O’Neill was a team leader with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He held combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions in four different theaters of war. A highly-trained Navy SEAL, he led the military’s most elite and was involved in one of our nation’s most important campaigns, the removal of Osama bin Laden.

First, respecting each other is a key to success, O’Neill explained. “If people want to come into work, they’re going to work harder.”

Second, there is a difference between over-planning and being pre-pared, he said. “People have a tendency to want to sit in a room, and we’re going to plan, and plan, and plan, and nobody gets to do anything until we have the perfect plan.

During missions, instant, critical decision-making is a necessity for suc-cess. O’Neill highlighted the importance of learning how to effectively communicate and get your message across. “The first rule is when you’re done saying what you’re saying, stop saying it.”

“The third thing common with our success is we learned how to take emotion out of the professional decision-making process. Your initial reaction is the wrong reaction, and it’s important to try to take a second, even if a second’s all you have, to make an informed decision.”

The most important factor in determining success is to never quit, O’Neill stressed. “No matter how bad it got, we never quit. People will be so close to a goal, 95 percent of the way there, and all of a sudden have a bad day, throw your hands in the air and quit. You know, you’re not having a bad life, you’re having a bad day. It’ll get better.”

O’Neill concluded his address with a reminder about the servicemen who are out there defending us. “They’re never going to quit for you. So, do them a favor and yourself a favor. The next time you’re all stressed out at work or home and the sky’s falling around you, take a deep breath and think of them. Just put your head down, keep moving forward, no matter what. Never quit, and you’ll be just fine.”

WYOMING GOVERNORMATTHEW H. MEAD’S

BUSINESS FORUMEconomic Horizons: National, State

and Across Wyoming Counties

33rd FORUMwyoming business alliance • wyoming heritage foundation • january 2016

Governor Matt Mead partnered with the Wyoming Business Alliance/ Wyoming Heritage Foundation to bring top-notch speakers together to discuss economic strategies, cybersecurity, the role of business in education policy and governmental efficiency during the 33rd forum held Nov. 17-18, 2015 in Cheyenne. The forum attracted over 700 attendees.

NAVY SEAL ROB O’NEILLNever Quit: The Story of a Life

Built on Successful Missions

INNOVATION KEY TO CULTIVATING ECONOMIC SUCCESS

During his opening address, Governor Mead stressed the importance of innovation to build on Wyoming’s natural competitive advantages in technology, energy, tourism and agriculture. He also advocated for the continued support for education at the highest level, despite cur-rent economic challenges.

The Governor emphasized that the state’s future lies in growing the technology sector to diversify the economy and provide jobs to keep

Wyoming’s youth from leaving. “I firmly believe technology can be our fourth largest industry, and that’s not just a dream.”

The Governor stressed the importance of diversifying Wyoming’s economy to create a more stable revenue stream for the state. To do that, Wyoming must stay as a leader in innova-tion to improve the energy sector, he said. He pointed out that innovation is already happen-ing with an integrated test center being bolted

on the newest coal-fired plant in the state, the Dry Fork Station in Campbell County.

“We must ask where is the next frontier? Where are the solutions for the environment and energy? Where will we go with tourism and ag? The good news is we are not going to pre-dict the future. We will build the future. It’s in our hands to find the next economic horizon, and I can’t think of a better group than the lead-ers here to do it.”

Using stories from SEAL missions and training, Rob O’Neill, one of the most highly-decorated combat veterans of our time, provided forum attendees with his insights on leadership, decision-making, operating in uncertain envi-ronments, and how to become the ‘best of the best.’

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JIM AUGE, Teton Motors, Jackson TIM BARNES, Black Tooth Brewing Company, Sheridan ANDI CLIFFORD, Wind River Casino, Riverton MEGAN DEGENFELDER, Cloud Peak Energy, Gillette DAN DOCKSTADER, State Senator, Afton DAN FURPHY, Laramie Chamber Business Alliance

DAVE HANKS, Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce DON HAUGHT, Valley Plumbing and Heating, Torrington JUAN REYES, MR Angus Ranch, Wheatland CHERYL SHERO, Gottsche Rehabilitation and Wellness RYAN SMITH, Memorial Hospital of Converse County PAM THAYER, Rawlins DDA/Main Street TOM THORSON, Black Hills Bentonite, Casper LUKE TODD, The Sports Lure, Buffalo

