Business Journal - December 2015

BUSINESS F O R S O U T H W E S T M O N TA N A

JOURNAL

CLOCKING IN WITH

STAN FISHER Bozeman’s ‘spice guy’ talks business and chili peppers PAGE 12 DECEMBER 15, 2015

SHARED WORKSPACES A GROWING TREND IN BOZEMAN STORY BY L E W I S K E NDA L L | BUSI N E S S JOU R NA L E DI TOR

AS SHE WALKED AROUND the basement of The Foundry, the air tinged with the acidic smell of photographic processing chemicals, owner Tatum Johnson pointed out different workspaces.

The corner under the stairs was occupied by a painter stroke architect. Another room by a photographer. A third area was being used

for costumes, she said.

“We’ve got a lot going on right now.”

Originally from Bozeman, Johnson graduated from Georgia’s Savannah College of Art and Design in 2011. She spent the next year – her “quarter-life crisis” – traveling to New Zealand and California before returning to Montana and

|

PHOTOS BY ADR I A N SA NCH EZ - GONZA LEZ

founding a screen printing T-shirt business, Intrigue Ink, with her sister.

For a while, the 28-year-old was content working out of a garage, hustling shirts with stenciled bison and horseshoes. But the work was lonely and boring and Johnson quickly got sick of hosting meetings out of coffee shops. So she took her

1985 Honda Express moped and went looking for a place of her own.

“We needed a space where we could showcase our stuff and have events for our work, but everything real estate-wise was either huge and out of our budget or dingy and gross,” she said.

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editor ’s

NOTEBOOK

Stockman Bank

B Y L E W I S K E N DA L L BUSI N E S S JOU R NA L E DI TOR

Thank You FOR YOUR BUSINESS! May you have a peaceful and prosperous 2016

Although it will be several weeks past Thanksgiving by the time this goes to press, I think the entire holiday season is a good time to express the things we’re thankful for. (Yes we should be grateful year-round, but I get nostalgic this time of year).

So this year I am thankful for my job. Every day I get to go out and meet someone new and hear what they have to say. Every day I’m exposed to new viewpoints, ideas and ways of thinking. It is a constant educational experience, and not only that but I often get the gratification of telling these stories. I was very unaware, for example, of Bozeman’s underground art scene, which I came across in writing this month’s feature. Of course, my pieces

at Stockman Bank.

BUSINESS F O R S O U T H W E S T M O N TA N A

© 2015 Stockman Bank

Oak & N 19th 556-4130

| Member FDIC

Belgrade 388-5025

Kendall can be reached at lkendall@ dailychronicle.com. Kendall is on Twitter at @lewdak.

This year I am thankful for my job. Every day I get to go out and meet someone new and hear what they have to say. Every day I’m exposed to new viewpoints, ideas and ways of thinking. It is a constant educational experience.

from your friends

Kagy & S 19th 556-4100

don’t always make people happy, but I’ve even learned to appreciate that part of the job (at least to a certain extent).

I’m thankful for my coworkers.

The value of having good people around you at work cannot be understated, and I appreciate all the great folks at the Chronicle.

Finally, I’m thankful for this place. I’ve been in Bozeman almost a year now and the more I get to know the area, the more I love it. The Gallatin Valley, and Montana in general, has so much to offer, and I’m grateful that this is where I ended up.

OK, that’s enough sentimentalism for this year.

Happy holidays.

Manhattan 284-3100

JOURNAL

EDITOR | LEWIS KENDALL ADVERTISING MANAGER | SYLVIA DR AIN

E-MAIL: lkendall@dailychronicle.com OTHER WAYS TO CONTAC T US: PO Box 1190, Bozeman MT 59771 Phone 406 587-4491 OUR THREECOUNTY REGION

GALLATIN MADISON

PARK

WWW.STOCKMANBANK.COM Business Journal is published monthly by Big Sky Publishing, LLC. Contents copyrighted 2012 by Business Journal unless otherwise noted.

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D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5 • B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L

SHARING COV E R S T OR Y CON T. Eventually she came to the conclusion that in order to finance a larger building, she would need to share the space with others.

“We thought that would be easy. How fun and simple,” she said with a laugh.

After leasing the building on Tracy Avenue in late 2012, what did turn out to be easy was finding like-minded people eager for a personal slice of workspace.

“Everything was so kismet,” Johnson said. “I needed renters and my renters fell into my lap in a week and a half. From the get-go it was funded by everyone pooling their rent.”

Three years later, several of the original renters still use the coworking space. The building — around the corner from where her dad owned the old Foot Locker — has become a second home to Johnson, with her co-workers a kind of extended family.

n ce & Re h a b a m ili t MONTANA WORKS or at f r e

n io

P

Becky Smith, founder and chief executive officer of Blue Ocean Innovation Center in Bozeman, opened the multipurpose space in 2012 with the goal to serve entrepreneurs with flexible workspaces and build healthy, productive environments.

d

SUPPORT FOR A HEALTHY WORK FORCE

Se

Gary Lusin

PT, OCS

PT, LAT, MS, CSCS

Hazard identification Safety Walk Through Job site consultation Safety Inservices Functional Job Description Pre-placement screen

• Acute injury management/ treatment • Return to Work modifications • WorkPASS™ • Functional Capacity Evaluation • Open communication pathway

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e rvic

Adva nc e

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A division of Advanced Performance and Rehabilitation Services Phone: 406-587-4501 1532 Ellis Street, Ste. 201 Bozeman, Montana 59715

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Call for a free consultation with our experienced team of professionals.

ic

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e lT M her s apy & Sport

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B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L • D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5

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COMINGS &GOINGS

SHARING COV E R S T OR Y “The community that we’ve had within the walls has been a support system that I didn’t expect to see or find,” she said. “The friendships here are really lifelong friendships. We all really care for each other.”

Coworking owes its roots to the hackerspace movement of the 1990s, but it wasn’t until 2005 that coder Brad Neuberg set up an eightperson house in San Francisco, launching the trend. Today there are at least 8,000 coworking spaces worldwide, housing half a million workers. And the motivation behind the movement seems clear. In its annual survey, coworking magazine Deskmag reported that 71 percent of respondents felt a boost in creativity after joining a coworking group, while 62 percent said their standard of work improved.

Eight different renters currently occupy The Foundry’s two floors, representing a diverse array of artistic mediums. There’s James Weirkert, an oil painter who produces his bold-edged works of nature in the small room under the stairs. Next to Weirkert is Justine Cranford, also known as Ruthl+ss Photography and Designs, whose studio is littered with lights and props. Johnson and

TO CONTRIBUTE CALL 582-2635

Red Tractor planning December expansion Red Tractor Pizza, located at the intersection of West Main Street and North 10th Avenue, will expand its dining capacity from approximately 25 to almost 100 this month after its owners purchased and renovated the adjacent space. The new space will also allow for booking full bands.

New Belgrade therapy business Healing Waters Colon Therapy opened for business at 11 West Main Street #207 in Belgrade. The business offers colon therapy, ionic footbaths, ear candling and 17 herbal tinctures for health. The operation focuses on detoxification from the inside out and weight loss juicing programs for the New Year. Learn more at healingwatersforhealth.com.

New acupuncture business opens Maggie Hofferber recently opened Life Force Acupuncture and Wellness at Sano Connection located at 1946 Stadium Drive, Suite 2 in Bozeman.

