Billings Business Apr. 14

5 MINUTES WITH

LAURA BRANDT

BILLINGS AMATEUR HOCKEY LEAGUE

FOR THE

HEALTH OF IT Area woman makes gluten-free bakery her own

ELICHAI FOWLER

ELICHAI FINE JEWELRY

April 2014

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

CONTENTS

april 2014

An indispensable business resource On the Cover Krista Stetson shows off gluten-free breads in her shop, Rae-Rae’s.

Photo by JAMES WOODCOCK

FEATURES

Cover story: For the health of it......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Gluten-free products a fast-growing segment in food

Custom pursuit.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Jeweler always had his sights on running his own business

Moving west......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Growth on Shiloh Road leads to expansion for Stockman Bank

Fast start.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Lucky’s Market opens in Billings

Construction Zone......................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Anytime Fitness, Grace Montessori

Commercial & Residential

Columns

Flood or Fire, we will restore your property from beginning to end.

Economic Development..........................................................................................................................................................................10 Melanie Schwarz - Health care summit will gauge industry’s economic impact

Lucky’s Market opens in Billings Page 24

24 Hour Emergency Flood & Fire Restoration Services

Strategies for Success.............................................................................................................................................................................17 Joe Michels - In marketing, sometimes it pays to think outside the box

Marketing Cooler.............................................................................................................................................................................................20 Dana Pulis - Bad PR can sink your company; Here’s hot to avoid the hit

Sales Moves...........................................................................................................................................................................................................21 Jeffery Gitomer - Want to leave a legacy? Then get busy writing

Outdoor Business............................................................................................................................................................................................22 Jeff Welch - Montana’s outdoors needs a champion: How about you, tourism industry?

Travel & Leisure.................................................................................................................................................................................................39 Billie Ruff - Hyatt Andaz, a boutique hotel, provides a new niche for business, leisure travel billings BUSINESS EVERY MONTH

Complete Reconstruction Licensed • Bonded • Insured Preferred by Major Insurance Companies.

406-628-0178

—24 hour contact line—

www.alphaomegapros.com

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

Five Minutes with............................................................................................................................................................................................15 Laura Brandt - Billings Amateur Hockey League

Chamber News.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Bruce MacIntyre - Chamber favors state-based plan for protecting sage grouse

Success Stories.................................................................................................................................................................................................41 Page 15 Laura Brandt

Business Briefs..................................................................................................................................................................................................42 The Listings............................................................................................................................................................................................................44

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Billings Business is mailed each month to area business owners, managers and decision makers for $19.95 per year.

To subscribe, please send payment, name, business name, mailing address and phone number to:

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Billingsbusiness

April 2014

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the editor

E SPECIALLY THIS YEAR , BUSINESSES EAGERLY

April 2014 • VOLUME 20 • NUMBER 5

AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING

mike gulledge tom howard COPY EDITOR chris jorgensen GENERAL MANAGER allyn hulteng PUBLISHER

Welcome to spring. By the time you read this, the polar vortex will be a fading memory, and those 6-foottall piles of snow that have accumulated in every parking lot in town will have melted and washed down the storm drain.

OK, maybe not.

When you consider that some of the worst blizzards in Montana history have struck weeks after the vernal equinox, it’s possible that winter isn’t quite ready to let go. The biggest storm in Billings history occurred on April 2-5, 1955, when 42 inches of snow fell. That single event accounted for more snow than even the 37 inches that fell during the record snowfall month last February.

Another memorable storm struck during the third week of April in 1984. At least three people in northeastern Wyoming perished after being stranded in the storm, and thousands of head of livestock died. Red Lodge received 73 inches of snowfall, and drifts reached 10 feet high.

Although it seems obvious, economists like to remind us that retail sales are closely correlated with weather, and we’re not just talking about sales of snow shovels and rock salt.

U.S. auto sales reached 15.6 million in 2013, up 7.6 percent from 2012. But car sales hit the ditch during the first two months of 2014 when blizzards pummeled wide sections of the East and Midwest and temperatures plunged below zero. Can you blame people for not feeling like shopping?

Home construction is off to a slower start in Billings this year, with 32 single-family homes permitted in January and February, compared to 58 for the same period last year, a decline of 44 percent.

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Of course the tough winter is a factor, but many real estate professionals are expecting a big boom in activity this spring because of pent-up demand for people who couldn’t get out earlier in the year.

On Feb. 26, in the midst of a nasty, snowy cold snap, Billings Realtor Damian Forrester encouraged his Facebook friends to think about spring. His post included a photo that shows a dazzling sea of flowers in the foreground with the Grand Tetons in the background.

“Let’s think about the cooped up Cabin Fever Real Estate Buyers and Sellers out there ready to jump in and Buy and Sell Homes. THINK POSITIVE, it’s going to be an AMAZING 2014!!!!!” Forrester wrote.

Stephanie Patterson, an agent with Prudential Floberg Realtors and the current president of the Billings Association of Realtors, said the local housing market always picks up this time of year, regardless of whether the previous winter was brutal or mild.

One of the biggest factors in the current market is that there just aren’t a lot of homes for sale, Patterson said.

“When inventory is low, people typically wait until spring to list their homes,” she said. But when the new listings hit, you can expect to see plenty of interest.

Mark Hedin, who has been running the Home Improvement Show at MetraPark for 30 years, said a tough winter almost always gives people extra incentive to check out new home-oriented products and services at the big trade show. And when there’s a touch of spring in the air, people flock to MetraPark.

“Everyone is so ready for spring to be here,” Hedin said.

Amen to that. But just to be on the safe side, don’t put the snow shovel away yet.

EDITOR

SALES

dave worstell ryan brosseau RETAIL SALES MANAGER shelli scott ADVERTISING SALES gail ball ADVERTISING COORDINATOR linsay duty

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR CLASSIFIED MANAGER/ONLINE MANAGER

PRODUCTION

DESIGNER

alyssa small bob tambo

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

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 North Broadway Billings, MT 59101 ADVERTISING For retail advertising call Gail Ball 657-1284. For classified advertising, call 657-1212. Advertising deadline for the May 2014 issue is 5 p.m. Friday, April 4. You may send material to ads@billingsbusiness.com or FAX to 657-1538.

NEWS If you would like to submit a news tip, story idea, announcement about your business or press release, please e-mail 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.

BILLINGSbusiness

Personal

By the Numbers

Business

LocaL and regionaL economic trends

real estate Member FDIC

agriculture King Ave 655-2700

Hilltop & Main 896-4800

Shiloh & Grand 655-3900

Downtown 655-2400

www.stockmanbank.com

14th & Grand 371-8100

Unemployment

Green Acres

Note: No Sept. 2013 unemployment figures were reported due to government shutdown.

10

In 2011, Montana had 55,063 acres of certified organic wheat under cultivation. That represents 16 percent of the nation’s 335,829 acres of certified organic wheat.

Worden 967-3612

8 6 4 2 0

May

June

July

August

Montana

October

Yellowstone County

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Source: Montana Department of Labor and Industry

Billings housing starts

National park recreation visitors

New single-family home building permits

1,000,000

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

350

400,000

200 150

200,000

100

58

50 October

November

December

Sept. 2012 - Feb. 2013

January

February

2013

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Aug. Sept.

Yellowstone National Park

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Glacier National Park

Aug. 2012 to Jan. 2013

2014

Aug. 2013 to Jan. 2014

Source: National Park Service

Ag prices

Airport boardings 60,000

Montana Beef Cattle

(per bushel)

(per cwt.)

50,000

$150

$10 8

120

6

90

4

60

2

30

0

0

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Sept. 2012 to Feb. 2013 Sept. 2013 to Feb. 2014 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Billingsbusiness

Aug. Sept.

YTD Through Feb. 28

Sept. 2013 - Feb. 2014

Montana winter wheat

Oct.

0

32

Source: City of Billings

Sept.

U.S.

600,000

250

September

December

800,000

300

0

November

Feb.

August

September

October

November

December

January

Billings

Bozeman

Missoula

Aug. 2012 to Jan. 2013 Aug. 2013 to Jan. 2014

Aug. 2012 to Jan. 2013 Aug. 2013 to Jan. 2014

Aug. 2012 to Jan. 2013 Aug. 2013 to Jan. 2014

Source: Montana Department of Transportation

April 2014

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FOR THE

HEALTH OF IT Gluten-free products a fast-growing segment in food

Photo by JAMES WOODCOCK Krista Stetson shows off gluten-free breads in her shop, Rae-Rae’s.

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BILLINGSbusiness

Photo by JAMES WOODCOCK Krista Stetson makes a variety of gluten-free products in her shop, Rae-Rae’s Bakery.

By TOM HOWARD

F requent migraine headaches made K rista S tetson ’ s life miserable from the time she was a teenager .

“It would put me out for two days at a time,” she said. “I had blurry vision and would throw up.”

She visited doctors, took over-the-counter pain medications and tried altering her diet, but nothing seemed to help.

She visited doctors, took over-the-counter pain medications and tried altering her diet, but nothing seemed to help.

While seeking help for her own health issues, Stetson’s mother, Tina, learned from a doctor that she had gluten intolerance. It means she has trouble digesting gluten, a type of protein that’s present in wheat, barley, rye and is a common ingredient in many processed foods.

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Tina Stetson decided to try a gluten-free diet. After a while, she suggested that Krista should follow suit.

“I thought she was crazy because I’m a bread lover,” Stetson said, explaining her initial skepticism. But after giving the nogluten routine a try, she noticed an immediate improvement in her health.

“I didn’t have one migraine after that,” she said. At one point, Stetson went off the gluten-free wagon for a short time, and the migraines returned with a vengeance.

Over the past two years, Stetson’s life has change dramatically. She went from being a skeptic of the gluten-free movement

to a business owner participating in one of the fastest growing trends in the food industry.

Once relegated to the back corner of health food stores, gluten-free products have gone main stream. They’re now found in virtually every supermarket. Many restaurants feature glutenfree options, and the nation’s largest food processors have thrown their marketing muscle behind gluten-free products.

The market research firm Mintel estimates that sales of gluten-free products reached $10.5 billion last year, and the category’s double-digit growth rate is expected to continue this year.

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Photo by JAMES WOODCOCK Rae Rae’s Bakery offers a variety of gluten-free baked goods. Krista Stetson has adapted a few family receipes to be gluten-free.

For Stetson, a change in lifestyle led to a career change.

“We have a family friend who had a glutenfree bakery and we started buying her breads.

She decided to sell, and we bought it.” The business, now known as Rae Rae’s bakery in Whitefish, has been around since 2012.

After moving to Billings recently, Stetson opened a second Rae Rae’s Bakery — both businesses are named after her daughter — at 1310 Main St. The store offers a variety of gluten-free baked goods such as bread, muffins, scones, cupcakes and frozen pizza

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dough. Besides selling to the public from her storefront, Stetson has also been looking into distributing her baked products to retailers.

Many of the recipes that Stetson uses were acquired from the previous owner, but she has also put a gluten-free spin on family recipes.

On a February morning, she whipped together a batch of gluten-free cinnamon rolls that contain eggs, sugar, butter, yeast and other traditional ingredients. The only departure from the family recipe was the gluten-free flour made from a mixture of soy, millet, amaranth and flax. Xanthan gum, another key

ingredient used in many gluten-free baked goods, acts as a binder and emulsifier, Stetson said.

Doctors recommend a gluten-free diet for people who have been diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune reaction that results from an intolerance to gluten. Over time, this reaction causes inflammation, damages the small intestine’s lining and prevents the absorption of some nutrients.

A Mayo Clinic survey from 2012 found that about 1.8 million Americans have celiac disease, but an additional 18 million people are

believed to have gluten sensitivity.

Stetson said she often hears from customers who have gone gluten free as a way to address joint pain and other health issues.

The explosion in gluten-free products bears many similarities to earlier food fads that have come and gone as consumers search for ways to improve their health by altering their diet. Twenty years ago, oat bran found its way into bagels, granola bars, breakfast cereals and other baked goods after some medical studies suggested it helps to lower cholesterol.

Low-fat diets first popularized during the

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“When you look at where organic food was 20 years ago, it was pretty small, but it’s grown tremendously, and big companies are buying out small organic companies. I believe the gluten-free trend will continue because there are so many health benefits.”

—Tiffany Lach, owner, Sola Café

‘80s gave way to the low-carb craze of a decade ago, which may have peaked in popularity when fast-food restaurants began offering their burgers on lettuce leaves instead of buns.

Since then the Mediterranean diet and the paleo diet — which advocates limiting food to what was available to prehistoric humans — have seen a place at the table.

Joshua Jackson, manager of Good Earth Market, said the current enthusiasm for gluten-free foods is part of a larger trend in which people are seeking healthier foods.

Many people who have gone gluten free are rejecting highly processed foods. Many have discovered that eliminating gluten makes them feel better, he said.

Billings dietitian Dayle Hayes said the growing popularity of a gluten-free diet is a manifestation of Americans’ cyclical relationship with food.

People who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten intolerance clearly need to avoid foods that include gluten, Hayes said.

“People go gluten free and hope to lose weight or that it will make them feel better,” Hayes said. However, there’s little evidence that a gluten-free diet helps people lose weight, she said.

Likewise, some have claimed that a glutenfree diet can help treat a wide variety of afflictions, such as ADHD or autism. But there’s no scientific evidence tht a gluten-free diet can treat either one, Hayes said.

And just because a food says it’s gluten free doesn’t mean it’s good for you. “Gluten-free chips are still chips,” Hayes said.

Nevertheless, gluten-free foods are catching on.

When Tiffany Lach opened Sola Café in

Bozeman in 2008, about 5 percent of her baked goods were gluten free. Today, more than a quarter of her baked goods are gluten free.

“It’s pretty remarkable,” Lach said. “A lot of people have discovered they have gluten intolerance. But a lot of people say they just feel better by eating gluten free.”

Sola provides 20 different gluten-free products, from pastries to sandwiches, she said.