TOM WASSERBURGER, Best Western Pioneer, Lusk DOUG WEEDIN, Pinnacle Bank of Wyoming BOB WOMACK, Spradley-Barr Motors, Cheyenne

wyoming business alliance • a special supplement to wyoming business report • january 2014

WYOMING’S PREMIER BUSINESS EVENT Thank you to the over 700 attendees and numer-ous sponsors for making the forum successful. This year’s forum brought together national ex-perts and Wyoming leaders to discuss economic strategies, cybersecurity, education and govern-mental efficiency. We heard about the impor-tance of building business coalitions in devel-oping education policy to ensure our children are prepared to enter the workforce. And, Rob O’Neill’s mantra “never quit” strongly resonated with attendees and was a common theme heard during the 17 Wyoming success stories and this year’s Business Hall of Fame inductees.

STAND UP FOR BUSINESSThe Wyoming Business Alliance helps business leaders, industry players, and public officials to make well-informed business-minded decisions that support the state’s economy. The Business Alliance has launched significant statewide ini-tiatives like the Wyoming Business Council, Ha-thaway Scholarship, and Leadership Wyoming. Please consider membership in the Business Alliance for your organization. Certainly during today’s challenging times, you don’t want to shy away from organizations that can leverage our state’s assets to develop solutions.

wyoming business alliance • wyoming heritage foundation • january 2015

2015 WYOMING BUSINESS HALL OF FAME

A MESSAGE FROMWBA LEADERSHIP

Cybersecurity a high priorityfor the nation and WyomingWith an increasingly interconnected world, national experts and Wyoming leaders stressed that cybersecurity must be a priority for indi-viduals, businesses, and government.

Don Dixon, managing director and co-founder of Trident Capital, said that cyber issues will continue to grow, especially considering that connective devices will equal to three times the world’s population by 2019. “People in Wyoming used to benefit from geographical isolation and distance. In cy-berspace, you’re not on the frontier. We have to deal with protecting ourselves to preserve our businesses and govern-ment.”

Rear Admiral (retired) David Simpson, the Chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, explained that the national security imperative to reduce the cyber risk is leading from within the private sector. “We’re figuring out the balance be-tween security, privacy and innovation of new services in a way that’s the envy of the entire world.”

“I would encourage Wyoming as you look at your work-force development that you build cyber leaders that can achieve that balance within your commercial space and lead in cyber from the private sector. That’s the best way for us to continue to project a strike around the world in cybersecurity and the best way for us to continue to ensure that information services generate prosperity for our country.”

Putting a face on the actual impact to Wyoming, Jeff England, a member of the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council, led a four-member panel of Wyoming leaders who provided their experiences with cyber issues. The panel included Carmen Diehl, Owner of Joe’s Food Center; Cheryl Riley, AT&T, President, Northern Plains States (Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota); Rick Schum, President/CEO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Wyoming; and Rep. Mary Throne, House Mi-nority Floor Leader.

The technology segment concluded with remarks from the cutting edge of new entre-preneurs: Shawn Mills, founder and CEO of Green House Data in Cheyenne; John Tempe, co-founder and managing partner of Temte Venture Partners in Laramie; and Anthony Castillo, CEO and chief scientist of USDN, Inc. based in California.

Don Dixon

paul radakovichchair, wyoming business alliance

bill schillingpresident, wyoming business alliance

FORUM HIGHLIGHTS 17 SUCCESS STORIES“The success stories featured a diverse group of leaders who are making a significant impact

in their fields and communities,” said Bill Schilling, president of the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation. “Their stories serve as inspiration of how of

we can help move Wyoming forward.”The Wyoming Business Alliance held an evening gala honoring the 2015 Wyoming Business Hall of Fame inductees.• PIONEER HONOREE - William F. “Buffalo

Bill,” Cody• HISTORIC HONOREES - Curt and Marian

Rochelle, Rawlins; Newell Sargent and Forrest Clay, Worland

• CONTEMPORARY HONOREES - George Bryce, Casper; Jim Neiman, Hulett; and Dave Reetz, Powell

Rear Admiral (ret.) David Simpson

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BUSINESS COALITIONS HELP IMPROVE EDUCATION POLICY

The Wyoming Business Alliance’s membership is comprised of representatives from a variety of industries, trade associations and businesses throughout the state. Core industries, such as mining, tourism, oil and gas, and ranching, are represented, as well as a wide range of new, niche business activities like telecommunications and data storage. Wyoming Business Alliance members share in the belief that everyone benefits

when we work together to help businesses thrive.

