Personal Summary

Jerry Furniss, holds a BBA in Accounting, an MBA in Management, and a Juris Doctor in Law. He is an author of a number of manuscripts and training materials for business, insurance, and securities education, and over 25 articles in the areas of business, law, insurance and real estate.

Jerry is a professor of business at The University of Montana- Missoula and has delivered university classes and professional seminars and workshops to over 20,000 individuals. Topics and workshop audiences include continuing professional education courses for accountants, real estate brokers, insurance producers, and financial planners in such topics as Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Training, Employment Law, Insurance Regulations, Ethics, Business Structures, Securities Fraud, Cyber Law, Credit Insurance, Business and the Legal and Regulatory Environment, Business Uses of Insurance, Elder Care Planning, Intellectual Property Law; Undergraduate and Graduate Level Courses and Special Topics Seminars in Consumer Law, Real Estate Law, Business Law, Legal Environment of Business, Insurance and Risk Management, Employment Law, Law and Technology, Cyber Law, and Business Computer Simulations; and licensing and exam prep workshops in Life, Health, Property, Casualty, Credit, and Title Insurance, and Securities Series 6 and 63.

Jerry has received many academic and professional honors including Most Outstanding Educator Award, Best Teacher Award, and the John Ruffatto Memorial Award for Entrepreneurship.

Jerry’s 30 years of professional and business experience spans a wide range of areas including holding the offices of treasurer, vice-president, president, and program chair of the Pacific Business Law Association, President and Chief Negotiator for the University’s Faculty Union, Chair of the School of Business Administration’s Management Department, Montana Board of Realty Regulation Education Sub-committee, business and legal consultant in areas of employment law, environmental liability, corporate structure, bankruptcy, and real estate law, and has testified before the U.S. Secretary of Labor’s Task Force on Higher Education Labor-Management Relations. Professor Furniss has assisted in the consulting, startup, and/or operation of numerous businesses including Web based companies, hotels, publishing companies, and legal and business consultancies.

Professor Furniss’ writings have appeared in such publications as the University of Texas Law School’s Journal of Intellectual Property Law, Journal of Commercial Bank Lending, Journal Of Business And Behavioral Sciences, and Best’s Review.

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Education

Jerry holds a BBA in Accounting, an MBA in Management, and a Juris Doctor in Law.

Courses Taught

BGEN 361 Principles of Business Law (online and face to face classes)

BMGT 440/540 Management and the Legal System (online)

Teaching Experience

Jerry is a professor of business at The University of Montana- Missoula and has delivered university classes and professional seminars and workshops to over 20,000 individuals. Topics and workshop audiences include continuing professional education courses for accountants, real estate brokers, insurance producers, and financial planners in such topics as Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Training, Employment Law, Insurance Regulations, Ethics, Business Structures, Securities Fraud, Cyber Law, Credit Insurance, Business and the Legal and Regulatory Environment, Business Uses of Insurance, Elder Care Planning, Intellectual Property Law; Undergraduate and Graduate Level Courses and Special Topics Seminars in Consumer Law, Real Estate Law, Business Law, Legal Environment of Business, Insurance and Risk Management, Employment Law, Law and Technology, Cyber Law, and Business Computer Simulations; and licensing and exam prep workshops in Life, Health, Property, Casualty, Credit, and Title Insurance, and Securities Series 6 and 63.

Research Interests

Technology and the law.

Blockchain and securities regulation.

Publications

Jerry is an author of a number of manuscripts and training materials for business, insurance, and securities education, and over 25 articles in the areas of business, law, insurance and real estate. Professor Furniss’ writings have appeared in such publications as the University of Texas Law School’s Journal of Intellectual Property Law, Journal of Commercial Bank Lending, Journal Of Business And Behavioral Sciences, and Best’s Review.

Affiliations

Jerry’s 30 years of professional and business experience spans a wide range of areas including holding the offices of treasurer, vice-president, president, and program chair of the Pacific Business Law Association, President and Chief Negotiator for the University’s Faculty Union, Chair of the School of Business Administration’s Management Department, Montana Board of Realty Regulation Education Sub-committee.

Specialized Skills

Professor Furniss is a business startup specialist, has expertise in real estate transactions, including environmental liability, high tech materials separation, rare earths, critical and strategic metals.

Professional Experience

Professor Furniss is an author of a number of manuscripts and training materials for business, insurance, and securities education, and over 25 articles in the areas of business, law, insurance and real estate. In addition, Jerry has served on corporate boards, founded numberous companies, and has provided expert witness work in business related lawsuits. 

International Experience

Professor Furniss developed a sustanable business program offered in New Zealand and Australia. He successfully offered that program over a five year period to UM students who wanted a study abroad experience. 

Honors / Awards

Most Outstanding Educator

Best Teacher Award

John Ruffatto Memorial Award for Entrepreneurship

American Jurisprudence Award in Estate Planning

American Jurisprudence Award in Insurance

Hobbies

Jerry enjoys helping others in business, spending time in the outdoors, and connecting with family and friends.