contents
406
business
Featured 8
Karma Wilson
12 Tina Oliphant 14 Diane Conradi
finance
22 Vacation Home
406 Man
26 Brian D’Ambrosio
Business
18 Solutions 20 Business Plan
406 Profiles
28 Michele Reese
Cover Girl
K arma Wi l son Read her story on page 8
( www .
Photo by: Scott Wilson
scottwilson-photography.com)
Published by Skirts Publishing six times a year 6477 Hwy 93 S Suite 138, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-862-1545 info@406woman.com Copyright©2012 Skirts Publishing
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contributors
Jessica Rogers
works at Montana West Economic Development as the communications, marketing and member relations manager. Originally from Coram and a recent college graduate, she is happy to be home once again and very grateful to work with the Montana West women as their newest addition. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science with an emphasis in public relations from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. Jessica has had many different experiences including lobbying for the non-profit organization Idahoans for Choice in Education, teaching middle school Public Speaking at St. Paul’s Catholic school in Nampa, and interning for Cakewalk Software in marketing. A former collegiate speech and debate participant she loves public speaking and once-ina-while misses the days of long weekend speech tournaments. In her free time she enjoys music, art, and nature - she feels very blessed to live at the doorstep of Glacier and in the Flathead Valley where she can enjoy all three on a regular basis!
C hr is Parson
is a native of Montana. Since December of 2008, he has worked as the Small Business Development Director for NW Montana, located at Flathead Valley Community College. The Small Business Development Center provides business counseling in the areas of business planning, financial management and cash flow, marketing assistance, and general business management practices. His office offers one-on-one free counseling and conducts numerous training events for local businesses. Chris earned his bachelors of science in Economics with a Business Administration minor from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. In 2010 he was designated as an Economic Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council and is trained as a professional facilitator. Prior to that, Chris served 10 years as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps including 3 tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Primarily a AH-1W helicopter pilot, Chris also had several other jobs including; Aviation Safety Officer, Air Officer/Forward Air Controller (responsible for controlling air/ artillery missions in designated airspace for ground forces), and Operations Officer. Chris enjoys the great outdoors of Montana with his wife Stephanie from running, skiing, hiking, hunting, boating, and anything else that they can find time for.
Kat y C r oft
is a Certified Public Accountant and a shareholder at Swiftcurrent Consulting & Accounting, P.C. She has an Associates degree from the University of Montana College of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree from Devry University. Her areas of expertise are income taxes, payroll taxes and bookkeeping. After running her own bookkeeping business in Missoula, she and her husband Dan relocated back to Kalispell to start a family. They have since welcomed Kyler, 4 and Adilyn, 1 to their family. Katy is a true Montana native, born in Kalispell, and has spent the last 30 years in northwest Montana. To find relief from balancing work and life as a busy mom, she finds solace in riding her bike and playing on the lake. Katy can be reached at kcroft@swiftcurrentcpa.com.
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Susan B. C l ar ke
Susan Clarke has an MA in Applied Behavioral Science, BS from the University of Virginia and a Diploma in Counseling from The Haven Institute, an International Training Center in BC, Canada. She is co-founder of Thrive! Inc. with CrisMarie Campbell. Together they work with organizations and teams to develop trust, effective communications and strategic alignment.
Her journey through a life-threatening illness has given her a depth of experience and commitment to living life full out. She shares her journey of living full out on her Blog at www.susanbclarke.com. She has been a part of The Haven Institute faculty for over 20 years, leading Come Alive, Living Phase and Couples Alive. In addition to her group facilitation and corporate work she has continued to coach and work with individuals and couples to invite and encourage aliveness. To contact Susan you can email her at: susan@thriveinc.com.
Kr i sten Hami lt on
wears many hats these days. As founder and co-owner of Ham It Up Strategies, she and her husband, Bob, work with many clients on various projects to help them grown their business. Recent projects have included event planning and execution, magazine project management and sales, operations management, electronic newsletters, website development, and freelance writing. She particularly enjoys writing these days and is working on a novel in her spare time. She has lived in the valley for over twenty years and has an extensive background in tourism and working with non profit organizations. Kristen is grateful to her friends and colleagues who have supported her throughout the years. She knows the importance of giving back and therefore volunteers her time and services whenever she is able. In her free time, she enjoys the arts and concert offerings in the valley and tries to play outdoors as much as possible. Kristen is blessed to have a happy marriage and two terrific teenaged children who make her smile every day!
Kel l y O’Br ien
works for Measure Law Office, P.C. in Kalispell, MT. She is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Montana, and focuses on estate planning, probate, business, real estate and natural resources law. Kelly earned her J.D. at Lewis & Clark School of Law in Portland, with a certificate in natural resources law. She also has a B.S. in Business Administration & International Business from the University of Montana, and a minor in German. Kelly is originally from Kalispell and recently returned to the area to work with Measure Law Office. Prior to returning to the Flathead Valley, Kelly worked in private practice with law firms based in Portland and Bend, Oregon. She now lives in Whitefish with her husband and son where she enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities. Contact Kelly at ko@measurelaw.com or 406-752-6373
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Karma Wilson
R u l e B r e a k e r, Rebel, C h i l d r e n’s B o o k Author? By Karma Wilson Photos by Scott Wilson When I first set out to become a writer at the tender and much less wrinkled age of 27, the mere mention of me going on a book tour, let alone a multi-state book tour of the south to launch my newest children's book (Bear Says Thanks) would have caused me to roll my eyes. In those days we were so poor I had to agitate the clothes in my washing machine with a broom handle because we didn't have enough cash to repair it. My husband worked hard as a builder, and he always brought home a regular paycheck, but as most young couples know, stretching those paychecks required creativity and sacrifice on both our parts. I was a young, married mother with three small children and grandiose dreams of being an "author". It was perhaps an odd career choice for somebody who lived in very rural Bonner's Ferry, Idaho. I never hoped I would become an internationally recognized best selling book author--I wasn't totally delusional. But I hoped with great naivety that maybe I could be a writer who at least pulled in enough to subsidize our income.