WHO ARE WETOP FIVE REASONS TO JOIN

1# A CLEAR BUSINESS VOICE2# LEADERSHIP WYOMING PROGRAM

3# LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS4# STATEWIDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

5# INFORMATION RESOURCES

CONTACT US TODAY:(307) 577-8000 wyba@wyomingbusinessalliance.com145 South Durbin Street, Suite 101 Casper, WY 82601

www.facebook.com/WyomingBusinessAlliance

www.wyomingbusinessalliance.com

THANK YOUTO OUR TOPSPONSORS!!CONFERENCE LEVEL

Admiral Beverage University of Wyoming

PLATINUM LEVELJonah Bank, McMurry Foundation,

Rocky Mountain Power, True Companies, and Wyoming

Humanities Council

GOLD LEVELAnadarko Petroleum, BP America, Cameco Resources, CAP Logistics, Cigna Healthcare, Devon Energy, First Interstate Bank, Groathouse Construction, HUB Insurance, Joe Scott Enterprises, John P. Ellbogen Foundation, Neiman Enterprises,

UnitedHealth Care, Wells Fargo, Wind River Casino, Wyoming Business

Council, Wyoming Liberty Group, and Wyoming Medical Center

SILVER LEVELAARP, ANB Bank, Buffalo Bill

Center of the West, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power, McGarvin-Moberly Construction Company, Memorial

Hospital of Converse County, QEP Resources, Tronox Alkali, Ultra

Petroleum, US Bank, Wold Foundation, and Wyoming Community Foundation

BRONZE LEVELAT&T, Black Hills Bentonite, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Wyoming,

CenturyLink, Cloud Peak Energy, Holland & Hart, LLP, Laramie

Chamber Business Alliance, McGee, Hearne, & Paiz, LLC, Pinnacle Bank of Wyoming, United States Department

of Agriculture Rural Development, and Wyoming Catholic College

wyoming business alliance • wyoming heritage foundation • january 2015

A November 16 pre-event “America Succeeds” launched the forum with a panel discussion about how employers can and must play a stronger role in educating our youth for the demands of a global economy.

Ted Dintersmith joined the conversation with (L-R) Harold Levy, Tim Taylor, Colora-do Sen. Michael Johnston, and former Wyo-ming Governor Jim Geringer.

“We can’t lead in the 21st century unless we have the best-educated, most competitive work-force in the world,” pointed out former Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer, who moderated the panel. Speakers included Michael Johnston, State Senator in Colorado; Tim Taylor, Co-Founder of American Succeeds; and Harold Levy, Executive Director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

Johnston described how building coalitions have helped with the challenges faced in Colo-rado. “Businesses that are growing are not hiring the very kids that we’re producing because kids are not well prepared enough to take entry-level spots. So our businesses are having to hire from other states and bring them to Colorado.”

To make a dramatic change, Johnston said states need a committed cohort of educators who are the ones preparing the young people and a committed group of business leaders who are helping determine what are the skills needed to enter this system and succeed. “If we only have educators at the table, we’re preparing young people for a world that doesn’t exist.”

Engaging the businesses in policy is part of Colorado’s success, Taylor said. He pointed out that Colorado Succeeds, a coalition of business leaders, has been successful in developing educa-tion policy by using five core business principles - accountability, transparency, putting the cus-tomer first, competition and choice, and looking for a return on investment. “When applied to the public education system, these core principles will produce better outcomes for kids.”

Levy brought up the difficulties faced by high-performing low-income kids in achieving a col-lege degree. “A lot of kids are capable of getting there, but we’re not giving them the means to do it and that’s bad.”

Venture capitalist Ted Dintersmith joined the panel to discuss innovation and entrepreneur-ship. He co-authored the acclaimed book Most Likely to Succeed, which explores ways to equip students for the 21st century economy.

Business leaders routinely describe their diffi-culty in hiring kids out of college, he said. “Busi-nesses say they can’t do anything, have lost the ability to ask questions and have no intellectual curiosity. If given something ambiguous, they can’t solve it.”