Hofferber is licensed as an acupuncturist by the Montana Board of Medical Examiners. She is certified as a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), meaning she is board certified in both acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. Hofferber is also trained in Tuina massage and regularly incorporates this into her treatment sessions.

Jewelry Studio moves to new space Jewelry Studio is celebrating their 21st Anniversary of business in Bozeman by expanding into a new location. Jewelry Studio recently moved into their newly built store in Bozeman’s Gateway Center near Rosauers and Kohl’s on West Main Street. Their new store has allowed Jewelry Studio to expand their showroom, inventory and list of exclusive jewelry designers.

THE BOTTOM LINE

MONTHLY ECONOMIC INDICATORS

July

90,000

August September

80,000

October

70,000 60,000 50,000 Bozeman

Missoula

SOURCE: DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION, MONTANA AERONAUTICS DIVISION

4

$8 $7 $6 $5 $4 $3

U.S. 2 Feed Barley U.S. 1 Dark Northern Spring Wheat 14% U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat 12%

11/20 11/27 Billings

FEEDER CATTLE PRICES

MONTANA ELEVATOR CASH GRAIN PRICES

AIRPORT BOARDINGS June

Intrigue Ink work in a small corner of the upstairs, sharing a wall with jeweler Susan Ramos.

The quarters are tight, but Johnson is flexible with the space and allows renters to use it as they please (some, like Cranford, even sublease their space to other artists). For the most part, occupants are open to the idea of a communal workspace.

“It’s a bold move to move into an office space where you don’t know anybody and you have to work alongside them every day.

But again, the alternative is a coffee shop or working out of your kitchen,” Johnson said.

Sometimes it’s people who are arriving in Bozeman and just need a place to check their email. Other times, as in the case of Taco del Sol owner Marley McKenna, who rents a small section of the ground floor, it’s a case of needing an office away from the office.

“We welcome people to show up and do whatever they want.

Do something, throw something, teach something, create something,” Johnson said. “This is a resource that people can plug into and use us as a tool to grow their own creative endeavors.”

Still, the process has not been without growing pains. On the busi-

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12/04

AVERAGE PRICE PER BUSHEL FOR WINTER AND SPRING WHEAT. AVERAGE PRINCE PER CW T FOR FEED BARLEY

$300 $250 $200 Week Week Week end end end 11/21 11/28 12/5

SOURCE: USDA-WY DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE MARKET NEWS SERVICE, TORRINGTON, WY

STEERS

500-599 lbs

HEIFERS 500-599 lbs

ness side, Johnson struggled with the initial expectations and required professionalism of owning a storefront. The logistics of working in a confined space with seven other people also presented issues.

“Finding out when to ask for help is a big thing for me, because I’ll do it all myself and then be 3 inches shorter because of all the things I put on my shoulders,” she said. “Figuring out that dynamic of working with other people for a similar goal has been a little bit of a challenge.”

Selling the concept of a coworking space has proved tricky. Johnson said before she demarcated the upstairs retail space more clearly, customers often walked in thinking they had accidentally entered someone’s office.

But as she tells it, the benefits of working with others in the evermorphing “creative syndicate” far outweigh the drawbacks.

“We all have our own businesses and projects going on, but that collaborative sense is still there. Even to get feedback on a project you’ve been looking at for too long, like ‘Hey, does this look OK? Can you give me some insight?’ It creates a small community of support for each person that is in here,” she said.

And with Bozeman’s expanding art scene, there will always be a need for similar creative collectives.

“As Bozeman grows hopefully we can create a cool subculture of creative things, support each other and keep people’s businesses going,” she said.

As for the future, Johnson said she has no plans to give up the tight-knit family she has helped create.

“I love this space and I love this building. I plan to hold onto it for as long as I can,” she said. “We have to pinch ourselves sometimes, like we’re at work, this is what we do. It

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has been really awesome.” nnn

On the other side of Bozeman’s coworking world is Becky Smith.

Smith has worn many hats in her life, including shopping center manager, economic development director and CFO. But it was as a CEO coach that she first got a taste for collaborative workspaces, using the temporary offices when she traveled across the country.

“Sometimes I wouldn’t talk to anybody, other times I would ask people for help,” she said of her time

in the spaces. “I was always working independently, but I like to be around people. I have a really nice home office, but I just missed the connection.”

Seeing a need for something similar in Bozeman, in the summer of 2012 Smith founded Blue Ocean Innovation Center.

Unlike The Foundry, Blue Ocean works with mostly business professionals and academics. But Smith’s list of clients is just as diverse.

Workers from oral surgeons to NASA scientists have all rented a desk or conference room at the office on the corner of Lincoln Street.

Interested parties can reserve a Herman Miller desk anywhere from a day ($20) to a month ($250), and Smith said she has had clients stay as long as two years. The space also has two conference rooms and a private office.

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UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

October ....... 332,191 September...799,866

8%

August..... 1,013,720

6%

July ....... 1,115,468

4%

June ......... 910,483 May ........ 469,802 SOURCE: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

U.S. Montana Gallatin Co. Dec. Jan

Feb March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. 2015 SOURCE: MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY

B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L • D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5

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SHARING COV E R S T OR Y CON T. Smith modeled her business off large coworking spaces in places like Seattle, New York City and Philadelphia, which are constantly “abuzz” with collaboration.

“The community comes first. In most successful coworking spaces in big cities, the community is what makes it,” she said.

But getting the same type of buzz in a much smaller city has proved more difficult.

“In some of the rural areas it’s a little different.

You have a little more independent workers and the startups don’t have the money so much, they still need the coffee shops,” she said.

As with Johnson, Smith’s challenge has been explaining the concept of coworking to the public and to people in business.

“People still say that to us, ‘I’ve never even heard of you.’ In the very beginning that was the hardest thing, like ‘Coworking? I don’t know what that is,’” she said.

Another challenge has been finding and advertising to workers who need such a space. And once at a desk, renters don’t always buy into the community ideal.

“The ones that are in and out are more independent,” she said, adding that having a space closer to downtown might be more effective. “It’s been independents coming in and out, in and out and then getting their own offices.”

But there have been success stories. With her extensive business background, Smith is always around to provide insight or networking connections. Being so close to Montana State University, she advertises to students for intern work or to use the space. The center has also hosted dozens of conferences and seminars with positive results.

“Everybody that comes here says that they can’t believe how much they get done,” the 58-year-old

KEEPING YOUR BUSINESS MOBILE IS JUST WHAT WE DO.

said. “Our motto has always been ‘Get more done in less time.’”

Blue Ocean allows Smith to watch businesses grow and support smaller startups, while remaining connected to the ever-changing business world.

“I really listen and try to ask a lot of questions,” she said. “I naturally, systemically look at things to make them better for the people who work there.”

Also like Johnson, Smith does see a future for coworking in Bozeman. The two organizations have connected to see how to best support each other, she added.

“I love the concept. There is room and rightness for it with all our technology industry here, but there has to be the right business model for it,” Smith said.

With her husband’s dental practice stationed just across the hall, Smith doesn’t see herself going anywhere anytime soon. So for now she hopes to continue to give back to the area while spreading the message about coworking.

“We’re here to serve the community,” she said.

“I don’t know what shape it’s going to take, but I think there’s a future, I think there really is.”