To become a writer I had spent all of our yearly tax return on a computer. I justified it, even though we needed trivial items like cars and washing machines. No problem, I assured myself, I'd earn enough to pay it off in no time! I could write children's books, which I had always had a passion for, especially since having kids. How hard could it be? After all, while growing up my single mother had supported us both with her writing. I put every spare ounce of energy into becoming the best writer I could. I learned to type (guffaw!). I studied how-to books, joined online critique groups, crafted manuscripts, mailed said manuscripts to the publishers...and fretted over form letter rejections they heartlessly and relentlessly mailed back. For all my effort, in those first three years I earned a whopping $250. The computer had cost $1200 and we already needed a new one. I felt completely dejected and worlds away from a published book, let alone a book tour. As I took stock of my progress as a writer after three years I felt pretty confident that I needed to shift gears and get a "real job". But fast forward to me today, at the ripe old age of 41: I just got back from a book tour that my publisher, Simon and Schuster, sent me on-
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-a whirlwind tour of the south that took me from Texas to Florida. I returned home to the great news that my newest book (Bear Says Thanks) landed a #6 spot on the NYTs Children's Books best sellers list--making it my fifth NYTs best seller to date. As I sit here and ponder the journey (not the journey of my book tour, my journey as an author--but see the sidebar and photos for highlights from the tour) I have to smile. Who knew that being a rule breaker and rebel was the key to success?
Rules are something most writers worry about-in excess. I was no different. Pouring over writer's guidelines I dutifully took note of everything the publishers said they wouldn't publish. Apparently rhyme and talking animals were two things publishers found unpublishable, which I thought odd as I poured over my kid's favorite children's books. Green Eggs and Ham, Jesse Bear What Will You Wear, Chrysanthemum--all prominently featured either rhyme, or talking animals, or both.
No matter, I thought, if the publishers don't like rhyme or talking animals, then I wouldn't write it. So I wrote a plethora of stories that I thought they would love. Retold fables, multicultural, historical, sentimental--all spurned by the NYC publishing elite, the manuscripts landed squarely back in my mail box with the dreaded rejection. My husband patiently listened while I whined, ranted and even cried. "I'll NEVER be published!" I lamented. But doggedly I continued to follow all the rules and do everything by the book (The Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market Guide, that is), and still... nothing...nada...zip. No book contract, no publisher, and worse for my family--no money.
Clearly my calling was not in children's books, so I opted instead to write for magazines. I was desperate to write. I couldn't think of one other career I had a talent for that would let me work from home. Then finally, FINALLY, after three years
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of rejections, I caught a break. I landed a $.50/word job writing reviews for a software magazine. This, to me, felt like the pinnacle of success. Not only did I make $750 for a 1500 word review, I also got loads of free software to try out! Score! Writing at least one review a month meant a nice little supplement to the income, plenty of time with my family, and a lot less guilt for buying that darned computer in the first place. I settled into my new career path with gusto and started pitching articles hither and yon to magazines everywhere. Not that I found writing for magazines all that fun. So many of the topics I wanted to write about were already covered, or not in demand. And the editing process was a nightmare. Sometimes the editing was so extensive I couldn't recognize my own voice in the final piece. There was a hollowness and dread when I sat down at the computer, since writing articles offered little room for word play or whimsy--my forte. Facts, figures, interviews, studies, all things I found tedious and very hard to organize on the page, ruled in the magazine world. Of course, I loved the more free form of essay writing, but essays seemed harder to place than children's books! Once again my mailbox started getting visited by rejection letters. And then the worst happened--the software review magazine folded, and I was left without a paying job to my name. Back to square one.
Since the magazine career went dry on me I decided on a new, bold course of action: I was going to write what I liked, and what I liked was children's books that rhymed. And while I was at it I decided I also liked talking animals. Rules be damned! I had a little idea about a bear hibernating in a cave. While he
snored away a whole host of woodland creatures (all quite talkative) crept in one by one to escape the snow and wind. And of course while he slept they all threw a party. It rhymed. It featured talking animals. Clearly unpublishable.
Oh but how I loved it. It was just the sort of book I'd always wished I'd written, and I finally I had. I emailed it to an agent who had previously rejected me but still shown interest in my work in a hand written rejection note. He wrote back that he loved it! This wasn't just any agent either. This was Steven Malk, a bright new star in the industry who had signed some of the most famous children's authors in the world in his first years as an agent. And he liked MY manuscript! I decided to place faith in his opinion and convinced myself "the break" had finally arrived. My faith was well placed. Two days later my manuscript for Bear Snores On had sold to the second publisher to see it, the McElderry imprint of Simon and Schuster. I was informed via email, when my agent forwarded the acceptance email to me. I hollered out loud, I danced a jig, and then I cried. The terms were fantastic thanks to my brilliant agent. I called my husband and excitedly gushed the news into the phone! His response was priceless. Pleasant surprise at the news, all underscored by his belief that I would do it all along. His years of supporting my career choice had finally paid off for our whole family. From that day forward life changed. My days of form letter rejections were behind me, and all thanks to following my passion--rules be damned. Bear Snores
Karma Wilson
On, published by Margaret K. McElderry and illustrated by Jane Chapman, went on to become a full series with eight titles. I am honored and thrilled that is has become one of the most successful children's picture book series on the shelves, with several international bestsellers and winners of numerous state and national awards. In all I have written over 40 books total--many of them featuring both rhyme and talking animals. Some of my other popular titles are Frog in the Bog, Hogwash, Hilda Must Be Dancing, and Animal Strike at the Zoo. My newest books are Horseplay, Illustrated by Jim McMullen and published by Little Brown and Company, and Bear Says Thanks, the newest title in the Bear Series.