Sola’s traditional baked goods are baked with organic, non-GMO flour. And to prevent cross contamination, gluten-free products are prepared and baked using separate utensils, Lach said.

She doesn’t put much stock into the notion that the gluten-free movement is a passing fad.

“When you look at where organic food was 20 years ago, it was pretty small, but it’s grown tremendously, and big companies are buying out small organic companies,” Lach said. “I believe the gluten-free trend will continue because there are so many health benefits.”

Bruce Wright, owner of Montana Gluten Free, said the Belgrade business’s sales nearly doubled last year and could double again this year due to the popularity of gluten-free diets.

Montana Gluten Free produces cereal, oat bran, baking mixes and sells its gluten-free grains to food processors.

“It’s getting more notice. We’ve gained more attention, and we’re getting on people’s radar,” Wright said.

Even people who don’t have celiac disease will appreciate Montana Gluten Free’s products, Wright said. “It’s just good food.”

Building a

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Hilltop & Main 896-4800

Shiloh & Grand 655-3900

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Ranking based on market-share reports gathered by Rocky Mountain Statistics (RMS) Information Services. © 2014 Stockman Bank | Member FDIC

Billingsbusiness

www.stockmanbank.com April 2014

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SPONSORED BY THE big sky economic development

H ealth care summit will gauge industry ’ s economic impact ... if you live in a rural area, having Billings as the health care center makes a tremendous difference during a health care need or crisis.

Melanie Schwarz Melanie Schwarz is the member investor director at Big Sky Economic Development. Reach her at 869-8419 or by e-mail at melanie@bigskyeda.og.

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Over the past several years, the Billings community has seen a strong and steady investment in the health care corridor. The growth has made Billings a preferred destination for most health care needs.

Gone are the days of making the long trip to Denver, Seattle or Salt Lake City for advanced procedures or treatment. Most Billings residents enjoy this world-class care without giving it a second thought.

But, if you live in a rural area, having Billings as the health care center makes a tremendous difference during a health care need or crisis. Making up 15 percent of Yellowstone County’s economic base, health care also plays a pivotal role in the economic health of our community.

Billings truly is a regional center for health care services, home to world-class hospitals, leading community-based health care, a top-ranked university and private college, senior health care/living facilities, veteran’s health services, Native American health services and numerous business partners.

In addition to having excellent care and numerous options, this sector is also a huge economic driver for Yellowstone County and the surrounding region. For every dollar spent in health care, approximately $7 is spent in the community. This includes con-

struction, retail, restaurants, hospitality and secondary-care providers, to name a few. Really, there is no business not touched by the work being done by our health care partners.

Big Sky Economic Development is very interested in this growing part of our community and will be spending the next several months working with a research team out of the University of Montana to understand the economic footprint of health care in Yellowstone County.

The health care sector in Billings has a large footprint, both geographically and economically. Geographically, Billings’ health care providers serve an area that includes roughly half of Montana and parts of Wyoming and North Dakota. Economically, total health care spending in Billings exceeds $1 billion per year, and approximately one out of every 10 workers in the Billings metro area works in the health care sector.

Specifically the research team will analyze: n The impact of Billings’ health care sector on regional economic activity (i.e., the number of jobs and incomes that can be traced to the health care sector); n The contribution of the Billings’ health care sector to the region’s economic capacity (e.g., the ability to promote

health and well-being among the region’s population, particularly its workforce, in a relatively efficient manner); and n Projected trends in Billings’ health care sector.

This information will be shared with the community during the first Big Sky Business Health Care Summit

coming July 9-10 to Billings. In cooperation with our partners and the governor’s office, this event is designed specifically for business leaders, owners, managers and entrepreneurs.

We will showcase the economic footprint of health care and provide speakers, breakouts, panels and tours around

f I n a n C I n G M O n ta n a BuSIneSS OppOrtunItIeS

three main areas of interest: economic impact, innovation and education. Be watching for more information about this “first of its kind” business and health care summit or contact Melanie Schwarz at melanie@bigskyeda.org if you would like to join in our planning efforts.

N EED So m E

Do u G H?

g r e at h a r v e s t b r e a d c o .

Starting with the right dough makes all the difference.

Just ask Bryan and Susie Layton. Just a couple bites in and you’ll understand Great Harvest Bread Company’s passion for great bread.

Big Sky Economic Development is proud to have partnered with Stockman Bank in providing financing for Great Harvest’s new expansion. Looking to grow your business?

Contact Big Sky Economic Development today!

406. 256.6871

W W W.BIGSK Y504.COM Billingsbusiness

The

Gamma Knife is here!

Brain Surgery without Surgery

Illustration courtesy of Elekta

The only Gamma Knife in 5 states!

The Gamma Knife – the alternative to traditional brain surgery.

Gamma Knife Perfexion® radiosurgery – now available at Billings Clinic – is the most advanced treatment available for brain cancers, as well as select functional disorders. There is no scalpel, no incision, and no general anesthesia. Most patients are treated during a single outpatient session and resume normal activities within a day or so. Treatment is coordinated by our highly-trained team of specialists and delivered using nearly 200 very small beams of radiation focused on a precise location, or target, within the brain – often reaching regions of the brain where traditional surgery may be too risky. The shape and dose of the radiation is optimized to hit only the target, without damaging surrounding tissue.

For more information, call (406) 255-8400 or 1-800-252-1246. billingsclinic.com/gammaknife

Billings Clinic Gamma Knife Team (pictured L-R): Mark Piedra, MD, Neurosurgery; John Schallenkamp, MD, Radiation Oncology; Dennis Cheek, PhD, Medical Physics (not pictured): Eugen Dolan, MD, Neurosurgery; Miguel Lopez-Gonzalez, MD, Neurosurgery; Christopher Goulet, MD, Radiation Oncology; Michelle Proper, MD, Radiation Oncology; Christopher Veale, MS, Medical Physics Billingsbusiness

April 2014

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SPECIAL REPORT: entrepreneurship TRENDS, FORECASTS & PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES

Custom

Pursuit

Jeweler always had his sights on running his own business

Photo by LARRY MAYER Master jeweler Elichai Fowler is shown with one of his creations. The necklace, known as Tropical Garden, was made from about a dozen pieces of jewelery that a customer brought to him.

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Billingsbusiness

ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY THE NUMBERS SPONSORED BY

Study: Entrepreneurs optimistic about economy Business owners are growing confident about their prospects in 2014.

Photo courtesy of Elichai Fowler Elichai Fowler often makes sketches and paintings of his custom-made jewelry

BY TOM HOWARD T HROUGHOUT HIS EXTENDED TRAINING , E LICHAI F OWLER KNEW THAT SOONER OR LATER HE WOULD OWN HIS OWN CUSTOM JEWELRY BUSINESS .

He made his future career intentions clear during his apprenticeship with Bozeman jeweler Don Baide.

“When Don hired me, he knew right from the get-go that I wanted to run my own business,” Fowler said. “I trained and worked real hard for him, and went on to engraving school and gemology school and advanced training with a French designer.”

In the seven years that Elichai Fine Jewelry has been in business, Fowler has developed a reputation as an innovative designer and craftsman who goes to great lengths to please his customers.

BILLINGSbusiness

The business, www.elichai.com, operates out of a storefront in Livingston. Fowler also has a design studio and a private workshop in Billings, where he lives.

Most people probably don’t realize that Fowler spends a lot of time reworking older jewelry into new pieces, a sort of high-fashion recycling.

“About half of my work is redos,” he said. “I have clients who have inherited stuff or have bought so much over their lifetimes that they have a fair collection of jewelry that they just never wear, but it’s still valuable. I sit down with

them, interview them and try to figure out their style, what they like, who they are, what their lifestyle is like. Then I design things, sketch things for them.”

Architects and engineers retired their drafting tables and T-squares long ago with the advent of digital design software. Likewise, computer-aided design and manufacturing software is commonly used in the jewelry industry.

“When the job merits it, we’ll use CAD/CAM,” Fowler said, but he added that he still prefers designing by hand.

Hand-drawn sketches depicting different iterations of rings, bracelets and

Ninety-one percent of entrepreneurs were confident or very confident that companies’ profitability would increase during the next year, according to a recent survey conducted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and LegalZoom.

“These findings reflect increasing positive economic news suchas the falling unemployment rate,” said Dane Stangler, vice president of research Policy at The Kauffman Foundation.

“This jump in optimism among entrepreneurs is a good sign for the economy because, despite the recovery, we need more entrepreneurial growth.”

Montana continues to lead the nation in entrepreneurship. A 2012 study, also conducted by the Kauffman Foundation, found that there were 530 entrepreneurs per 100,000 people, well above the national average of 300 business owners per 100,000 population.

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SPECIAL REPORT: entrepreneurship TRENDS, FORECASTS & PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES

necklaces fill his sketchbooks and also appear on his Facebook page.

When he’s designing a ring, for example, Fowler will often draw two or three different styles as a way to get a sense of the customer’s style.

“We continue designing and drawing, even if it means sending them an email or a text with a photo,” he said.

Custom wedding rings make up a significant portion of Fowler’s portfolio. For customers who don’t wear a lot of jewelry, he’ll also do custom engraving on knives, pens or guns. A customer looking for a unique gift once asked Fowler to make him a unique gift for his wife. Fowler had a Glock pistol powder coated pink. He boosted the bling factor by mounting a diamond on the gun’s slide.

Fowler has done a lot of work with palladium, the main product from Stillwater Mining Co.’s mine near Nye. “Palladium is a fine metal, but my favorite silver metal is platinum,” another product of Stillwater Mining Co., he said.

One of Fowler’s recent signature pieces was created for a customer who brought in about a dozen pieces of jewelry that she had acquired over the years but didn’t wear anymore.

He reworked that collec-

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“We continue designing and drawing, even if it means sending them an email or a text with a photo.”

— Elichai Fowler

tion into a stunning necklace studded with emeralds, rubies surrounded by a sea of around 1,200 white and yellow diamonds. It hangs around the wearer’s neck on a diamond-

to shorten the velvet a little.

She’s so happy that she wanted me to sign it on the back.”

Fowler doesn’t sign every piece he makes. For example, if somebody asks him to design a generic piece, it goes unsigned. “And sometimes I just forget,” he said.

As a child, Fowler always displayed his creative side by drawing. He got his start in metal work in Ken Denning’s art classes at West High.

“I took a metals class and Mr. Denning was kind enough to let me stay after hours to teach me advanced techniques,” he said. “He gave me Fowler often sketches and paints his pieces as part of the design process for custom jewelry. a high recommendation for Montana State and I attended studded red velvet rope. stones,” he said. “We reused her there as an advanced student.”

Fowler spent hundreds of own materials.”

In Fowler’s business, the dehours perfecting the piece, The customer wore the sign process is just as important which he calls Tropical Garden. necklace to a party recently and as the final product.

“It was a fun piece. But I was “absolutely thrilled,” Fowl“I love working with people didn’t sell her gold or gemer said. “She just wanted me on custom projects,” he said.

Billingsbusiness

Laura Brandt

The puck starts here

By TOM HOWARD C anadian teams won gold medals in both men ’ s and women ’ s hockey at the S ochi W inter O lympics .

B ut it would be wrong to assume that C anadians have cornered the market on dedication to this fast - paced game of sticks , pucks and nets . M ontana hockey parents aren ’ t afraid to pack their youngsters into the minivan and ferry them to games halfway across the state .

Laura Brandt’s own enthusiasm for hockey provided her with a good background for running the Billings Amateur Hockey League, which owns the Centennial Ice Arena. She set up an internship at the rink during her final semester studying business at Montana State University Billings, and she jumped at the chance to be director when the position opened after graduation.

Brandt visited with Billings Business recently to talk about a surprisingly vibrant hockey culture in Billings.

Could you provide a little information on the state of youth hockey in Billings? Is the sport growing?

Youth hockey in Billings, and all across Montana, has varied over the years. As a whole, ice hockey in Montana and Billings is growing right now. We have been retaining more players as well as gaining more new players over the last several years. I believe the efforts that USA Hockey, state and local organizations are making in cleaning up the game is helping the sport grow.

What are the biggest challenges that you’ve faced working for a nonprofit? Did your studies in business school prepare you?

All of the challenges were expected. It can be challenging to work under a board and not be able to make some decisions quickly because it has to go through a group of people for approval first. There is judgment in everything, and I sometimes find it difficult to find a balance with what decisions can be handled without approval and which ones can’t.

Business school helped prepare me for some of the diversity that comes with my job. While I feel more nonprofit-specific education would have been helpful,

Billingsbusiness

I received enough of a business base that I could have been a lot worse off coming into this position than I was.

Girls started flocking to soccer programs in the wake of the U.S. women’s World Cup victory in 1999. Are there indications that the success of the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team, which won the silver medal in Sochi, had a similar effect on girl’s hockey?

It is very possible that ice sports will see a spike in interest following the Olympics. The media putting women athletes and sports in a positive spotlight will help the sports continue to grow, especially in hockey, where it historically was thought of as a man’s game.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White just won a gold medal in ice dancing. Will we see more kids take an interest in figure skating?

This is quite likely. However, it can be a challenge to get as much growth in areas like Montana because most arenas are not year-round.

How did you get started in hockey? Do you still play?

I started playing hockey because my best friend and older sister played and I wanted to try. Mom said no and Dad signed me up anyway. There was no turning back.

I still play in the Magic City Adult Hockey League and every chance I get with the various groups that play and participate in adult tournaments. I hope to play until I am no longer able to.

Photo by LARRY MAYER

April 2014

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

SPONSORED BY THE BILLINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CVB

April Business After Hours

MIND CAPTURE

Wednesday, April 9 Elichai Fine Jewelry at Hilton Garden Inn 2465 Grant Road, 5-7 p.m.