Kendall can be reached at lkendall@dailychronicle.com. Kendall is on Twitter at @lewdak

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D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5 • B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L

I T TA K E S A C O M M U N I T Y All of us who have so much to be thankful for in our community of Bozeman, also have so much to contribute. What could you do with the list below? Figure out what touches your heart and find a way to touch someone else’s by giving any of the items listed below for these local non-profits. Consider this: “I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love. You can find it in a simple act of kindness toward someone who needs help. There is no mistaking love. You feel it in your heart. It is the common fiber of life, the flame that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives.”

B B C

— Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

ig Brothers Big Sisters Contact us at 406-587-1216

• Provide Big’s and Little’s with new experiences by giving exclusive discounts at your business!

oys and Girls Club Contact Gene at 406-587-8442

• After school snacks for the boys and girls (must be packaged) • Give a “Campership” scholarship so that a boy or girl can go to camp

ancer Support Commuity Contact Katelyn Stewart at 406-582-1600 or email katelyn@cancersupportmontana.org

E

• • • • •

Toilet paper Paper towels Kleenex Multipurpose copy paper (white) Juice boxes

agle Mount Contact Maggee Harrison at 406-586-1781 or email mharrison@eaglemount.org

F

• • • •

AED defibrillator Grass hay Turnout horse blankets Wither relief saddle pads

amily Promise of Gallatin Valley Contact Kevin Sylvester at 406-582-7388 or email ksylvester@familypromisegv.org • • • •

Gas cards and grocery gift cards Diapers (all sizes – especially size 3, 4, 5 and 6) Laundry supplies (detergent and dryer sheets) Bathroom supplies (toilet paper, Kleenex, baby wipes)

G

allatin Valley Food Bank Contact Jill at 406-586-7600 or email info@gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org • • • •

G

Canned soup Cereal Canned meat Juice

reater Gallatin United Way Contact Marjorie Seymour at 406-587-2194 or email admin@greatergallatinunitedway.org

H

• New children’s books (board books through chapter books) • Craft supplies for kidsLINK afterschool programs (ages k-8)

aven Contact Erica Coyle at 406-586-7689 or email erica@havenmt.org • • • •

H

Gas cards Gloves and mittens for women and children Journals to write in Warm socks

eart of the Valley Contact Marie at 406-388-9399 Ext. 222 or email marie@heartofthevalleyshelter.org • Kong toys • Large disposable trash bags • Gift cards to PetsMart

H

RDC Contact Kristin Hamburg at 406-585-4877

T

• Cleaning supplies for the Warming Center • Gas cards and grocery cards for families in need • Large canned food items or dry bulk goods for the Community Café

hrive Contact Cindy Ballew at 406-922-4235 or email cballew@allthrive.org

W

• • • •

Games and crafts for CAP matches Gas and grocery cards for families Coffee and tea shop gift cards for visits with parents Board books for babies/toddlers and books for kids

arriors and Quiet Waters Contact Emily Wallace at 406-585-9793 or email Emily@warriorsandquietwaters.org

Y

• Gift Cards to Office Depot, Home Depot, Macy’s, or Target for supplying the Home for Healing where veterans can stay during the program • Gift Cards to Costco for food for warriors

MCA Contact the Y at 406-994-9622 • • • •

Tricycles, scooters, and balance bikes (ages 2-5) Hula hoops and jump ropes Balls of all kinds Board games

B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L • D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5

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BOZEMAN AREA BUSINESS CALENDAR BOZEMAN 12/15 Tax Increment Fund Board Meeting, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Downtown Bozeman Partnership office.

12/16 Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Full Board Meeting, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., at the Bozeman Chamber, 2000 Commerce Way. More information at www.bozemanchamber.com.

12/16 Business Improvement District Board Meeting, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Downtown Bozeman Partnership office. Visit www.downtownbozeman.org for more information.

12/16 Bozeman Business and Professional Women Board Meeting, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., at D.A. Davidson, 529 E. Main St. Free for Members. Visit www.bozemanbpw.org for more information.

12/16 Bozeman Business and Professional Women Networking Social, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Bridger Brewing. Free for members and nonmembers. More information and register at www. bozemanbpw.org.

12/17 Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Bozeman, 5 Baxter Ln. Free for members, $25 for non-members. Register at www.

bozemanchamber.com.

12/19 Winter Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Emerson Cultural Center. More information at www.bozemanwintermarket.com.

1/5 Downtown Bozeman Association Board Meeting, 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Downtown Bozeman Partnership Office, 222 E. Main St. Suite 302. All are welcome. Visit www.downtownbozeman.org for more information.

1/7 Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at Blue Ocean Innovation Center, 1820 W. Lincoln St. free for members, $25 for non-members. Register at www.bozemanchamber.com.

1/9 Winter Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Emerson Cultural Center. More information at www.bozemanwintermarket.com.

1/13 Bozeman Business and Professional Women Luncheon, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., at Holiday Inn, 5 E. Baxter. $9 for members, $12 for non-members. More information and register at www.bozemanbpw.org.

1/16 Winter Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Emerson Cultural Center. More information at www.bozemanwintermarket.com.

1/19 Tax Increment Fund Board Meeting, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Downtown Bozeman

To contribute the Business Calendar email srandrus@ dailychronicle.com

Partnership office.

1/20 Business Improvement District Board Meeting, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Downtown Bozeman Partnership office.

1/25 Bozeman Daily Chronicle B2B Networking Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn. Tickets are $35 until 9/14 and $40 after that. Visit http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ business/events/b2b-luncheons/ for more information and to register.

BELGRADE 1/5 Belgrade Chamber of Commerce President’s Circle, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Meeting open to past presidents and past board of directors of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce.

1/14 Belgrade Chamber of Commerce Building Belgrade, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.belgradechamber.org for more information.

1/19 Belgrade Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Meeting, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Visit www. belgradechamber.org.

1/21 Belgrade Chamber of Commerce Busi-

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ness After Hours, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visit www. belgradechamber.org for more information.

MADISON COUNTY 12/17 Visit Big Sky Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., at the Big Sky Chamber, 55 Lone Mountain Trail. Visit www.visitbigskymt.com for more information.

12/17 Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Lone Peak Brewery Free for members. Visit www.bigskychamber.com for more information.

1/12 Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Big Sky Chamber, 55 Lone Mountain Trail. Visit www.bigskychamber.com for more information.

PARK COUNTY 1/21 Network Live! Livingston Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the new Livingston Hospital. Visit www.livingston-chamber.com or call (406) 222-0850 for more information.

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D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5 • B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L

[ Quarterly advice for business and life from a revolving cast of three columnists ]

▲

BUSINESS MATTERS

Fanning the flame

BY DAVE MELDAHL

“WHEN I GROW UP, I want to be a teacher like you.” So said Elise, my excited and pigtailed daughter on the last day of school, to Peter Jacoby, her sixth grade teacher at Sacajawea Middle School. Fast forward almost a dozen years to this August, and there she was being mentored by none other than Peter Jacoby as he served as her “cooperating teacher” while she fulfilled her final requirement to become a licensed teacher — a student teaching internship her last semester of college. A few weeks ago she graduated from Montana State and is ready to launch her teaching career.

What was it about Peter Jacoby that inspired Elise? There were many things: his genuine interest in her as a person, his wonderful sense of humor, his knack for storytelling with a teaching purpose, his passion for making a difference in kids’ lives, and more. At the root of it all was Peter’s willingness to see the potential in Elise (and each of her classmates) and to fan the flame of that potential daily.