The success that followed allowed my family the financial independence to finally figure out where we really wanted to settle down. Bonners Ferry was gorgeous, and I loved the northwest, but we wanted some change. We tried Grangeville, Idaho for awhile, and had many wonderful experiences there. But eventually we landed in NW Montana, in the tiny town of Fortine. I am absolutely in love with this state and so glad to call it my "home". My success was the result of the support of many wonderful people, but at the top of that list is my husband, Scott Wilson, who is now a talented professional photographer who took the photos for this article, and my children Michael (20), David (18) and Chrissy (15). Without their encouragement and support I would never have made it. And of course my readers--the parents, grandparents, teachers, and mentors to children everywhere. I am blessed beyond measure.
Page 8: Karma in Decator, Georgia - Page 10: Top to Bottom, left to right: Karma with Charles David Young (middle) Charles works for Scholastic and is a good friend. Alan Katz (left) who wrote for tv shows including Mash, Laugh in, The Cher Show plus others. He is also a children's book author. - Karma with Leonard Marcus author and speaker. -Karma with Mark Edward Geyer, illustrator of Steven Kings The Green Mile - Karma at Octavia Books in New Orleans - Karma at Manchaca Elementary, Austin - Karma with Kevin Henkes, author and illustrator. Winner of the Caldecott and a Newberry awards.
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W h i r l w i n d To u r ! My family life has always been too busy to allow for many book tours. This was only my second one ever—a whirlwind tour of the south to launch my newest Bear book, Bear Says Thanks. When I travel I normally stay at Best Western or a similarly priced equivalent, but not this time. We were put up at some of the most elegant hotels in the country and met some of the most famous people in the children’s book industry. Here’s a brief timeline of the tour.
Thurs, Aug 30th-Sat, Sept 1st
We leave Kalispell and of course get stuck in the Salt Lake airport and almost miss a connecting flight, but we make it! We arrive in Georgia for the Decatur Book Festival, a weekend long book event where I am a key presenter. I briefly mourn the loss of my curling iron, but quickly realize no curl stands a chance in the southern summer heat!
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On Friday I do an author visit for a gymnasium full of excited, book-loving children at the Decatur First Baptist church. They even have somebody in a huge bear costume in honor of my books. Friday evening we are invited to attend an posh author party with cocktails and snacks at the Little Shop of Stories bookstore. There I meet my IDOL and favorite illustrator/ author, Kevin Henkes (author of Chrysanthemum, Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse, and
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many others)! I also meet Leonard Marcus, a renowned non-fiction author and biographer. While signing stock for the store Kevin Henkes tells me he loves MY books and read them to all HIS kids! My jaw hit the floor! I feel I have arrived.
Saturday I am scheduled to speak at the festival’s outdoor children’s stage to a large crowd of kids and families. It is 90 degrees, and while reading I do a pretty amazing imitation of a melting author, but everybody seems to enjoy it anyway. I sign hundreds of books and then we’re off to Atlanta where we are put up in the Ritz Carlton for a brief rest. The service is almost as amazing as the food, and I feel more than a little out of my element in the richly decorated and opulent hotel!
Sun, Sept 2nd-Wed, Sept.5th
On Sunday we fly to Austin, Texas where I get a nice break over Labor Day at the Omni Hotel, which is breath taking! But after the break it’s all business and I pack in two book signings and story events at Barnes and Noble and Book People bookstore. I also do two author visits for local schools where I meet amazing teachers, librarians, and kids all excited for the release of the newest Bear book. While in Austin we see many local attractions, but the most memorable is the Statesmen bats. In the evening 1000s of bats emerge from under the Congress St. Bridge and it’s creepy but breath taking!
Thurs, Sept. 6th
We leave Austin at the CRACK of dawn for a seven-hour visit to New Orleans. As we drive to my school visit scheduled there I am in mourning we can only stay for the day—there is so much to see and do. But our amazing event guide manages to pack in a weeks worth of sight seeing as we make our way through the city, and I see the French Quarter, Sandra Bullocks home, Brangelina’s home (gasp!) and enjoy lunch at famous Mike’s On the Avenue, where I meet renowned restaurateur, Vicky Bayley! I wind up my brief stay in New Orleans at the quaint and lovely Octavia books for a book signing. Then we’re off to Florida for the last leg of the tour!
Friday, Sept 7th- Saturday Sept. 8th
On Friday we arrive at the illustrious Astoria Waldorf hotel in Naples, Florida for the SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Association) convention. I am scheduled to speak on a panel with some very well known authors, including ALAN KATZ! Not only is Alan the author of many wonderful books of hilarious poetry for kids, he’s also a talented television writer who has worked on shows like MASH, The Rosie O’Donnell show, and more. I managed to not make an idiot of myself on the panel, despite being more than a little star struck! In the evening we enjoy a dinner featuring some great authors speaking about their work. But I mostly enjoy chatting with the fantastic
Karma Wilson
and very interesting booksellers, who are the unsung heroes of the publishing world.
Saturday we pack up and are driven to Miami by the most kind-hearted and interesting driver I’ve ever met. In Miami the humidity is 90% and it’s 95 degrees. I am a hot mess of frizzy hair and sweat, but the gorgeous Miami women seem unfazed by the heat. I escape it for lunch in a quaint little Irish pub where the waitress accidently spills a whole glass of water on me. To her surprise I rejoice and thank her, it feels so refreshing! Then we head to Books and Books bookstore where I read and do yet another impersonation of “melting author”. After my signing we are free to enjoy the beach at Leow’s hotel in Miami, which is simply extravagant and beautiful. I’m too tired to do more than glance at the beach briefly, and then we spend the whole evening curled up enjoying room service and the gorgeous Miami skyline from the balcony in our room. I miss my kids and my own bed, despite the one I’m in being luxurious beyond measure.
Sunday, Sept 9th
I miscalculate our departure time and we BARELY make our flight. But we do, and as we fly into Kalispell I am greeted with the view of sunbeams streaming through the clouds illuminating the Rockies. I am home and instantly reminded why I love Montana.