Customer Service Training, Featuring Tony Robleski Tuesday, April 8 8:30 – 10:30 a.m., Hampton Inn and Suites $40/person or $35/person for 5+ company group

Trailhead Classic Golf Tournament

C HAMBER FAVORS STATE - BASED PLAN

Presented by Vertex Consulting Group Friday, May 9, at The Briarwood 7:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. shotgun starts

FOR PROTECTING SAGE GROUSE

The Chamber suggests the best position for Montana is to be closely aligned with the plan requirements in Wyoming.

Bruce MacIntyre Bruce MacIntyre is director of business advocacy and government affairs for the Billings Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau. Contact him at 406-869-3723 or at bruce@billingschamber.com.

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An issue plaguing agriculture, energy development and environmentalists today is the preservation of the sage-grouse, a bird with breeding habitat in plains and grasslands through the upper northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, California, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and Montana.

Because the birds nest on the ground under sagebrush or in grass patches, their habitat can be threatened by development. Habitat concerns are leading to a very real threat that sage grouse could be listed under the Endangered Species Act and the result would dramatically impact the energy and agriculture sectors of Montana’s economy.

The Billings Chamber will continue to be a strong supporter of agriculture and energy growth and development, and wants to see that protecting sage grouse does not significantly affect the economic future of our partners in Eastern Montana and the regional economy.

Recent figures show the sage grouse population has dropped to a current range of from 200,000 to 500,000, and a significant contributor to the drop is the loss of

habitat (nesting areas). There is a growing movement on the federal level to make sage grouse an endangered species in 10 western states. It affects the nesting areas and the impacted areas are substantial, particularly in Eastern Montana, western North Dakota and most of Wyoming.

This habitat issue is widespread and diverse, affecting each area differently. Not all areas in these states have significant losses in population. In fact, there is a significant sage grouse population in Eastern Montana. Thus a blanket, federal mandate is not the best solution. Sage grouse are an endangered species in a very small area of California and Nevada, not a comprehensive 10-state area.

Recently, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock appointed a sage grouse habitat conservation advisory council to develop a strategy with the goal of avoiding a threatened or endangered listing by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Chamber suggests the best position for Montana is to be closely aligned with the plan requirements in Wyoming. Wyoming’s plan, providing a comprehensive strategy to protect sage grouse, is approved by the USFWS. We also believe

that the cost of not imposing a state-based plan, and instead facing a federal listing of the sage grouse to the endangered list, would be detrimental to the energy activities generating the substantial portion of Montana’s tax revenue.

The solution must include measures that adequately

protect sage grouse habitat and preserve the economic activities that Montana relies on. In Montana, sage grouse can be hunted with an upland bird license. Statewide regulation allows us to maintain the unique needs of our state and economy without sacrificing an important species.

By developing our own plan

we hope to circumvent a more devastating potential outcome if federal requirements are implemented.

For more information go to http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/ sageGrouse/ or weigh in at ChamberListens.com. http:// www.billingschamber.com/ chamber-listens/.

Presenting Sponsor

BillingsChamber.com

Trailhead Classic Golf TournamenT may 9th

| Briarwood Golf Club

Shotgun starts at 7:30 am or 1:30 pm $500 /team of 4 | (single spots available) visit BillingsChamber.com for more info

BILLINGSbusiness

STRATEGIES for success

I n marketing , sometimes it pays to think outside the box What was so exciting in this particular campaign was not only the joy and excitement that the bank officials had, but the customers got a free cup of coffee.

Joe Michels Joe Michels, PhD, P.E., C.P.I., is principal of Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC. Contact him at 406-672-6387 or at www. solomonbruce.com.

Billingsbusiness

A business colleague called the other day to suggest we have a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

When I arrived, there were lots of people, someone holding the door open and lots of people coming and going. What I did not know was that one of the regional banks holds a “Free Stabucks” promotion at this particular store every third Friday from 7 to 9 a.m.

A manager told me the bank’s marketing department was interested in reaching a broader customer demographic than they were currently reaching.

The bank had an advertising budget. However, many of the bank’s new trainees were avid Starbucks customers. They probably acquired the habit during long nights in college. The advertising director suggested that perhaps one way to reach a broader customer demographic was to try something different. If all of the new bank trainees liked Starbucks, perhaps this might be a new way to reach new clients.

A cost analysis was done comparing the Free Starbucks campaign and the cost of a billboard in the local community. The cost analysis determined that it was cheaper to do the Starbucks promotion.

Also, by having an incentive drawing, a $25 gift card to Starbucks, the bank was

able to obtain email addresses of potential new clients.

Here is what I observed: Many people came into the Starbucks store for their morning coffee fix. Yes, some people knew about the bank promotion. However, there were many who did not and were genuinely surprised that the bank was offering free coffee. Bank staff circulated, as best they could, telling potential clients about certain products that were available at the bank.

This particular Star-

bucks store attracted the demographic that the bank was seeking as new customers. In the words of the late Stephen Covey, this was a win-win program.

Starbucks seemed to underestimate the need for additional service staff this particular Thursday. It was not uncommon for the wait line to back up 20-25 people, with three servers working as hard as they could to fulfill customer orders.

The bank’s regional market president told me that they will continue to do this pro-

motion but will work with Starbucks to ensure that more staff is available next time in order to reduce client wait time.

You can do this with your business as well. It doesn’t have to be a bank and a coffee purveyor. It could be any type of business which you wish to partner with that has a similar customer demographic which you wish to service. The ideas are endless.

Most individuals like coffee in the morning, and this is a great way to use a

cross-marketing approach with a national or even a local coffee shop to increase business for both parties.

What was so exciting in this particular campaign was not only the joy and excitement that the bank officials had, but the customers got a free cup of coffee.

Think about it. You might want to talk to a local business to see if there is synergy in a promotion such as this.

It just might prove to be more cost-effective than using other forms of advertising.

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moving west

G rowth on S hiloh R oad leads to expansion for S tockman B ank

Photo by CASEY PAGE Stockman Bank at 1450 Shiloh Road has been expanded to accommodate a growing part of Billings.

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Billingsbusiness

B y TOM HOWARD

“We were pioneers out there. When we built that bank,

When Stockman Bank opened a branch at 1450 Shiloh Road 12 years ago, employees sometimes joked about working at a frontier outpost.

At the time, Shiloh Road was a narrow, two-lane road that wasn’t quite ready to handle the additional traffic generated by a community steadily expanding toward the west.

“We were pioneers out there,” said Wayne Nelson, Billings market president for Stockman Bank. “When we built that bank, it was a little smaller. It was built in order to deal with our customers in the northwestern part of the city.”

Fast-forward a dozen years and it’s clear that Stockman Bank was in the right place at the right time.

“We knew that growth was headed that way. It was a location we liked, and obviously the growth has come around,” Nelson said.

About the time that Stockman Bank

it was a little smaller. It was built in order to deal with our customers in the northwestern part of the city.”

—Wayne Nelson

Billings market president Stockman Bank completed its Shiloh branch, the Montana Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration embarked on an environmental assessment to explore options for improving Shiloh Road. Studies at the time showed that traffic would increase from about 13,000 vehicles per day in 2002 to 40,000 vehicles per day by 2027.

After extensive study, the final design

for the Shiloh Road expansion included building eight roundabouts to improve safety and ease traffic flow. Shiloh Road was completed in 2010 at a cost of $48 million. The project helped unleash a new era of growth.

“Since we built out there, several subdivisions have been developed in that part of town, and most of them have filled up,” Nelson said. “And when you think about

it, the growth along Shiloh isn’t done.

When you think about the housetops that have grown up around there the last 12 years, it’s incredible.”

The growth means more business at Stockman’s Shiloh Branch.

“The branch is a full-service bank and we needed more people there,” Nelson said. After the lunch room and even a closet were converted for work space, managers decided that an expansion was in order.

Work on the 2,300-square-foot addition began last summer and was completed in early 2014. CTA Architects Engineers did the design, and Hardy Construction was the general contractor.

Stockman’s renovation of its Shiloh branch is part of a multiyear expansion in Billings. Last year, Stockman opened a new branch at 14th Street West and Grand Avenue. In 2012, Stockman completed a branch in downtown Billings.

And for the Shiloh Road branch, it’s no longer the frontier.

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Billingsbusiness

travelcafeonline.com 406-259-0999 April 2014

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MARKETINGcooler

B ad PR can sink your company ; H ere ’ s how to avoid the hit

Be a part of the conversation.

A well-crafted response from your business can both build your brand and protect it.

Dana Pulis Dana Pulis is CEO/founder of Kinetic Marketing Group, www.Kineticmg.com.

Contact her at info@kineticmg.com or 406-651-2000.

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The maker of SpaghettiOs makes an ill-conceived Pearl Harbor tweet. Lululemon CEO Chip Wilson’s comments about how “some women’s bodies just don’t work” with his company’s pants. Reports that most Yahoo! employees don’t use Yahoo! for their personal accounts.

Applebee’s social media suicide.

And lest we forget…the rollout known as “Obamacare.”

What do all of these things have in common? Each gave rise to a public relations firestorm, some that are still smoldering — if not still burning — today.

They’ve led to people stepping down or being fired, as well as millions of dollars worth of brand damage.

In October, Deloitte released the eighth edition of Global Risk Management Survey. This study demonstrated that damage to a company’s reputation is a company’s number-one strategic risk. This is particularly critical in light of the fact that just three years ago, reputational damage was listed as the third of six strategic concerns.

“The rise of reputation as the prime strategic risk is a natural reaction to recent high profile reputational crises, as well as the speed of digital and social media and the potential loss of control that accompanies it,” explained Henry Ristuccia, Deloitte Global Leader, Governance, Risk and Compliance.

The only sector where reputation hasn’t risen as a strategic risk factor is financial services where it was already No. 1 following the financial crisis and subsequent fallout.

As business owners, we like to believe that we have control over our company, its brand and its reputation. This may

have been true in the pre-digital business environment. One ill-fated comment, post, photograph, video or other online interaction by an employee or ourselves can spread to thousands in mere seconds and millions in minutes.

In the last two years, our company has seen a sharp rise in the number of client inquiries and work performed in strategic reputation management.

Companies that never would have thought they were at risk are finding themselves asking, “What if?”

So what should a business do? Refuse to engage online?

Even if you were to set such a policy, conversations about you will happen whether or not you are the one leading them.

Instead, here’s what I suggest.

Treat risk management as what it is—strategic management. Just as you have a strategy for dealing with sales, distribution or a host of other business systems. Develop a plan now that will allow you to act in the future. A growing number of large companies have a CRO (Chief Risk Officer) on staff, while others make it a part of the duties of the board and CEO. Monitor activity about your brand. Know what people are saying about you, from random tweets and posts to comprehensive news coverage. Never assume what they’re thinking about you. Instead, always be reading, listening and watching.

Recently we were performing some analysis for a new client

of their online coverage and found some significant negative PR about their company. They had no idea it was out there for more than a year, so it sat unaddressed and doing damage. Over the course of nine months, we were able to address it in various ways, but who knows what level of hurt was already created?

Be a part of the conversation. A well-crafted response from your business can both build your brand and protect it.

Ensure that messages support your brand and that they are consistent — no matter who is charged with issuing the response. Also, don’t err on the side of staying silent. It too often gives the impression you either don’t care or that you’re running scared.

Know your limits. Regardless of the age of your business and whether you built it from the ground up, worked your way up or only recently joined company leadership, you have a vested interest in its reputation. At times, that interest means that you may be far too close to the situation to be reasonable or rational when your business comes under fire. Working with a company skilled in crisis management and public relations can bring both perspective and balance before, during and after a PR meltdown.

Remember, a good public relations strategy should always include a crisis management strategy. Start creating yours today.

Billingsbusiness

SALES moves

W ant to leave a legacy ? T hen get busy writing Legacy is something you have to be socially aware of and intellectually on top of. It requires both self-discipline and selfsacrifice — without regret.

Jeffrey Gitomer 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

Billingsbusiness

What do you do when you get up every day? Anything to do with your legacy? I doubt it.

Here’s a short version of your morning: Shower. Coffee. TV. Get dressed. Check your calendar. Check your email. Check your social media. Maybe even make a follow-up call (or two) or read a few pages. No legacy there. More like “routine.”

Me? I write something.

And while I confess I do not do it every day, over the past 22 years I have written more than 1,100 columns, 12 books, 10 e-books, 4,000 tweets, and recorded more that 300 videos on my YouTube channel.

Numbers? With more that 3.4 million views and more than 19,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel, my email magazine goes out to more than 350,000 people a week, my Twitter followers number more than 70,000, and I have more than 18,000 LinkedIn connections — all from writing.

Yes, I have enjoyed “reader acceptance” and “reader response.” And, that combination has more than helped my legacy grow. But… Reality: I didn’t start out with 12 books. It started with consistency, and 20 years later, BOOM! I started with ONE idea, one column, one tweet, and went from there.

It’s not a book, it’s a writing project. It’s not my column, it’s a captured

idea and my weekly selfdiscipline. It’s not my tweet, it’s my documented, posted thought that hopefully will get a positive measurement by being re-tweeted more than 50 times.

Over the past eight years, I have grown my social network to a substantial presence. One follower, one reader, one subscriber, one re-tweeter at a time. And I basically did it while you were watching TV. And for the record here — that’s not a brag of mine — it’s a wake-up call of yours.

What will your legacy be?

Watching news? Watching reruns? Getting drunk on the weekends? Going to parties?

Watching SportsCenter?

Insight: Legacy is something you have to be socially aware of and intellectually on top of. It requires both selfdiscipline and self-sacrifice — without regret. If you wanna be remembered for it, you gotta love it and give it everything you’ve got. And you have to become known for it. And in my case — you gotta write about it.

In today’s world, writing and being published is no longer a mystery. Blog something, tweet something, post on your LinkedIn page, Facebook something, post a video on YouTube, create your own email magazine, post a quote on Instagram, and BOOM, you are published. Create followers, and BOOM, you have acceptance

and a reputation. Do that for 20 years, and BOOM, you have a legacy.

No longer do you have to “submit” your writing and wait for acceptance to be published. You can do it yourself. And in fact, if you do it yourself AND submit, the discerning editor will Google you and find everything. Cool, eh?