Dintersmith said, “We need to ask ourselves what skills and characteristics we need our kids to have in a world that’s far more innovative? And, does the school experience help reinforce those skills? A kid who is exceptionally getting A’s and does month after month of test prep is not a kid who is going be innovative, creative, and change the world.”

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BUDGET CHALLENGES IMPACT GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

SAVE THE DATEThe 2016 Wyoming Forum

is scheduled forNovember 10 - 11, 2016at Little America Hotel

Cheyenne, WY.

TOUR 23:A GRASSROOTS EFFORT

TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In 2015, economic development ses-sions led by the Wyoming Business Al-liance were in held in all 23 counties to ask local leaders what was working and what they needed in their com-munity.

In total, 853 people attended those sessions. In each county, an appointed coordinator helped gather up the results from each ses-sion in a report. Those 23 draft reports were made available for review.

During the forum, seven concurrent ses-sions based on Wyoming Business Council’s regions discussed accomplishments as a re-sult of the comprehensive effort. The final TOUR 23 report will be released after the information gathered from these meetings is added.

wyoming business alliance • wyoming heritage foundation • january 2015

Wyoming leaders face budget chal-lenges in the upcoming 2016 legisla-tive session. During the forum, Bob Behn, a senior lecturer in public pol-icy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, discussed how gov-ernment leaders can manage through budget challenges.

NOLS RECEIVES HERITAGE AWARDThe Wyoming Business Alliance sur-prised John Gans, executive director of NOLS, with the presentation of the Heritage Award. NOLS received the award for 50 years of dedication and inspirational service to Wyoming, the nation, and the world.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ON BUSINESS

Featured forum speaker Skip Oppenheimer, chair-man and CEO of Oppenheimer Companies, advo-cated for the business community’s support for in-vestment in early childhood education as an integral part of any state’s educational policy.

Idaho’s business communi-ty has become involved in ad-dressing the lack of early child-hood education, because of its impact on overall student suc-cess and graduation rates, said Oppenheimer, who also chairs the Idaho Business for Educa-tion, a not-for-profit organiza-tion, comprising of business leaders from 125 companies.

“A key part of developing a skilled workforce is tied to early childhood learning,” Op-penheimer said. Children who are not ready for kindergarten are just less likely to read at ex-pected levels by the third grade, which impacts their ability to graduate from high school, go to college and enter the work-force, he explained.

“Without a good early childhood program, K-12 pro-grams are burdened with trying to figure out how to remediate kids who enter the system not prepared to learn. And when half the kids are showing up in kindergarten not prepared to learn, it’s hard to see how we have a good K-12 program,” he added.

He stressed that the busi-ness community needs to be knowledgeable about these is-sues and “sell some of these ideas to our policymakers on the importance of this kind of investment and what that return on investment means potentially to us as the business community and to our eco-nomic futures.”

After Oppenheimer’s ad-dress, Idaho Business for Education CEO Rod Gramer joined four Wyoming leaders in discussing how school readi-ness impacts the state. The panelists included: Jim Hearne, retired McGee, Hearne & Paiz, LLC in Cheyenne; Brett John-son, assistant district attorney in Casper; Rep. Mark Kinner in Sheridan; and Jan Lawrence, director of Basic Beginnings in Laramie.

Skip Oppenheimer

Behn advised against across-the-board cuts. “You’re actually rewarding the people that have hidden away in their organization and punish people who have been efficient.”

Behn also stressed analyzing the consequenc-es of closing facilities and terminating programs to determine how big are the short-term savings, what are one time costs and what about the con-tinuing costs.

A budget shortfall also creates management challenges, Behn pointed out. The management challenges include losing talented employees when you close things down, dropping morale, leader’s attention deficit in terms of what they

can spend their time on beyond the budget, and trying to keep staff focused on what type of re-sults they’re supposed to produce.

Behn was followed by a panel of Wyoming legislators who discussed the current revenue shortfall and its implications on the state’s bud-get decisions today and into the future. The panel included: Rosie Berger, House Majority Leader, Sheridan; Kermit Brown, Speaker of the House, Laramie; Drew Perkins, Senate Vice-President, Casper; Tony Ross, Senate Appropriations Com-mittee Chairman, Cheyenne; Tim Stubson, House Speaker Pro Tempore, Casper; and Mary Throne, State Minority Floor Leader, Cheyenne.

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