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Tina Oliphant
Tina Oliphant Written by Jessica Rogers
Tina Oliphant
is not a typical co-worker,
after twenty caving expeditions into the bowels of
Mexico;
she is very comfortable
with traveling on the edge. nothing about
“You have to be I knew Bangladesh…so I went,”
she states.
began her journey halfway
very comfortable with uncertainty;
Thus
around the world to consult with a Community ern
Micro Finance Bangladesh.
organization in
North-
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Tina started her professional career as the Budget Director for a large Midwest bank before spending seven years in commercial lending with large regional banks including a “de novo” bank in Indianapolis. Later, Tina took on strategic business development eventually running a division for broadband technology deployment. She is a member of the Grameen Foundation program, Bankers without Borders, and recently followed one of her passions and became certified in International Microfinance through the International Labor Organization in Turin, Italy. Prior to her Bangladesh trip, she experienced a similar assignment in Afghanistan.
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Tina oversees the Montana West Economic development capital program, managing all aspects of their lending services.
So what exactly does consulting with a Community Micro Finance organization mean? “In my case, I was there to certify this organization in something called Performance out of Poverty certification,” she states. This certification documents, quantifies, and tracks loan member’s progress out of poverty and an improved quality of life.
As Tina notes in addition to working with the organization it was necessary to visit with the community borrowers, one of the most interesting moments of the trip. “Traveling on the back of a motorbike through rice and jute fields, I arrived at a remote village. I tried my best to gather my poise in the Bangladesh summer heat and someone started to fan me, I suppose my Yankee Montana temperament for the heat was visible,” she recalls. An audience of thirty women of all ages, some wellbehaved children, and a couple of curious men, it is apparent in their behavior that Tina is their esteemed guest of honor. The director of the program welcomes her and then nods
to her expectantly, she states “It dawns on me that I was to make a speech and say something profound, and where does the conversation go? Well to question my opinion of Mother-in-laws of course! Indeed a universally shared singularity and what did I think of Mother-in-laws? I looked over this colorfully dressed crowd, raised my eyebrows, smiled and said ‘be very careful in this conversation, for you will all be a Mother-in-Law yourself someday!” Tina was met with sheepish smiles, laughter, and smug looks – she had bridged the divide. As my co-worker sits across from me sharing her experiences, she notes that she is a person used to traveling without an itinerary. Traveling without an itinerary brings unexpected challenges but for Tina it also brought unexpected memorable moments. Mehndi (the art of henna painting) is a large part of Bengali culture, a decorative art form for women – and Tina expressed her desire to take part in that art form. A seventeen year old intern treated her to the art of Henna, covering her arms and hands, and then finishing it off with nail polish. Then ‘being very gracious’ she bestowed the gift of a sari
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Tina Oliphant
which required her to travel to a woman’s house to be adorned in full costume. She smiles and tells me, “four women appear in the bedroom doorway, and the door shuts – my clothes come off in a flurry of activity – and these women are all over me putting make-up on me, trying to do something with my hair. I am sweating the entire time because it is so very hot and at one point the little mid-riff top doesn’t fit me, right on the spot a seamstress appears takes it off me, cuts it up, and puts it back on.” Tina’s sari took thirty minutes to get on; a five foot wide by ten foot long piece of the most beautiful fabric is wrapped and pleated around her. Finally finished with her Bengali make-over the women plan to get Tina back to her office without sweating! A bicyclist was flagged down; Tina is placed atop a platform that is used to transport crops, and sent off across the countryside to go back to work. “There I was going through the countryside of Bangladesh, dressed like some Indian Bengali princess; it was a moment where I thought I couldn’t make this up if I tried.” Successful at achieving her mission she persevered further to establish an “advanced” certification, a qualification she felt fairly reflects the commitment, capacity and vision of the organization. As Tina leaves my office the realization of how amazing she is has not been absorbed. The word fearless doesn’t quite do her justice; a women who is truly adaptable in every situation, she bridges the divide.
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Whitefish Trail
Diane Conradi The Innovative Legal Mind Behind The Whitefish Trail
At the Lion Mountain Trailhead, Diane Conradi watches walkers and bikers unload from cars. Two seniors with their grandson trot up the Whitefish Trail followed soon by a young couple with a dog. Conradi breaks into a smile at each.
The hikers have no idea that Conradi’s innovative legal work created the Whitefish Trail. During the past decade, Conradi dug into the machinery of the state trust lands that house the trail, co-founded a nonprofit to oversee the trail, and glued together public and private partnerships to build the path.
“I believe in ingenuity and grassroots projects,” says the land use lawyer. “The trail is a great concept. No one knew how the pieces were going to come together. But I like that. It inspires creativity, resilience, and long-term commitment.” Conradi’s background as an environmental and land use lawyer placed her square in the trenches during the Whitefish Trail project’s early days. In 2003, she plodded into researching state trust lands due to the threat of losing 13,000 acres of Whitefish area forest parcels used for generating revenue for Montana’s schools. Her efforts revealed
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Written by Becky Lomax and Lisa Jones
other communities in the West faced with the same crisis. With her findings, she co-authored a book that analyzed the changing landscape of state trust lands from agriculture or timber harvesting to recreation lands.
Due to the expertise Conradi acquired on state trust lands, she provided technical support for drafting the Whitefish Neighborhood Plan. That groundbreaking plan forged a new land-use strategy for Whitefish state trust lands. Her legal work helped pioneer the first new operations plan for Montana’s trust lands: to create partnerships to conserve the lands for recreation, wildlife, watersheds, and views in addition to generating school funding. “We made it up. It’s all creative and unique in the way it came together,” she explains the novel approach. “The beauty is that it leverages public and private interest. It creates partnerships to care for things that mean something.”