Start here: Ask yourself these legacy-based questions: n What do you love to do? n What are you passionate about? n Where do you excel? n Do you have a philosophy about how you live your life? n What do you want to

be remembered for? n What do you want said at your eulogy? n What do you want written on your tombstone?

The answers to these questions will uncover legacy potential and create a starting point. Keep in mind, this may be the first time you have ever contemplated your legacy – explore a little.

Here are a few things you can do to get started: n Decide “what” you want to be remembered for. n Write to clarify your thoughts and affirm your intentions. n Dedicate 15 minutes a day — an apple a day. n Include some kind of journal or scrapbook to

document your progress. n Talk about your intentions with those closest to you. n Begin writing and posting. n Ask people on your list to follow you and contribute their ideas. n Start now.

Affirm it: I am a writer and a speaker. I am a dad, granddad, and friend. I love what I do, and I love life.

Reality: Legacy takes years to create, but achieving it is not a matter of patience.

It’s a matter of self-discipline and dedication to your passion, and building your expertise to legacy level. Legacy is not created in a day — it’s created day by day.

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Outdoorbusiness

M ontana ’ s outdoors needs a champion : H ow about you , tourism industry ? ... with a $3.3 billion contribution to the Montana economy, make no mistake, tourism is a leader. It’s time to start acting like one.

Jeff Welch Jeff Welch is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur and leader who founded and owns MercuryCSC in Bozeman, a creative agency that connects brands with people who value travel, the outdoors and sense of place.

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As someone who loves Montana’s wide-open spaces, it’s easy to get depressed.

Whether it’s chopped up landscapes or underfunding for parks, it seems we lose a little more of the great outdoors each day.

How is this possible? How is it we live in a state where the outdoors is our cultural foundation and yet seem incapable of providing basic funding, let alone figuring out how to protect more of it?

It’s the equivalent of telling your grandpa, “Sorry bud — thanks for what you’ve given the family over the years, but we’re not giving you a nickel for the old-folks home. And we’re not going to come visit either.”

But the similarities end there. Because the crazy part is that outdoor preservation isn’t just some act of charity. It’s not something we just do for grandpa. Because whatever investments we make in outdoor recreation, preservation and access will actually pay us back — many times over.

The world is becoming more and more homogenized. But fortunately, most of Montana is not…yet. It’s basic supply and demand.

If the world is oversupplied with places that have given up

their open spaces, wildlife and small-town charm, then the more valuable ours becomes.

The outdoors doesn’t have to lose in the name of the economy. The outdoors IS our economy, our culture, the very essence of who we are as Montanans. But the outdoors needs a champion. Unfortunately, the champ is asleep.

Tourism and outdoors need each other Here is a list of Montana’s largest industries: Agriculture Tourism Health care Construction Mining, oil and gas Outdoor preservation is in the direct business interest of only one of those five: tourism. There’s our champion.

Every industry in this state benefits immensely from our strong outdoor culture, attracting talent and investment we would not otherwise get.

But tourism is the industry that benefits most.

Unlike most industries that have huge capital investments tied up in equipment and infrastructure, the biggest asset for most tourism businesses isn’t even on their balance sheet. We the people of Montana own it — the great outdoors.

So why isn’t tourism more

vocal about protecting its biggest asset? Because tourism likes to be liked. When you’ve been undervalued and even disrespected as an industry since statehood, that’s understandable, perhaps. But it’s not the way a leader should act. And with a $3.3 billion contribution to the Montana economy, make no mistake, tourism is a leader.

It’s time to start acting like one.

Here are four things leaders do that would establish a better partnership between tourism and the outdoors and raise the fortunes of both: 1) Leaders don’t do status quo.

Top industries contributing to candidates Retired $2,151,132 Health Professionals $774,830 Oil & Gas $471,465 Livestock $455,054 Leadership PACs $435,500 Lawyers/Law Firms $418,469 Securities & Investment $373,318 General Contractors $299,241 Misc Business $282,511 Misc Finance $215,539

Tourism has been such a success story in this state we should be doubling down on the investment, not hoping we don’t lose. We should be storming the castle, not sitting on our hands. We should seek more funding to market

internationally, improve the curb appeal of our towns, develop the right attractions and experiences, and protect our infrastructure and environment from long-term degradation.

Yet tourism has developed Billingsbusiness

a bad habit of keeping its head down. This is a fine strategy if survival is the goal. But with 40,000 Montana jobs in the industry, we’re long past that.

2) Leaders tell people what they want.

Because tourism seems okay with the status quo, guess what? Politicians think it’s OK, too. We can’t sit around and wait for politicians to act on tourism’s behalf — true initiative comes from the people. Yet we rarely say anything to them other than “leave us alone.”

The chart on the facing page shows top industries and their contributions to political candidates.

How is it that the number two industry in this state is not among the top 10 in political donations?

I’d argue it’s because other

Billingsbusiness

industries have an agenda.

And as businesses, they should. What’s tourism’s agenda? Besides preserving the lodging tax, what is it exactly that we want?

Where are we going? What’s important to us?

3) Leaders think bigger than themselves.

Several years ago, there was a hearing on a bill to increase tourism industry funding for more marketing and infrastructure support.

The line of people testifying on its behalf trailed out the door. In the same room immediately following tourism’s hearing was a hearing on establishing limits on how close you can build to Montana’s blue-ribbon streams, known as streamside setbacks. Anything that helps preserve the aesthetic value of our streams is low-

hanging fruit for the tourism industry. But not a single person who testified on the tourism bill stayed to testify on behalf of the outdoors.

As a hotelier friend of mine likes to say, “At some point we have to stand for something bigger than just making money for ourselves.” That’s because he’s a leader. And he knows that leaders build more than their own business.

Curiously, tourism is the only industry in Montana without an association to facilitate this sort of thinking. Sure, tourism has subgroups such as the lodging, outfitters and guides, and ski area associations. But these are niche groups that tackle issues specific to their piece of the pie. Who is looking after the whole pie? We’ve got to start

thinking bigger.

4) Leaders aren’t afraid to break a few eggs.

Everyone in business knows some quote about how trying to please everyone is a recipe for failure.

So why are we so fearful of breaking a few eggs? A closer alliance with outdoors will scare some people, no doubt. There will be times when such an alliance butts heads with others’ interests.

But that’s business. We can still be civil about it. Leaders know that you earn more respect by having the courage of your convictions than by never opening your mouth.

And frankly, I don’t think outdoor recreation— when it’s such a foundational element of our culture — carries much risk anyway. More funding for state parks!

More access to public lands!

Maintain stream access! Are these really controversial positions? Even a contentious issue like stream setbacks is something the tourism industry has a very strong business reason to get behind. What’s the harm in saying so?

You scratch my back, I scratch yours You do something for me. I do something for you.

This is the way politics, business, life, the whole world works. We are stronger when we partner with others.

The outdoors gets a champion to help it stem the bleeding. It gets the backing of tourism, the world’s number one industry, to provide a strong economic reason for more outdoor recreation and preservation, improved funding, and

enhancement of outdoor culture.

In return, tourism helps preserve the outdoors and recreation, its biggest asset and strongest differentiator against other western states. It gets a deeper, more passionate well of support from a natural ally. Tourism becomes more sustainable over the long term, increasing its chances of securing more funding for marketing and infrastructure improvements by championing the outdoor culture that is at the root of every Montanan’s life.

It’s high time these two friends got serious. We already have the best outdoors in the country, but it won’t stay that way without help. If we want a tourism industry to match, it’s time for tourism to speak up.

April 2014

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Lucky’s Market off to a fast start in Billings

By TOM HOWARD

family members on March 10, and shoppers flocked to a soft opening on March 11.

Lucky’s Market, a speBo Sharon, who founded cialty retailer based in Boulder, Lucky’s Market with his wife, Colo., has built a Billings store Trish, said the locally cured that emphasizes community bacon is part of the chain’s involvement, local products dedication to purchasing local and aggressive promotions for products. select products.

“Thank you for welcomThe store also represents ing us with open arms,” Trish a welcome anchor tenant for Sharon said. “We’re exited to West Park Promenade, the his- bring you good food at great toric Billings shopping center prices and to get involved in the that has undergone extensive community.” renovation since developer Community involvement Bob McDonald purchased it in has been a priority since the 2008. company was formed in 2003, Officials for Lucky’s dedithe Sharons said. cated their new Billings location Community involvement on March 12 not by cutting a includes a volunteer program ribbon, but by slicing through where staff members work with a side of bacon. The meat is local non-profit organizations. raised without hormones and is In a program called Bags for Change, Lucky’s makes donaPhotos by JAMES WOODCOCK then cured and smoked locally.

The store at 1603 Grand tions to a variety of non-profit Bo and Trish Sharon, owners of Lucky’s Market, watch events during the Grand organizations. This month the Opening of the store Wednesday morning at West Park Plaza. Ave. opened to employees and Human Resources Development Council, Not in Our Town Billings and Tumbleweed were all named partners.

Rose Park Elementary, Miles Avenue Elementary and Burlington Elementary will receive donations as part of the company’s monthly 5 percent day, when a portion of the Vision Net has been a leader in video conferencing throughout Montana since store’s receipts is donated to non-profits.

1995. Thanks to our state-of-the-art solutions, universities, K-12 schools, The company’s charithe legal community, and table foundation also preprivate industries have made sented $5,000 checks to each important connections all of the following organizations: over the world without ever BikeNet, Passages culinary having to leave town. You program, Family Services Inc. and the Billings Education can rent a studio, own your Foundation. own fully-integrated system With the store advertisor get mobile or desktop ing discounts on red delicious conferencing as a service. apples, strawberries and If you don’t have enough tech grass-fed ground beef, Lucky’s appears eager to compete in the support in house, you Billings grocery market. can try our Managed “We’ll always have the best Video Services and let us prices on produce in town,” Bo take care What’s your vision?

Sharon said. www.vision.net | 1-866-334-8638 | sales@vision.net of it for you.

McDonald said Lucky’s rep-

Make the connection connect to the world while SAVinG time, trAVel, And money.

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Ally Conis hands out bacon samples during the grand opening of Lucky’s Market.

resents the kind of anchor tenant that he had been searching for since buying the shopping center in 2008.

When the Red Robin restaurant was moved to its present location, that freed up space for an anchor tenant.

“When we were able to move Red Robin, we were focused on a grocery store,” McDonald said. “We went to Boulder and met them, and we liked what they had,” McDonald said. Because grocery stores move so much merchandise, it was necessary to add a loading dock on the back of the store, he said.

McDonald said negotiations are ongoing with other retailers interested in West Park Promenade. But until a final agreement is signed, no names can be released.

The Billings outlet is the fifth for Lucky’s, which has stores in Boulder and Longmont, Colo., and opened stores in Ohio and Missouri last year.

Stores in Louisville, Ky., and St. Louis, Mo., are also scheduled to open this year.

“We are incredibly proud to be opening in Montana,” said Bo Sharon. “We imagine our stores as an oasis of health, kindness and support, the kind of store we love to shop in ourselves.”

“Boulder is a big town for natural food, and we hope to share the best of that in Billings.

We also hope you’ll find some new tastes for your kitchen, either as inspiring ingredients or at our chef-quality deli counter – and we cannot wait to discover some fantastic Montana farmers and vendors as well,” he said.

The grocery chain’s expansion has encountered a few hurdles. Last January, Albertsons LLC and Save Mart Supermarkets filed suit in U.S. District Court in Montana, alleging copyright infringement against Lucky’s because Albertsons owns the copyright for Lucky brand supermarkets in California and other Western states. Albertsons acquired Lucky Stores Inc. and American Stores Co. in 1999. The lawsuit alleges that Lucky’s Farmers Market LLC’s trademark is nearly identical to the logo used by the Albertsons-owned stores and violates its trademark.

Albertsons sought an injunction to bar Lucky’s Farmers Market from using the logo.

Attorneys representing Lucky’s Farmers Market have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, in part because the Albertsons-owned stores are not present in Montana. They are also seeking to transfer the action to the district of Colorado.

Bo Sharon said the trademark dispute has been all but settled.

Billingsbusiness

special advertising section

Billingsbusiness

April 2014

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special advertising section

Anytime Fitness

SpaciouS, State-of-the-art fitneSS center offerS convenience and friendly atmoSphere

By Brittany Cremer • Photos by James Woodcock

Motivation.

It doesn’t come in a box.

You can’t order it online.

And it doesn’t come in shake form.

It comes from within.

Committing to a fitness regime is half the battle.The other half is deflecting distractions and excuses that keep us from our goal.

“I don’t have time to workout at a gym…I work 8 to 5…by the time I get there, there’s no equipment or classes available.”

The folks at Anytime Fitness understand these real-world struggles and have offered up a solution: Exercise on your terms.

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special advertising section

“It’s the largest anytIme FItness not just In

montana, but

anywhere. my heart has always been In FItness. I love helpIng people reach theIr goals and beIng a part oF theIr success storIes.”

— donnette roberts co-owner, anytIme FItness

Billings’ newest Anytime Fitness, located at the corner of 24th Ave. W. and Broadwater, Ave. W. champions this mindset with its 24-hour accessibility, wide array of fitness classes, expansive space and ample supply of equipment.

“It’s the largest Anytime Fitness not just in Montana, but anywhere,” said co-owner Donnette Roberts who is excited about the scale of the space and personalized touches they were able to integrate.

“My heart has always been in fitness,” Roberts added. “I love helping people reach their goals and being a part of their success stories.”

The new fitness center and its state-of-the-art accoutrements offer the support and convenience that members need to harness their motivation and achieve their goals.

Opposite page top: Donnette Roberts, coowner of Anytime Fitness on Broadwater and 24th, walks down the aisle separating the stretching area from the weight room. Inset: The newest Anytime Fitness location at Broadwater and 24th Ave. W. joins Billings locations in the Heights and downtown.

Beta bright

Awash in spritely hues of lime and sherbet orange, Anytime Fitness energizes members on a subconscious level.

