Resilient & Rising – Montana’s Trade & Investment in a Volatile World
Our 2026 program features hands-on training for internationally engaged businesses in the morning followed by an afternoon general session delivering timely insights on the rapidly evolving global trade landscape and what it means for Montana. We’ll also honor the Montana exporter of the year as chosen by the Montana district export council, offer offsite visits showcasing the infrastructure, companies, and partnerships powering Montana’s export growth and foreign direct investment pipeline, and welcome consuls general from our trading partner nations to share their perspectives, meet with Montana firms, and amass more granular detail about mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities.
International trade & investment are essential to Montana’s economy—from wheat to SaaS products and everything in between, Montanans are selling their products & services around the world, importing supply chain solutions, and receiving investment from global markets.
Come join us to celebrate Montana’s successes on the global stage, learn about untapped opportunities, and gather together in celebration of World Trade Month.
We’re looking forward to seeing you May 12th in Butte!
Draft Agenda—Subject to Change
MORNING SESSION — Training for Montana Firms Engaged in International Business
8:30 AM | Check-In & Networking over Coffee
9:00 – 9:45 AM | Avoiding Costly Mistakes with INCOTERMS
9:45 – 10:30 AM | Getting Paid in Global Trade: Letters of Credit, Payment Risk, and
Export Financing Tools
10:30 – 11:15 AM | Pilot Projects as a Pathway to Scaling Investment
GENERAL SESSION — Montana’s Trade & Investment in a Volatile World
Location: Montana Tech Student Union Building, 1300 W Park St, Butte, MT 59701
11:30 AM | Check-In for General Session, Confirmation of Afternoon Site Visit Participation, Networking
12:00 – 12:05 PM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Speakers: JP Gallagher, Chief Executive, City and County of Butte-Silver Bow & Johnny MacLean, Chancellor, Montana Technological University
12:05 – 12:20 PM | Montana Global Trade & Investment Update
- Brigitta Miranda-Freer, Executive Director, Montana World Trade Center
12:20 – 12:45 PM | Fireside Chat — Montana & the Next Frontier of Global Trade
- Speakers: Delano Roosevelt, Director of International Investor Relations, Ranchland Capital Partners & Brigitta Miranda-Freer, Executive Director, Montana World Trade Center
12:45 – 1:15 PM | North American Trade Outlook — USMCA 2026 Review
- Speaker: Sarah Quigley, Consul General, Canada
1:15 – 1:40 PM | Montana Agriculture & Global Market Opportunities
- Speaker: Jillien Streit, Director, Montana Department of Agriculture
1:40 – 2:20 PM | Panel — Positioning Montana for Export & FDI Success in Advanced Industries & Critical Materials
- Panelists: Kristin Vekasi, Mansfield Chair of Japan and Indo-Pacific Affairs, the Mansfield Center; Todd O’Hair, President and CEO, Montana Chamber of Commerce; Tim VanReken, Executive Director and Regional Innovation Officer, Headwaters Technology Hub; Bob Morris, Lance Energy Chair, Montana Technological University and Member, Governor Gianforte’s Energy Task Force
2:20 – 2:40 PM | Fireside Chat & Exporter of the Year Award
- Speaker: Greg Gianforte, Governor, State of Montana (Invited)
- Honoree to Be Announced: Montana District Export Council Exporter of the Year
2:40 – 2:50 PM | Transition Comments
- Speaker: Brigitta Miranda-Freer, Executive Director, Montana World Trade Center
- Comments from Site Visit Leads: Kelly Sullivan, Executive Director, Butte Local Development Corporation and Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development & Kayla Lappin, Economic Development Coordinator, City and County of Butte-Silver Bow
AFTERNOON SITE VISITS — Advanced Industry & Logistics Infrastructure
2:50 – 4:45 PM | Site Visits
*Participants May Choose Either the Headwaters Tech Hub / Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC) Tour or the Port of Montana Tour at Time of Check-in, but the Mine Tour Is Capped at 30 Attendees*
- Headwaters Tech Hub / UMEC Testbed
- For the tour, steel-toe boots are recommended; however, appropriate footwear can be provided if needed. The mine’s temperature is between 55-60 °F, so a jacket is advised. We will meet at 1505 W Park St Butte, MT. This is the Natural Resources Building on campus (See Map). You can park in visitor parking and we will meet at the back entrance of the Natural Resources Building to start the tour. The tour should last about 90 minutes.
- Port of Montana Foreign Trade Zone
- Bus departs MT Tech Campus at 3:15 PM. Tour of Foreign Trade Zone operations, Montana Connections Park, and freight/logistics infrastructure supporting international trade expansion. Comments from REC Silicon as FTZ beneficiary, Montana Connections Park tenant, and investor in our state.
EVENING PROGRAM — Networking & Trade Diplomacy
Location: Northwestern Energy, 5th Floor, 11 E Park St, Butte, MT 59701
5:00 – 6:30 PM | World Trade & Investment Day Program & Reception
SPEAKERS
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
Evening Reception Sponsor
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Venue Host
Hotel Blocks
To facilitate your stay, we’ve arranged for special rates at the following hotels. Please click for reservation details:
