Billings Business June 2017 by Billings Gazette

5 MINUTES WITH

ASHLEE MEAD AVITUS GROUP

THIS WOOD LOOKS GOOD MYSTIC WOODWORKS MAKES THE MOST OF USED LUMBER

SPECIAL REPORT

ENVIRONMENTALISTS PRAISE METHANE RULEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SURVIVAL

June 2017

Billings Business 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101-1242

CONTENTS June 2017

An indispensable business resource FEATURES

This Wood Looks Good....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Mystic Woodworks Reclaimed Lumber recycles wood

Digital purchases....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Restaurants have embraced digital purchasing technology COLUMNS

On the Cover Nick Creek, owner of Mystic Woodworks Reclaimed Lumber Co. , is pictured at his lumber yard between Billings and Laurel. Creek travels the countryside dismantling historic barns and sheds to reclaim lumber.

Economic Development................................................................................................................................................ 10 Veterans make significant economic impact

Chamber News......................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Officials developing rules to make drone flights safer.......................................................31 Better Business........................................................................................................................................................................32 Dan Buchta: Your business needs a social media strategy

Photo by CASEY PAGE/ Gazette Staff BILLINGS BUSINESS EVERY MONTH

From the Editor..............................................................................................................................................................................4 By the numbers.............................................................................................................................................................................5 The local economy at a glance

Chamber News......................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Five Minutes with................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Ashlee Mead

Business Briefs....................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Insurance agent Marc Thurston is marketing a computer program that helps customers understand their needs for insurance Page 14

Five Minutes with Ashlee Mead Page 12

June 2017

Environmentalists are encouraged after the U.S. Senate voted to keep Obama-era regulations about methane. Page 18

Success Stories.......................................................................................................................................................................35 The Listings...................................................................................................................................................................................36

June 2017

the editor

L IVINGSTON BUSINESS OWNER

JUNE 2017 • VOLUME 23 • NUMBER 8

GETTING NATIONAL RECOGNITION Cassandra Weisgerber and her husband, Joe, have put in countless hours cleaning, painting and thoroughly organizing Bob & Lu’s Thrift, a Livingston retail store that they purchased last fall. “We kept the name but updated everything in the store,” Weisgerber said. Bob & Lu’s, a long-established Livingston business, features an eclectic selection of new and used merchandise displayed in a 6,000-squarefoot store. “We’re not a typical thrift store,” Weisgerber said. “We like to think of ourselves as a giant boutique. People come in and are surprised by how nice it is. We have pretty much everything.” Wider aisles capable of accommodating strollers and wheelchairs and new lighting are two of the improvements that the Weisgerbers have made to the business, located at 219 S. Main. Weisgerber also operates a charitable organization, 3S Gives, which provides support for a variety of community causes, out of the same building. The organization’s Facebook page mentions donations of food, diapers and other essentials to families in need. The organization also works with a variety of nonprofits and social service agencies. She is also active in Livingston’s Downtown Business Owners’ Association. Weisgerber said operating the business fits into her lifestyle. “Because we home school our kids, a regular job doesn’t work for me,” she said. She strives to make the store a friendly and welcoming environment, and its eclectic inventory means that it sells a little something for everybody. Despite Weisgerber’s relatively short tenure as a business owner, Bob & Lu’s recently received recognition as American Small Business Champion, a competition hosted by SCORE, a nation-

June 2017

wide network of volunteer business mentors. Bob & Lu’s was among 102 businesses to receive a $1,000 gift card from Sam’s Club, a sponsor of the American Small Business Champion award. Weisgerber has been in touch with a SCORE mentor, and over the next few months the store will compete for a chance to win one of three $25,000 grand prizes. The winners are selected based on how effectively the contestants use money from the gift card and training events from SCORE to help their business grow. Coincidentally, Weisgerber’s achievement is taking place at the same time that the Billings SCORE chapter has been busy reorganizing after going dormant for a few years. New officers and mentors are working with a growing number of business owners. “We are so grateful to receive this recognition for all the hard work that we’ve done as a small business,” Weisgerber said. “Thank you to our wonderful community both locally and those of us who are just visiting, for supporting us and helping us succeed. This would not have been possible without you.” Weisgerber, a Billings native, says Livingston is a good place to raise a family. Her life has come full circle over the past decade. In 2006, she was a 23-year-old single mother who was left temporarily homeless after leaving an abusive marriage. But life is much better these days. Her achievements are perhaps best reflected in the comments from Tracey D. Brown, senior vice president of operations and chief experience officer for Sam’s Club. “We are inspired daily by (small-business owners’) ability to navigate challenges and triumphs on the road to success. And now, hopefully, the rest of the nation will be, too, as they get to know some of the nation’s most promising small-business owners.”

mike gulledge tom howard COPY EDITOR chris jorgensen GENERAL MANAGER dave worstell PUBLISHER

EDITOR

SALES

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR ryan brosseau joe mcginnis, milt lang, diana russiff ADVERTISING COORDINATOR spencyr knatterud

ADVERTISING SALES:

SUBSCRIPTIONS Billings Business is mailed each month to area business owners, managers and decision makers. To subscribe for $19.95 per year, please send payment, name, business name, mailing address and phone number to: Billings Business 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101 ADVERTISING For advertising, call Joe McGinnis 657-1284. Milt Lang 657-1275 or Diana Russiff 657-1495. Advertising deadline for the July 2017 issue of Billings Business is Thursday, June 8. NEWS If you would like to submit a news tip, story idea, announcement about your business or press release, please email it to editor@billingsbusiness.com. website: www.billingsbusiness.com Information published herein does not reflect the opinion of Billings Business. Contents are the property of Billings Business.

By the numbers

• Personal • Business • Real Estate • Agriculture

Local and regional economic trends Shiloh & Grand 655-3900

Downtown 655-2400

14th & Grand 371-8100

STILL AFFORDABLE At $1,311 per month, the median housing cost in Billings compares favorably to peer cities in Montana and surrounding states. Other cities in the region: Casper: $1,259 Boise: $1,267 Bismarck: $1,326 Missoula: $1,455 Bozeman: $1,530 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

stockmanbank.com

Worden 967-3612

National park visitors

Airport boardings

2.5

In ten thousands

Hilltop & Main 896-4800

In hundred thousands

King Avenue 655-2700

1.5

2 1

Billings housing starts 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

100

80 60

Oct.

Nov.

Jan.

Feb

March

April

2017

Bozeman

Oct. 2015 to March 2016

Montana Beef Cattle

150

120

(per cwt.)

Feb.

March

Oct. 2016 to March 2017 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Feb. March

Oct. 2016- March 2017 Oct. 2015- March 2016 Oct. 2016- March 2017 Oct. 2015- March 2016

Source: Montana Department of Transportation

Unemployment

Montana winter wheat

Jan.

Oct. 2016- March 2017 Oct. 2015- March 2016

Source: National Park Service

Dec.

Missoula

Oct. 2016 to March 2017

2016

Ag prices

Nov.

Feb. March

Glacier National Park

YTD Through April 30

Source: City of Billings

Oct.

Jan.

Oct. 2015 to March 2016

Dec. 2015 to April 2016

(per bushel)

Nov.

Oct. 2016 to March 2017

Dec.

Yellowstone National Park

Oct.

Billings

110

120

Dec. 2016 to April 2017

New single-family home building permits

5% 4 3

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Oct. 2015 to March 2016

Feb.

March

Oct.

Nov.

Montana

Dec.

Jan.

Yellowstone County

Feb.

March

U.S.

Source: Montana Department of Labor and Industry

June 2017

THIS WOOD LOOKS GOOD RECLAIMED LUMBER ADDS CHARACTER TO BUILDING PROJECTS

Nick Creek, owner of Mystic Woodworks Reclaimed Lumber, talks about a set of weathered wooden beams that he removed from a Montana structure.

June 2017

CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff

A hand-hewn beam at Mystic Reclaimed Lumber on South Frontage Road west of Billings in April.

CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff

These recycled boards make a decorative ceiling at Nick Creek’s office at Mystic Reclaimed Lumber.

By TOM HOWARD Every stick of wood, every beam and board in Nick Creek’s lumber yard has a story to tell. A hand-hewn, 1-foot-square oak beam still bears marks left by a craftsman who shaped it with an adz more than a century ago. One end of the beam, carved with a mortise and tenon joint, is pierced by holes through which a peg was driven to fasten stout timbers in place. Rough-cut boards stacked in a neat pile have the telltale marks of a circular saw from some long forgotten sawmill. “These are black walnut,” said Creek, owner of Mystic Woodworks Reclaimed Lumber Co. “They cut these boards and they’ve been sitting in a barn for 60 years.” Creek hauled a stack of hand-hewn timbers to Billings from the Midwest where he makes a couple buying trips every year. The timbers were cut from rock elm, a species known for its superior strength. It’s an important source of lumber in the Midwest but is quite rare in Montana. For the past three years, Creek has been patiently searching the countryside looking for decrepit sheds and barns, carefully deconstructing them for their precious weathered components: siding, beams, joists and even corral boards that have picked up patina and character from years of exposure to the elements. When cleaned and buffed up, a weathered beam can make a distinctive mantelpiece or a post that anchors the corner of a bar. Creek’s repurposed lumber has been used to add distinctive features to many Please see Wood, Page 13

Nick Creek, owner of Mystic Woodworks Reclaimed Lumber, uses hand tools to take apart a historic barn on a ranch near Roundup.

Contributed photo

June 2017

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Restaurants embrace digital ordering, but consumers may spend more NEW YORK (AP) — Restaurant chains are making it easier to order food with a few taps of the screen — so much so that you may lose sight of how much you’re spending. The convenience that technology offers may make us less vigilant about how much we’re buying. Digital ordering also lets companies better track our spending habits, and may lead to increasingly personalized offers that are more likely to catch our attention. Digital ordering helps you find more of the things you want, but it’s worth understanding the other side of the equation: Sometimes, technology is an opportunity to get you to spend more. DOMINO’S About 60 percent of Domino’s orders now come through the chain’s website, app and other digital channels. And people tend to order more online than over the phone, says Domino’s spokesman Tim McIntyre — likely because they can browse the menu and take their time deciding. That can result in people getting another pizza topping, or adding sides. “They tend to upsell themselves,” McIntyre said of online customers. Domino’s also has prompts during the ordering process. Once a pizza is ordered, for instance, people might be asked if they want to “cheese it up,” or add drinks near checkout. Employees taking orders by phone are also encouraged to suggest extras — a tactic known as “upselling” or “suggestive selling.” But McIntyre says the human attempts aren’t as consistent.

“The computer never feels rushed, the computer never feels rejection personally.” — Domino’s spokesman Tim McIntyre “The computer never feels rushed, the computer never feels rejection personally,” he said, noting that some employees might be shyer than others. CHILI’S, OLIVE GARDEN Tabletop tablets being used at some sit-down restaurants, which let people order food and pay for their meals, can have a similar effect. Ziosk, the company that makes the devices available at chains including Chili’s and Olive Garden, said restaurants see more orders of dessert and appetizers with Ziosk devices. Dessert orders also tend to have more coffees attached to them, said Ziosk CEO Austen Mulinder. “The Ziosk will always remember to ask, ‘Do you want to add coffee to that?’” he said. Most restaurants that use Ziosk devices use them to let people order appetizers, desserts and drinks. With entrees, Mulinder said it makes more sense for a server to take the order, rather than having people passing around a device. Chili’s has cited other benefits of Ziosk, including the collection of customer spending data. The devices also generate money from

games that people can play while waiting. That revenue more than offsets the cost of the devices in most cases, Mulinder says. STARBUCKS, PANERA Starbucks is pushing into more personalized offers for loyalty members and mobile app users, which include the recent rollout of “real-time” suggestive selling based on past purchases for people ordering ahead on their smartphones. The company says the efforts are yielding positive results, with spending by loyalty members up by 8 percent in the latest quarter. “We think that the steps we’ve taken regarding personalization are a driver of that,” spokeswoman Maggie Jantzen said. The company has also been turning the acquisition of reward points into games. That includes ones like “Starbucks Bingo” that reward members for making particular purchases. Panera’s loyalty program also incorporates members’ past purchases. Unlike in most programs, Panera loyalty members do not know when they’ll get their next reward, or what it will be. Blaine Hurst, Panera’s president, says customers can be placed into one of “thousands” of rewards tracks based on their spending habits. If their spending habits change, they can shift into different tracks. And the methodology is expected to get more sophisticated. Hurst says companies have been collecting massive amounts of data on customer spending habits, and thinks they will find new ways to use that information.

Caring for Our Community

Financial Assistance

Last year 8,700 patients received financial assistance (charity care) for 43,182 visits to Billings Clinic at a total cost of $11.3 million. Of the total, 75% was for hospital, 24% for clinic, and 1% for nursing home/ continuing care.

Medicaid Shortfalls

More than 120,700 patient visits were covered by Medicaid, with a shortfall of $13.2 million.

Billings Clinic is a not-for-profit, physician-led medical group practice integrated with a hospital and long-term care facility based in Billings, Montana. We are committed to serving our region with the best clinical quality, patient safety, service and value.

Community Health Improvement Services

Medication Assistance Program Free injury prevention programs, health education and screenings Support of Healthy By Design coalition work to address community-wide health issues, such as physical activity, nutrition and healthy weight Community partnerships on key health initiatives, including insurance coverage

Research

Billings Clinic is dedicated to the pursuit of new medical knowledge with innovative research, including clinical trials, translational research and nursing research.

Subsidized Health Services

Billings Clinic provides many health services that are not fully reimbursed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as behavioral health and psychiatric care for youth and adults, pediatric specialty care, sexual assault nurse exams, telemedicine and rural outreach clinics.

Health Professions Education

Post-graduate education includes the Internal Medicine Residency, Montana Family Medicine Residency, Pharmacy Residency and a new Nursing Residency. Hundreds of medical, nursing and health profession students received free training at Billings Clinic.

Financial assistance is available for eligible individuals. Call (406) 238-2601 or go to billingsclinic.com/finassist to learn more.

Bad Debt and Medicare Shortfalls

Community benefits do not include the costs of bad debt or Medicare for FY16. The cost of bad debt was $15.1 million, and the Medicare shortfall was $30 million. Fiscal Year July 2015 - June 2016

For more information, call Community Relations at (406) 657-4677 or go to billingsclinic.com/aboutus June 2017

V ETERAN BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE A BIG IMPACT So far, we have trained more than 500 service members.

SARA HUDSON

is director of Veterans Business Outreach Center Region VIII. Contact her at 406-869-8408

Big Sky Economic Development hosts one of only 20 Veterans Business Outreach Centers n the nation. The specialization in veteran entrepreneurship is a compelling, economic growth strategy for forward-thinking, cutting-edge economic development organizations like BSED for these reasons, veterans:  Make up about 6% of the U.S. population but 13.5 percent of small business owners.  Are 45 percent more likely than those without prior military service to be self-employed.  Employ about 6 million Americans.  Pay more than $210 billion in wages every year.  Generate about $1.1 trillion in receipts annually.  Produce about $1.7 trillion in GDP. And, one in every 10 businesses is owned by a veteran. To further cultivate vetrepreneurship: We train. We counsel. We educate. We train. Our training curricula is the standardized Boots to Business program developed by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. We teach it on 11 military installations. So far, we have trained more than 500 service members. Our Reboot training is the

same curricula, which we offer to those who have already transitioned out. Last March alone, we trained nearly 100 veterans and their spouses in Helena, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Billings. We counsel. We counsel any service member, veteran or spouse who contacts us for assistance. However, for those residing outside of Yellowstone County, referrals to our resource partners works better for veterans. Most folks want to look you in the eye when they share personal and financial information with you. We educate. We educate through outreach. We attend Yellow Ribbon events to talk to service members pre- and post-deployment. We go to the armories, national guard headquarters, military installations and the Departments of Military Affairs to meet them where they are. We partner with the Department of Defense, Veterans Administration, ESGR and all of the member organizations in Montana’s Joining Community Forces network. I am so very proud of Big Sky Economic Development’s Board of Directors and the county commissioners who voted unanimously to host this center. I share a handwritten note I received from Rose Mary

and Matt Hovan following our Reboot training last month in Billings: “Thank you so much for the informative seminar! We were afforded so many strategies. But thank you more for genuinely caring about those that served our Country to insure our freedom to pursue our dreams.” Truly, it is an honor to serve those who serve.

Sara Hudson, here pictured with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., spoke at Tester’s Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Great Falls last fall.

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June 2017

networking

events

Upcoming Chamber/ CVB Functions More details and RSVP: www. billingschamber.com or call 245-4111

June Business After Hours Wednesday, June 14, Heights Eyecare, 430 Lake Elmo Dr. 5-7 p.m. Cost is $8.

Y OUTH P ROFESSIONALS S UMMIT AIMS AT DEVELOPING EMERGING LEADERS

To add local flavor, the networking events are built to push attendees out into the community.

KELLY MCCANDLESS

is communications manager for the Billings Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visit Billings. Contact her at 406-869-3732 or at Kelly@billingschamber.com.

The Billings Chamber and Billings’ NextGEN are pleased to host the second annual Montana Young Professionals Summit July 27-29. This year’s summit is presented by PayneWest Insurance and plans to bring together several hundred young professionals from across the state with the intent of developing our emerging leaders and building connections among working Montana professionals, all while showing off the best Billings has to offer. The 2.5-day event is designed to be a blend of networking, leadership training, professional development and educational opportunities. “The agenda is built so attendees can really engage with the items that speak to their individual needs,” explains Chamber COO Jennifer Reiser. “Professionals looking for development and education will be served quality programming, while others looking for networking, skills building and a unique experience will be pleased with the options as well.” The Summit kicks off Thursday July 27 with a downtown walking tour and pub crawl. Friday’s sessions at the DoubleTree by Hilton will include a keynote address on leadership, panel discussions and breakouts

focused on workforce development, civic engagement, customer service and relationship building. “The panel will feature a mix of local experts in these areas as well as voices from across the state providing a wellrounded examination of the topics,” Reiser continued. To add local flavor, the networking events are built to push attendees out into the community. Friday evening festivities include a welcome party hosted by PayneWest Insurance and a Night with the Mustangs at Dehler Park presented by Albertsons. Saturday morning participants are encouraged to visit the Farmer’s Market and downtown coffee shops before attending a session with Karen Grosz of Canvas Creek Teambuilding. Participants will be prepared to think about what they want, why, and collaborate with other goal setters during this insightful, high energy workshop. The afternoon continues with a trip to ZooMontana for Jeff Ewelt’s Passion TED Talk. For outof-towners wishing to stay an additional night, or local attendees, a closing reception offers a Montana Luau at the Hilton Garden Inn. Attendees can expect to gain new skills, strengthen their Montana connections and see a fresh and excit-

ing side of Billings while in town. View a full agenda and other details at http://mtyoungprofessionals.com. Registration information can be found at https:// mt you n g profession a l s. com/registration/. Rates are available including lodging as well as a lower rate for those needing only conference registration. A la carte options are available as well, meaning participants can

2017 Chamber Open Golf Tournament Friday, June 23, At The Briarwood. $500/team. 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Shotgun starts. July Business After Hours Wednesday, July 12, Big Horn Resort, 1801 Majestic Lane, 5-7 p.m. Cost is $8. engage in a single session for as little as $25. What’s more, NextGEN members will receive a promotional code for discount off the “Local” rate. To book reservations for Saturday night, call the Hilton Garden Inn at 406-6558800 and request a room under the MTYPS room block for rates as low as $129 per night. The 2017 Montana Young Professional Summit is

presented by the Billings Chamber and NextGEN. The amazing sponsors supporting this event are: PayneWest Insurance, Albertson’s, Entre Technology Services, D.A. Davidson, MSU Billings, Visit Billings, Big Sky Economic Development, Seva Kitchen, Rocky Mountain College, Phillips 66, St. Vincent Healthcare, Avitus Group, Costco, Aflac and Opportunity Bank. Presenting Sponsor

BillingsChamber.com

2017

June 23rd | Briarwood Golf Club Shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. $500/team of 4 | single spots available Visit BillingsChamber.com for details

June 2017

Ashlee Mead

Willing and able By TOM HOWARD

Ashlee Mead, a senior accounting specialist for Avitus Group in Billings, works with around 30 clients scattered all across the country. Avitus Group hired Mead right out of college, and she has excelled in her career over the past 4-1/2 years while overcoming a disability that left her with significant hearing loss when she was an infant. Mead is featured in a new book. “Embracing Inclusion” by Marc Goldman highlights the contributions that people with disabilities have made to the workforce. President George H.W. Bush, who signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, wrote the book’s introduction. It also features writing from autism advocate Temple Grandin, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a combatwounded veteran. Here, Mead discusses her path to a rewarding career. Q: How and when did you become interested in accounting as a profession? A: I’ve always loved numbers, and several people have encouraged me to consider accounting as a profession. Mr. Jerry Grinder was my teacher for word processing class, which I took as a freshman in high school, and he encouraged me to take his accounting class the next year. I continued on, taking Accounting II and III from Mr. Grinder, as well as accounting classes online through MSU-Billings during my senior year in high school. Do you still keep in contact with him? Unfortunately, Mr. Grinder passed away in May 2014. I did keep in touch with him until his death, and I do still keep in touch with his wife. Have you sat for the CPA exam? I have not, and I do not plan on it anytime soon. There may have been some disappointment from many people that I didn’t go after my CPA license. I have no interest in auditing, tax advising, or strategic planning, so I don’t think I need to get one. Can you describe your experience working for Avitus Group? Humbling. I say this because someone had asked me how my job applications were going when I finished college. I told him that I had sent in five applications and

was requested for an interview at two companies. One of the two companies was Avitus Group. He proceeded to tell me that Avitus Group only hires the best. I was hired a week later and I’m still here after 4-½ years. Also, it’s very rewarding. The management appreciates my work, my clients appreciate me, and I work with an awesome team in our Accounting Services department. Do you consider yourself a trailblazer for people with disabilities? No, there were trailblazers before my time. Just to name a couple, Edward Roberts, who is known as the father of the Independent Living movement, was a pioneering leader of the disability rights movement. Judith Heumann, who is a lifelong civil rights advocate for people with disabilities, helped develop legislation that became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). I would consider myself more of a resource than a trailblazer. I’ve been asked to submit testimonies for legislative bills that would support people with disabilities in Montana. I’ve spoken on a teen panel at Montana School for the Deaf & Blind for two years. I’ve served as a staff volunteer at Montana Youth Leadership Forum for eight years, a program designed for high school students with

disabilities who want to learn how to be independent, make the transition from high school to college and in the workforce, as well as their disability culture. I’ve shown people that you don’t have to be “normal” to achieve great things. Are American employers doing enough to hire and promote people with disabilities? There’s always room for improvement. There is certainly more work to do as a society. People with disabilities consist of the U.S.’s largest minority group as well as the only group that any of us can become a member of at any time. I personally would like to see disability history be taught in schools along with other U.S. History topics. Disability history has been largely ignored in school curricula. Last time I checked, only seven states in the U.S. have a law passed that will require schools to teach disability history and awareness in their K-12 public schools during the month of October, which is Disability Awareness month. Do you have any career advice for others who have hearing loss and are trying to decide on a career? For any person with a disability who’s trying to get a start in their career, I say be an advocate for yourself. If you don’t know how to be an advocate or you don’t know your civil rights as a person with a disability, reach out to your local Center of Independent Living or your region’s ADA Center for training. If you’re in college, or considering going to a college, check out their Disability Support Services. This goes for anybody, but when deciding on a career, I like to refer to the saying “choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” One thing I’d like to add in this interview is that my disability is an opportunity to reach out to others, and most importantly it’s a responsibility to help educate others that people with disabilities are human beings also. LARRY MAYER, Gazette Staff

June 2017

Wood From 7

homes and businesses. The new Last Chance Pub and Cider Mill and the Local Kitchen and Bar are among local businesses that have used recycled lumber from the business. Tippet Rise, the arts venue near Fishtail, used some of his reclaimed lumber to build outhouses. The desk in Creek’s office might be one of the best ways to market his reclaimed wood. The top is built from beefy slabs of white oak, and four solid legs are black walnut. Checks, knots, holes bored by insects or nails and traces of peeled paint all add to the wood’s character. Creek’s covered lumberyard between Billings and Laurel on South Frontage Road is where the former Midland Bull Test business operated for years. As winter turns to spring, Creek fields five to 10 calls per week from people who are interested in disposing of a barn or shed. He does a careful inspection of each structure to see if he can recoup the cost of his labor and still make a profit selling the wood after tearing down a building one board at a time. He usually works alone, although occasionally he’ll hire a friend to work for a day or two. Creek uses mostly hand tools, including hammers and crowbars of different lengths, which he uses to pry up galvanized metal roofing, roof sheathing or floor joists. Sometimes it’s quickest to use a reciprocating saw to cut off a nail head, pound the shaft into the wood with a punch, and pull the bent-over nail from the back side, he said. Creek is always on the lookout for unique structures, such as cabins made from dovetailed logs or timber-framed barns made from hand-hewn timbers. Through the years, Creek has learned that some types of structures don’t lend themselves to harvesting their reclaimed lumber. After taking down an antique wooden boxcar, Creek swore he would never again tear into that type of structure. There were simply too many nails to pull, and the thin weathered pieces of siding frequently split. Likewise, taking apart a snow fence proved to be a challenge because of all the nails. Reclaimed lumber is popular in Gallatin County, where several businesses have amassed a large inventory of beams and even some complete structures. Creek said much of their inventory goes to vacation homes at Big Sky and the Yellowstone Club. The trend is catching on in Yellowstone County, Creek said.

A finished desk by Nick Creek of Mystic Reclaimed Lumber on South Frontage Road west of Billings in April.

This brand adorns the top of the desk that Nick Creek built for his office at Mystic Reclaimed Lumber.

A handmade chain on pieces of reclaimed lumber.

CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff photos

CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff

June 2017

Computer program helps people understand insurance By TOM HOWARD People who are in the market for insurance often get sidetracked by a single issue: how much their premium will cost them. That single-minded focus on premiums is likely a response to the “We can save you money” marketing campaigns promoted by many insurers, says agent Marc Thurston. Thurston, principal of Billings-based Thurston Family Insurance LLC, says he has operated his business under the notion that insurance is intended to protect the policyholder from life’s calamities. A few years ago, Thurston began thinking about developing a better way to help customers understand the true purpose of having insurance. That idea led to the development of a computer program, called Insurance Analyzer Pro, which helps people understand how much insurance they should have to protect their assets. After a customer’s information is entered into the program, it provides a graphical illustration of whether the customer’s assets are covered in the event of a mishap. Thurston developed the program with help from his brother, Eric, a technology executive based in Texas. A number of insurance agents have been using the program, and a patent is pending for the product, which Thurston hopes to market the program to other agents. “In short, we have developed a visual insurance tool that is fact driven and void of opinion and assumption,” Thurston said. “Most people don’t want to talk about insurance. It’s just a necessary evil. Whether or not they have full coverage is often all that’s known.” “What insurance really does is it protects your wallet and your future income,” he said. “Insurance Analyzer Pro measures a person’s current insurance plan against what they might need. The program is unbiased and allows the customer to visually see the difference. It’s their choice how well or how poorly they want to insure themselves,” Thurston said. “Many people don’t understand the importance of liability limits. Insurance Analyzer Pro is a proven tool in educating people on the need to protect their assets and fu-

June 2017

PHOTOS BY LARRY MAYER, Gazette Staff

Thurston Family Insurance staff, from left, Chad Nelson, Vicki Thurston, Tracy Sandon and Marc Thurston make frequent use of a new program that analyzes customers’ insurance needs. Inset photo: This graphic is used to help customers understand their insurance needs.

ture income. Once understood, they immediately get involved and the agent moves from selling to consulting.” Sometimes the program shows whether a customer is under-insured. Fortunately, there are options for making up the deficit. For example, an umbrella policy that boosts liability coverage can protect assets at not much additional cost.

Chad Nelson, an agent with Thurston Family Insurance, said he uses the program with all of his clients. “The whole point of this is it shifts the thinking about insurance,” Nelson said. “Most people know that you have to have insurance on their car or their house. But this is a way to help them shift gears and think about protecting their assets and their

income.” Thurston is optimistic about the product’s potential. “The un-biased, visual elements of Insurance Analyzer Pro are dynamic and well received, driving a new insurance experience. Customers walk away knowing the logic behind their new plan and they share the experience,” Thurston said.

After five years in business, Picture Perfect Ultrasound is still going strong By TOM HOWARD Five years ago Buffy Stiles decided to strike out on her own by opening an independent ultrasound imaging practice, Picture Perfect Ultrasound. Stiles had worked for 17 years as an ultrasound technician in Billings before taking the risk of starting her own business. A standalone ultrasound practice was a new concept for Billings at that time. Five years later, Stiles has no regrets about launching a different kind of medical service. Picture Perfect Ultrasound has seen thousands of patients, including those who travel to Billings from long distances. “There’s no other facility like ours in Billings,” Stiles said. “People come here from Wyoming, North Dakota and all through Montana. The cool thing is we’re able to take care of them for their needs.” One reason for opening an independent ultrasound clinic was to give patients a choice when it comes to their medical care, Stiles said. Picture Perfect Ultrasound, located at 1216 16th St. W., was designed to provide a relaxing, home-like atmosphere where patients can be comfortable when they go through their procedure. Exam rooms are large enough to accommodate family members. Large-screen monitors allow patients to see what’s going on during the procedure. Diagnostic ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body. Ultrasound can be used in diagnosing a variety of medical conditions, such as providing detailed views of a carotid artery, a gall bladder or a thyroid condition. Stiles said about 80 percent of the cases referred to Picture Per

Gazette Staff

Buffy Stiles shows her ultrasound machine at Picture Perfect Ultrasound in Billings.

fect Ultrasound are for medical diagnostic tests. In such cases, a doctor writes a prescription for having the procedure. “After five years we’re going strong,” Stiles said. “We have physicians referring their patients to us all the time, and patients are asking to be referred to us.” As more patients have come in, Picture Perfect has added staff,

purchased new equipment and remodeled the office, Stiles said. Perhaps the most familiar use of ultrasound is during pregnancy, when medical professionals monitor a fetus’ growth and development. A sizable number of clients who visit Picture Perfect are expectant parents who are interested in learning the gender of their un-

born baby. For purposes of learning the baby’s gender, Stiles recommends that the parents wait until the 17th week of pregnancy. “We want to give them 100 percent accuracy,” Stiles said. Although Picture Perfect Ultrasound doesn’t host gender reveal parties, many families have developed elaborate celebrations

surrounding the process. Etsy, the craft-oriented website, has a wealth of suggestions, such as balloons that release a shower of pink or blue confetti when popped, pink or blue smoke bombs and pink and blue cupcakes. And without an ultrasound, all of those elaborate baby showers would never happen. June 2017

STRATEGIESfor success

S elling to the government ? B e aware of subtle requirements In many government, contractual solicitations, past performance is a key consideration in the selection criteria.

JOE MICHELS,

Ph.D., P.E., C.P.I., is principal of Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC. Contact him at 406-672-6387 or at solomonbruce.com.

June 2017

Last month we addressed some of the initial considerations of becoming a government contractor. This month, we identify some more considerations that are both salient and germane when thinking about becoming a government contractor. Businesses which have special designations, i.e., Women Owned Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Businesses located in a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) zone, a tribal governmental entity all receive special consideration when the federal government evaluates contractual bids. This special consideration gives extra, i.e., additional evaluation points when a bid is being considered for award. However, do not become fooled that just because your business is in one of these categories that you automatically qualify for an award! Do not succumb to the belief that because your business has a special designation, that you are special or unique. Yes, you have some socio-economic designator that the federal government has found to be useful in finding contractors that may not have had an opportunity to otherwise bid on a government contract. However, you must perform the work sought. In many government, contractual solicitations, past performance is a key consideration in the selection criteria. What this means, in simple terms, is how did your business perform doing a similar or like

Digital Vision.

task for another client? Was your firm successfulâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;was the work satisfactory, was the client happy with the finished product, were all deadlines successfully achieved? Those are all factors that will need to be identified in your proposal if past performance is one of the evaluation criteria. If your business is construction, a bonding requirement is often necessary for a government contract. Many small businesses do not have the financial robustness to gain a performance bond. If this the case, collaborating with a larger contractor makes sense, at least initially so that your firm can successfully bid on a large contract. Reviewing the proposal evaluation criterion is another area where many new

government contractors trip and fall. It is very important to clearly understand what it is that the government is seeking in terms of performance evaluation. In some cases, the government is seeking a vendor that has Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) proposal. In other cases, Best Value, with price, NOT the determining factor is sought. Paying close attention to what is being sought is important in preparing the bid. Paying strict attention to any amendments that the contracting officer has issued since the original solicitation is posted is also important. Often, the contracting officer makes changes after posting the initial solicitation. If you are not aware of those changes, you may bid something that is no longer

being sought, or the requirements have changed significantly. Strong attention to detail is important here. If you bid a solicitation and do not receive the winning bid, you can have the contracting officer provide you with a debrief to understand where your proposal did not meet the expectations of the contracting officer. The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) can help you here. We can as well. Receiving a debrief on your proposal is always a beneficial way to learn about what you may have failed to address or did not completely understand. You will also be able to see how the successful contract awardee prepared his/her winning bid. Government contracting is a long-term strategy. If

you elect to pursue government contracts, you need to dedicate the resources, i.e., personnel, marketing, travel to participate. In many construction contracts, you may be required to take a walk through the building or facility that is being remodeled, rebuilt or newly constructed. This takes time and moneyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you need to calculate those costs into your decision calculus to determine if such a solicitation is indeed profitable for your firm to pursue. Government contracting can be a rich source of business and new income streams. However, go into the process with a full and complete understanding of all the nuances necessary to become a winning and successful government contractor.

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PayneWest agents live here. Which affords us a certain luxuryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; being able to meet at your time and place when a great idea hits. Find a local agent today at PayneWest.com/Billings. (406) 238-1900 | 3289 Gabel Road

June 2017

Special topic: Montana Energy Quarterly

Natural gas is burned off at well sites, as seen at a well east of Williston, North Dakota, in the heart of the Bakken oil region, in this May 2013 photo.

Tribune News Service

Environmentalists hail survival of Obama-era methane rule WASHINGTON — Environmentalists have notched a rare win in the Republicanled Senate as a GOP effort to reverse an Obama-era rule restricting harmful methane emissions unexpectedly failed. The 51-49 vote against the repeal measure was a blow to the fossil-fuel industry and groups linked to the conservative Koch Brothers, which had waged a public campaign to overturn the Interior Department rule. The rule, finalized in November, would force energy companies to capture meth-

June 2017

ane that’s burned off or “flared” at drilling sites because it earns less money than oil. An estimated $330 million a year in methane — the component of natural gas — is wasted through leaks or intentional releases, enough to power about 5 million homes a year. The Interior Department said in a statement that the rule imposes significant burdens on energy production and they would review it. The vote marked the first time that the Republican-led Congress has rejected a bid

to overturn a rule imposed by President Barack Obama using the previously obscure Congressional Review Act. For months, Republicans have rammed through a host of reversals of Obama-era rules on gun rights, coal production, hunting and money for family planning clinics, among other issues. The review act requires just a simple majority in both chambers to overturn rules recently imposed by the executive branch. The latest target was the Interior Department rule on methane.

Republicans and industry groups complained that the federal rule duplicates state regulations in place throughout the West and would decrease energy production on federal lands, raise energy costs and eliminate jobs. Democrats and environmental groups countered that the rule protects the public health and generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue for state, local and tribal governments. Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, called the Senate

vote “a signal victory” since President Donald Trump took office and said it shows there is “a lot of support for sensible environmental regulations going forward.” Three Republican senators — Maine’s Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John McCain of Arizona — joined forces with Democrats to block the efforts to overturn the rule. Graham and Collins had publicly opposed the repeal effort, but McCain’s vote surprised many on both sides of the debate. McCain said in a statement he is concerned that the Bureau of Land Management rule may be “onerous,” but said undoing the rule through the Congressional Review Act would have prevented the government from issuing a similar rule in the future. “I believe that the public interest is best served if the Interior Department issues a new rule to revise and improve the BLM methane rule,” McCain said. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Republican senators were caught off-guard by the final vote. “We really thought we were there,” he told reporters. “We’ll keep on working on it.” Gleeful Democrats hailed the vote as a breakthrough in the GOP-controlled Congress. “Today’s vote is a win for American taxpayers, a win for public health and a win for our climate,” said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. “Special interests in Washington, D.C., tried to override this common-sense rule, and today we stopped them in their tracks,” added Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. The American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry’s top lobbying group, called the Senate vote disappointing, but said in a statement it looks forward to working with the Trump administration on policies to boost energy production. “Obviously, we’re disappointed the Senate didn’t even have the wherewithal to debate overturning the rule on the floor,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, an industry group. “The Senate has voted to deny taxpayers $110 million in revenue every year. Western Energy Alliance, IPAA and four states will continue to make the case in court that the rule is a vast overreach of BLM authority. The district court judge expressed grave doubts about BLM’s authority to regulate air quality, and we and the states will continue to press that point. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the vote reflected growing questions by lawmakers about the wisdom of rushing though disapproval measures under the Congressional Review Act. “More members are getting concerned about the implications,” Wyden said. Jamie Williams, president of the Wilderness Society, an environmental group that had pushed to defend the Obama rule,

Associated Press

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, leaves the chamber following a surprising win for environmentalists and Democrats and a blow to the fossil-fuel industry, as the Republican-led Senate failed in a bid to reverse an Obama-era regulation restricting harmful methane emissions that escape from oil and gas wells on federal land.

said the Senate vote was the result of grassroots efforts by voters across the country. “In recent months, thousands of Americans asked the Senate to stand up for clean air and against the oil lobby, and their efforts were successful today,” Williams said. “Wasting gas is an extremely shortsighted practice that not only takes potential tax revenue from communities that could sorely use it, especially to address our infrastructure needs, it also poses serious threats to our health,” said Pat Wilson, a spokesperson for Northern Plains Resource Council and a rancher near Bainville. “Keeping the BLM rule is good news

for people living in oil country.” A group aligned with the conservative Koch Brothers leveled its criticism against Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who voted to preserve the methne rule. “Senator Tester’s vote is hard to understand since Montana would be one of the states hardest hit by the Obama-era methane rule,” said David Herbst, Montana state director for Americans for Prosperity. “The rule will put small Montana gas producers out of business, reduce much-needed tax revenue, and cost jobs. It’s so bad that our own attorney general has filed suit to stop it. Senator Tester put the interests of environmental extremists ahead of the in-

terests of his state. Montana citizens won’t stand for it, and will hold Senator Tester accountable.” Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said New Mexico and other Western states where drilling is common will be able to prevent the waste of taxpayer-owned natural gas and shrink a huge methane plume that hangs over the Four Corners region of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. Both sides of the debate targeted Sen. Cory Gardner, a first-term senator who heads the Republican Senate campaign committee. The federal rule is based on a Colorado regulation widely popular in the state. Gardner voted to reverse the rule. June 2017

MONTANA ENERGY REVIEW Tribe fears pipeline leak

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Dakota Access pipeline leaked

84 gallons of oil in South Dakota in early April, which an American Indian tribe says bolsters its argument that the pipeline jeopardizes its water supply and deserves further environmental review. The April 4 spill was relatively small and was quickly cleaned up, and it didn’t threaten any waterways. The state’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources posted a report in its website’s searchable database, but it didn’t take any other steps to announce it to the public, despite an ongoing lawsuit by four Sioux tribes seeking to shut down the pipeline. Brian Walsh, an environmental scientist with the agency, said that the state doesn’t issue news releases on spills unless there is a threat to public health, a fishery or a drinking water system. He said there was no such threat with the Dakota Access leak, which happened nearly 100 miles east of the Missouri River’s Lake Oahe reservoir, which is the tribes’ water supply. “We realize Dakota Access gets a lot of attention. We also try to treat all of our spills in a consistent manner,” Walsh said. “We treated this as we would treat any other 84-gallon oil spill.” The leak occurred at a rural pump station in the northeast of the state as crews worked to get the four-state pipeline fully operational, Walsh said. The oil was contained on site by a plastic liner and containment walls and quickly cleaned up. Some oilcontaminated gravel will be disposed of at an area landfill, he said. Such incidents have happened with other pipelines in South Dakota, and the Dakota Access leak didn’t come as a surprise, according

June 2017

BRIEFS

to Walsh. The state is happy with the response of Texas-based pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners and won’t issue a fine, he said. “Size-wise, an 84-gallon release is pretty small relative to a lot of other things we work on,” Walsh said. “I would characterize it as a small operational spill that was cleaned up right away.” The Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which was the initial plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the leak proves that the pipeline is a threat to its water and cultural sites. “These spills are going to be nonstop,” tribal Chairman Dave Archambault said. “With 1,200 miles of pipeline, spills are going to happen. Nobody listened to us. Nobody wants to listen, because they’re driven by money and greed.” Tribal attorney Jan Hasselman said the leak shows the need for more environmental study of the pipeline, which will move oil from North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa to a distribution point in Illinois. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had planned additional study but scrapped the idea after President Donald Trump earlier this year pushed for completion of the pipeline that had been stalled by months of protests and lawsuits. Energy Transfer Partners maintains that the pipeline is safe. Spokeswoman Vicki Granado issued a statement saying the spilled oil “stayed in the containment area as designed.” No other spills have been reported along the pipeline in South Dakota, according to Walsh. A federal spill report database does not show any reports from Energy Transfer Partners or its subsidiary Dakota Access LLC in any of the other states through which the pipeline passes. Granado didn’t comment on whether there have been any other problems as crews get the pipeline

ready to be fully operational by June 1.

Study: coal plant needs subsidies

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis has published a report detailing how the failing coal-fired Navajo Generating Station in northern Arizona will require hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies to remain online for any length of time. The report — “End of an Era: Navajo Generating Station Is No Longer Economic” —concludes that the power plant, which dates from the 1970s and is being considered for shutdown by 2019 — can no longer compete with power produced by other means. “Declining energy market prices and rising production costs have made the power produced by the plant more expensive than power sold in the larger energy market,” wrote David Schlissel, the author of the report and IEEFA’s director of resource planning analysis. “These factors are not likely to change, leaving the plant’s financial viability in doubt— regardless of who owns it.” The study puts the subsidized cost of propping the plant up from mid-2017 through the end of 2019 at $414 million. Keeping it running until 2030 would require a total bailout of $1.4 billion to $2.4 billion. A five-year bailout plan, from mid-2017 through mid-2022, as has been suggested by a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, would cost $740 million to $1 billion. “In short, keeping the Navajo Generating Station online would require at least hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies over the short term and billions over the longer term.” Schlissel said it is increasingly likely that higher generation from increasingly affordable renewable resources will put even further pres-

sures on the plant, both by displacing generation that would otherwise have been generated at the plant and by keeping energy market prices low. The report highlighted fundamental economy-sector changes in recent years that have affected many coal plants across the U.S.: Very low natural gas prices, leading to low energy market prices; Rising plant production costs; Declining generation due to increasing competition from renewable resources and higher generation at natural gas-fired units.

percent of all global seaborne coal. And they build on previous South Korean policies that include a 2015 national emissions-trading scheme that aims to reduce greenhouse-gas pollution and a 25 percent coal tax increase imposed just last month. Additional effects would include a blow to the viability of greenfield thermal coal developments in Australia, including to the Koreanowned mine proposals in Bylong and at Wallarah II. Moon’s policies will also call into question the strategic merit of expansions like those envisioned at Whitehaven’s Vickery and S. Korea eyes Shenhua’s much-delayed Waterrenewables mark mine developments. They will Moon Jae-In’s election as presihave an effect as well on the controdent of South Korea holds potentialversial and heavily-subsidized Adani ly significant ramifications for global Carmichael proposal in Queensland. seaborne thermal coal markets. South Korea is Asia’s fourthTesla adds largest economy and the fourthsolar tiles largest importer of coal globally, DETROIT — Electric car maker accounting for over 10 percent of Tesla has added another product to world thermal coal import demand. As the only remaining growth its lineup: Solar roof tiles. market of significant size, it has long Beginning in May, customers been identified by the coal industry worldwide were able to order a solar as a key source of ongoing viabilroof on Tesla’s web site. Installations ity—and Moon’s ascension may well will begin soon in the U.S., starting snuff out a bright spot in the bleak with California. Installations outside overall outlook for seaborne coal the U.S. will begin next year, the used for electricity generation. company said. Among Moon’s election promThe glass tiles were unveiled by ises: Tesla last fall just before the comIdling old coal-fired plants durpany merged with solar panel maker ing April and May (when fine dust SolarCity Corp. They’re designed levels tend to peak). to look like a traditional roof, with Permanently closing 10 aged coal-fired plants earlier than sched- options that replicate slate or terracotta tiles. The solar tiles contain uled. photovoltaic cells that are invisible Reassessing plans to construct from the street. nine new coal-fired plants. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said one of Increasing South Korea’s comthe drawbacks to home solar instalmitment to renewable energy to 20 lations has been the solar panels percent by 2030. themselves: They’re often awkward, South Korean energy policy shiny and ugly. Buyers will want under Moon with changes already Tesla’s roof, he said, because it looks well under way in China and India, which collectively purchase over 40 as good or better than a normal roof.

Lawmakers, public frustrated with air travel The ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Air travel in the United States has become a combustible mix in which passengers aren’t the only ones treated unfairly, senators have been told. Travelers all too frequently take out their frustrations on airline employees, including flight attendants and gate agents, speakers said at a Senate hearing. Senators from both parties said airlines must improve the way they treat their passengers, but they also said airline employees must be treated with respect. Lawmakers also revived talk of a congressionally imposed “Passenger Bill of Rights.” The Senate hearing comes after a passenger was dragged off a United Airlines flight recently and a separate incident on American Airlines in which a mother with a stroller was bullied by a flight attendant. Videos of both incidents were widely circulated on social media. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said air travelers frequently tell him they “feel like they’re being treated as self-loading cargo rather than as valued consumers.” Passengers are so fed up that they are becoming amateur detectives, Nelson said, using their cellphones to record incidents such as the removal of United passenger David Dao and the heated confrontation on the American flight. Widely shared video of a bloodied Dao being dragged from the United flight, which he had refused to leave, sparked worldwide outrage and led to calls for a congressional crackdown on U.S. airlines. “I take no pleasure in beating up the airlines, but in this case, it’s warranted,” said Nelson, the top Democrat on the Transportation Committee. “The fact is we wouldn’t be sitting here today if the traveling public believed the airlines cared more about them than their own bottom lines.” Even as lawmakers spoke, another video surfaced showing a California family who say they were forced off a Delta plane and

“I take no pleasure in beating up the airlines, but in this case, it’s warranted.” — Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. threatened with jail if they didn’t give up one of their children’s seats on an oversold flight. Brian and Brittany Schear of Huntington Beach, California, told KABC-TV in Los Angeles they were returning from Hawaii with their two toddlers when they were removed from the plane. Delta later issued a statement saying it is “sorry for what this family experienced,” adding that it will reach out to them to better understand what happened and find a resolution. The Hawaii incident was not discussed at the Senate hearing, but Nelson and other lawmakers complained about an “explosion of fees” for services such as checked baggage, priority boarding and assigned seating, even as flights are frequently delayed and passengers with disabilities or other special needs are not treated with proper care. “Adding insult to injury,” American Airlines announced that it is slashing legroom in its new Boeing 737 jets to squeeze 10 more passengers on its planes, Nelson said. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., chairman of an aviation subcommittee, said he was horrified by the video of Dao’s April 9 removal from the United flight. “The last thing a paying airline customer should expect is a physical altercation with law enforcement personnel after boarding,” Blunt said. “How did that decision escalate to a point where a passenger was physically pulled out of his seat, dragged down the aisle and left bloodied on national television?” Even so, Blunt said there are

Associated Press

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, left, accompanied by United Airlines President Scott Kirby, right, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington in May, testifying before a House Transportation Committee oversight hearing.

“hard questions” regarding the way frustrated passengers treat airline employees, including flight attendants and gate agents. Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said United employees have come under siege since the Dao incident. Complaints and threats have been “pervasive at the airports, on the planes, on several media and broadcast television stations and even in our schools, churches, and neighborhoods,” she said, calling the reaction to incident “demoralizing” and anxiety inducing. “Flight attendants had no role in this event and never would. We are aviation’s first responders and last line of defense. We save lives,” she said. Dao was waiting to fly from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, on April 9 when the airline decided

it needed four seats for Republic Airline crew members who needed to travel to work on another United Express flight in Louisville the next morning. When Dao and his wife were selected for bumping, he refused to leave. Airport security officers yanked Dao from his seat and dragged him off the plane, causing a concussion, broken nose and other injuries. United CEO Oscar Munoz called the incident “a mistake of epic proportions” at a House hearing and vowed to improve customer service. United has settled with Dao and taken a series of steps to reduce overbooking of flights since the incident and will raise to $10,000 the limit on payments to customers who give up seats on oversold flights, Munoz said. The airline also said it will improve employee

training. Ginger Evans, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, called Dao’s treatment “completely unacceptable” and “personally offensive.” Three officers involved in the incident and a supervisor have been placed on leave amid an investigation by the city of Chicago, Evans said. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said the rash of incidents has revived her concerns about improving air travel. “I think it may be time for a new Passenger Bill of Rights to make sure that we’re focusing on the consumer experience, that we are doing things that are appropriate and necessary to make sure they are protected in these incidents,” Cantwell said. Associated Press writer David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this story.

June 2017

SALESmoves

W hen you find the decision maker , you can usually make the sale

The CFO and the CEO are the decision makers, and the people you are presenting to can’t decide jack squat.

JEFFREY GITOMER

is the author of The Sales Bible and The Little Red Book of Selling. Reach him at 704-333-1112 or email salesman@gitomer.com

June 2017

Tons of time and money is wasted on sales proposals, only to be jilted, turned down, or worse – left at the altar. Lost love. Lost revenue. Think it’s not you? Think again. How many proposals, bids, and quotes have you sent in your career? How many have you won? How many proposals, bids, and quotes have you sent this year? How many have you won? REALITY: Most proposals, bids and quotes are lost. REALITY: I cannot help you win them all, BUT I can help you win a few more. REALITY: You’re probably not talking to the real, final, or only decision maker. REALITY: You’re trying to marry the wrong person. Here is the rock-solid strategy to prevent “sales separation.” Before you propose, ask “HOW” not when? The prospect asks for a proposal. What do you say? What do you ask? Most of you will answer with some greedy, “when will the decision be made,” or “what’s the budget.” Some kind of wallet driven questions. REAL ANSWER: When the prospect asks you for a proposal, you ask, “How will the decision be made?” Not “when.” Not “who.” Not “are you…” Not “do you…” But specifically the word “how.” You’re trying to identify the decision making process. In other words – your path to yes. Ask “who?” When you

ask how the decision will be made, the prospect will respond, especially these days, that there’s a committee, and talk about when they meet, and that they decide, yada yada. Then you ask, “Great! Can you tell me their names?” and you write their names down and titles. And maybe ask, “Do you work from a set budget?” Beginning a money dialog at this point feels OK. Try to find out if they make the budget or just spend it. Big difference. The person who makes the budget can easily add to it. THE BIG QUESTION: “Then what?” After the prospect tells you that he, she or a committee decides, your next question is critical in your quest for the real decision maker (because I promise you it ain’t the committee.) You ask, “Then what?” Listen carefully to that answer because it contains the truth. The prospect will invariably say something like, “ Well, for orders over $25,000 we run it by the CFO, or I just run it by my boss, but he always takes our (my) recommendation.” Yeah right. In other words, the prospect or the big committee can’t do anything without asking their daddy. You respond with, “Great! What’s his name?” Write it down, and go back at it with another, “Then what?” The prospect says: always takes our recommen“Well the CFO with orders dation.” Here’s what you’ve just of more than $100,000, has to run it by the CEO but he learned: The CFO and the

CEO are the decision makers, and the people you are presenting to can’t decide jack squat. They can make

a recommendation, they can eliminate you, maybe for the wrong reasons, but they can’t select you and give you the order. Your job is now to get your proposal in the hands of the committee members, the CFO and the CEO with their names on them personally and spelled correctly. IMPORTANT: Get permission from your newly found out non-decision maker, and do it in the way where he or she doesn’t feel like you are going over their head, or around them. Asking for their help and support creates a sense of innerteam, and as long as you have the customer’s best interests at heart, there should be no problem. I think it’s necessary to re-warn you about the phrase, “But he always takes our (my) recommendation.” This is total BS. If the CFO or CEO has another idea or connection, you will not be chosen. Try this: Ask, “If I am chosen by the committee, may I accompany you to the CFO meeting?” At least you’ll get the real answer face-to-face. FINAL REALITY: I learned this strategy very early in my sales career and still use it today in one form or another. “How will the decision be made?” followed by, “Then what?” is the secret formula to discovering and getting your proposal to (and maybe even a meeting with) the real decision maker.

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June 2017

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Western Security Bank MAKING ELBOW ROOM IN LAUREL By Marlisa Keyes Photos By Casey Page

The bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior includes aluminum panel siding, HardiePlank and masonry concrete blocks.

With the merger of Western Security Bank and First Citizens Bank of Billings, staff at their Laurel branches combined in one building, creating tight quarters. Ten years after the banks consolidated, the newly built structure at 20 Montana Ave., gives Western Security Bank room to grow. Five dedicated banking lanes and one ATM-specific lane make it easy for customers to get their banking done.

June 2017

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Energy-efficient task lighting brightens the lobby and walking areas.

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special advertising section For 10 years, Western Security Bank’s Laurel branch made do with a location inadequate for drive-thru banking, private conversations with customers and meetings. The branch needed more elbow room, said Brian Thompson, branch manager. “We’ve seen significant growth; we basically outgrew that branch,” he said. “We wanted to provide something for the good customers of Laurel that they could grow into.” When First Citizens Bank of Billings and Western Security Bank merged in 2007, Western Security Bank combined staff from two Laurel branches into one building. Space was tight, becoming more so as the branch added customers, Thompson said. Now located just across the street from its former building at 20 Montana Ave., Western Security Bank has enough space for current and future needs, including six offices and a conference room, and a lot more room for drive-up banking. Customers will benefit from technology advancements, electronic banking and can sign up for new accounts through a dedicated kiosk in the lobby, said Mike

Seppala, bank president.

ROOM TO GROW

Chad Schreiner, an architect with A&E Architects, P.C., designed the 7,400-square-foot building. The site has five drive-thru banking lanes and an ATM lane with Montana Avenue access, plus 12 on-site parking spaces and additional on-street parking on Montana Avenue and East First Street. While the former location had three banking lanes, traffic often backed up behind the ATM lane and people didn’t use the other two, Thompson said. Some customers chose to go inside rather than wait for traffic to clear. “The flow of the drive-thru is exponentially better,” Thompson said. Customers now have the choice to use the quick drive-thru option, go inside to access the lobby’s secure Wi-Fi, or meet with a teller. Western Security Bank has had a long partnership with A&E Architects, including expansion at its Wicks Lane and Grand Avenue locations, and bid winner Dick Anderson Construction. See BANK, page 29

Western Security Bank’s Laurel Branch Manager Brian Thompson stands in the lobby of the branch’s newly-constructed building.

Western Security Bank’s Laurel branch includes a conference room for staff, customer and community meetings.

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special advertising section “We like the work they do,” Seppala said. The project took about 10 months to complete from its June 2016 groundbreaking to the doors opening on April 10. Construction didn’t hamper day-to-day business as the old building was kept open until the new one was finished. Construction issues were typical, mostly related to weather. “The long winter was definitely a challenge for all involved with the project,” said Kevin Hintt, vice president for Dick Anderson Construction.

WELCOME INSIDE

Each Western Security Bank branch has its own look, tailored to location and the community. How they are distinguished from other Western Security Bank locations is inside, said Schreiner. Modern and clean, the interior invites visitors with its calm color scheme of predominately light gray walls and several navy accent walls. A high ceiling and glass-walled offices make it architecturally interesting. A mixture of LED lights – open box above

staff work areas, pendulums in the teller work space, and rectangle bars – illuminate each area. Tile is used in walkways, while dark gray carpet squares with an abstract design define lobby areas and offices. To the left of the entryway is a customer lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, four chairs and a wall-mounted television. Square One Cabinets, one of two Laurel subcontractors on the project, installed the cabinets, while Laurel-based Bighorn Drywall finished interior walls. The speckled gray solid surface Corian countertops on the coffee bar and a separate banking kiosk are easy-to-clean and scratches can be rubbed away with steel wool. “Customers like the building’s design,” Thompson said. Karla Monteith, a long-time Laurel resident and Western Security Bank customer, agreed. She stopped in on a Friday morning to take a first look and discuss a loan. “I’m just admiring the bank,” Monteith said. “I love it; it’s spacious.” Another customer favorite is the artwork – photographs and prints of outdoor scenes. See BANK, page 30

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The new building is a way of giving back to the community, representing Western Security Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship with its Laurel customers, Seppala said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to show our continued commitment to the people of Laurel,â&#x20AC;? Seppala said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a nice investment in the community.â&#x20AC;? Schreiner, whose brother, Jacob Schreiner, is senior pastor at neighboring New Life Foursquare Church, said the new

building is a nice addition to the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be great for the bank and the community,â&#x20AC;? Schreiner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fresh stuff in Laurel is always welcome.â&#x20AC;? Western Security Bank has seven branches in Yellowstone County; five in Billings, one each in Lockwood and Laurel. It provides full-deposit services, including online, mobile and branch banking, in addition to assistance in commercial, residential, agricultural and business loans.

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Officials developing system to make drone flights safer By LOS ANGELES TIMES By 2020, an estimated 7 million drones could be zipping around the country delivering packages, taking photos, inspecting infrastructure or conducting search and rescue missions. But before that happens, they’ll need a system in place to avoid crashing into each other — or worse, passenger aircraft. NASA, along with the Federal Aviation Administration and an extensive list of industry partners, has been researching the requirements needed to establish a drone traffic management system. This summer, some of those ideas will be tested in the field. Unlike the current air traffic management system, this one won’t rely on human controllers in towers who bark instructions to incoming and outgoing aircraft. Instead, drone operators will use an electronic system to get access to constraint notifications and input flight information. And they will be expected to follow the rules. Eventually, the system will be autonomous. “We needed to look at things that can be done cost-effectively, can be done safely,” said Parimal Kopardekar, principal investigator at NASA for unmanned aerial systems traffic management. The plan is to finish the research by 2019 and hand over ideas for the FAA to implement no later than 2025. But the FAA will not be creating the entire electronic traffic management system — that task will largely be handled by companies that are already developing drone navigation and communication software, or drone manufacturers that want to create their own system. That approach is not unlike the one spelled out for self-driving cars by the Department of Transportation last fall, in which the feds outlined loose safety guidelines but left it to companies to come up with solutions. Once the rules are set and all drone systems can speak the same language, “that really unlocks the true potential of networked aerial robotics,” said Jonathan Evans, copresident of Skyward, a drone operations software firm that is participating in the NASA project. The research for the drone system is focused on what’s known as uncontrolled airspace, a lower altitude that isn’t currently managed by air traffic management. However, NASA is also researching how to one day integrate drones into controlled airspace alongside crewed aircraft. Here’s a look at some of the major requirements — and practical challenges — of drone traffic management.

(Courtesy MSUB)

Officials are working on a system to make drone flights safer.

TRACKING THE WEATHER During a recent NASA field test of the system in Reno, Nev., a gust of wind tossed some of the drones more than 100 feet, pushing them out of their designated operating zones. The technology worked as intended: operators received notice of the conditions and were able to land the drones safely, said Steve Gitlin, vice president of corporate strategy at Monrovia, Calif., company AeroVironment Inc. The test showed how much weather can affect drone flights, and that the devices need proper spacing just like manned aircraft, said Kopardekar of NASA. Small drones are much more susceptible to weather changes because they fly low, Gitlin said. AeroVironment’s Puma drone, which looks like a miniaturized Cessna private plane, took part in the NASA test in Reno. NASA partners with organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to pull in weather data for the project. But tools have not yet been developed to predict how weather will affect small drones flying around obstacles such as buildings or hills at such low altitude, Gitlin said. MAKING COMPLETE MAPS Drone advocates envision a future in which swarms of autonomous aircraft will be in transit or performing tasks, so data about their surroundings will be a key to traffic management. “There won’t be an operator looking through cameras or looking at anything to know the world around the drone,” said Greg McNeal, co-founder of Santa Monica, Calif., company AirMap. “The drone’s going to have to know it itself.” That navigation will require more than just a basic street map. In addition to locations of physical buildings, navigation systems also need to pick up dynamic data — information that changes in real time and enables drones to steer clear of dangerous or restricted areas.

That can include changing environmental factors, such as seasonal weather conditions that could make flying over a certain area more difficult during various times of the year. It also includes designated sensitive areas, such as airports or power plants, which can be protected by virtual barriers known as geofences. AirMap, which develops drone traffic management software, said discussions about the importance of dynamic data during the NASA project prompted changes in its own product. The company then worked with local governments and agencies to notify users when they were flying their drones too close to emergencies such as fires, which could hinder firefighting operations. DIALING UP DIRECTIONS Drones aren’t currently allowed to fly beyond their operators’ sight unless they get special permission from the FAA. But NASA is already testing what drones will need if they’re allowed to fly further away. Users will have to be able to pinpoint where drones are and where they’re headed to avoid conflicts. That location tracking will be handled through technology including satellites and cellular networks, which is why telecommunications outfits such as Verizon, Qualcomm and AT&T are working with NASA.

Work still needs to be done to ensure drone connectivity in places with spotty reception, such as between buildings. “The cellular connectivity piece is really about performance,” said Mike Leff, vice president of civilian work in AT&T’s global public sector. “We’re going to need to ensure the right amount of bandwidth … and reliability.” SPEAKING A COMMON LANGUAGE For all this to work, drones will have to “talk” to each other and exchange information. NASA, the FAA and the industry will have to figure out the exact types of information that need to pass from one type of drone operating system to another. The systems will also need a common communication protocol and consistent cybersecurity practices. This can get tricky since drone manufacturers and software developers — like makers of self-driving cars and their software — could resist passing potentially proprietary data to rivals. But NASA’s Kopardekar said that industry partners have so far been willing to collaborate and that no companysensitive data will be shared. “All of them have a common interest, which is safe access to airspace,” he said.

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BETTERbusiness

T hese social media tips can help your business prosper While developing your social media strategy, always keep the end goal in mind — consumer engagement.

DAN BUCHTA

of Missoula is Marketplace Director for Better Business Bureau Northwest. Contact him at dan.buchta@thebbb.org

June 2017

Our small business landscape is changing so fast that, sometimes, when we pick our head up and look around, we wonder if we are caught up on all the free technology available to us. One type of technology many business owners find baffling is social media. It is constantly evolving and it seems that the tide goes in and out on which social media platforms are the most popular. I had lunch the other day with an owner of one of our Better Business Bureau Accredited Businesses. He stated that he thought he got his best bang for his marketing buck using Facebook. With that said, you would think he is on Facebook all the time – posting, boosting, etc. However, he said he just didn’t have the time to make the commitment. I’m sure many bootstrapping business owners can relate. When one considers using social media for their business, another very important question comes up: “Which one(s) do I use?” It seems like every time you blink, there is a new platform that is being explored by the up and coming generations. If it gains traction, you may find yourself trying to figure out how to incorporate it into your marketing and advertising plan. If you are just getting things going, start with the social media platforms with the largest potential audience and that require the least amount of

time to use. In the United States today, that likely means Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. While developing your social media strategy, always keep the end goal in mind — consumer engagement. What content do your consumers want to see? Is it about you, your industry in general, or something that is near and dear to the hearts of those in your community? Here are some quick tips and tricks from BBB to get your social media game off the ground: Be honest: BBB stands for truth in advertising.. If you are using social media to promote a product or service provided by your business, keep your post straightforward and to the point. Schedule your posts: If you are a bootstrapping business owner, you likely don’t have time to drop what you are doing to post all day long. Also, space your posts out so they aren’t too frequent or infrequent. When you have a moment to catch your breath, think about what posts you may want to get out over the next week or month. There are tools out there that can make scheduling posts easy for you: Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, and Crowdbooster. Repost: Do you want to post to keep the engagement up with your customers, but you don’t know what to say today? Let the web do the work for you. Here are two recommendations:

Google Alerts and RSS feeds. A word, phrase or a name can trigger a Google alert and you will get a message in your inbox about something relevant in your industry. Investigate the alert and you may find it worth posting about. Or, try finding a good and relevant RSS feed. An RSS (Rich Site Summary) regularly updates you with information you are tracking. This includes blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video. Either one of these methods can provide you with content you can use to engage your customer audience. Look sharp: Make sure your images look good and are the right size. Just Google “Image sizes for social media” and a list will populate. Following those guidelines will guarantee that your images look nice, crisp, and appropriately sized on whatever device they are viewed on.

Shorten Links: Got a link you want to use to engage that consumer? Let’s get that link posted, but make sure it is not too long for your social media platform. Twitter, for example, is a form of social media that has a character limit. You don’t want to burn though all of those characters with a really long URL. Fortunately, there are tools that can shorten those links for you. Check out Bit.ly, Owl.ly, and TinyURL. Use Hashtags: Hashtags label your post and contribute it toward a feed. This will help you grow that audience you might reach with that post. Don’t know which hashtag to use? Check out sites like hashtag.org. Keep the hashtag short and easy for your customers to use. You can also use multiple hashtags, but don’t go too crazy. Try to keep it to around three or so.

For many business owners, marketing efforts like social media posts can feel like a guessing game. You are always left wondering who you are reaching and how effective your message is. Ultimately, you want to make sure that you stay top of mind with your consumers and you want them to choose your business over your competitors. If you want to minimize the guessing involved in your social media marketing efforts, use that platform’s analytics tools. Facebook and Twitter have tools built in. You can see who is engaging, how they are engaging, and when. It’s true that, some of social media marketing is trial and error, but you have tools at your fingertips to tell you if what you are trying is working. Give it time. You should eventually see the results in how your customers interact with your business.

TRAVEL&leisure

R oad W arriors find new opportunities to stay fit on the road In today’s overscheduled and alwaysconnected world, travelers have trouble maintaining their healthy routines on the road.

Hail to the Road Warrior, the foundation of corporate travel business. These are the people who travel by trains, plans and automobiles each and every week. Their hotel is their “home away from home.” Fitness and wellness have become a true lifestyle. Millennials say that health and fitness is one of the most important things in their lives. In today’s overscheduled and always-connected world, travelers have trouble maintaining their healthy routines on the road. Travel is often unpredictable and stressful. Having the ability to gain control of their wellness routine allows travelers to reduce stress, be better at their job and feel happy. Companies have come to expect valuable amenities like free Wi-Fi and free breakfast, saving money to the bottom line. But for the Road Warrior, once considered an amenity, the hotel fitness facility has become as important as Wi-Fi. Hotel chains have taken notice. Until recently, fitness facilities in hotels were often found in a basement space with stale air and meager

equipment. Fitness centers were necessary to attract business travelers, but these facilities were greatly underutilized. Both travelers and hoteliers had the best intentions. Over time traveler’s expectations have changed. Fitness and well-being is a priority and one thing that a traveler can control. A road warrior will choose the hotel that they know will accommodate their fitness needs. This can mean a 24/7 fitness room, running maps for jogging or yoga mats for in room stretching. Today, the look and feel of the hotel fitness facility has changed. Many more guests are using the fitness facilities. As the fitness and well-being demand grew, the fitness space did too. The fitness center today is in a bigger space on a higher floor with many windows and lots of light. State-of-the-art machines and equipment are common. And in keeping up with how many people are exercising today, there is more room for stretching, strengthening with free weights and core work. Many hotel brands have recently announced plans to

Creatas

grow their fitness and wellbeing programs. Westin just announced their “Let’s Rise” campaign, taking on the disruptions, distractions and unpredictability of travel and empowering travelers to embrace well-being as a way to regain control of their routines and be their best while on the road.” Some select

Marriott Hotels are offering Stay Well guest rooms. These rooms include the Stay Well Vitamin C Infused Shower Head, the Stay Well Circadian Mood Box and the Stay Well Air Purifier. Several Wyndham brands are considering developing on-demand video screens in their hotel guest rooms

and fitness centers. The brand is also working with a streaming Wi-Fi provider to see how they can provide on-demand stationary bike workouts for guests. All these health and wellness initiatives are great for travelers’ health and wellbeing. Stay well on your next business trip.

BILLIE RUFF

is owner of Travel Cafe. Reach her at travelcafeonline.com

June 2017

Business Briefs Local Commerce at a Glance

Billings Clinic receives award

Billings Clinic has been named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The award signifies that Billings Clinic has been ranked within the top 100 hospitals of similar size based on number of beds. The methodology used to select Billings Clinic as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience is unique in that it evaluates specific Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. Billings Clinic is one of 400 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for patient experience in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.

SMC CEO eyes new HQ

The new boss of Stillwater Mining Co. has reiterated that he still hopes to bring a corporate office back to Montana, likely in Billings. But Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye Gold Ltd., the company that bought Stillwater, said in a telephone interview that he sees broader potential for Stillwater, which operates its corporate headquarters in Littleton, Colorado. Stillwater could have multiple corporate offices in the United States, which could better market the platinum group metals mined in Montana, Froneman said during his first visit to the state since the merger was completed. “What I can say to you today is we are looking to grow our presence quite actively in the U.S. … Looking forward, we are looking at a lot more corporate activity in the U.S. … What we need to do is cement our base in

Montana. But we also need to think about broader growth in the Americas,” Froneman said Tuesday morning from Columbus. Stillwater closed its corporate headquarters in Billings in 2015 and moved to Littleton. Company officials said then the move to the Denver suburb was more cost-effective, convenient for customers and closer to company auditors and attorneys. Stillwater is one of southcentral Montana’s largest employers, with about 1,400 workers, mostly at its two mines outside Nye and Big Timber and its Columbus recycling smelter. Froneman flew 14 hours from his home office in Johannesburg, South Africa, to New York, then stopped at the Colorado corporate office. Sibanye completed its $2.2 billion acquisition of Stillwater in May, placing North America’s only platinum and palladium producer entirely under South African control. Froneman has stated mul-

tiple times that he’s interested in maintaining and growing Stillwater’s operations to improve Sibanye’s portfolio in platinum groups metals. The South African firm is now the world’s fourth-largest producer of platinum and palladium after mining none of those precious metals just three years ago. Froneman last traveled to Montana in December shortly after the two companies announced the merger. Since then, he said he’s worked hard to convince Sibanye shareholders it was the right move, and he was pleased that more than three-quarters voted to approve. Froneman said he plans to spend about half his time in the United States overseeing the operation. Stillwater’s CEO, Mick McMullen, and chief financial officer, Chris Bateman, will stay with the company for up to a year to aid in the transition.

Froneman said he’s delivering a message emphasizing continuity to people in Montana this week. “We really need to ensure there’s a minimum of disruptions, a harmonizing of policies … To me, it’s always a pleasure to come to the U.S. I’m calling it a new dawn, it’s a new chapter in all of our lives,” he said.

The lenders are Golden Valley Lending Inc., Silver Cloud Financial Inc., Mountain Summit Financial Inc. and Majestic Lake Financial Inc. Two nonprofits, the Montana Organizing Project and the National Consumer Law Center, announced the lawsuit. “High-cost loans, whether short-term payday loans Agency targets or long-term payday loans, high-cost lenders put people in a cycle of debt. Four California-based, The Consumer Financial tribal-backed online payday Protection Bureau is defendlenders illegally sold highing Montana families against interest loans to consumers predatory lenders,” said Katie in Montana and other states, Sutton of the Billings-based federal banking regulators say. Montana Organizing Project. The Consumer Financial The tribe’s attorney, Lori Protection Bureau argued in a Alvina McGill, said the agency federal filing that online lend- is “wrong on the facts and the ers owned by the Habematolel law.” Pomo of Upper Indian Tribe McGill said the tribe has in Upper Lake, Calif., charged attempted to work in good exorbitant rates and lacked faith with the CFPB to demvalid licenses to operate in 17 onstrate why it complied with states, including Montana. the law.

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Business Briefs Success Stories Recognizing People Local and Commerce Achievements at a Glance

Arrow Solutions hires Martin

Arrow Solutions Group has hired Jesse Martin from Fort Collins, Colorado. Prior to his role at Arrow, he worked extensively delivering candidates in Information Technology and Engineering on a regional and national level. Martin is active MARTIN in the Colorado market and also supports clients around the U.S. to source, recruit, and maintain contractors and direct hire employees in technical and functional roles. His interest in disruptive and emerging technologies and the new markets they create offers exciting new business models and opportunities. With a degree in administration and economics, and a broad professional background, Martin brings a wealth of knowledge to the Arrow Solutions Group team. Jesse Martin can be reached at his office (406) 839-9783 or by email at jmartin@arrowsolutionsgroup.com

Housing awards are announced

Montana Department of Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote presented awards to the state’s affordable housing champions at the Annual Montana Housing Partnership Conference in Great Falls. Haxby-Cote presented a Lifetime Achievement award to Great Falls Housing Authority Executive

Director Kevin Hager for his dedication to developing quality public housing and his commitment to serving the housing needs of lowincome families. The city of Great Falls received this year’s Housing Champion award for its collaborative work with NeighborWorks Great Falls, and a commitment to finding innovative ways to meet the housing needs of residents. The Montana Department of Commerce also honored several statewide partners for their outstanding service throughout the year. 2017 Montana Board of Housing (MBOH) Top Participating Lender: Statewide, Opportunity Bank 2017 MBOH Top Participating Lender: Special Programs, First Interstate Bank 2017 MBOH Top Participating Lender: Great Falls, Stockman Bank 2017 MBOH Top Producing Loan Officer: Christine Farrington, Mann Mortgage 2017 Section 8 Field Agent of the Year: Housing Authority of Billings

University. Within six years, he became a stockholder and principal with the firm. He embodies the vision, skill and energy necessary to guide A&E towards a new chapter of excellence. A&E celebrates this moment by revealing the firm’s new mission statement, “Rooted in Tradition. Fueled by Passion.” With Eaton’s visionary leadership, A&E aims to redefine the boundaries of design, pursuing a new phase of progress and innovation.

administering installment loans, lines of credit and home equity loan portfolios, along with assisting clients with their KIRBY financial needs. Kirby has been with Stockman Bank since 2015 and previously served as a teller at the Heights location. Kirby earned his bachelor of science degree in business management from the University of Montana in Missoula. Haffey named He is active in the community and banking officer Sherry Haffey has been promoted volunteers as a mock interviewer at local high schools. He will also be to personal banking officer for the Stockman Bank Billings Downtown involved in various Stockman Bank location. Her responsibilities include related activities. Kirby is located at 800 Main administering consumer loans and Street and can be reached at (406) assisting with customer’s accounts. 896-4818. She specializes in real estate/bridge loans, installment loans, home Eide Bailly equity loans and personal lines of hires Neil credit. Tasha Neil has joined the Eide Haffey has been with Stockman Bailly Billings office. She previously Bank since 2003. She brings more worked as a CFO Assistant with a than 39 years of banking experilocal company and brings with her 12 ence to the position which includes customer service, loan processing years of accounting experience. and business development. Her vast A&E names knowledge in personal banking will Gerber earns continue to be an asset for Stockman sales award Eaton as CEO A&E Architects, Bank. Mark Gerber, CFP at MG FinanShe may be reached at 655-2403 P.C., an established cial Advisors has qualified for 2017 and is located at 402 North Broadway. Million Dollar Round Table memregional firm, has recently promoted bership. Gerber, an 18-year qualifier, Kirby promoted Dusty Eaton, AIA, is a Qualifying and Life MDRT memto loan officer LEED AP, to CEO. ber. MDRT qualifiers are among the Cameron Kirby has been proEaton joined A&E in top financial services representatives 2006 after earning moted to consumer loan officer for worldwide. MG Financial AdviEATON his master’s degree Stockman Bank Billings Heights sors specializes in holistic financial in architecture from Montana State location. His responsibilities include planning and wealth management.

Gerber may be reached by calling 294-3080 or emailing mgfinancialadvisors.com.

Realtor earns broker license

Ginny Jensen, a Realtor at Century 21 Hometown Brokers, has obtained her brokers license with the state of Montana. She adds this license to a graduate of the Realtor Institute designation. Jensen specializes in new construction, luxury homes, first-time homeowners, investment buyers, and buyers and sellers in life transitions. She serves the Billings area and may be reached by calling 591-0590 or emailing ginny.jensen@century21.com.

New partner at New York Life

Kyle Schlichenmayer has been named a partner of Montana General Office of New York Life. Among many duties, he is primarily responsible for recruiting and developing agents, and assisting the Managing Partner with the overall operation of the office. Schlichenmayer’s past positions at the office include agent and registered representative. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Montana. He is a co-chair of Billings NextGen, a division of the Billings Chamber of Commerce; an ambassador for the Billings Chamber of Commerce; a commissioner for basketball in the Big Sky State Games; and an active volunteer for Make-A-Wish Montana.

June 2017

BANKRUPTCIES Billings-area petitions filed in U.S. April 13. Bankruptcy Court, April 1-30, 2017. AdPamela June Scott, 2260 St. Johns Ave. dresses are in Billings unless otherwise No.H-11, April 13. noted. Rodney Allen Eckhardt, 123 S. 39th St., April 17. Chapter 7 Jason Lawrence Thomas, Tianna Lynn Thomas, 1601 Cove Lane, Laurel, April 20. Amber G. Brubaker, 2901 Monad Road, Stephanie Dee Marquis, P.O. Box 3011, Apt. 95, April 4. April 20. Jerry Duane Mckeen, 851 Joyce Circle, Charles Marion Hughes, 37 Silverlode April 6. Drive, April 20. James Lee Scheetz, 2021 Parkhill Drive, Jason Wagner, 1238 Colton Boulevard,

April 21. Leslie Jean Rustad, 2001 24th St. W. Apt. 2, April 21. Katrina Rebecca Harrison, 7910 Alderson Ave., April 22. Francis Allen Kostelecky, Brenda Kay Kostelecky, 2807 Manhattan Drive, April 27. James D. Carton, 121 Eighth St. W., April 27. Gregory Paul O’Donnell, Tammy Lorraine O’Donnell, 3885 Vista View Road,

April 30.

Chapter 13 George Stephen Robinson, 1524 Silverrun Trail, April 2. Brandon David Juhnke, Nicole Deanne Juhnke, 510 W. Front Ave., Joliet, April 4. Judy Carolyn Johnson, P.O. Box 1438, April 11. Trudy Ann Salfer, 811 Lake Elmo Drive, April 19.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS Addition Single/ Duplex/Garage

Demolition

5912 Elysian Road, Kal, Kunkel Demo, 9 5238 Amherst Drive, Hanser Construc- $5,000 tion Co., $3,430 New Garage 3142 Boulder Ave., Johnson Brooks & Angelica, J&J Construction, $17,000 1125 Burlington Ave., Wells Built Homes New Garage Inc., $30,940 2707 Yellowstone Ave., Boyce Hunter, $5,644 3221 Country Club Circle, Allen, Donald W. and Judy M. Trust, Hardy Construction Co., $4,050 3709 Harper Drive, French, Shane and Tara, $24,000 815 Maywood Drive, Wenger, Richard E. and Rosemary E., DH Remodeling, $4,421 1836 Lake Elmo Drive, Friedt, Jeremy, $2,880 258 Garden Ave., Woods, Clinton J. and Astrid, Arrowhead LLC, $22,400 2149 Whitewater Circle, Webb, Kelly S., $6,615 4842 Audubon Way, Wells Built Homes LLC, $34,580 2103 10th Ave., N., Kuhl, Zane A., $29,400 1213 Poly Drive, Harkins, John W. IV and Michelle, Alta Vista Construction Inc., $20,160

June 2017

New Single Family 5934 Foxtail Loop W., MJ Construction Inc., $163,330 5928 Foxtail Loop W., MJ Construction Inc., $163,330 2607 Bowles Way, BCJM Properties LLC, Hanser Construction Co., $221,730 1546 Topanga Ave., Infinity Homes LLC, $227,320 246 Sharron Lane, Reichenbach Properties LLC, Kay Homebuilders LLC, $257,240 1047 Vineyard Way, Luwayne, Ban Construction Corp., $550,000 1334 Twin Lakes Drive, Art Ahl, Art Work Builders, $192,195 1328 Twin Lakes Drive, Art Ahl, Art Work Builders, $192,195 1520 Snowy River Lane, Wells Built Homes Inc. New sfr $161,195 928 Sandcherry St., Trails West Homes LLC, $249,275

1737 Island View Drive, McCall Development Inc., $244,720 640 Winter Green Drive, CMYL Inc., L&L Construction LLC, $153,670 924 Sandcherry St., Trails West Homes LLC, $172,780 6865 Copper Ridge Loop, Double Dutch Construction, $235,320 2453 Southridge Drive, Reinhardt, Kenneth and Debra E., $380,255 2718 Hanover Circle, Mont Vista LLC, $249,045 2133 Sierra Vista Circle, Dawson Builders, $176,340 258 Annandale Road, David & Pam Doherty, Cougar Construction, $250,000 4634 Silver Creek Trail, Justin Ruegsegger, Granite Peak Builders LLC, $315,065 3133 Peregrine Lane, Aviara Inc., Buscher Construction Ltd., $232,065 6877 Copper Ridge Loop, Bob Pentecost Construction, $286,900 2987 Copper Bluffs Circle, Bob Pentecost Construction, $282,900 2610 Bowles Way, BCJM Properties LLC, Hanser Construction Co., $196,120 1741 Island View Drive, Mccall Development Inc., $225,790 1821 Island View Drive, Mccall Development Inc., Mccall Development Sfr $230,430 1415 Granite Ave., Roesch, Kenny,

$400,000 2116 Del Mar St., Infinity Homes LLC, $154,780 1729 Hesperia St., Ray R. Mehrer Living Trust, R&R Builders, $158,845 4638 Silver Creek Trail, Jeremy Haider, $525,000 4842 Audubon Way, Wells Built Homes LLC, $366,445 889 Tierra Drive, G.M. Construction & Roofing, $214,350 2522 Bowles Way, Chapel Custom Handyworks, $253,830 1617 Island View Drive, McCall Development Inc., $236,160

New Two Family 1014 Yellowstone Ave., Clearview LLC, $415,465 Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage 2802 Manhattan Drive, Johnson, Meredyth L. and Adam L., Lynnrich Inc., $623 643 Terry Ave., NTC Ventures Inc., Faithful Cleaning & Restoration $35,000 1305 Ave. E, Lindholm, Richard H. & Stephanie, $500 2511 Silver Spur Trail, Krieger, Trevor J. and Alyssa A., Northwest Building And Design LLC, $15,034 1133 Poly Drive, Mueller Jason E. and Heather D., Craigo Construction, $2,750

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONTINUED 2010 Lewis Ave., Paluch, Joseph P., $2,400 3031 Forsythia Blvd., Walker, Dan L. and Helen F., C. Dyk Construction Co., $18,500 3203 Silverwood St., Jenks, Dennis A. and Eileen M., $700 2302 Avalon Road, Smith Joseph A. and Lynn M., $5,000 1240 Omalley Drive, Olmstead Dwight D. and Ruby J., K-Designers, $12,576 3634 Decathlon Parkway, Barnes, Shelley R., Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $2,000 201 S. 29th St., Smith, Lynn R. and Myrtle F., Messer Construction, $2,500 1712 Third Ave. N., Mainmast Roads Management LLC, $10,000 4114 Clevenger Ave., Haun, Mark D. and Colette P, C’s Construction Of Billings, $12,630 3655 Jasper Park Drive, Lehman Dustin and Kristyn, C’s Construction Of Billings, $1,432 1600 Judd Circle, Currence, Robert P., C’s Construction Of Billings, $35,921 3445 Lynn Ave., Baird, Kenneth L. Sr. and Maryjane, C’s Construction Of Billings, $1,493 3756 Gymnast Way, Billings Mt 59102|Oly-009-004 Squires Joshua K & Kayla A|Cornerstone Exteriors Inc Replace 2 Windows $700

3167 Ave. E., Thuesen, Carl A. and Irene M., Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $5,600 3307 Harlou Drive, Worthington, Bryce L., One Source Construction LLC, $2,100 2718 Miles Ave., Siegel, Peter J., Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $16,000 713 Agate Ave., Keeth, Jay D. and Stephanie L., Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $4,000 2519 Glenwood Lane, Norskog, Victoria D., Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $500 410 S 30 St., Housing Authority Of Billings, Lynnrich Inc., $2,699 2418 Pine St., Lavonne A. Iverson Trust, Northwest Custom Improvements, $3,100 807 25th St. W., Robinson, Christy L., KDesigners, $8,921 3313 Rimrock Road, McGullam, Braaton Construction & Home Repair Inc., $17,800 1612 Roadrunner Place, Wang Living Trust, Craigo Construction, $2,900 334 Stillwater Lane, Warnes, Christopher, $20,000 1233 Calico Ave., Raduly, Andrew & Judith, $750 2574 Southridge Drive, Benge Kevin Douglas, Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $660 2310 Wingate Lane, Rukstad Diana, Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $900 347 31 St. W., Recanati, Daryl D. and Joyce A., Lynnrich Inc., $2,029

936 Lake Elmo Drive, Dave Christianson, $1,200 1919 Broadwater Ave., Yao, Li, $1,000 3625 Colin Drive, Kennedy, Cynthia A., Schenk Construction Inc., $20,000 1138 Ave., Jeremy & Thannon Holst, $1,000 2802 Zimmerman Trail, Gibbs, Russell A. and Leslie R., Lynnrich Inc., $2,407 2528 Poly Drive, Rose, Eugene R., and Janella C., JRB Construction 17, $15,000 4544 Upland Drive, Fagan, Gerry & Sherry, Freyenhagen Construction Inc., $13,000 3505 Racquet Drive, Tobin Matthew, Dave’s Exteriors Inc., $928 1234 Benjamin Blvd., Tabora, Darlan Humberto, $27,800 630 Joyce St., Loran, Brandon, Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $1,200 1931 Parkhill Drive, Beaudry, John J., Craigo Construction, $2,780 2121 Brentwood Lane, Hammond, Anthony Luke Et Al, Craigo Construction $2,600 1694 Gleneagles Blvd., Rowcliffe Family Trust, $3,000 419 Roxy Lane, Dewald, Jonathan L. and Bonita L., K-Designers, $4,200 4413 Morgan Ave., Sipe, Jason, K-Designers, $8,412

4424 Toyon Drive, Pimley, Brenton J. and Brittany A., Lynnrich Inc., $15,088 1825 Morocco Drive, Lozada, David and Kathleen J., $1,832 2422 Cascade Ave., Kershaw, Kamerson Jay and Kimber, Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $1,636 1610 Howard Ave., Lintern, Paul W. and Leta R., Craigo Construction, $450 3682 Mount Rushmore Ave., West, Mitchell A., One Source Construction LLC, $650 1562 38th St. W., Jack D. Johnson, 2013 Family Trust, Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $900 3179 Henesta Drive, Bousquet, Paul G. and Nancy M., Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $1,800 3171 Henesta Drive, Hoffman, Gwen K., Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $4,000 2418 Nina Clare Road, Bernhardt, Donald W. and Carol A., Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $2,460 918 Howard Ave., Norman, Jason T. and Elizabeth, Reule Builders, $40,000 3107 Henesta Drive, Diede Charlotte M., Cornerstone Exteriors Inc., $950 3918 Pine Cove Road, Karen and John Allen, $500 There were 200 Fence/Roof/Siding residential permits issued in April.

Expo & Dr Clinic, 2918 Grand Ave., 2526667 Clean Rite, 1843 Wicks Lane, 208-4632 Black Rock Drilling LLC, 3300 Second Ave. N., Suite 3, 702-1097 Yellowstone Valley Farms, Laurel, 6703055 Kaleidoscope Counseling LLC, 208 N. Broadway, Suite 423, 696-1566 Moon Massage, 2020 Grand Ave., No. 5, 690-7086 North Elevation Technology Service, 8655 Longmeadow Drive, 206-3626

I’m Cravin Bar-B-Que, 111 S. 24th St. W., No 14, 601-1116 Braaten Roofing, 516 Calhoun Lane, 6729703 Mak Construction, 3135 Rosemont Way, 672-3498 Bangert Mowing, 137 Sugar Ave., Unit B, 860-7917 Magic City Breaks, 643 Wyoming Ave., 534-6087 Kitchen Innovations, 2237 Main St., 969-4284 Black Dog Coffee House, 1528 24th St.

W., 839-7206 Sandoval Roofing Co., 1550 Country Manor Blvd., No. 206A, 855-8786 Lifestyle Apparel, 1141 28th St. W., No. 20, 760-519-8803 Herbcura LLC, 2158 Burnstead Drive, 672-9995 Stada UPP, LLC, 3784 Jene Helene Ave., 839-8249 The Right Cleaning Service, 318 Dani St., 606-2165 Bondo Construction, 2104 Lyman Ae., 425-1252

BUSINESS LICENSES Squire Lounge, 1525 Broadwater Ave., 259-0909 Outback Steakhouse, 2001 Overland Ave., 316-305-9595 Copper Creek Casino, 635 S. 18th St. W., 869-4460 JC Enterprise, 2203 Boulder Ave., 2810587 Armand Roofing, 1636 Moose Hollow Lane, 281-3025 Celebrating Children, 1740 Front St., 281-4272 Advanced American Natural Health

June 2017

BUSINESS LICENSES, CONTINUED Dependable and Professional Construction, Colorado Springs, Colo., 719-6380016 Gary D. Paulson, Laurel, 200-2761 Winkler Construction, 527 Jemstone Drive, 839-3240 Dimich Bros Gourmet Hotdogs, 1220 Weil St., 281-0480 Jeffrey Cabutage Rolfing, 1629 Ave. D., Suite C1, 831-585-7087 Absolute Home Inspections, 475 Washington St., 254-8518 Green Briar Golf House, 2252 Greenbriar Road, 581-3381 Tal-Kon Properties LLC, 7061 Commercial Ave., 255-0637 Northwest Construction, 4263 Vaughn Lane, 598-0717 MiCare LLC-N 30th, 415 N. 30th St., 281-5180 MiCare LLC-Main, 926 Main St., Suite 5, 281-5190 Leo Pinnick Contracting, 1916 11th Ave. N., 591-3356 Stacy’s Photoz, 618 Brookwood Drive, 672-8610 Vero’s Sharp Photography, 5 Ranier St., 860-5394 Boston Buckmiller Construction, 740 Oberdorf Drive, No. 8, 697-0822 Fresh Start Enterprises LLC, Roundup, 320-0233

JCH Contracting, 1616 Wembly Place, 591-1209 Northboro Builders Inc., Orlando, Fla., 730-5571 Energy Medicine and Massage, 2805 Radius Circle, 281-2156 Wathco Inc., Braselton, Georgia, 770967-8180 Deanna Young, LMT, 356 Foster Lane, No. 8, 598-1804 Hubbahubba LLC, 320 Mervin St., No. 4, 927-3677 Signed to Inspire, 5221 Rocky Mountain Blvd., 208-3333 Doner Trump, 946 Ave. C, Ni. 5, 8505310 Falls Creek Firewood and Haulings, Laurel, 690-1141 Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., 612 Charles St. 259-7020 Art Contracting, 1032 Lake Elmo Drive, No. 6, 579-5352 Mirx Pharmacy, 993 S. 24th St. W., Suite A, 869-6551 Environmental Consulting Services LLC, 2924 Tartan Road, 254-1741 McKay Pearson DMD PLLC, 315 S. 24th St. W., No. 2, 652-2600 Jetmore Landscape and Construction, 1550 Country Manor Blvd., 998-8582 Clarity Tax and Accounting PC, 2108 Broadwater Ave., No. 200, 698-8021