One of my mentors taught me long ago that an essential mindset of any leader who aspires to be effective is this: to see in every person the flame of potential and to envision that flame when interacting with others. Equally as critical is being mindful of one’s impact on others, constantly seeking to fan the flame so it burns brighter, and avoiding behaviors that may snuff it out.

In my experience coaching leaders, an unfortunate number are unaware of the ease with which their words and actions diminish, if not totally snuff out, others’ flames. Leaders do this by: listening poorly, casually dismissing ideas, neglecting to ask what matters to others, micromanaging

(or its opposite — providing insufficient direction) and shining the light on themselves versus others.

The sad reality is that consistent and daily doses of these behaviors are like buckets of water being tossed on the glowing embers of employee engagement and individual potential. Any leader doing the tossing is either not paying attention, or worse, not caring.

On the other hand, great leaders (and those who aspire to be so) intentionally engage with others in ways that fan the flames of potential. They do the opposite of what is listed above, and they do so consistently and with authenticity. They recognize that their highest calling as a leader is to bring out the full potential of those they lead, and that every interaction they have is an opportunity to nurture that potential. They also realize that the inevitable and unintentional missteps on their part can diminish others’ flames and are quick to acknowledge mistakes and to apologize. Paradoxically, owning up to one’s leadership missteps often serves to enhance trust and loyalty, further fanning the

flames of team members.

I mentioned earlier that Peter had the “willingness to see the potential” in each of his students. I chose those two words ­— willingness and see — very intentionally. Willingness conveys interest, desire and openness. To envision another’s flame of potential, a leader needs to be genuinely interested in the other person’s aspirations and talents and be willing to tap into those as often as possible. Ineffective leaders who douse the flames in others are neither interested nor willing. They have their agenda, their rigid procedures and their poor leadership habits to lean on, and that’s that. They see their staff as cogs in the organizational machinery, and can’t be bothered by this soft stuff called leadership.

Effective leaders are not only willing, but they actively see potential in others. They pay attention. They look for signs of talent and pursue ways to

nurture it. When they observe great performance they acknowledge it.

When they notice mistakes made by those they lead, they view them as learning opportunities (for the person and themselves). When they see progress, they applaud it. When they detect doubt creeping in, they provide encouragement. When they get a glimpse of untapped talent, they stoke the flames.

Thank you Peter Jacoby for stoking the flames of potential within Elise and so many other students you’ve touched over the years. You have made a significant difference, and continue to do so. May all of us who aspire to be leaders demonstrate a similar willingness to see the potential in those we serve, and to fan their flames daily.

Dave is Sr. Vice President of think2perform and can be reached at 406-587-5884 or dmeldahl@ think2perform.com.

Commercial Flooring

Billings 2950 King Ave W 406-652-4666

Bozeman 1921 West Main 406-587-5428

Great Falls 1204 7th St S 406-727-3832

Missoula 1603 Brooks 406-543-8224

www.pierceflooring.com B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L • D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5

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â–˛

REAL TALK

Latest buying and selling trends

BY ROBYN ERLENBUSH

WE ALL KNOW THAT real estate is most certainly local, but having an overview of national trends is important to overall market knowledge. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released their 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, which provides the most upto-date statistics. Although each real estate transaction is completely unique, trends can be useful to gauge market health.

Demographic figures revealed that first-time homebuyers dropped by one percent to 32 percent of the market, which is the second lowest figure ever. The lowest year recorded was 30 percent in 1987. First-time buyers tend to include more one-income single buyers. When prices begin to rise, oftentimes married couples with dual incomes can better adjust to the higher sales prices demanded.

Furthermore, first-time home buyers face obstacles including carrying a large amount of student debt and facing stringent financing guidelines. Both of these factors potentially delay homeownership. The typical buyer overall was reported at 44 years old with a median household income of $86,100.

Broken down further, first-time homeowners were a median of 31 years old with a $69,400 annual income, and repeat buyers were 53 years old with a median income of $98,700.

Inventory levels are still low across the board. Most buyers that are ready to make a purchase state that the hardest step is definitely finding a suitable home to purchase. New homes made up 16 percent of home sales with 84 percent being previously owned homes.

The top reason for purchasing a 10

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new home was to avoid having to deal with major maintenance issues such as plumbing and heating systems, older appliances or dated interiors. Another perk was the capability to have choices on some of the finish items. The rationale for buying an existing home was primarily price-related. Detached singlefamily homes are the type of home most often purchased.

Sellers are feeling a change in the market because the increase in sales prices means they may have more equity in their homes than they have in the previous few years. The amount of time homeowners have stayed in their homes has increased from six or seven years up to nine years. This is juxtaposed against buyers who state they plan to stay in their recently purchased homes for a median of 14 years. An espe-

cially encouraging statistic for sellers is that they were able to sell their homes for a median of $40,000 more than for what they purchased them.

For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) sales are on the downturn, with a record low eight percent reported.

Sellers rely on agents to help with appropriate pricing, marketing and negotiations. Buyers also chose to use a professional to assist with making a smooth transaction. FSBOs sold for a lower median amount than homes that utilized a real estate agent.

The median sales price for all types of homes nationwide was $220,000 this year. The West weighed in higher at $280,000, and the Midwest was most affordable at $170,000. New homes most often sell for higher median prices than previously owned homes – $277,000 versus $209,000.

When we look at our local numbers through the end of October 2015, the median sales price for a single family home in the Bozeman city limits was $339,450. The surrounding Bozeman area weighed in at $402,500; Belgrade at $235,000; Manhattan/ Three Forks at $229,500; Gallatin Canyon/Big Sky at $625,000; Park County

at $217,000; and Madison Valley at $268,500.

The number of buyers who own multiple homes was down slightly to 19 percent compared to 21 percent last year. The most common age group for second home buyers was 45 to 64 years old. NAR also released a study in April that highlighted vacation home sales at a record high in 2014, while the purchase of investment homes has been on the decline. An approximate 1.13 million vacation homes were sold in 2014, which put them at 21 percent of all residential real estate transactions.

The median price of these vacation homes did decline, most likely because larger shares of them were condos, townhomes or distressed properties.

And locally, we continue to see low inventory rates across most of our markets with median prices steadily increasing by eight percent to ten percent. There continues to be strong demand for investment, retirement and second homes as well as primary residences.

Robyn Erlenbush is a downtown business owner and the broker and owner of ERA Landmark Real Estate, NAI Landmark Commercial and Intermountain Property Management. Contact her at robyn@ eralandmark.com.

▲

FINANCIAL TIPS

End-of-year tax tips

BY STEVE HAMPLE

THE YEAR 2015 HAS been a booming one for most businesses in our area. Success often increases income taxes coming due in the next few months, and most tax reduction strategies must be in effect by year-end. Hence, here are a few ideas.

The simplest idea for business owners is to pay, before the end of the year, for supplies, subscriptions, license fees or other items that they will need in future months and which can be treated as an expense in 2015. That’s simple, but sometimes overlooked.

A more complicated strategy is to start a company retirement plan if the business does not already have one. For a self-employed person with no employees (other than perhaps a spouse) it is usually possible to start a sole 401(k) plan before year-end and defer tax on a significant amount of income. The comment about having no employees is important because rather complex 401(k) rules require that eligible employees cannot be left out of that benefit. If the business has no employees, then that’s not a problem. Check with your CPA and other advisers about such “safe harbor” provisions and current related rules before proceeding.

Businesses with no employees and high income might also be satisfied with an old fashioned SEP-IRA plan, which would have simpler paperwork and fewer restrictive deadlines. This might also work for a business with a few employees; a general requirement is that both the employer and the eligible employees must receive the same percentage of income as a contribution to the plan. It is possible to essentially restrict eligibility to employees who have worked two or more of the last five years.

Verify current rules with your accountant or other advisor.

Another common tactic is to pay a spouse for work in the business. At first glance this seems questionable because, especially on a joint tax return, the total amount of income would remain the same. A difference arises if the

business owner has maximized their tax-deferred retirement plan contribution; the spouse can defer additional taxes via their contribution to the plan. An additional advantage is to allow the spouse to gain any needed eligibility for future social security payments during retirement. Money earned by the spouse would be subject to social security taxes, which might be a slight drawback if the business owner’s income has exceeded the upper limit counted for that person’s social security (technically OASDI) required contribution.

It’s also important to note that the spouse must have performed actual work during the quarters of employment.

Tax deductible charitable gifts before year-end can decrease taxes and increase good feelings.

One mistake that I made fairly

early in my business was to write donation checks from my sole proprietor business checking account because that’s where I had cash.

An auditor explained to me that businesses do not make deductible charitable contributions, only individuals do. The impact was that I had to amend five years of tax returns and a resulting shift of income from the business to me affected my social security taxes.

A possibly important charitable tactic is to qualify on the Montana state income tax return for a charitable endowment tax credit, which can be several times better than a normal tax deduction. This

is not simple, but it is possible and works for large gifts. Montana will allow a generous tax reduction for “planned gifts” made to a Montana charity’s endowment fund that primarily benefits Montana citizens and communities. The most common method is through a charitable gift annuity. The Bozeman Area Community Foundation (BACF) has more information as do a few other local charities that offer such plans.

Stephen R. Hample, CFP, a retired partner of Hample & Peck, owns a trust and banking corporation and is a registered representative of KMS Financial Services, Inc. Contact him at steve.hample@kmsfinancial.com

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11

Clocking in with Stan Fisher

BY LEW IS K E NDA LL BUSI N E S S JOU R NA L E DI TOR

Some people call him the spice guy.

But before the hundreds of spices from turmeric to truffle salt, before he had an entire wall devoted to his products at Town and Country Foods grocery stores, Stan Fisher was just a man with a few chilis.

Fisher grew up in a small town in western Texas near El Paso, right on the border of the now notorious city of Juárez, Mexico. His family remained there after he moved with his wife to Bozeman, and when he was home he would make frequent trips across the border.

On one of these trips, a street vendor sold him a ristra — a long strand of drying chilis — to take back to Montana.

Fisher, who describes himself as “the world’s worst salesperson,” convinced the manager of Town and Country to let him sell the chilis. After making several pepper trips, the Mexican street vendor told Fisher that he also sold ground chili powder, and so Fisher bought some, took it back with him and added it to his inventory.

“Throughout the years there have been employees (at Town and Country) that really liked me and they start saying, ‘Let me see if I can clear off this shelf.’ And I now have this rack 5 feet wide by 6 feet tall,” he said.

“I just got lucky that various employees gave me more and more and I kept bringing more and more items.”

That was 10 years ago. Now Fisher Spice sells more than 250 different spices, seeds, salts and seasonings to stores in Montana and Wyoming. Every other month Fisher imports around 3,000 pounds of goods from both coasts on large pallets, which get delivered to his sparse warehouse near Four Corners for mixing and packaging.

The 55-year-old doesn’t process any of the spices himself — no grinding or anti-caking agents involved — but has two employees who help him measure the powders into his signature, “bare-bones packaging” and staple labels that he prints himself.

“I’ve never even bought what I call the science lab stuff. Citric acid is pretty much the only thing that I put in there that aren’t spices,” he said, adding that the lack of overhead helps keep his prices low.

For the mixes, basics such as curry powder or more unique flavorings like pumpkin pie spice, Fisher generally defers to the power of the Internet, finding recipes online, which he then tests to make sure they are “in the realm of reality.”

After the goods are packaged, Fisher loads them up into his car and delivers them to the Town and Country stores in Bozeman, as well as several local restaurants. Normally he visits the stores once per day, delivering, straightening his boxes or checking inventory, but during high-sales periods like Thanksgiving 12

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ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/CHRONICLE

Stan Fisher, owner of Fisher Spice in Bozeman, sells about 250 spices through local grocery stores.

week, he is there at least three times per day.

“I’m not a people person, but I do fairly good when I’m in my environment in the spice section and I’m talking spices to people,” Fisher said. “I can get stuck in those stores helping, and that’s a good thing.”

Customers are Fisher’s greatest influence. There are some herbs and spices that are niche or cost-prohibitive, but often it only takes one request for him to import a new spice or create a new mix.

His best seller? The 1-ounce bags of cumin. His biggest weakness? Lack of a good fish seasoning.

And while he may be knowledgeable about his products, Fisher maintains that he is not the person to ask for cooking advice.

“I do have to warn people that even though I’m the spice guy, I’m not a chef,” he said.

As for the business side of things, without any prior experience, Fisher was taken aback by the amount of work required to own and operate his own outfit.

“Everybody always wants to own their own business, but my gosh,” he said. “You have to work a lot. You find out things you’re good and bad at. Like how I’m not a good salesperson, so I would have fired myself long ago.”

But evidence suggests that Fisher is good at what he does. The business grows a little every year, with many repeat customers. Though he can’t take a vacation, he finds time for at least a weekly hike with his wife.

“Life is good here in Bozeman,” Fisher said.

And to go from selling a few chilis to selling more than 40 types of salt and being recognized at the store is pretty neat, he added.

“There is something kind of cool about it,” he said.

“We throw things into bags and hope it’s what people want. It feels good when you’re in the store and you get those people that say, ‘I’ve been buying your stuff for years.’”

Kendall can be reached at lkendall@dailychronicle.com. Kendall is on Twitter at @lewdak

ON THE RECORD PATENTS

Ahmed S. Hussain of Seattle, Wash., Ajith Kumar of Bellevue, Wash., Catalin D. Sandu of Kirkland, Wash, Santanu Chakraborty of Bellevue, Wash., and Joseph L. Faulhaber of Bozeman. Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash. Identification of telemetry data. 9,208,315.

December 8.

Troy E. Lanes of Belgrade, Robert A. Wachtel of Clearwater, Fla., and Mark L. Belangee of Collegeville, Pa. Numerex Corp. of Atlanta, Ga. Using statistical analysis to infer an accurate GPS location for use in tracking devices.

9,207,331. December 8.

Andreas Nocker of HL Utrecht, NL, and Anne K. Camper of Bozeman. Montana State University of Bozeman. Method of testing a disinfectant or antibiotic using phenanthridium derivatives. 9,206,463. December 8.

Barry J. Jacobsen of Bozeman. Montana State University of Bozeman. Bacillus isolates and methods of their use to protect against plant pathogens and virus transmission. 9,205,115. December 8.