The bright color palette, coupled with ample light and industrialinspired light fixtures, evokes an appealing, contemporary vibe.

An interactive, free-standing chalk board located in the center

of the facility engages members, encouraging them to share inspirational quotes, advice or curious tidbits.

“It’s all part of welcoming members to our Anytime Fitness family,” Roberts said. “We want our members to feel comfortable.”

Roberts went on to say that she and her staff achieve this by providing a clean, safe workout environment supported by knowledgeable, approachable and friendly staff.

Scan-key security, on-site tanning, vending machines stocked with healthy snacks and a diverse group fitness schedule rounds out the comfortable“ club culture” she and her staff are trying to achieve.

I like to move it, move it

Rows of treadmills and ellipticals face the building’s northwest wall, each equipped with a heart monitor and TV for channel surfing while breaking a sweat. New to the club—and new to several cardio devotees—is the Octane machine, a sort of cousin to the elliptical. The Octane rotates laterally, instead of vertically like the elliptical.

“It’s a great workout for skiers or for anyone wanting to work the inner and outer thighs,” Roberts said.

Just off the main floor is one of Roberts’ favorite niches in the facility—the Rider Room.

As the name connotes, the Rider room is full of bikes. But the equipment takes a fresh spin on traditional stationary biking.

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252-6298 • 123 Regal Street www.jonesconstructionmt.com Since 1952 April 2014

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special advertising section

“They look like regular stationary bikes but have the look and performance of real bikes,” Roberts said.

The bikes allow riders to lean, twist and engage their core to mirror a more authentic, outdoor riding experience.

“This is the only room like this in Montana,” Roberts said.

During class times, a screen is pulled down in the front of the room and a projector simulates a bike trek. Imagine biking the south of France without ever having to leave Montana.

Pumping iron, stretching muscles

The new Anytime Fitness has an expansive weight lifting area. A combination of free weights and machines pepper the mirror-lined walls. Adjacent to the weight room is a stretching area where members can also stash their

belongings in convenient bench cubbies.

A spacious group fitness room is situated just off the stretching space—the perfect venue for Pilates, yoga, Zumba and Kettleball training. Eye-catching 3D-panels swirled in silver appear sporadically throughout the space, but they’re not just for good looks.

The panels are reinforced to withstand the blows from stability ball training and chest presses.

Around the corner from the group fitness room is the facility’s HIIT (high intensity interval training) area. In this space, members engage in high-intensity workouts using their own body weight, plyometrics and rowers.

“It’s a great workout in a short amount of time,” Roberts said.

Time savings is a theme that repeats throughout the facility.

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Billingsbusiness

special advertising section

A New Door Opened!

• Doors • Frames • Door Hardware • Windows

Congratulations

Anytime Fitness We are proud to have been a part of your building project!

125 Regal Street • Billings, MT. 252-0131

Congratulations Anytime Fitness Opposite page counter clockwise from top left: Staff members at Anytime Fitness encourage members to respond to questions or write inspirational quotes on the community chalkboard. A relaxing stretching was created for afterworkout cool downs. A wide array of ellipticals and treadmills line the main workout area of Anytime Fitness. Rows of treadmils line the facility’s northwest-facing windows. One of the design components integrated into the build was including several new oversized windows. Above:The comfortable locker rooms at Anytime Fitness are outfitted with private dressing rooms and partitioned showers.

“Anytime Fitness is a great club for busy people,” Roberts said. “Twenty-four hour access means that you choose your workouts.”

While working out at 3 a.m. might not sound convenient to most 8-to-5’ers, it’s perfect for someone just coming off a night shift at the hospital.

And for those leery about working out during off-hours with no security staff, take comfort. Anytime Fitness’ key swipe and 24hour video surveillance monitor attendance.

For added safety, members can also wear one of the center’s security necklaces while working out. The security necklace is equipped with a 911 panic button, so whether you’re in medical distress or feel your safety is threatened, help is just a push away.

Nuts and bolts

The pre-existing building, which formerly housed One Source Lighting, Hart Furniture and earlier, a grocery store, needed significant renovations. Jones Construction, Inc. was hired as the contractor and under a tight December to March deadline, the team completed the project.

“Interestingly enough, we took part in some of the building’s renovations in the early ‘90s so we knew the lay of the land,” said Jerry Jones, owner of Jones Billingsbusiness

Construction, Inc. Several structural components needed to be altered, like retrofitting the space to include oversized windows on the north side.

Because the space had been renovated three or four times previously, the team had to deal with differing degrees of floor elevations.

Additionally, because the original space had been wired to support the electrical needs of a grocery store’s heating, cooling and storage systems, the building’s wiring needed some attention, Jones said.

The building’s exterior also received a facelift, updating the signage, awning and entrance.

In all, the job was completed in a miraculous 75 days, a “pretty intense schedule,” Jones said, adding that several subcontractors worked nights and weekends to make that happen.

Roberts said she and her staff are incredibly pleased with how the project turned out. Roberts and Anytime Fitness manager, Jen Jacobson, encourage those interested in the new facility to stop by and experience it in-person.

A membership to the new Anytime Fitness on Broadwater also grants access to the Anytime Fitness facilities in the Heights, downtown or anywhere across the country— any time.

We are proud to be involved with this project!

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406-628-8443 April 2014

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special advertising section

Alleviating Growing Pains

Grace Montessori acadeMy perfect fit in new location

By Brenda Maas • Photos by James Woodcock

Growing pains are often part of childhood. At Grace Montessori Academy, the growing pains pinched physically, in terms of classroom size and location.

When the school, a Christian-based, not-for-profit organization, opened its doors in 2007, 35 students were enrolled, primarily in early education, or preschool. As enrollment grew, so did the offerings.Today Grace serves 147 students in early education through grade 6, with a possibility to expand yet again.

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special advertising section

“We are very grateful to the

Mayor and City

CounCil for annexing the property in support of our Mission and to

yelloWstone Bank for knoWing that

graCe

Montessori aCadeMy is a sound investMent.”

— Mary Beth gregory head of sChool, graCe Montessori aCadeMy The horse-barn design fits the Montana landscape while also providing transom-style windows for ample sunlight in the classrooms, even in the dreariest winter months.

Inset: Within each multi-age classroom, students are engaged in self-paced, collaborative work along with independent exploration.

Below: Prospective families can observe information videos about Grace Montessori Academy in the open-air reception area.

Yet, Grace experienced physical constraints within its primary location at 125 25th St. W. Over seven years, the academy grew to encompass its original classrooms, two units across the street and a unit on Broadwater Avenue.

“We had everything we needed,” noted Head of School, Mary Beth Gregory of the former location. “But it was not ideal.”

The school’s advisory board began to explore options, including a closer look at what Montessori schools nationwide offered their students. The “wish list” grew to include a security system, gymnasium, improved wireless technology access, natural light and library. Although the Board looked at locations across Billings, nothing fit the bill.

“We were scared of the concept. The thought of building was very intimidating,” noted Gregory.

However, once the organization made the commitment to build a new campus and developed a plan, they moved confidently. Eggart Engineering and Construction (EEC) won the design and construction bids.

“EEC was a one-stop shop,” Gregory noted of the firm. Quentin Eggart served as civil and structural engineer; Bob Bushing as architect; and Kevin Lundin as project manager.

“Getting everyone centralized from three classroom locations into one was the main goal,” Lundin said. “It was key.”

Congratulations

Grace Montessori Academy from your friends at Yellowstone Bank

Ambitious timeline

“Accelerating the project was one of the biggest challenges,” Eggart said of the short timeline. As an educational facility serving young children, the GMA Board preferred to transition to the new building over the holiday break.

“We basically had a six-month build time,” said Lundin.

Mary Beth Gregory Vice President Grace Montessori Academy

Banks of Service since 1907

Ty Elkin

Yellowstone Bank

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April 2014

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special advertising section Eggart noted that EEC was able to start some aspects of the project, like some site work, earlier. That enabled them to be ready to roll once the permits were issued.

Although typical spring weather slowed the project somewhat, Eggart noted that working longer hours and some weekends helped move the project along so it was completed by the deadline.

“They stuck to the timeline—it was amazing,” noted Gregory. “We are very grateful to the Mayor and City Council for annexing the property in support of our mission and to Yellowstone Bank for knowing that Grace Montessori Academy is a sound investment.”

Above: The fenced backyard playground includes equipment for play, cushioned by shredded bark. Future plans include basketball hoops, a garden and a small pond for conservation education. At right: The classrooms in the new Grace Montessori Academy are spacious with a combination of hard- and soft-flooring surfaces because students often sit on the floor during “circle time.” Far right: The hallway flooring, from Carpets Plus Color Tile, is durable for many little feet yet the colors brighten the space while subtly reiterating the GMA brand.

Experience • Efficiency Commitment EGGART ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

EEC Welcomes Grace Montessori Academy to our Family of Happy Customers P: (406) 839-9151 F: (406) 839-9150 www.eggartengineering.com

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A study in design

Gregory and the GMA Board had already determined, through their exploration process, that a barn-style building fit their mission; EEC delivered with a modern, spacious design. Additionally, the style allowed for southern transom-style windows, providing ample sunlight into the classrooms—capturing the essence of the natural environment is a key element of the Montessori philosophy.

“Being a ranch-raised kid, the barn style and cupolas really speak to me,” said Eggart.

“And, I love the amount of glass we were able to get into the design. With lots of windows up high and southern exposure, there’s so much more sunlight in the classrooms, even during the winter months, when kids might be arriving and leaving during the dark.”

The short, winter days led to other significant features—lighting and the security system. Gregory also emphasized the importance of the dual access control and a security system, noting that they worked closely with the sheriff ’s, police and fire departments to develop a comprehensive security plan.

The academy’s exterior doors, minus the main door, are all locked at all times, accessible only via a security badge, or “fob,” that the 18 teachers and staff carry. In addition, visitors have to pass through not one, but two locked doors in order to enter a classroom. The lights are also motion activated. Exterior doors also have built-in blinds that can be closed in a lock-down situation.

“Keeping the school locked and secured at all times was on their ‘must’ list,” said Lundin.

The extras

GRACE MONTESSORI ACADEMY ACADEM It was a pleasure being on your construction team!

• COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

While the original wish list included a gymnasium, the budget did not.

“EEC brought ideas to us that we had not even considered,” said Gregory of the compromise. “They were so accommodating, so easy to work with and helped us walk through some challenging decisions with creative outcomes.”

406-839-9066

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April 2014

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special advertising section In lieu of the gymnasium the EEC team proposed what eventually became the Activity Room. The 2,700-square foot multi-purpose room functions as recess/ indoor play space, lunch room, large group gathering area and sometimes community resource space. To accomplish that, the design included a kitchenette, water fountain and rest rooms all within a space that can be secured separately with an alternative access.

“Even after the job was complete, the EEC team is only a phone call away, willing to help our staff figure everything out,” Gregory added.

Lundin also proposed the idea of “fold-away” cafeteria tables. Styled after a Murphy bed, the tables are safely stored directly into the wall, maximizing the floor space when not in use.

The new facility includes a library independent of the seven classrooms, ample storage for both classroom and building supplies, and room to expand if the Board moves in that direction.

“We did plan for this building to be added on to in the future, if desired,” said Lundin. “For example, we can extend the water and sewer to serve additional classrooms.”

Kid-customized

Top:Thecustom-cutmetaltrussabovethemainentrancecastsashadow;inthemorningsitreads“Grace”andduring afternoon hoursitsays“Montessori Academy.”Above:Eachoftheseven classroomsfeaturechild-heightcountertops,utility sinkandamplecabinetryforstorageofclassroommaterials.

Sometimes it is the littlest extras can make a world of difference—especially when it comes to little people. Lundin noted that each classroom has childheight countertops, sinks and toilets, including tilting mirrors so the kids can see themselves. Fostering independence and personal hygiene is another Montessori element. Each uni-sex bathroom is

accessible from within the classroom so the children are not wandering about the hallway. In addition, each classroom has a combination of hard- and soft-surface coverings. Students often move about the classroom, working at stations, including on the carpeted area if they wish.

Great outdoors

Each classroom also has direct access to the enclosed back playground, another component of the Montessori learning environment. Gregory pointed to the covered porch area as a natural extension of the classroom, allowing for lessons outside. The area includes a plethora of play equipment, with future plans for basketball hoops, a garden and a pond for the Upper Elementary students’ environmental studies.

One feature favored by Eggart, the front entrance, is capped with a steel cutout truss that reads “Grace Montessori Academy.” Conceptualized by the EEC team, the signage gives a subtle clue to the unique atmosphere inside.

“As the sun moves throughout the day, it casts a sun shadow,” explained Lundin.

“In the morning the shadow says ‘Grace’ and in the afternoon it says ‘Montessori Academy.”

Custom weathervanes, crafted by Beartooth Iron Works, display the GMA logo, further tying in brand and overall mission.

“This project focused totally on the environment of learning,” said Eggart.

“The staff and board were so great to work with—everyone had the same goal in mind and that is the betterment of those children.”

Congratulations Congratulations Grace Montessori

Billings’ Newest School is a Great Asset to Our Community

Grace Montessori acadeMy!

We are proud to have been

part of your

1402 Central Avenue • 406-256-6016 34

I April 2014

construction team!

406-245-8295 Billingsbusiness

Rimrock Auto Group’s new GMC Cadillac store already attracting new customers

By BILLINGS BUSINESS Billings auto dealer Steve Zabawa believes that Rimrock Auto Group’s new GMC Cadillac store on Shiloh Road is the best location in Billings.

During a March 13 grand opening that also marked Rimrock Auto Group’s 20th anniversary, Zabawa said the new store at 840 S. Shiloh Road is already bringing in new traffic.

“In just the short 30 days out here, our traffic is up 50 percent, not only in service but in sales,” Zabawa said. “It

Billingsbusiness

is really a great location and people are really attracted to it.” He said Tony Woolery, manager of the Rimrock GMC Cadillac store, and his staff have elevated the level of service and have hit the ground running.

Chuck MacGregor, western region manager for Cadillac, said he visited the site last June just as building was getting underway. He had just visited Rimrock Auto Group’s sophisticated Mercedes Benz dealership and admitted that he felt a touch of jealousy.

“I don’t think there was anything more than the foot-

ings,” MacGregor said of the previous visit. “Sure enough, I’m back here and it’s nice to say the Cadillac GMC store is the best-looking facility in Billings, if not the whole state.”

Steve and Susan Zabawa and John and Ann Soares started Rimrock Auto Group two decades ago with the purchase of the city’s GMC franchise.

The GMC dealership, which has green, energy-efficient features, is their seventh in Billings.

“They (GMC) are not only supporting us financially in

this expansion but have also pledged additional inventory in recognition of Billings as a major regional automotive shopping hub,” Zabawa said.

MacGregor, of California, said the Billings store is one of only half a dozen new dealerships being built in the West this year. It is the only one in Montana, he said.

MacGregor said he expects Cadillac sales in Billings to go from about 60 vehicles last year to about 100 this year and GMC sales to rise from 200 to 300.

Please see GMC, page 38

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GMC

they weren’t deterred by the economic downturn.

From page 35 “Steve had a vision. I’m just glad to be part of this. They have The Rimrock Auto partners a great business model,” Nelson spent about $7.5 million on the said. project, including buying four General Motors was one of acres of land. The building is two of the Big Three U.S. autotwice as large as the VW dealer- makers that filed for bankruptcy ship that opened next door in during the national recession in May 2012 at the corner of King 2008 and 2009. The company and Shiloh. received a federal bailout of A&E Architects of Billnearly $50 billion. Much of ings handled the design. Jones that has been repaid, except for Brothers of Billings built the about $10 billion, according to 30,000-square-foot structure The Wall Street Journal. in eight months.

Like other automakers, The U.S. Small Business GMC had downsized, cutting Administration and Stockits U.S. dealers from about man Bank provided financing, 7,000 to 4,000. with involvement from Big Sky The GMC dealership has Economic Development. been located at 2540 Phyllis Wayne Nelson, Billings Lane, by Rimrock Mall. market president for StockIn about two months, Rimman Bank, noted that Zabawa rock Auto will open an autoand Soares had been planning detailing store under constructo move to the Shiloh-King tion at King Avenue West and area for nearly a decade, and South 30th Street West.

Photo by JAMES WOODCOCK Rimrock GMC Cadillac co-owner Steve Zabawa speaks during the grand opening of the new auto dealership Thursday afternoon.

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TRAVEL &leisure

H yatt A ndaz , a boutique hotel , provides a new niche for business , leisure travel

Have a seat in any Andaz Lounge — part lobby, part living room — where your Andaz Host will offer you a complimentary welcome beverage while checking you in with an iPad.

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

Billingsbusiness

When Hyatt hotels joined the ranks of boutique hotels they hit a home run with their lifestyle brand, Andaz.

In 2007 the Andaz brand was added to Hyatt’s portfolio that includes Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Residence Club, Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva.

Andaz is an Hindustani word (both Hindi and Urdu) word meaning “unique style.”

A remarkable collection of location-inspired hotels; each features indigenous designs that capture the sights, sounds and tastes of its surrounding area.

What makes Andaz different from other hotels and resorts? Have a seat in any Andaz Lounge — part lobby, part living room — where your Andaz Host will offer you a complimentary welcome beverage while checking you in with an iPad. No counters, no stuffy procedures, just friendly conversation. This Lounge will help shape the rest of your stay as a place to get coffee, check your email, or sip a few cocktails before heading out for business or pleasure. Andaz is uncomplicated, and welcomes you home with service that is intuitive and genuine.

According to Luxury Travel Advisor Magazine and Sara Kearney, senior vice

president brands for Hyatt, people are looking for more simplicity when they travel.

That is what Hyatt learned in 2004 when they went to define their brands, starting first with Park Hyatt. “They were looking to feel as if they have fewer barriers and hurdles when they travel,” said Kearney, who noted frequent fliers spoke of having the joy of their journey removed by the processes

at Wailea. In January, I toured this Andaz and was amazed by its beauty, especially after seeing it last year in a hard hat. Along with its remarkable amenities and beautiful beaches, it boasts the second Iron Chef Morimoto’s Hawaiian restaurant, the first of which is in Honolulu.

Last fall I visited the two Andaz properties in New York City. In keeping with their indigenous designs, both are different from each other. At Andaz Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the experience begins the moment you arrive through the bronze-colored doors and are greeted by an Andaz Host.

Arrival is at your pace, your style. And, at Andaz Wall Street I had a wonderful Sunday brunch at Wall & Water, their locally sourced farmto-table restaurant drawing ingredients and inspiration from the Hudson Valley’s bounty. they have to endure, such as visit four of them, most reOther current locations getting through an airport. cently in San Diego in March. include Hollywood and Napa, “People are looking for that Situated in the heart of the California; Savannah, Georend point, which is the hotel historic Gaslamp District, stay, to be something that is this hip hotel offers a wine bar gia; Amsterdam, The Nethreally joyful again.” Hence, with 88 different wines by the erlands; Papagayo, Costa Rica Andaz was born. glass, an unbelievably beauti- and Shanghai, China. On Andaz’s journey began in ful rooftop lounge/restaurant tap to open in the future are Tokyo, Japan (opening this 2007 in Liverpool, England, and unique amenities.

Summer); Dehli, India; Sanya in a revitalized building that Hawaii doesn’t get new Sunny Bay, China and Mayadates back to 1884. Currently, hotels very often, so when coba in the Riviera Maya, there are only 11 Andaz in the it does it is hot news in the world, and I’ve been lucky industry. Now, the talk of the Mexico. I highly recommend enough to either stay at or town is the new Andaz Maui this brand.

April 2014

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Soaring confidence of small-business owners gives boost to van sales

By Associated Press To deliver bouquets around Washington, D.C., Karin’s Florist has two big vans, two small ones and a boxy little wagon that’s clinging to life.

After the Valentine’s Day rush, the Vienna, Va., business plans to get a new van to replace the wagon, a Toyota Scion xB with 180,000 miles on it that has faithfully made its rounds since 2006.

“We’ve got it sewn together with rubber bands and paper clips,” said Maris Angolia, president of the family-owned business named after her sister.

The van purchase, the second for Karin’s in the past four months, is evidence that small business owners — once too suspect of a wobbly economy to

make big-ticket purchases — are starting to invest in their companies again. The willingness to spend is good news for the auto industry and a positive sign for the broader economy.

The spending is coming for two reasons: Aging vans are simply wearing out. Plus business confidence is growing. A January survey taken for Wells Fargo found that optimism among small-business owners hit the highest level in five years.

Most expect increased cash flow and hiring this year. Also, oncetight credit for small businesses has loosened, and borrowing rose in the second half of last year, according to research by Experian and Moody’s.

Commercial van sales last year were up more than 40 percent since 2010, and they rose 9

percent in January even as U.S. auto sales dropped 3 percent, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank.

“A lot of these contractors have been trying to keep their old products as long as they can,” said Peter Bedrosian, senior manager of product planning for Nissan North America.

“The vehicles are really nearing the end of their useful life.”

Van sales are a bellwether for the broader economic recovery since small businesses are reluctant to spend after a recession, said Mike Jackson, director of North American forecasting for the IHS Automotive consulting firm, which predicts commercial van sales will grow 27 percent between 2013 and 2015 to nearly 400,000 per year.

Auto companies have

spotted the trend, and they’re moving quickly to enter a market once dominated by Ford, General Motors and Mercedes.

Nissan entered the market with the NV full-size van in 2011 and the NV200, as small van, last year. Chrysler’s Ram brand started selling a full-size van last year and has plans for a small van. More products are coming from GM and Ford.

Ford’s Transit Connect, a van built on the guts of a compact car, created a new market for small vans when it was introduced in 2009. Before it arrived on the scene, businesses had to buy big vans even if they didn’t need them. Now, if owners want better gas mileage and maneuverability but don’t need huge cargo space, they have choices.

Earlier this month, GM’s

Chevrolet unveiled its own Nissan-made small van, the City Express, at the Chicago Auto Show. GM contracted with Nissan so it could bring a van to market quickly to take advantage of growth, said Ed Peper, the company’s vice president of commercial sales.

Ford sold only 8,800 Transit Connects when it was introduced in 2009, but that grew to almost 40,000 last year.

Nissan’s NV 200 and the Ram Cargo Van, a modified minivan, joined the market, pushing total small van sales to more than 53,000 in 2013. Big vans saw even larger growth, with sales rising from 159,000 in 2009 to nearly 259,000 last year.

Van sales began taking off in 2012 and 2013, and now they are accelerating, Peper said. “We’ve

seen just a lot more activity, a lot more confidence,” he said.

“There’s more (price) quoting.

To me that’s a very good sign.”

While Karin’s may be confident enough to pull the trigger on a new van, others are still waiting.

Kessler Plumbing near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles is still running eight older-model Ford E-Series vans, some of which have more than 200,000 miles on them. The company’s owner has been against making a purchase, and Kessler hasn’t bought any vans since 2008, said Matt Martinez, a company supervisor.

“It’s been tough since the recession,” Martinez said. “We’ve been crawling out of that. This year is starting off strong, so we’ll see.”

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*Merchants are assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. First Interstate Bank has no control over how a merchant is coded and although a merchant may appear to fall into an office management category, there is no guarantee that the merchant code will align. Eligible purchases will receive only one point if the merchant code is not in the promotion category. Office Management categories include, but are not limited to: office supplies, copy services, tax preparation services, accounting, cleaning & maintenance, and subscriptions. To qualify, purchases must be retail transactions. Eligible purchases include purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases do not include fees, interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, convenience checks, ATM transactions, or foreign transactions. Points will be credited to your FirstRewards account approximately five days after qualified transactions are posted to your credit card statement.

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Billingsbusiness

Business Success StoriesBriefs Recognizing People and Local Achievements Commerce at a Glance

Mt. Silversmiths Darnielle earns promotes Wagner honor with RBC

places the hotel, located at 2465 Grant Road, as one of the top Hilton Garden Inn properties in terms of serJudy Wagner has been Teresa Darnielle, a vice vice and growing customer promoted to vice president of president and financial adloyalty. marketing at Montana Silver- viser in RBC Wealth ManThis award is presented smiths of Columbus. agement’s Billings office, to top general managers with Wagner is renowned in recently was selected to be a outstanding personal and hothe western industry as a member of the firm’s Contel performance. The Hilton business owner, marketing sulting Group, an exclusive executive and most recently group of advisers recognized Garden Inn Billings continues to flourish in its financial as an inspirational speaker for their numbers as well as its guest and marketing consultant success in satisfaction scores. In recogthrough her personal brand, building nition of this achievement, Ranch Grown Logic. consultative, Hilton Garden Inn Billings She has more than 20 fee-based received a trophy to display in years of experience in brand businesses. its lobby. development, social media, To qualify “We are honored to be multimedia promotion, event for the group, Teresa Darnielle recognized by the Hilton planning, strategic planning, Darnielle packaging, merchandising, demonstrated a commitment Garden Inn brand with the customer service and sales. to a consultant-based invest- General Manager Success,” Wagner grew up in a ment practice, helped clients said Nichole Mehling, general manger. “Our team works ranch in western Montana build investment portfolios each day to provide exceland attended Montana State and maintained an excellent lent customer service for our University in Bozeman. She record of customer service. guests letting them know currently resides in Park City, RBC Wealth Managewhere she is actively involved ment financial advisers assist they can count on us to make their stay comfortable. It is in her local community and individual and corporate publishes the blog ranchclients in selecting appropri- because of that commitment we are able to accept this grownlogic.com for her mar- ate investments including award.” keting agency, WIT, which stocks, taxable and taxFor more information or stands for “What it Takes.” exempt bonds, options and to make reservations, visit Montana Silversmiths of mutual funds. They also Columbus pioneered the de- assist clients with retirement Hilton Garden Inn Billings or call 406-655-8800. velopment of western fashion plans and money manageRead more about Hilton in both buckles and jewelry in ment programs.

Garden Inn at www.hgi.com 1973. The company is known and www.news.hgi.com. for its skilled craftsmen, Hilton Garden who execute a combination of traditional western Inn honored Peaks to Plains designs and crisply executed engraving styles, which Hilton hires engineer include buckles, jewelry and Garden Inn lifestyle products for western Billings has Peaks to Plains Design PC enthusiasts. The company received the has hired James W. Papez as is the official silversmith of 2013 General staff engineer. the PRCA and PBR, among Manager SucPeaks to Plains Design PC other western and outdoor cess award. is a professionally focused organizations.

The award landscape architecture firm Nichole Mehling

with a passion for creating innovative spaces that merge artistic vision, environmental sensitivity, long-term viability and sound economics.

James Papez Established in 2003, Peaks to Plains Design PC projects can be found in all corners of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Papez and his family recently returned to Montana from Southgate, Mich., where he was project manager for a major engineering firm. With more than 10 years of civil engineering experience, he has managed major clients such as Sam’s Club and Burger King. He designed multiple award-winning roadway reconstruction projects and his engineering expertise has been successfully applied to pad-ready sites and multiple-acre master planned developments.

Papez is a licensed civil and structural engineer in California, Oregon, Washington and is an engineer in training in Montana.

Papez is originally from Bridger, with a civil engineering degree from Carroll College in Helena.

Darnielle adds two to staff Darnielle Insurance announces the hiring of two

new employees. Wendy Hess is a licensed property and casualty agent who will specialize in the marketing and service of commercial accounts, and also provides a smiling face at the Wendy Hess company’s front desk and a professional interview of callers asking for an insurance quotation. She has worked in the industry previously and just relocated from North Dakota to continue her career as an insurance professional. Daniel Grimes recently began his career Daniel Grimes in insurance and since joining Darnielle has studied for and successfully passed the Montana

examination to become licensed as a property and casualty agent. Grimes is working with Darnielle’s existing clients to review their insurance needs and to help evaluate markets to be sure they have competitive, complete insurance portfolios.

Reach them at 652-4180.

Darnielle Insurance is located at 1320 28th St. W. in Billings. Visit their website at www.darnielle.com.

ICS names new president Darrick Rose is the new president of Industrial Coating Solutions, which specializes in media blasting, powder coating and industrial painting.

Industrial Coating Solutions, located at 45 Orchard Lane, began in 2005 with George Allen. Reach ICS at 256-1124.

Carpet One Your Commercial Interior Design Experts!

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Billingsbusiness

April 2014

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Business Briefs Local Commerce at a Glance

Avitus Group acquires tech firm

President Kirk Porter.

Altitude Technologies has been providing IT services such as technical help desk support, computer support and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Learn more about Avitus Group at www.avitusgroup. com.

– The nationwide increase in identify theft has led to a jump in fraudulent tax returns, making tax fraud one of the fastest growing crimes in the country. These fraudulently filed refund requests contain fictitious and stolen identity information.

identities used in tax fraud by filing their taxes as early in the tax season as possible.

“Not only do you receive Avitus Group, a national your tax refund faster when business solutions company, you file early, but by filhas announced the acquisiing early you reduce your tion of Altitude Technolochances of becoming a victim gies, a 5-year old technolof tax fraud,” said Montana ogy firm also based out of Revenue Director Mike Billings.

Kadas. “The department is With this merger, Avitus vigilant about stopping fraud Group is combining Altitude and we can work together Technologies IT support serwith taxpayers by giving vices with its own business fraudsters less time to try to services model. steal your money.”

“Bringing together these Identity theft is now the companies ensures success most reported crime in the to our present and future country. “Identity thieves clients. Business owners can can live anywhere, steal key operate with peace of mind pieces of your personal inforknowing their administrative DOR uncovers mation, and file a fraudulent and information technolidentity theft tax return in your name,” said ogy needs are covered,” said Dianne Parker, manager of The Montana Department Attorney General Tim Fox. “Our Office of Consumer marketing and public relaof Revenue has seen a drations for Avitus Group. matic increase in the number Protection is available to help Montanans arm themselves Avitus Group handles of fraudulent returns in the with information so they can bookkeeping, payroll, taxes last couple of years because protect their identities and and other administrative of the rise in identity theft. their peace of mind.” services for companies glob- So far this tax season, the For more information ally. By combining resources, department has intercepted Avitus Group and Altitude about 80 fraudulent state in- about guarding against Technologies are able to serve come tax returns and stopped identity theft and what to do if you think you’ve become businesses not only with approximately $143,000 in the victim of the crime, their administrative services, fraudulent claims for tax please contact the Montana but also with their technolrefunds.

Department of Justice’s Ofogy needs.

In tax year 2012, the fice of Consumer Protection “Avitus Group has department discovered 979 at (800) 481-6896 or (406) developed similar services fraudulent returns and pre444-4500, or visit https:// supporting the business vented $783,000 in fraududoj.mt.gov/consumer/forfunctions and, likewise, lent refunds. That number focus on customer service took a big jump over tax year consumers/identity-theft/ Since the beginning of tax and retention. Our cultures 2011, when the department season, the Montana Revenue and how we sell, service and intercepted 142 frauduDepartment has processed deliver are identical, which lent returns and prevented about 171,280 individual made the decision to become $227,000 in fraudulent income tax returns. It has part of the Avitus Group refunds. issued 146,770 refunds to Companies an easy one,” said Taxpayers can reduce Avitus Group Technologies their chances of having their taxpayers that amount to

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I April 2014

$57.7 million. The average refund amount is $393. For more information about your refund, visit www.revenue. mt.gov and click on Taxpayer Access Point, or call our call center staff at 1-866-8592254, or 444-6900 if calling from a local Helena number.

but a team of health care professionals collaboratively focused on keeping patients healthy through preventive medicine and management of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Through more efficient delivery, a PCMH improves access to care, increases satisfaction, and improves Medical offices health outcomes for patients and communities. This kind aim to cut costs of coordinated care eventually leads to fewer hospitalHELENA – Nearly 30 izations and emergency room medical practices across Montana are participating in visits.

The Montana PCMH a cost-saving new program Act set standards for health run by Montana Insurance Commissioner Monica insurance companies and health care providers, J. Lindeen that has been shown to reduce health care establishing accountability costs while keeping patients for better health outcomes and lower costs. The law also healthier. allows for multiple insurance Some 29 Montana companies to share in the medical practices are now qualified Montana “patient- cost of transforming medical practices into PCMHs. centered medical homes,” The PCMH Act established under the new Montana government oversight from Patient-Centered Medithe insurance commissioner, cal Home Program, with 43 more practices provisionally allowing input from all interqualified. The program is the ested parties through an appointed stakeholder council. first of its kind in Montana Lindeen’s office has been created by the 2013 Legislain the process of setting ture at Lindeen’s request. these standards and recently The “medical home” concept is a different way of qualified the patient-centered medical homes in the approaching health care by paying health care providers state. A list of all the qualifor keeping patients healthy. fied medical homes and more about the program can be Traditionally, providers are found here on our website. paid to treat illness and injury, providing incentives for Those medical homes must report to Lindeen’s office excessive treatment, tests, next year on how well they and medication and leading improved the health of their to greater cost throughout patients. the health care system. A The U.S. Chamber of PCMH is not an actual place,

Commerce has named Sanderson Stewart of Billings as a Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winner. The annual program recognizes companies for their dedication to the principles of free enterprise and contributions to restoring jobs and supporting economic growth.

Sanderson Stewart was selected from a record number of applicants across the nation for demonstrating exceptional business practices in areas including strategic planning, employee development, community involvement and customer service.

“When the opportunity to nominate a local member presented itself, Sanderson Stewart immediately came to mind,” said John Brewer, president and CEO of the Billings Chamber. “Their creative work environment and problem-solving approach to community development throughout the regional oil play makes them a perfect fit for such elite recognition.”

“I’m so proud of our team of Cool, Smart, Talented People at Sanderson Stewart.

We’ve built a company with a sense of purpose and a great corporate culture, but it takes everyone pulling together to make it happen,” said Michael Sanderson, president and CEO of Sanderson Stewart. “This ‘Blue Ribbon’ award shows me that others have also recognized the truly special thing we’ve built.”

Billingsbusiness

With spring at hand, Billings retail bike industry is branching out

By TOM HOWARD

C ollin H anson grew up in a quiet W est E nd neighborhood near 19 th S treet W est and M iles A venue , and he was looking for a similar atmosphere when he went looking for a larger retail space to house his business ,

C ollin ’ s B ike S hop .

Please see Bikes, page 44

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“I was looking for an area with slow traffic that would be a nice place for people to take test rides.

This neighborhood has a nice feel to it, like where I grew up.”

— Collin Hanson, owner, Collin’s Bike Shop

Bikes From page 43

His search led him to a 3,000-square foot space at 1120 16th St. W. “I was looking for an area with slow traffic that would be a nice place for people to take test rides,” Hanson said. “This neighborhood has a nice feel to it, like where I grew up.”

Patty Hanson, Collin’s wife of 34 years, said her husband showed mechanical aptitude at an earl age. He was the kind of kid who was always fixing bikes, lawnmowers, and just about anything else around the house. As a young adult, Hanson worked on bikes and sold skis at a variety of outdoor shops throughout Billings, including the downtown Scheel’s store. It was a good way to pay for his skiing habit, he said.

He ran a computerized embroidery business for a while, and later worked in health care.

A few years ago, Hanson revived his longtime love affair with bicycles by picking up used bikes, fixing them up and reselling them. That hobby led to a two-year stint running Collin’s Bike Shop at 525 St. John’s Avenue near the Albertson’s grocery store on Sixth Street West.

As the business developed, Hanson realized he needed more space to work on bikes and display merchandise. He made the move to his present location last November.

Collin’s Bike Shop carries Kona and KHS bikes. The store features bikes for kids, mountain bikes, commuter bikes, road bikes and one of the hot new market segments, fat bikes.

The Kona WO, a burly black behemoth with 4-inch-wide tires, can wade through sand and soft snow. Besides that, it’s fun to ride, Hanson said. niche. “I was looking for bikes that are good The bicycle business is characterized by quality but also affordable. KHS and Kona fit dozens of manufacturers and many price the bill,” he said. points. Hanson believes he’s found the right People who purchase bikes at a big-box store

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I April 2014

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Photo by CASEY PAGE Collin Hanson moved his retail store, Collin’s Bike Shop, to 1120 16th St. W. last November.

are usually attracted to the low price. Many times they end up disappointed because lowend parts wear out quickly or the bike breaks because it was assembled poorly. That’s why service is such an essential part of the equation when running a bike shop, Hanson said.

Hanson agrees with the idea that bike culture in Billings has developed in recent years.

Like other local sporting goods stores, Collin’s Bike Shop carries maps of the Billings trail system. Neighborhood kids are also starting to check out his store.

As another sign of an active bike culture, many young riders are converting vintage tenspeed bikes into simple fixed-geared machines designed for cruising around town.

“There are a lot of things going on. Billings has done a good job of developing trails, and

there’s a lot more activity,” Hanson said.

The Billings retail bike industry seemed to be spinning its wheels last summer with the closure of Montana Cycling and Ski, a large, performance-oriented store at King Avenue West and Shiloh Road. Soon afterward, Chad Broderius, who worked at Montana Cycling for a short time, and Brian Kooyer, opened the Red Rover Bicycle Collective at 11 S. 30th St., off Minnesota Avenue.

The store carries a variety of mountain bikes and fat bikes, and also features numerous vintage bikes on display.

“Things have been going well. We’re looking to expand where we’re at,” Broderus said.

“We’re concentrating on road, gravel and cyclocross bikes, and we’ve been servicing more road bikes.”

Billingsbusiness

Montana patents Below are listed U.S. patents issued to Montana inventors Jan. 28 through Feb. 11. For assistance in patent filing, call Billings patent attorney Antoinette M. Tease at 406-294-9000.

Jeffrey D. Lloyd of Knoxville, Tenn.; Michael

W. Tobin of Bozeman and Ronald T. Schwalb of Knoxville, Tenn.: Crawlspace encapsulation system.

8,635,816. Jan. 28. Nisus Corporation of Rockford, Tenn.

John R. Amend of Bozeman and Richard A. Hermens of LaGrande, Ore.: Visual spectrophotom-

eter. 8,638,433. Jan. 28.

Joshua Lukas of Mazeppa, Minn.; Gary R. Ricard of Chatfield, Minn., and Timothy Thompson of Whitefish: Network intrusion

Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y.

Thomas M. Dempsey of Cedar Mountain; Gregory K. Mundt of Duluth, Ga., and Thomas W. Reeder of Fletcher, N.C.: Ornamental

Thomas W. Bates of Kila; Dan Morgan of Vacaville, Calif., and Leslie W. Ross of San Rafael, Calif.: Reusable beer keg.

8,646,660. Feb. 11.

brace having article securing mechanism. 8,646,746. Feb. 11. Step Ahead Tools LLC of Bigfork.

Michael Holland of Missoula: Hitch guide assembly

detection in a network that includes a distributed virtual switch fabric. 8,640,239. Jan. 28. International Business

design of a sport trailer with deck. D698,700. Feb. 4. Sylvansport, LLC of Brevard, N.C.

Jason D. Boese, Dwight Lamm, Darryl Byle and Todd Charlebois, all of Bigfork: Concrete form

Burnstead Drive, No 23a, Feb. 5.

Kurtis L. Bellamy, 721 Garnet Ave., Feb. 12.

William Joseph Livingston, 2001 24th St. W. Apt. 1, Feb. 13.

Engaged Transportation & Logistics Inc., N 6075 Hammer Rd Albany Wisc., Yellowstone

County, Feb. 13.

Brittney Margo Bailey, 212 Tam O’Shanter Road, Feb. 17.

Joseph Paul Ehlenburg, Brenda Lea Chrismon Ehlenburg, 7305 Sam’s Place, Laurel, Feb. 19.

Michael Charles Clark, 4636 Lux Ave., Feb. 21.

Oscar Eugene Berg, Carol

Beth Berg, 616 N. 15th, Feb. 21.

Joseph M. Hauck, 1110 Capricorn Place, Feb. 25.

Kennedy Scott Jens, 1120 Competition Ave., Feb. 25.

Skyler “C.J.” Judkins, 610 Parkhill Drive, Feb. 25.

Ryan M. Smith, 722 Terry Ave., Feb. 26.

Kirk Alan Kagarise, 265 Aristocrat Drive No. D, Feb. 26.

Toni Renee Boe, P.O. Box 30643, Feb. 26.

Mike A. Lopez, Tera R. Lopez, 12 South Crestwood Drive, Feb. 28.

Ronda J. Michelle Elmy, 1373 Nye Road, Fishtail, Feb. 28.

Charmaine Allison Brannan, 119 Huntley Butte Road, Columbus, Feb. 2.

Jack A. Welch, Heather L. Welch, 507 First St. W., Roundup, Feb. 7.

Jeremy Losoya, Angela M. Losoya, 1188 Matador Ave., Feb. 27.

dere Drive, 633-5295.

Carrie’s Massage Therapy, 2809 Belvedere Drive, 7020737.

TJS Construction, 1167 Hemingway Ave., 860-2583.

Blue Iris Cleaning, 1789 Gleneagles Blvd., 690-1522.

Jewel Lea Weiss, 5302 Bell Ave., 249-0377.

RS + Vulpes Vulpes, 339 Wicks Lane, 218-303-6080.

Burger King (BSK Grand 2285 LLC), 1438 Grand Ave., 702-7220.

Interim Gaming, 2538 Wyoming Ave., 208-9310.

Soup R Wrap, 300 S. 24th

St. W., 697-4001.

Trails West Homes LLC, 1430 Country Manor Blvd., 591-4540.

