staff for a summer Outdoor Recreation Program for Youth, Laborers, Drivers and More!... more

Do You Value Your Clientele?

By MARK RIFFEY - The behavior of our business indicates how we value our clientele. Some businesses value what they do and work hard for every lead. Every client. Every order. Every payment.... more

DIRECTV’s Local Transformation Offers New Job Opportunities to Missoulians

This is a great time to work for DIRECTV. We have one of the best call center environments in the industry and we're expanding our Missoula call center.... more

5th Annual Winter Brewfest Comes to Caras Park, Fri. Feb 27

The Missoula Downtown Association and KettleHouse Brewing Co. will host the fifth annual Winter BrewFest on Friday, Feb 27, 2015 from 5-10 pm in Caras Park.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 23

Jobs this week: A Physical Therapist, Sales/Service Team Member, Grants Administrator, Director of Membership, Education Manager, Preschool Teacher and More! ... more

We Have No Time for Yoga Pants

By MARK RIFFEY - Whether you believe the yoga pants thing was a joke or not, it doesn’t really matter. Helena's work is serious business, and it's personal.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 16

Jobs this week: A CAD Drafter, Executive Director, Shuttle Bus Driver, Service Technician, Equipment Operators, Weed Education Assistant, Accountant/IT Porfessional, and More! ... more

Looking to Disrupt a Market?

By MARK RIFFEY - We earn the privilege to stay in our market every day. When we don’t, we often expose opportunity we’ve ignored, provoking someone to disrupt a market.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 9

Jobs this week: A Hotel Sales Manager, Resource Conservationist, Receptionist, Concrete Pump Operator, Production & Facilities Manager and more! ... more

The Pace of Change

By MARK RIFFEY - If things have seemed a bit frenetic in your business lately, you’re not alone. Things are changing faster than ever, including the pace of change.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 2

Jobs this week: A Public Information Officer, Excavation Foreman, Camp and Crew Members, Engine Boss, Licensed Massage Therapist, Receptionist and more! ... more

Planning For a Strategic Tradeshow

By MARK RIFFEY - Trade shows aren't vacation. They're strategically important. Plan them that way.... more

Liz Marchi: On Birthdays and Aging

By LIZ MARCHI - Sunday was my 61st birthday. The great thing about a January birthday is that you spend the entire month thinking about the New Year, goals, planning and “getting ready.” ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 26

Jobs this week: A Delivery Driver, Real Estate Loan Processor, Seasonl Firefighters, Dentist, Industrial Electrician, Mill Laborers, Glass Installer, Front Desk Agent and more! ... more

Do I Really Need to Exhibit At Trade Shows?

By MARK RIFFEY - Trade shows are focused gatherings of clients, prospects and vendors. Why bother?... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 19

Jobs this week: Legal Assistant/Receptionist, Firefighting and Fire Management jobs, Bookkeeper, Infant/Toddler Assistant Teacher, A Conveyor Belt Technician, Forestry Nursery Workers, and more! ... more

Fire and Ice–Wildland Firefighting Recruitment Begins Mid-Winter

By CHERY SABOL - If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to explore work as a wildland firefighter this summer, hopefully another resolution was to not procrastinate.... more

The Shortcut To Easier Sales

By MARK RIFFEY - The Shortcut to sales starts with a simple question: Who is the ideal person for your product/service? Who's Your Target Audience?... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 12

Jobs this week: Level 3 Mechanic(s) and Welders, Line Technician, Evironmental Health Specialt and more! ... more

How To Make a Good Upsell

By MARK RIFFEY - When someone asks me how to make a good upsell, I suggest that they focus on being helpful.... more

Liz Marchi: Paper Bliss

By LIZ MARCHI - As much as I love to clean and organize, my husband loves to keep every piece of paper that he's ever owned. Whatever your bliss is, nurture it, edit it and own it in 2015!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 5

Jobs this week: Field Assistants for Geophysical Surveying, a Janitorial Suprvisor, Baker, Store Supervisor, and a Portable Restoom Service Tech in the Bakken oilfields. ... more

Reinvigorate Your Business For The New Year

By MARK RIFFEY - It's time to get things ramped up for 2015. What can you improve without spending much?... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 29

Jobs this week: A Dental Hygienist, Caregivers, Enroller/Care Coach, Housekeeping Inspector/Housekeeper, Service Writer, Over-the-road Drivers, and more! ... more

Defending Your Business

By MARK RIFFEY - Take an active role in defending your business, because if you don't, few others will.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 22

Jobs this week: A Plans Examiner/Building Inspector, Licensed Clinical Therapist, Accounting Associate, Computer Systems Analyst and more! ... more

Creating Client Loyalty = Depending on You

By MARK RIFFEY - This time of year is always a good time to remind you of the difference between working on the business vs. working in it.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 15

Jobs this week: Machinist, CNC Machin Operator, Repair Dispatch Manager, Program Manager, Pick-up and Delivery Driver, Accounting Technician and more! ... more