Bruce G. Kania of Shepherd, Frank M. Stewart of Bozeman, and David William Ewald of Wonder Lake, Ill. Rocker-equipped hunting blind. 9,204,725. December 8.

John A. Browse of Palouse, Wash., Chaofu Lu of Bozeman, and Zhanguo Xin of Lubbock, Texas. Washington State University of Pullman, Wash. Compositions and methods for differential regulation of fatty acid unsaturation in membrane lipids and seed oil. 9,200,293.

December 1.

Shu Kuen Chang Evanston, Ill., Stephan Merkle of Chicago, Ill., Subrat K. Samantray of Khandagiri, Ind., Grant T.

PERMITS FILINGS PATENTS BANKRUPTCIES

Sims of Littleton, Colo., Sean T. O’Neill of Campbell, Calif., Ryan C. Artale of Boulder, Colo., Tony Moua of Broomsfield, Colo., Robert M. Sharp of Boulder, Colo., and Ronald J. Wyatt of Bozeman. Covidien LP of Mansfield, Mass.

Handle for laparoscopic device. D744,100. November 24.

Paul P. Lovaas of Bozeman, Toby F. Naylor of Belgrade, and Daniel L. DeFrance of Bozeman. IGT of Las Vegas, Nev. Keno redraws. 9,196,127. November 24.

Marshall Kerr of Carlsbad, Calif., David C. Hemink of Draper, Utah, Jiaye Z. Jho of Salt Lake City, Utah, Michael J. Vaillancourt of Chester, N.J., and Matthew R. Trebella of Bozeman. C.R. Bard, Inc. of Murray Hill, N.J. Medical component scrubbing device with detachable cap. 9,192,449.

November 24.

Christopher Michael Bradley of Orinda, Calif., Roland Jeffrey Wyatt of Bozeman, Alan Jeffrey Tilley of La Honda, Calif., and Thalia Roze Bradley of Orinda, Calif. Thalia Capos LLC of Orinda, Calif. Capo. 9,190,033. November 17.

Lee E. Cannon of Bozeman, and John P. O’Donovan of Bozeman. IGT of Las Vegas, Nev. Gaming system and method for offering simultaneious play of multiple games. 9,189,923. November 17.

Rebecca Fowler of Waterford, Wisc. The Comfort Companies, Inc. of Bozeman. Moldable seating system.

9,186,290. November 17.

BANKRUPTCIES

Vincent Edward Rybij and Trina Marie Rybij, fka Trina M. Lucero. 653 Emily Dr. Apt. E. Bozeman. Chapter 7.

November 10. Richardson Bryce Benjamin Johns and Jody Marie Johns, fka

Jody M. West. PO Box 44. Chapter 13. November 10.

Drummond.

Marlo Leanne Arthun. 3215 Warbler Way, No. 6. Bozeman. Chapter 7. November 19. Richardson.

Lemoine Arnold Wick and Yvonne Joy Wick. 99 Frank Rd. No. 51. Belgrade. Chapter 7. November 19.

Richardson.

Travis Buck Irish and Renee Irish, fka Renee Hauer.

123 S. 7th Ave. Bozeman. Chapter 7. November 19.

Richardson.

Toby Dean Weaver. PO Box 1233. West Yellowstone.

Chapter 7. November 24. Richardson.

Shannon Leigh King. 131 S. P St. Livingston. Chapter 7.

November 24. Richardson.

Melissa Sue Reynolds. PO Box 10152. Bozeman.

Chapter 7. November 24. Richardson.

Kristine Kay Zimmerman, aka Kris Zimmerman, aka Kristine K. L. Zimmerman, aka Kristine Lowry Zimmerman. PO Box 1409. Bozeman. Chapter 7. November 24.

Richardson.

Maya Farris Ford, aka Maya Oster, aka Maya Oster Ford.

659 Emily Dr., Apt. B. Bozeman. Chapter 7. November 24.

Richardson.

Michael T. McAuliffe and Amy A. McAuliffe, dba Cork Dorks, Inc., dba Cork Works Wine, dba Sentinel Concealment LLC. 7010 River Road. Bozeman. Chapter 13.

November 30. Drummond.

Tammy Renee Cutting, aka Tammy Renee Smith.

268 Green Tree Dr. Bozeman. Chapter 7. December 1.

Richardson.

LICENSES

Commercial Structures, Other 423 S. Church, City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation, MFGR, Inc., $75,000 Commercial Alteration 22 W. Main, Florence Condo, Sowles, Co., 60 Sq Ft, $30,000 Commercial Tenant Improvement 2825 W. Main, Gallatin Mall Group LLC, DL Morse and

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Associates, Inc., $70,000 404 W. Main, Bozeman School District #7, Simonson Construction LLC, $47,000 810 Wallace, Bobbi Clem, Dan Mott Construction, $45,800 2825 W. Main, Gallatin Mall Group LLC, Truitt Construction LLC, $2,300 1716 W. Babcock, MG Properties 1 LLC, Montana Construction Works, $34,500 506 Front, Universal Athletics, J&E Olson Construction, Inc., $5,000 1629 W. Main, Bozeman Shopping Center LLC, R&R Taylor Construction, Inc., $27,800 867 S. 29th, Mitchell Development, Mitchell Development Group, $220,000 1455 W. Oak, Opportunity Bank, Tricon Commercial Construction, 3,674 Sq Ft, $75,000 1501 Mandeville, Idaho Tower, Co., Vertical Limit Construction, $30,000 1527 W. Main, Red Mountain Group, Building Dimensions, Inc., $35,000 2905 W. Main, Morris Klare, Morris Klare Construction, $13,000 8645 Huffine, Rocky Mountain Credit Union, Momentum, Inc., 13,400 Sq Ft, $605,000 614 W. Griffin, Liz Kilby-LB Kitchens, LB Kitchens LLC, 2,240 Sq Ft, $30,000 726 N. 7th, Joshtine LLC, Tymarc LLC, $7,240 1001 W. Oak, Tange Family LLC, Bud Monts Contracting, Inc., $1,250 862 Harmon Stream, Mitchell Development, Mitchell Development Group, 2,547 Sq Ft, $200,000 34 N. Bozeman, Jalal Neishabouri, Quazu LLC/Daneil Abbot, $40,000 2825 W. Main, Gallatin Mall Group LLC, Truitt Construction LLC, $2,300 Commercial Re-roof 824 W. Main, Lisa Sebena, McLees, Inc., $91,750 Demolition Permit 37 S. Willson, Downtowner LLC, SMC LLC, $1,000 820 S. Tracy, William B. Thompson, Arlee Green Construction, Inc., $5,000 2007 Fairway, Richard D. Barber, Arlee Green Construc-