Stoneway Construction LLC, 2125 Fairway Drive, 371-5239.

Tangled Hair and Nail Salon LLC, 2908 Second Ave. N., 839-9024.

Kevin McDevitt, 1931 Lakehills Drive, 208-2610.

Hempire Smoke Apparel, 1106 Main St. No. 7, 2812990.

Darana Hybrid Inc., Memphis, Tenn., 901-396-5982.

Grounds Guys Billings,

1712 Mary St., 579-3181.

Integrity Bookkeeping, 843 Kale Drive, 855-4095.

Elite Couture Sewing and Tailoring, 632 Key City Drive, 696-8702.

Play-K-Tion, 2010 Grand Ave., 781-985-3971.

Big Sky Loyalty LLC, 1945 Clark Ave., 690-1434.

SRM LLC, 1827 Grand Ave., 294-2240.

S.W. Overhuls House Moving, Columbus, 321-1507.

CKK Cosmetics, 1500 Broadwater Ave., 307-4610729.

Imagination in Motion

Construction, 3700 Old Hardin Road, 590-4687.

Ranch House Meat Co., 1313 Grand Ave., No. 1, 6560777.

Cornerstone Siding Company, 2702 Wyoming Ave., 690-2301.

H-D Electrical Services Inc., Molt, 672-6123.

BCP Montanan LLC, 941 Bench Blvd., 672-1074.

JM Dezigns, 5200 Montana City Drive, 697-5582.

Collars, Lanyards & More, 3338 Aljema Ave., 534-6496.

Nikko Enterprise Corporation, 1603 Grand Ave., Suite

135, 562-941-6080.

Hoist Teen Outreach, 1500 Poly Drive, Suite 204, 3715783.

Desper Audio & Video LLC, 708 N. 26th St., 876-3920.

Sorenson Construction, Belfry, 425-2346.

The Cleaner Cleaner, 1126 Howard Ave., 698-8472.

Beartooth Crossfit, 2940 Grand Ave., Suite B, 6722599.

Mike Foster, 1302 Dublin St., 876-5578.

Paula Pasek OTR-Myofascial Release, 2309 Crimson Lane, 794-9139.

with displaceable guide member. 8,646,799. Feb. 1encapsulation1. Like Products, Inc. of Missoula.

Bankruptcies Billings area bankruptcy petitions filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Feb.128, 2014. Addresses are in Billings unless otherwise noted.

Chapter 7 Robert Anthony Ronquillo, Kerri Lynn Ronquillo, 2141

Chapter 13

Business licenses The following business licenses were issued Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, 2014. The information is collected by the city of Billings.

Cotter’s Sewer, Septic & Portable Toilets, Laurel, 8695989.

Grande F-Nail-E Salon, 1313 Grand Ave., Suite 9, 245-5588.

Solid Creations, 403 Alderson Ave., 971-678-1933.

Streamline Design, 2604 Keel Drive, 698-6207.

CW Designs, 2809 BelveBillingsbusiness

April 2014

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Business licenses, continued S.M.C. Concrete, 1537 Clark Ave., 321-0882.

Busy B’s, 2510 Constellation Trail, 548-5658.

R & R Salon, 1001 S. 24th St. W., Suite 101, 248-4247.

Born to Win Life Strategies Coaching, 1401 Avenue E,

272-6232.

Ashley’s Saddle Horses, 4779 Sanctuary Trail, 919996-9469.

Ms. M’s Cleaning Service, 72 Goldstrike Drive, 6946543.

Beacon Trades, 215 Broad-

water Ave., 690-7841.

Sports & Outdoor Gear, Etc., 142 Buena Vista Ave., 208-2896.

Montana Go Mini’s Inc., 1041 Fourth Ave. N., 2590400.

Swank Enterprises, 609

Breitenstein, Dennis R., Kirkness Roofing & Supply, $6,200 1228 Alkali Creek Road, Taylor, Douglas L. & Rebecca L., ABC Seamless Of Billings Inc., $20,998 3003 Laredo Place, Hoge, Scott & Jennifer, Sunset Construction LLC, $7,265 4209 Vaughn Lane, Ott, Gary L. & Marie E., Peak Contracting, $13,900 2416 Dahlia Lane, Johnson, Lance E., Kyle Kring Construction, $3,900 1029 Lewis Ave., Miller, Susan R., Exterior Design Solutions, $9,500 3928 3 Ave. S., Brett Carlson, $4,200 2763 Riveroaks Drive, Miller, Edwin A. & Kristine, Billings Window & Siding Spec., $18,000 3146 Canyon Drive, Morgan, Zachary R., Wanner Roofing, $5,300 119 Jefferson St., Martell, Vernon G. & Maureen E., Good Earth Construction, $4,280 3221 40 St. W., Steilen, Geordie N., DLV Roofing Inc., $8,200 531 Hallowell Lane, LaFurge, Ronald G., Independence Ornamental Design, $3,500 3150 McMasters Road, Kerry & Tim Martinson, Lynnrich Inc.,

$120 501 S. 33 St., Vallie, Timothy & Julie, Lynnrich Inc., $1,020 2704 Virginia Lane, Edwards, John W. & Hollis S., Kirkness Roofing & Supply, $23,390

Charles St., 294-7979.

Mystic Woodworks, 2145 Goodman Road, 694-4004.

Leanne’s Pretty Dresses, 3229 Rosebud Drive, No. 12, 231-0002.

Extreme Customs, 265 Aristocrat Drive, 909-553-

8550.

Nagel Construction, 248 Avenue F, 208-5816.

B & M Construction, 7441 Folsom Road, 694-8619.

White’s Construction, 425 S. 30th St., 694-7801.

Rachel’s Cleaning Service,

850 Lake Elmo Drive, 8504420.

Emily Hallock Weddings and Events, 1660 Norwood Lane, 860-6965.

Tom Connelly Tile Installation, 2120 Alderson Ave., 690-4264.

3406 Flagstone Drive, Johnson, Mark A. & Cammie J., Quality Time Construction, $2,800 2508 Custer Ave., Montague, Brent & Krista, Dustin Davison Construction, $11,000 517 Terry Ave., James Gress, American Exteriors LLC, $8,001 2015 13 St. W., Jennifer Montgomery, American Exteriors LLC, $7,001 3024 Farnam St., Bug, William H., American Exteriors LLC, $2,130 36 Heatherwood Lane, Patricia Morledge, Platt Construction, $40,000 6122 Sam Snead Trail, Holmes, Maurice L. & Martha B., Eaton And Yost Contractors, $1,000 3110 N. Daffodil Drive, Eaton & Yost, Eaton And Yost Contractors, $14,000 1545 Silver Run Trail, Jeff Junkert Const., Jeff Junkert Construction Inc., $15,600 5305 Vintage Lane, Andrew & Wendy Shelton, $16,380 2203 Poly Drive, Haden, Linda C., All Phase Builders, $4,000 5332 Frontier Drive, Carson, Timothy D. & Natalie K., Dan Fleury Construction Inc., $16,100 2101 10th Ave. N., Secretary Of Housing And Urban Develop-

ment, Van Arsdale Construction, $6,800 1121 Central Ave., Badura, Brent, $67,180 1809 Patricia Lane, Larkin, Robert L. Jr & Janet L., Pella Window Store, $900 811 N. 24 St., Wiesner, Eugene F. & Helen, Affordable Contractors, $500 3928 3 Ave. S., Brett Carlson, $3,600 2763 Riveroaks Drive, Miller, Edwin A. & Kristine, Billings Window & Siding Spec., $9,500 119 Jefferson St., Martell, Vernon G. & Maureen E., Good Earth Construction, $310 1432 Teton Ave., Kiner, Neil R., Win-Dor Industries, $900 733 Park Lane, Frank, Steve, Win-Dor Industries, $1,559 2223 Fox Drive, Shelly Lehman, Big Sky Maintenance Inc., $56,471 1309 Sierra Granda Blvd., Barnes, Micah, $18,400 2238 Larchwood Lane, Young, Ione M., $8,000 2704 Beartooth Drive, Hamrick, Jason N., Comax Construction LLC, $2,200 2926 Custer Ave., Herington, Donald J. & Nancy A., Lynnrich Inc., $1,399

Residential Permits February 2014 residential building permits. Information is from the city of Billings

Demolition Permit Residential 1649 Augsburg Drive, Warren Schmitt, Jim Rooney Excavating, $1,500 619 S. 26 St., Matt Yolanda, Five Star Concrete Inc., $3,000

Addition Single/ Duplex/Garage 6093 Ironwood Drive, Sanchez, Kerry T., Rausch Construction, $10,080 2117 Iris Lane, Hunnes, Jeffery A. & Cristi H., Albaugh Construction LLC, $13,000

Fence/Roof/Siding 3111 Parkhill Drive, Greg Judson, $9,500 1190 Trenton St., Wagner, Jere, MacDonald Steel Exteriors, $9,200 2203 Poly Drive, Haden, Linda C., All Phase Builders, $5,500 321 Miles Ave.,Shay, Victor H. & Diana M., ABC Seamless Of Billings Inc., $19,937 541 Highland Park Drive, 46

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$165,000 1802 S Sundance Mountain Trail, Jeff Junkert, Jeff Junkert Construction Inc., $211,525 1824 Front St., McCall Development Inc., McCall Development, $215,960 6275 Canyonwoods Drive, New Garage Cougar Construction, Cougar Construction, $350,050 1412 Teton Ave., Detienne, 1225 Vineyard Way, Dan Lowe Peggy T. & Lloyd R., $57,120 Construction Inc., Lowe Dan New Single Family Construction, $274,665 1736 Songbird Drive, McCall Development Inc., McCall Devel4010 Wildridge Meadows Drive, Classic Design Homes, Clas- opment, $140,140 sic Design Homes, $203,110 Remodel Single/ 1642 Songbird Drive, McCall Duplex/Garage Development, McCall Development, $343,235 2520 Hoover Ave., Jaime 1522 Shaw Lane, Twin Oaks Writesel, $8,000 Corporation, Twin Oaks Corp., 145 Tam O’Shanter Road, $143,520 Casad, Laverne A., $1,400 3131 Amelia Circle, Copper 321 Miles Ave., Shay, Victor H. Ridge Development LLC, Oakland & Diana M., All Season ConstrucBuilt Homes Inc., $171,055 3042 Golden Acres Drive, Rim- tion, $6,000 314 Miles Ave., John rock Builders, Rimrock Builders Robinson, All Season ConstrucInc., $253,775 tion,$5,000 1432 Benjamin Blvd., Infin2656 Meadow Creek Loop, ity Homes, Infinity Homes LLC, BCJM Properties LLC, Hanser $234,870 Construction Company, $15,120 159 Viceroy St., Commu2910 Lynwood Circle, Rooknity Leadership Development, stool, Klodes R & Kami R, $3,000 Koinonia Housing Construction,

Billingsbusiness

BUILDING TOMORROW’S VISIONS TODAY www.daconstruction.com

Building Permits DESIGN/BUILD • TURN-KEY CONSTRUCTION • PRE-CONSTRUCTION PLANNING • CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT • 406-248-3700

Billings Commercial Building Permits Remodel

685 King Park Drive

Barthel Properties LLC

Jones Construction Inc.

$25,000

Remodel

175 N. 27 St.

SFH II LLC

Jones Construction Inc.

$114,000

Remodel

2812 1 Ave. N.

Western Security Bank

Dick Anderson Construction

$210,807

Remodel

405 Main St.

Double LC Partners LLC

C Squared Construction

$15,000

Remodel

1603 Grand Ave.

West Park Plaza Associates LLC

Langlas & Assoc. Inc.

$10,000

Remodel

2211 Grand Ave.

Highland Rim Properties Inc.

Remodel

729 Parkhill Drive

School District No. 2

Fisher Construction Inc.

Remodel

2612 Belknap Ave.

Tom Master

Protection Corporation

$5,047

Remodel

2520 Grand Ave.

Eaton Betty Jean

Eaton And Yost Contractors

$4,000

Addition Multi-Family

109 S. 28 St.

Meadowgold Dairy

Fence/Roof/Siding

3805 Slalom Drive

IRET-Olympic Village (MT)

Fence/Roof/Siding

`9 S. 19 St. W.

City Of Billings

Fence/Roof/Siding

416 Lake Elmo Drive

TNC Development LLC

New Parking Lot/Non-Building Structure

991 S. 29 St. W.

Big Sky Florists Supply

Remodel

3605 Hesper Road

Fed-X Ground

Remodel

3800 Pierce Parkway

Pierce Building LLP

Remodel

1839 King Ave. W.

Survey 777 LLC

Fisher Construction Inc.

Remodel

1734 Yellowstone Ave.

Roman Catholic Bishop Of Great Falls

Billings Alarm Co. Inc.

Remodel Multi-Family

832 Avenue D

Hurtig Robert L.

New Hotel/Motel

2480 Grant Road

Billings Hospitality LLC

New Store/Strip Center

1025 Shiloh Crossing Blvd.

Shiloh Crossing LLC

Langlas & Assoc. Inc.

$2,672,949

New Store/Strip Center

1025 Shiloh Crossing Blvd.

Shiloh Crossing LLC

Langlas & Assoc. Inc.

$1,276,171

Remodel

1315 Golden Valley Circle

Frontier Oncology LLC

Langlas & Assoc. Inc.

$400,000

Remodel

1315 Lewis Ave.

School District No. 2

Star Service Inc.

$135,000

Remodel

220 N. 24 St.

Debtor Company (A Trust)

Remodel

2290 King Ave. W.

Costco

Town & Country Electric

Demolition Permit Commercial

1310 Montana Ave.

Montana Rail Link

Castlerock Excavating Inc.

Billingsbusiness

$2,000

$100,000

$3,000 $500 $1,500 Sprague Construction Roofing Division

$10,000 $213,100 $1,300,000 $25,000 $25,000 $1,000 $1,000 $5,480,675

$6,000 $2,000 $20,000

April 2014

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Billingsbusiness