Following her work on the Neighborhood Plan, Conradi co-founded Whitefish Legacy Partners (WLP), the nonprofit organization that works to conserve the local forests for the Whitefish Trail. She serves as the attorney for WLP, plowing the legal ground
for local landowners, state and federal government agencies, the City of Whitefish, and nonprofits to collaborate on creating the Whitefish Trail. She manages the land swaps and deeded easements to produce the contiguous trail. While Conradi rattles off numerous area residents who participated in bringing the Whitefish Trail to fruition, she deflects the fact that she brokered many of the deals to create the trail. “Sometimes with things like this it takes a bit of stubbornness,” Conradi laughs at herself. But her tenacity pays off. Each year, more miles get tacked onto the trail while the state trust lands gain money for schools. “It’s very challenging to put the deals together, but at the end you look around realize you’re looking at a legacy,” she says. That legacy provides recreation for Whitefish residents and Montana’s schools. At the trailhead, three bikers bounce off the path. Conradi watches for their reactions to the trail. All three sport grins. “The trail is so much more used than I thought it would be,” Conradi gushes. “I was a fiscal skeptic about it.” She points to a New Mexico license plate in the parking lot to make her point. “I’m surprised at the number of people who know about it and use it,” she adds. “That’s humbling.”
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Whitefish Trail
Whitefish Legacy Partners is a nonprofit organization whose community-minded vision is to ensure conservation, recreation and education on the lands around Whitefish for future generations. The Whitefish Legacy Partners projects support education, while protecting view sheds, wildlife, water quality and public access to open lands and recreation. They are the creators of the Whitefish Trail and are currently working with the City of Whitefish to permanently secure public access to over 2500 acres for recreation and conservation in the treasured areas of Beaver/Skyles lakes and Spencer Mountain. The Whitefish Trail offers 22 miles of natural surface trails located in a forested, rural environment popular for mountain biking, hiking and equestrian use. The diverse trail system is appropriate for families, outdoor enthusiasts, dog walkers, and bikers and runners of all abilities. The Whitefish Trail is made possible through a collaborative effort with Whitefish Legacy Partners, City of Whitefish, Montana DNRC, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Flathead County, US Forest Service, Flathead Land Trust, private landowners, and many local volunteers.
If you would like to support the Whitefish Trail… you can volunteer, become a corporate sponsor, or sign up to be a “Whitefish Trail Friend,” by contacting Whitefish Legacy Partners at 406.862.3880 or clicking www.whitefishlegacy.org The Law Office of Diane Conradi 525 Railway St., Suite 200 Whitefish, MT, 59937 Phone: 406.863.9681 www.landwaterlaw.com
Photo on opposite page by Steven Gnam. Top photo courtesy the WLP archives. Bottom photo is of Diane Conradi by Becky Lomax.
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business}
Solutions
Check It Out! A Better Solution Written by Susan B. Clarke
CrisMarie Campbell and I have a management consulting business, Thrive!. We work with leadership teams on teambuilding, communication and strategy development. Typically, we start with a two day offsite or retreat. Sometime ago we were working with a team of scientist on such an event. Below is an account of CrisMarie and me chatting, at the end of day one, about one of the participants.
“Jerry didn’t say a thing all day, and I could tell he was bored and disappointed in the day’s events,” CrisMarie said. “I agree he was pretty disengaged. I’m not sure what we should do differently,” I replied. “Probably just let him be and carry on,” CrisMarie concluded.
Both CrisMarie and I were pretty sure Jerry was an unhappy camper. Furthermore, because CrisMarie and I surmised the same thing, I was sure we must both be ‘right’.
We did not make any significant changes to the remainder of our session. As the offsite wrapped up, we asked for closing comments. We were both expecting Jerry to say something negative. To our surprise, here’s what he said: “This was the best two days I’ve ever spent at a team off site in my career. We got more done than I ever expected, and I actually enjoyed myself.” So much for being ‘right’.
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I am sharing this introduction because we believe it is quite common to create either a story about someone or a situation with only limited information or confirmation. We then believe that story is the truth. This is exactly what CrisMarie and I did. Fortunately, in relation to the case above, even with
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our version of the story, we did not handle the situation differently. However, I have to admit, internally, I was more cautious and guarded with Jerry than I was with the rest of the team. Had we been doing on-going work with the team, and had Jerry never spoken up, I am fairly sure I would have started to make him ‘wrong’, possibly creating even more of a distance in our working relationship.
How Gaps Between People Are Created
We often see this happen in business with teams and even with couples who we also work with. For example, something happens and let’s say Mary, interprets Sam’s outward behavior, making up a story about him. There is no checking it out with Sam to see if Mary’s interpretation fits for Sam. Instead, Mary makes an assumption (story) and, as a result, acts by making Sam ‘wrong’ in her mind. She then begins pulling away and often collecting data to support her perspective (story), eventually creating a gap that is very difficult to bridge.
The solution we often hear from folks is, “I just need to stop being so judgmental.” We’ve all heard the saying - “don’t judge a book by its cover” or some other type of comment on the evils of being judgmental. The problem, though, isn’t in being judgmental. The truth is, one of our greatest gifts is our imagination and our ability to discern and judge. We are hired for our opinions and ability to create a relevant story from what may seem like disparate facts. The problem isn’t the gift of “judging” or imagining. No, the problem arises when we assume our story or judgment is right. We get fixed in our view of the world and think our view is the only right view. That is where our gift becomes a liability, especially in interpersonal relationships, which by the way, are the core of business.
What To Do About It: Check It Out!
The work isn’t to shut-down the story telling or judging. The work is to be willing to be curious and share the story – check it out. Find out if the story you have told yourself actually fits with another’s experience and be curious about the answer. Even with Jerry, CrisMarie or I could have easily checked out our story directly with Jerry at the end of Day One. It could have gone something like this:
“Jerry, I notice you keep looking down, and you aren’t saying too much during the discussions. My story is that you don’t think this team offsite is very valuable. Do you agree?” When I share my story, I am actually saying more about me and how I put my world together than I am about either the other person or situation I may be describing. In addition, by sharing my judgments, stories, opinions, assumptions, or theories – as a story, not claiming them as fact, I create a space for dialogue, especially if I am willing to say – “Tell me how you see it,” or “Where do you disagree?” That is why we use the term “story” to remind ourselves that we are making it up as we go along. We all are. Why not check to see if the other agrees?
In Summary
I did get the chance to chat with Jerry as we were leaving at the end of Day Two. I told him how I had interpreted his looking down and not saying much as disengagement. I understood now that my interpretation wouldn’t fit for him but wanted to tell him how glad I was to learn something new about him.