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ON THE RECORD CON T. tion, Inc., $5,000 Fire Protection Systems Permit 100 Nelson, MT Department of Transportation, Kruse Enterprises, Inc., $43,610 101 E. Main, Willson Building Condos, Coppermine Fire Suppression Systems, $10,000 3093 N. 27th Chase Skogen Construction, ChaseSkogen Homes, Inc., $38,640 614 W. Griffin, Big Sky Western Bank, Coppermine Fire Suppression Systems, $2,500 701 Gold, Timothy Barnard, Barnard Construction Co., Inc., $100,000 Sign Permit 2405 W. Main, Jata LLC, Beartooth Sign & Design LLC, $4,600 202 S. Willson, Bozeman United Methodist Church, Allegra, $780 108 W. Main, Downtowner LLC, Uptown Signs, $1,200 424 E. Main, Karen M. Kirt, Allegiant Building Management, $1,000 242 E. Main, Annie Milner, SCS Unlimited, Inc., $1,180 242 E. Main, Annie Milner, SCS Unlimited, Inc., $800 611 N. Wallace, George & Lawrence Hritsco, Signs of Montana, $350 682 S. Ferguson, Dave and Marjorie Klem, Signs of Montana, $137 867 S. 29th, Mitchell Development, Signs of Montana, $3,075 1919 W. Main, Ladendorf Equities 1 LLC, Signs of Montana, $13,000 1910 N. 22nd, Richard Thomson, Sign Solutions Bozeman, $3,190 822 Stoneridge, Charles Soha, Sign Solutions Bozeman, $2,500 1428 N. 15th, Kraska and Sons Properties LLC, Ink Outside the Box, $786 301 N. Willson, Snow Ridge Properties LLC, Beartooth Sign & Design LLC, $500 Residential Single Family Dwelling 608 S. 14th, Amy Sowers, Owner is General, 315 Sq Ft, $12,546 2976 Westwind, Schuelke Properties LLC, Matt Cooper Construction LLC, 2,924 Sq Ft, $273,318 517 N. Black, Jesse Close, Sovulewski Construction, 1,861 Sq Ft, $169,903 4559 Waters, Marty and Kelly Haskins, Monarch Homes LLC, 2,398 Sq Ft, $254,020 4611 Kimberwicke, Parley and Lindsay Burnett, Ascent Home Builders, Inc., 2,718 Sq Ft, $241,582 2928 Westwind, Mahar Montana Homes LLC, Sullivan Construction, 2,324 Sq Ft, $211,280 3091 Tschache, Patrick Eibs, ROI LLC, 2,035 Sq Ft, $182,649 2473 Daffodil, Kresge Construction, Inc., Kresge Construction, Inc., 2,183 Sq Ft, $198,460 2495 Daffodil, Kresge Construction, Inc., Kresge Construction, Inc., 2,183 Sq Ft, $198,460 1112 S. Tracy, James Merianne, Yellowstone Traditions, Inc., 2,915 Sq Ft, $348,356 116 S. Reliance, Norton Ranch Homes, Norton Ranch Homes LLC, 2,012 Sq Ft, $177,173 4505 Kimberwicke, Wyatt A. and Lucille D. Hicks, Mountain High Homes, Inc., 4,169 Sq Ft, $391,386 2482 Cree, Guiness Partners, Greene Construction, Inc., 3,684 Sq Ft, $350,000 958 Knolls, Marsha McGowen, Chase-Skogen Homes, Inc., 1,999 Sq Ft, $179,563 4768 Victory, Krouss Builders, Inc., Krouss Builders, Inc., 3,692 Sq Ft, $331,868 2463 Thoroughbred, Joe Thomas Cleveland, Krouss Builders, Inc., 3,144 Sq Ft, $292,133 Residential Accessory Building 509 N. Church, Deirdre P. Quinn, All Krafts Construction LLC, $15,228 Residential Accessory Dwelling 4559 Waters, Marty J. and Kelly Haskins, Monarch Homes LLC, 1,147 Sq Ft, $78,669 813 S. 5th, S. Thomas and Margaret Olliff, Your New Old House LLC, 1,105 Sq Ft, $78,979 401 W. Dickerson, Byougsoo Cho, Northern Supply Co., 625 Sq Ft, 66,206 Residential Duplex 1055 Rosa, Rosa Construction, Rosa Construction, Inc., 4,100 Sq Ft, $384,619 1083 Rosa, Rosa Construction, Rosa Construction, Inc., 4,100 Sq Ft, $384,619 5183 Dragon Fly, Norton Properties LLC, Norton Ranch Homes LLC, 4,494 Sq Ft, $402,811 14

5425 Glenkirk, Laurel Park Development LLC, Great Western Investments LLC, 4,724 Sq Ft, $434,313 1043 Twin Lakes, M&S Holdings LLC, Triple MT Construction, 4,378 Sq Ft, $400,306 Residential Garages and Carports 1005 Twin Lakes, Velocity Development LLC, Triple MT Construction, 4,338 Sq Ft, $398,713 Residential Triplex, Fourplex 890 Sanders, Meyer-Garrity Group LLC, Meyer-Garrity Group LLC, 6,244 Sq Ft, $528,055 876 Sanders, Meyer-Garrity Group LLC, Meyer-Garrity Group LLC, 6,244 Sq Ft, $528,055 2708 Cobblestone, P&C Partnerships, Shane Collins Construction, Inc., 8,164 Sq Ft, $711,042 Residential 5+ Units 3820 Blondie, Four Points MT LLC, Rotherham Construction, Inc., 13,985 Sq Ft, $1,097,756 3824 Blondie, Four Points MT LLC, Rotherham Construction, Inc., 13,985 Sq Ft, $1,097,756 3828 Blondie, Four Points MT LLC, Rotherham Construction, Inc., 13,985 Sq Ft, $1,097,756 3832 Blondie, Four Points MT LLC, Rotherham Construction, Inc., 13,985 Sq Ft, $1,097,756 3818 Blondie, Four Points MT LLC, Rotherham Construction, Inc., 13,985 Sq Ft, $1,097,756 3838 Blondie, Four Points MT LLC, Rotherham Construction, Inc., 13,985 Sq Ft, $1,097,756 Residential Addition 274 Stafford, Jason and Kortnee Johnson, MTHC, Inc., 641 Sq Ft, $67,901 Residential Alteration 300 W. Main, East Willson LLC, Bridger Builders, Inc., 40,792 Sq Ft, $3,500,000 216 W. Alderson, Black LOA LLC, Tim Dean Construction, Inc., $10,000 1110 S. 3rd, Leadnard Weber, Cookstar Productions, $20,000 310 N. Wallace, Lauren Stern, Owner is General, $3,000 1026 Mountain Ash, Linda Hart-Smith, Twins Construction, $3,900 2401 Fairway, Richard and Rachel Weaver, Owner is General, $1,500 1222 S. Rouse, Afkham LLC, Sight Tech Construction, $4,000 3939 Rain Roper, Scott and Nancy Descheemaeker, Deck Depot LLC, $20,225 702 N. Tracy, Brian and Constance Wagner, Prince Contracting, Inc., $7,500 2002 S. Tracy, Monte Lee Cooper, Owner is General, $2,424 322 N. Tracy, Craig M. and Jennifer Lee, Aspen Carpentry, $4,000 521 W. Olive, Martin A. Coleman III, Owner is General, $30,000 Residential Reroof 913 W. Story, Shane and Amy Sanders, Cornerstone Construction LLC, $4,038 612 S. Grand, Timothy Cashin and Toni Scharff, Tarpey Construction, Inc., $15,700.