24/7 Locksmith Service, 1140 First Ave. N., No. 2, 794-0066 Evans Air Service, 2920 Rosebud Drive, 930-2337 Bear Paw Painting, 2608 Selvig Lane, 207-6207 Legacy Automotive, Shepherd, 6909715 Cutting Edge Rain Gutters LLC, 3840 Barry Drive, 696-9669 Treasure State Property Services, Molt, 439-7713 Lozano’s Drywall, 3150 Aviemore Court, 200-2080 Shillam Renovations, 3535 Granger Ave. W., 839-0835 Sweets Bike Restoration & Painting, Huntley, 861-6049 The Grass Guy Lawn Servies, 444 Clark Ave., 876-5170 Ximon Eves Construction, 1633 Lynn Ave., 839-6301 Quik Towell LLC, Clearfield, Utah, 801885-2884 Thousand Hills Construction LLC, Great Falls, 590-1406 Pawsy’s Creations, 1525 Sullivan Lane, 927-2773 KT Klean, 5226 Sacagawea Drive, 8500353 Jesco Lawn Care & Power Washing, 5418 Denali Drive, 647-0127

Wiked Group, Jerome, Idaho, 208-3200127 JT Electric, 2323 Henesta Drive, 702-5301 Meraki, 1940 Grand Ave., 534-3073 Simply Clean Cleaning Services, 3749 Heritage Drive, 672-9419 Good One Construction, 44 Sixth St. W., 218-838-0677 Taurus Works, 3034 E. copper Ridge Loop, 671-9774 Buckets N’ Stuff, 2305 Alderson Ave., 591-1304 Moe Inc., 3620 Duck Creek Road, No. 1, 208-5222 5 Wide Seamless Gutters, 2605 Selvig Lane, 794-7260 Taylor Technical Services Inc., Sugarland, Texas, 281-565-7400 Pro’s Spray Sprinklers, 1029 Krumheuer Drive, 647-1544 Malachan Roofings, 1709 First Ave. N., No. 29, 469-810-3408 Ruiz Roofing, 1709 First Ave. N., No. 29, 940-749-7444 All Joes, 1709 First Ave. N., No. 29 214-793-9535 Western Kleaning, 3217 Robindale Drive, 794-7541 Luke Old Crow, 208 N 23rd St., No. 5, 208-1732 Thom Consulting, 1532 Forest Meadow Court, 696-9223

vin J. Miller of South Bend, Ind.: 5,5-heteroaromatic anti-infective compounds. 9,605,002, March 28, University of Notre Dame Du Lac, South Bend, Ind. Sarjubhai Patel of Missoula and Thomas Rau of Stevensville: Detection of traumatic brain injury. 9,605,315, March 28, The University of Montana, Missoula. Scott Lennard of Libby: Taxidermy mannequin and method of making the same. 9,607,529, March 28, McKenzie Sports Products LLC. Nicholas Wormley of St. Paul, Minn.; Ryan Brase of Minneapolis; and Justin F. Chapweske of Bozeman: Dynamic bit rate scalin. 9,608,921, March 28, Google Inc. Rod Herrick of Whitefish and Jared W. Shappell of Kalispell: Ornamental design for the rear gripper latch. D782,274, March 28, Roddie Inc. Dean G. Grommet of Whitefish: Ornamental design for a double latch lever. D782,275, March 28. Magaly C. Barroeta of Herndon, Va.; Jose X. Simonetty of Kingwood, Texas; Brian D. Albert of Fairfax, Va.; Jennifer A. Gillett of Springfield, Va.; Victor Alva of Everett,

Wash.; Theodore T. Trier of Billings; and John R. Faber of Houston: Separator for desalting petroleum crude oils having rag layer withdrawal. 9,611,433, April 4, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co., Annandale, N.J. John Becker of Laurel: Extending light bulb replacing tool: 9,613,794, April 4. Jim Curtin of Pittsford, N.Y., and Paul Gleason of Bozeman: Military vest and quick release buckle with electrical connectors. 9,614,332, April 4, Mystery Ranch Ltd., Bozeman. Kevin A. Ames of Livingston and Michael C. Monaghan of Bozeman: Coupling of radio hardware with a mobile device acting as a software defined radio. 9,614,573, April 4, Beartooth Radio Inc., Bozeman. Raymond Bradley Melling of Manhattan, and Ross Forrest Walker and David j. Yakos, both of Helena: Hydration dispensing device. 9,615,649, April 11, Raymond Bradley Melling. Lloyd L. Lautzenhiser of Verdi, Nev., and Wade Wolf of Belgrad: Hydraulic pumping cylinder and method of pumping hydraulic fluid. 9,617,129, April 11, Brookfield Hunter

Inc., Belgrade. Alfredo M. Morales of Livermore, Calif.; Richard J. Anderson of Oakland, Calif.; Nancy Y. C. Yang of Lafayette, Calif.; Jack L. Skinner of Butte; and Michael J. Rye of Los Lunas, N.M.: Method to fabricate micro and nano diamond devices. 9,620,596, April 11, Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, N.M. Derek C. Tarrant of Kalispell: Flow cell with corrugated flow screen. 9,620,791, April 11, ViZn Energy Systems Inc., Columbia Falls. Kevin Alexander of Allyn, Wash.; Michael Bannerman of Ferndale, Wash.; Isaac Burbank of Oakland, Calif.; Braden Copple of Sultan, Wash.; Kyle Pease of Missoula: System and method for a dynamically configurable power distribution control and management system. 9,620,987, April 11, Eagle Harbor Holdings LLC, Bainbridge Island, Wash. Silas Smith of Dillon: Movable digital display for displaying scenes within a window frame. 9,622,360, April 11. Josh Hixon, Jason Maxwell and John Lucas Florin, all of Missoula: Ornamental design for a railing, as shown and described.

MONTANA PATENTS Below are listed U.S. patents issued to Montana inventors March 21-April 18, 2017. For assistance in patent filing, call Billings patent attorney Antoinette M. Tease at 406294-9000. Randy A. Harris and Bryan J. Puch, both of Kalispell: Electroplating apparatus with contact ring deplating. 9,598,788, March 21, Applied Materials Inc., Santa Clara, Calif. Aaron A. McGinty of Kalispell: Ambidextrous bolt catch and firearm. 9,599,419, March 21, Falkor Sid Inc., Kalispell. Timothy R. Feldman of Louisville, Colo.; James Prescott of Palo Alto, Calif.; and Martin R. Furuhjelm of Hamilton: Objectbased commands and functions. 9,600,555, March 21, Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, Calif. Toby F. Naylor of Belgrade and Jerry L. Byrd of Bozeman: Proxy spots feature for keno games. 9,600,973, March 21, IGT, Las Vegas. Collin Culdice of Lakeside: Ornamental design for a ring for furniture embedded cavity. D781,627, March 21, Blue Snow Montana Inc., Seattle. Garrett Moraski of Bozeman and Mar-

June 2017

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MONTANA PATENTS, CONTINUED D783,858, April 11, Everlast Climbing Industries Inc., Mendota Heights, Minn. Glen Babcock and Wendy Babcock Garrett, both of Missoula: Carbon dioxide supplementation product with delayed activation control. 9,622,421, April 18. Spencer Williams and Stephen Sanford, both of Bozeman, and Scott Ogeka of Belgrade: Two-part self-righting pet toy with internal gripper petals. 9,622,458, April 19,

Schoggi Inc., Bozeman. Brian Doerksen of Bartlesville, Okla.; John Ward, Rick Heniford and Richard Von Brecht, all of Katy, Texas; Scott Alexander of Billings; and Jorge Gonzalez of League City, Texas: Systems and methods for on-line pigging and spalling of coker furnace outlets. 9,623,453, Apirl 18, Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions Inc., Houston. Patrick DHooge of Lewistown: Tubular

connection refacing apparatus and methods. 9,623,485, April 19, Reface Systems LLC, Lewistown. Gary A. Strobel of Bozeman and Angela R. Tomsheck of Oilmont: System and method of producing volatile organic compounds from fungi. 9,624,515, April 18. Shaun Aird Cheney of Camarillo, Calif., and Landan Alan of Billings: Automated system for laying pipe. 9,625,056, April 18,

ISCO Industries Inc., Louisville, Ky. David H. Dean of Columbus, Ohio; Krishnamoorthy Subramanyan of Palatine, Ill.; Alexandros T. Moullas of Thessaloniki, Greece; and Robert A. Ratcheson of Hamilton: Methods and systems for producing an implant. 9,626,756, April 18, Osteoplastics LLC, Pepper Pike, Ohio. Diane W. Bayuk of Helena: Ornamental design of a flat bow. D784,190, April 18.

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS Addition 1108 24th St. W., Lutheran Church Of The Good Shepherd, Fisher Construction Inc., $3,000,000 Fence/Roof/Siding 411 S. 24th St. W., RZA Land LLC, Perfect 10 Roofing & Construction, $60,330 701 S. 27th St., State Of MT Department Of Administration, Summit Roofing Inc., $80,070 3000 King Ave. W., Billings Properties LLC, Kirkness Roofing Inc., $23,987 10 Avanta Way, D And D TF LLC, Randall Siding Co., $47,000 3209 Grand Ave., Calmont LLC, Hulteng Inc., $21,000 216 N. 28th St., Cormier, Patrick C., Gold Standard Roofing, $16,000 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $4,200 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $4,200 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $1,800 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $1,800 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity

At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $1,800 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $1,800 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $3,000 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Billings Mt 59106|Mtp-001-004a Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction Partial Tear Off Install 30 Yr $4,200 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $4,200 4215 Montana Sapphire Drive, Affinity At Billings LLC, Dependable And Professional Construction, $6,000 2339 Alderson Ave., M&G Casino Inc., C’s Construction Of Billings, $16,924 1652 Roadrunner Place, Bahr, Gayle A., Levi’s Roofing & Siding, $48,000 20 Shadow Place, Lund, Elinore B., To Jones Construction, $42,000

$50,000 1807 24th St. W., Valley Health Care Center LLC, Empire Roofing Inc., $204,000 1643 24th St. W., Allie, Nathan A., Foss Construction LLC, $50,000 3021 Colton Blvd., C&L Corp., Lyman Exteriors LLC, $25,300 325 S Billings Blvd., Gary L. Roll Revocable Trust, Lyman Exteriors LLC, $3,220 2334 Lewis Ave., Youth Dynamics Inc., Bruce Tall Construction And Design Inc., $15,000 1407 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming Plaza LLC, Donahue Roofing LLC, $27,141 3343 Racquet Drive, Sebree, Andrew, Levi’s Roofing & Siding, $28,000 New Store/Strip Center 921 Shiloh Crossing Blvd., Shiloh Crossing Partners II LLC, Langlas & Associates Inc., $409,500

2223 Montana Ave., 2223 Montana LLC, Diamond Construction Inc., $10,000 2334 Lewis Ave., Youth Dynamics Inc., Bruce Tall Construction And Design Inc., Windows $15,000 2323 Second Ave. N., Yellowstone County, DPS Co. LLC, $120,000 316 N. 26th St., Revx-694 LLC, $269,000 4002 Montana Sapphire Drive, Silvertip Holdings LLC, Westec Construction Management Co., $750,000 3900 Olympic Blvd., Wellshire Arms North LLC, Sunset Construction LLC, $3,700 1001 Shiloh Crossing Blvd., Shiloh Silver Screen Partners, Jones Construction Inc., $30,000 213 N. 29th St., Broadwater Property Management, Langlas & Assoc. Inc., $670,000 Remodel 1500 University Drive, State Of Montana, Ostlund’s Fire Protection, $10,000 1236 Ave. D., Shawn Shahan, Tight 4010 Montana Sapphire Drive, MillenLines Carpentry Of Montana LLC, $24,000 nium Circle LLC, $8,000 3803 Central Ave., Montana University New Other Remodel — Change In Use System For, Summit Roofing Inc., $417,495 2800 10th Ave. N., Deaconess Medical 1636 Main St., McDonalds Real Estate Center Of Billings, Yellowstone Electric 1528 24th St. W., Larson And Carpenter Co., Langlas & Associates Inc., $1,720,000 Co., $22,207 Partnership, AHB Construction, $6,000 730 Main St., First Interstate Bank Of 3005 First Ave. S., JEM LLC, EEC Inc., 100 Brookshire Blvd., Hanser Captial Commerce, Dick Anderson Construction, Holdings LLC, Comtech Inc., $2,500 $377,000 June 2017

9 Month Flex CD 0.75% APY

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Hilltop & Main 896-4800

Shiloh & Grand 655-3900

Downtown 655-2400

14th & Grand 371-8100

Worden 967-3612

Annual percentage yield accurate as of publication date. Offer valid through 8/31/2017. Non-institutional funds only. Opening balance minimum of $500.00. You may make unlimited deposits, minimum of $250 each during the initial term until 14 calendar days prior to maturity date or until the balance of your account reaches $100,000.00. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Automatically renews to a 12 month Flex CD. You will have 10 calendar days after the maturity date to change terms or withdraw funds without penalty. Stockman Bank, serving our neighbors with integrity since 1953.

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June 2017

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