Jerry’s response, “You know my wife tells me that all the time. I’ve never have been one to smile or make a big deal out of things. But she has taught me I’d better say something so I am glad I spoke up. I imagine there are others like me. So, I’m glad you learned something.” There have been many Jerry moments in my life, when I didn’t check out my story in the moment and reacted from an incorrect interpretation of the situation. As a result, I have become much more curious and willing to put out my story as I go and check it out. In doing so, I learn more about others, avoid breakdowns in communications and my world has expanded.
Remember, the next time you either find yourself judging or story-telling, don’t shut down your imagination and creativity. Speak up, share your story, how you came to your conclusions, and check it out. Be curious and open instead of making your world limited to your own imagination and perspective.
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business}
plans
Do you really need a Business Plan? Written by Chris Parson
The response to the question is answered by another question. Do you want to be successful? If that answer is yes, then you need a business plan. This question is always followed in suit with: Who is the plan for? Although the most common use of a business plan is for the lender or possible investors, the right answer is, it is for you, the business owner(s), and the leaders of your business. The old saying holds true “businesses don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan”. Preparing a business plan sounds like a lot of work . . . and it is. The benefits are well worth the investment in time. Planning helps guarantee that you have defined and described business objectives such as sales, expenses and the goals for your business. The more detailed and accurate your plan, the better prepared you will be to handle the day to day challenges of building a successful business. Don’t be surprised that while writing your business plan, you have raised a bunch more questions and issues you had not considered. Both from a financing and operational perspective, the business plan should address future contingencies. Putting your ideas in writing forces you to think realistically about what the business can achieve under the best conditions . . . and the worst. There will be road blocks and even a major change in direction in your plan but with some patience, commitment, hard-work, and willingness to adapt, your plan will come together then you can embark on your dream.
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A business plan is something that anyone who is either starting a business, thinking of starting a business, or is in business should have. Having worked
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on and helped develop hundreds of business plans, I find that this process of creating a working document not only helps the entrepreneur put their ideas on paper, but it also helps them work through some elements of their business that otherwise might have been missed. In my view a business plan answers the who, what and how in any business venture. The 'who' is a description of the owner/partners, the 'what' explains the product or service, and the 'how' is your plan to create sales. The last 'what' is what you need to make it happen in the form of financial needs.
Who are the entrepreneur(s) that are involved? If this is a new endeavor, then some history or short bio of the entrepreneur(s) that demonstrates their experience in the industry for which they are embarking is a must. This is an important part especially if it is a new business since it could be a significant piece to secure financing. In an existing business this can be answered with a brief history of the business the partners involved. Be sure to include how many partners, percentage of ownership, and who has authority to make decisions.
The what is the meat of the plan, and it should answer the following questions. What is the product or service? What problem does it solve? How does it provide a solution and benefit? This is not the time that you need to go into great detail but rather just describe how and why it works in a customer focused discussion. Pick a specific solution that you have built or prototyped, rather than
rambling about all the possible things that could be done with your idea. In this section you want to demonstrate the gap in the market and how you intend to fill it.
The how describes how you plan on creating sales in your business. It describes the market research that you have conducted that demonstrates the gap in the market and how you expect to capture it. Avoid any statements like “All I need to do is get 1% of the market.” There are two problems with this assertion. First, no one is interested in a company that is only looking to get 1% of a market. Second, that first 1% is the toughest of any market, so you look overly optimistic implying it’s easy to get. Be sure to include your competitors whether direct or in-direct as well as other customer alternatives. Determining that you have no competition is not a valid choice. Competition exists in some form in all industries and is something you should research and become familiar with. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” is very true in competition. Often times people look at new competition as a bad thing but new competition is a form of flattery. In addition, you want to describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Here is also a good place for a rollout timeline with key milestones. Convince readers that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy.
The what also describes your investment needs as a business. Said another way, this section describes your funding requirements, a detailed and planned
use of funds, and demonstrates your existing skin-in-the-game, including sweat equity and capital. Be sure to include a valuation estimate if applicable. In your projections, be sure to project both revenues and expense totals for three years, and the past three years if relevant. Determine your breakeven and assumptions on growth. Make sure that your numbers in revenue can be backed up with your market research.
You’ll often hear or see the term executive summary when working with business plan templates. This is the first thing your readers will read, but the last thing you will write. It is very difficult to write a summary without the plan. The idea behind the executive summary is that you summarize your plan so that when the reader finishes they’ll have a good understanding of the make-up of your business, how you plan to be successful, and what needs, financial or otherwise, you need to be successful. This should be no longer than two pages in length.
The best plans are not usually the fanciest or the longest. They are not measured by the quantity of impressive graphics or the size of the revenue projections. If you are not into graphs, charts, or diagrams then steer clear and focus on what you can do. They don’t have to be on fancy paper or in a fancy binder. Often the question of how long should my business plan be is asked. The answer is, it depends. For most businesses if your plan is longer than 20 pages you should think about reducing it. Most small business start-up plans are between 5-15 pages.
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finance}
Vacation Home
Keeping Your Vacation Home in the Family Written by Kelly O’Brien, Attorney at Law
If you own a vacation home in the Flathead Valley, or elsewhere in Montana, you probably have a very special emotional connection to the area, and the memo-
the home? Do you want to pass duce personal and financial risks it during your lifetime, or upon for your family, plan for financial costs, and reduce conflict. Moreyour death? over, trusts and LLCs also have As an initial matter it is critical the advantage of preventing unthat you speak with your CPA or wanted partitions or forced sales. ries it creates for you and your tax planner about the tax implicafamily. Since vacation homes tions of transferring real property Create a Trust for Your have such a unique emotional during your lifetime or upon your Vacation Home and familial tie, you likely want death. Everyone has a unique fi- There are several different types to make sure that it stays in the nancial and tax situation, and real of trusts you may consider in family for generations to come. property transfers are especially managing a vacation home, insusceptible to pitfalls. cluding revocable or irrevocable trusts. Speak with your attorHowever, you also may have What Is Your Long-term Vision If you do not want the vaca- ney or tax advisor to determine for Your Vacation Home? worried about what will haption home to be sold upon your which makes the most sense in pen to the family vacation home passing, and want to make sure your specific situation. RegardFirst, it is important to adequateafter you are no longer able to ly consider your long-term goals that the home is kept in the fam- less of the type of trust, a trust visit. Often questions come up, for your vacation home. Do you ily, without a significant financial can hold the home for the benefit such as: Who will inherit it? intend to keep in the family for burden, consider the creating a of your family, as well as direct How will I decide who can use it multiple generations? If so, how separate entity such as a trust or the distribution of the home to and when? Will my family have do you envision the home be- limited liability company (LLC) your children or grandchildren. to sell it after I am gone? How ing shared by your children and to own and manage your vacation In addition, a trust keeps your will my family pay for the taxes grandchildren? How do you plan home. Both trusts and limited li- vacation home out of probate and and maintenance? to pass along your interest in ability companies can help to re- less likely to be subject to claims
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Without proper planning your family’s vacation home can be a great source of disputes, and create financial burdens for your family in the future. Moreover, there are tax and financial implications for transferring your vacation home at different times and though different mechanisms, especially in situations where the home has increased in value.
of creditors. Moreover, a trust can provide additional funds to be set aside specifically for taxes or maintenance of the home. A Trust as a Method to Provide Funds to Maintain the Home for Your Family
Adequate funding helps to alleviate some of the financial constraints for your family and help to ensure that the vacation home will stay in the family for generations to come. Your trust can simply set aside funds to pay taxes upon your death, or a lump sum of money to be paid to your children for the maintenance of the vacation home. Otherwise, you could decide to keep the trust ongoing to make annual payments of principal or income to provide for such costs as taxes and insurance for the home. If you managed to save enough to buy a vacation home, but don’t anticipate that you will have a significant sum of money to provide for the maintenance of the home long after you are gone, you may consider making the trust a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Upon your death, the death benefit of the life insurance policy will be paid to the trust. Then, these funds can be uses to pay for taxes, repairs and maintenance for the property. Create a Limited Liability Company to Hold and Transfer Interests in Your Vacation Home
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) can be a great tool for transferring interests in your vacation home to family members, as well as establishing guidelines for the use of the home. In addition, by placing liability on a separate entity rather than an individual, LLCs help to protect your family from personal liabilities, including creditor claims or liability associated with accidents occurring on the home by other users.
vide significant tax advantages, and also allow you to maintain a certain amount of control over your vacation home until your death. Again, make sure that you work closely with your financial and tax advisors when gifting interests in your vacation home LLC. Utilizing an LLC Operating Agreement for the Maintenance and Use of Your Vacation Home
To ensure the success of the LLC for your vacation home, an operating agreement is essential. A wellplanned LLC operating agreement will encourage your family members to share in the management and take responsibility for the use and maintenance of the property.
The LLC operating agreement should address the allocation and payment of taxes, maintenance, and other expense associated with owning and improving the vacation home over time, as well as how to decide on maintenance and improvement costs. In addition, the operating agreement should adequately discuss how the property can be used, by when and by whom, and how and when members can transfer or sell their membership interests. Similarly, the operating agreement should set out what to do in the event one member does not pay his or her contribution towards expenses or fails to follow the guidelines for use of the home. Communicate Your Vision with Your Family & Seek Professional Advice
These are only a couple of techniques to consider when planning for your vacation home. Discuss your goals and considerations with your family members to determine if they are interested in pursuing one of these techniques. Make sure your children want to share in your vacation home and create an overall plan to addresses any potential disputes and financial issues. Once you and Transferring Ownership Through your family are all on the same page, then work closely with your CPA, atMembership Interests in the LLC torney, financial and tax advisors to If you establish an LLC for your va- make sure you have chosen the right cation home, you can transfer partial technique for keeping the vacation interests in the home during your home in the family. lifetime. You can accomplish this If you have specific questions about any of simply by gifting membership in- the techniques discussed in this article, Conterests (like shares of stock) in the tact Kelly O’Brien at Measure, Sampsel, SulliLLC to each child or grandchild up to van & O’Brien, P.C. at (406) 752-6373/ www. the current federal gift-tax exclusion measurelaw.com amount every year. This can pro 23
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406 man}
Brian D’Ambrosio
“Storytelling” ManWritten by Kristen Hamilton
Our 406 Man, Brian D’Ambrosio, is more than a writer, he’s a storyteller. He’s been writing stories about people as long as he can remember.
“Writing is a beautiful You could say that he never stops as he’s always scanning and searching for the next story. He loves to meet people and learn about them. Ultimately, the final step involves the process,” he says.
solitude of creating the finished piece and brings the process full circle.
Brian was raised on the east coast and graduated from a state college in New York before heading to Montana in 2000. Initially he settled in the Bitterroot valley and followed his passion of writing by working for a few newspapers in the area. He and his partner, Terri, along with their beautiful daughter, Sophia, left Montana for a few years to live in Madison, Wis. They returned a year ago and Brian couldn’t be happier. He says, “Home is Montana and has always been in my heart.”
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Brian D’Ambrosio Brian does what many of us Montanans do to raise a family by working multiple jobs as a Media Relations Coordinator for Missoula Children’s Theatre and Publisher of Regular Joe, a new monthly newspaper in Missoula, which he co-started last spring. He said (of starting the newspaper) that he received calls from people saying, “What kind of fool starts a newspaper.” Well, the joke may be on them as Regular Joe has received great feedback. Brian said the focus is on “great things that are under reported” including the community, travel, and business profiles. He’s printing 5,000 copies per month and distributing them throughout the Missoula area.
Riverbend Publishing is releasing Brian’s next book titled Desert Horse: A Life of Marvin Camel, about Ronan, Montana boxing legend Marvin Camel in mid-2013. Camel was the first Native American world-boxing champion in the cruiserweight division, which was composed of fighters in the 175-190 lbs range. Camel, called “Indian” on the circuit arrived on the scene in 1980 always dressed in full Indian regalia including a long headdress for his
fights. Camel retired in 1990 with a record of 45-13-4, including 16 KO’s. The story has been on Brian’s mind for years and he is thrilled to What Brian really is, though, is an author. He just be able to share it.
completed a book about screen actor Charles Bronson, Menacing Face Worth Millions, A Life of Charles Bronson. It was a two plus year process that involved numerous interviews including the privilege of meeting Bronson’s first wife, Harriet. He felt the story of Bronson’s reclusive life and nearly forgotten star that made more than 100 films should be told. The book is published by Jabberwocky Press, a small publishing company in western Pa. and can be purchased at lulu.com. A Kindle version is also available on Amazon.com.
The stories keep coming. Brian has already started interviewing people for another book, titled Blood on Ice: A Life of Bob Probert, about Robert “Bob” Probert. Probert was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and played for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Probert was best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer on the rink plus his antics and legal problems off the rink. For this story, Brian
406 man}
Brian D’Ambrosio
Sophia, Brian & Terri is interviewing many of Probert’s colleagues and friends, a process that he relishes. “It’s amazing how willing people are to opening up and sharing their story,” he commented. “As a group, former NHL enforcers are the most open, accessible and generous people I’ve ever interviewed.”
Although writing is his passion, he realizes that “I can’t just be a writer anymore.” Brian said, “In this day and age, our resumes have to include many multi-tasking skills.” He pinpoints the areas that might be lacking then finds the job or the education needed to hone those skills.
Versatility
on the résumé gives
him the advantage necessary to raise a family and make a living, and he says his is going in the right direction.”
“career arc
When Brian isn’t scanning the horizon for that next story that is fitting with his “prying nature and wanting to know why,” you might find him hiking. A perfect Sunday for him would be hiking the 18-mile round trip “Stuart Peak Trail.” “The hike is elaborate and expansive with the best views on the planet,” he adds. As a family man too, his afternoons at the pool or gymnastics studio with his 2-year-old Sophia help keep things in perspective. Priorities in that area may have changed over time as most often they do but it’s all in a good way.
We’re glad your “home” Brian and keep telling those great stories!
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406 women}
profile
M ichele R eese Beargrass Marketing by Jessica Rogers - Photo by Daniel Seymour
Michele Reese is just the type of person you would expect to work for Disney. Light-hearted and all smiles, her easy going demeanor puts me at ease – because who wouldn’t be nervous interviewing a woman who worked in Hollywood, has a famous husband, and was in the Marine Corps! However, her stardom has not affected her behavior and she remains very humble about all the things she has accomplished. I can’t help noticing the Mickey Mouse stuffed animal sitting on her desk, reassuring me that there is no need to be nervous…pencil ready to write, I begin the interview.
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Michele worked for Disney as the Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Walt Disney Attractions and Disneyland Resorts. I ask her what her time at Disney was like, showing her whimsical sense of humor she states, “I loved working there; it is not hard to work for a mouse! The job was eclectic and a lot of fun.” Working for “the Mouse” may be easy but working for Disneyland during some of the resort’s most profitable years – took the best everyone could produce to be successful. Michele explains that expectations were high, her duties included synergy development, strategic planning and execution for all disciplines of marketing and sales, daily business development, oversight of the Walt Disney Travel Company, resort hotels, and a key team member for the development for Disney’s
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California Adventure and the retail spaces surrounding the Resort. Whew, it is no wonder that Michele is recognized as a highly creative, strategic thinker, business builder and organizational leader.
Dumbfounded about the fact that both she and her husband are equally matched in accomplishments I laugh and say “So you two are like the ultimate power couple!” She laughs, and says, “Well it all works out!”
So the big question on everyone’s mind, why did Michele come back to Montana? She looks at me and sighs “It was harder to live in L.A., I loved being in Hollywood but it’s a tough daily battle and my husband and I grew tired of it.” Her husband, Dennis Foley, who happens to be a novelist, screen writer, and successful teacher, supported her in this move.
Michele, her husband Dennis, and her “crazy cats” are very happy living in Whitefish. Her humble nature and bubbly personality have won me over. My mind goes back to the beginning of our interview, I look at Mickey sitting on her desk and I am secretly thankful he was there to put me at ease. I agree with Michele, it might be fun to “work for a mouse.”
Now, Michele didn’t start out working for Disney, in fact she was born and raised in Cut Bank, Montana. Her Father a WWII Hump pilot and her mother a nurse; she recalls that she enjoyed growing up in Montana. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she served eight and half years on active duty in the Marines, and also managed the Marine Reserve Toys for Tots program for 3 years. She was then offered a marketing position at Universal Studios and later became the Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Sales for Universal Studios. She led the expansion of LA themed attractions, including the establishment of City Walk; she was also a key team member in helping open Universal Studios Florida. She has also worked in various marketing leadership capacities for Columbia Pictures, Weintraub Studios, Norman Lear’s Embassy Pictures, and DDC, the film and television production company owned and operated by Dino De Laurentiis. Double whew, Michele states “I could sell belts at Herbergers and be happy with it if I love what I am doing!”
What does Michele do now you might ask? She owns a marketing consulting firm, providing strategic planning through design, development, expansion, and execution of campaigns. Beargrass Marketing Inc. located in Whitefish, began in 2002. In addition to opening her own marketing firm, she has produced a daily television show, and has enjoyed many accolades from her highly successful Small Business Boot Camp, an intense and very powerful marketing immersion program for entrepreneurs. It is no wonder that she is also often requested as a motivational speaker to professional groups and associations. I note that she is very versatile and she states “Nobody can do everything. I love what I am doing – people have an expectation that other people will excel at everything and that is just investing in stress. People look at small businesses the same way, owners are expected to be excellent at everything and that is where I come in. I help them with their marketing so they can do what they do best and never invest in stress!”
michele@beargrassmarketing.com
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