807 S. Black, Kyrsten and Cory Reistad, Koski Construction, $7,100 524 N. Wallace, Kelly A. and Elizabeth W. Fulton, Sickler Residential Roofing, $2,585 514 Teton, Gary Tilleman, Tilleman Construction, Inc., $8,000 301 E Story, Brit T. and Kristina A. Fontenot, Robert Langley Enterprises, $10,000 Solar Water Heater 329 N. Montana, Robert T. Bayley, Liquid Solar Systems, $7,000 Window Replacement Permit 2503 Spring Creek, Raymond Blatt, Gallatin Glass Works, Inc., $16,447 418 N. 5th, Curtis and Carol Peterson, Montana Custom Construction, $2,500 PERMITS

Bar/Lounge Scissorbills Saloon, Keith A. Kuhns, 98 B 11th St., Belgrade, Oct. 22 JR’s Lounge Inc., 203 Madison, Ste. B2, Belgrade, Oct. 9 Lone Peak Taphouse, Steven Nordahl, P.O. Box 161773, Big Sky, Oct. 23

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Contractors – Concrete Hoss Concrete Construction, Jason Robert Howard, 141 Laager Loop, Bozezman, Oct. 22 Contractors – Designer/Contractor GE DL Morse and Associates Inc., Daniel L. Morse, 1745 Holton Road, Muskegon, Mont., Sept. 30 Bug Monts Contracting Inc., Walter Monts, 208 N. 15th Ave., Bozeman, Sept. 30 Miller Design Build LLC, Scott R. Miller, 3117 Madrona Lane, Bozeman, Oct. 22 L. Keeley Construction, Thomas Birkemier, 2901 Falling Springs Road, Sauget, Ill., Sept. 30 Thompson Management LLC, William Byrd Thompson Jr., 414 S. Ninth Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 9 Tarpey Construction Inc., Michael M. Tarpey, 8661 Nash Road., Bozeman, Oct. 9 Fortney & Weygandt Inc., Mitchell S. Lapin, 31269 Bradley Road, North Olmsted, Ohio, Oct. 12 Northern Range General Contractors, Shad M. Lemke, 85 Perkins Lane, Wilsall, Oct. 14 119 S. Sixth Ave., Gregory A. Peterson, 36702 Beech St., Winchester, Calif., Oct. 16 MTHC Inc., Clark John Sprague, 498 Churn Creek Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 19 Paulson Projects, Scott B. Pray, 670 S. Ferguson Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 29 Contractors – Drywall R&M Drywall and Painting, Ramon A. Orthonastorga, 1954 Roberts Ave., Butte, Oct. 5 Christopher A. Stimatze, Christopher A. Stimatze, 2934 Sourdough Road, Bozeman, Oct. 15 Contractors – Electrical Independent Power Systems, Inc., Tony Bonipace, 2430 N. 7th Ave #6, Bozeman, Oct. 20 Contractors – Equipment Operators Roller Construction Inc., Ryan J. Roller, 4626 Shadowglen Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 21 Contractors – General Dahl House Builders, John R. Dahl, 4535 W. Dry Creek Road, Belgrade, Oct. 19 ID Design, Isak Greenway Dix, 1208 Bridger Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 5 Mr. Right Now’s Home Services, David Parks Gentholts, 211 N. Western Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 15 Blue Grouse Services, Adam John Stokes, 313 E. Story St., Unit C, Bozeman, Oct. 8 Cutbank Construction LLC, Robert N. Brunner, 1021 Cobb Hill St., Bozeman, Sept. 30 Silvertip Home Service, Timothy D. Raubinger, P.O. Box 510, Belgrade, Oct. 22 Buffalo Jump Construction, Brian A. Toews, 3620 Old Yellowstone Trail, Three Forks, Oct. 22 Saunders Line Construction, Richard K. Saunders, 7109 W. Melville Road, Cheney, Wash., Oct. 22 Cucancic Construction Inc., Ray Cucancie, P.O. Box 80307, Billings, Oct. 22 Willow Wolf Contracting, Rio Jade Gonzalez, 1604 Lloyd St., Unit 305, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Ben Trammell Construction, Ben Trammell, 1536 S. Grand Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Krouss Builders Inc., Eric Michael Krouss, 81 10th St. #9, Sept. 30 Dahlgren Industrial Inc., P.O. Box 3515, Seattle, Wash., Oct. 12 Yellow Dog Construction, Robert Clay Porter Jr., 4809 Glenwood Dr., Unit 3, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Montana Craftsman Woodworks, Chris Kurowski, P.O. Box 10218, Bozeman, Oct. 22 K&E Enterprises Inc., Emma Kay Kesterson, 8570 Lazy Elk Road, Three Forks, Oct. 22 Sullivan Construction, James Sullivan, 106 Sunset Blvd., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Word Homes LLC, 1703 W. Olive St., Unit 4, Bozeman, Oct. 2 Lawdog Construction, Adam Lawson, 503 N. Rouse Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 13 Sight Tech Construction, Chris Backus, 205 Pioneer Dr., Unit 51, Bozeman, Oct. 14 Ek Construction, Jeffrey M. Ek, 219 W. Callendar St., Unit B11, Bozeman, Oct. 20 Flying Z Custom, Leif Zimmermann, P.O. Box 1409, Bozeman, Oct. 27 Adrianne BL Wallace, 211 N. Sweetgrass Ave., Boze-

man, Oct. 30 Contractors – Handy Persons WMR, James Ronald Watson, 97 13th St., Unit D, Belgrade, Oct. 22 Castle Rock Repair, David Kinman, 1109 S. Spruce Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 19 Zirkulu LLC, Robert Goodwin, 25 Painted Ridge Road, Bozeman, Oct. 29 Contractors – Insulation Gus the Gutterman, Timothy Meyer, 5819 Thorpe Road, Belgrade, Oct. 22 Contractors – Lawn Care & Landscaping Greg Krach Designs, Greg M. Krach, 20 Main St., Suite 1, Willow Creek, Oct. 14 Earth Landscaping & Maintenance, Dennis Krack, 506 Idaho St., Apt. 12, Belgrade, Oct. 14 Allen Lawn & Snow Service LLC, Shawn Allen, 514 Spring Creek Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 29 Contractors – Painting Peak Painting, Vanessa Clore, 8360 Calico Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Chris Akkerman Painting, Christian T. Akkerman, 1081 Cobb Hill Road, Bozeman, Oct. 19 Contractors – Plumbing MMMCS, Leslie Jongberg, 97A Eighth St., Belgrade, Oct. 7 Contractors – Roofing Black Canyon Builders LLC, Joshua Thayer, 786 N. River Rock Dr., Belgrade, Oct. 22 Stillwater Solution LLC, Bradley A. Pascoe, 105 Frontier Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 19 Educational Disability Educators and Consultants, Nancy A. Franklin, 1413 Maple Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Entertainment Bozeman Magic, Laurie K. Rugemer, 210 E. Mason St., Bozeman, Oct. 30 Bozeman Elite Hockey LLC, Mack Miessner, 705 Bridge Dr., Suite B, Bozeman, Oct. 29 Food Service – Restaurant Copper LLC, Ethan Lane Stokes, 101 E. Main St., Unit 2, Bozeman, Oct. 8 Feast Wine Bar and Bistro, Steve J. Kuntz, 1627 W. Main St., #305, Oct. 20 Taco Del Sol, Marley Cathleen McKenna, 35 W. Main St., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Soi Thai 2 LLC, Puyada Mongkolpla, 2051 W. Oak St., Bozeman, Oct. 9 Fuddruckers of Bozeman, Patrick Hanner, 76 W. Clara Court, Bozeman, Oct. 20 Food Service – Takeout Sakura Sushi Bar-Albertsons #2, Patrick P. Manmai, 200 S. 23rd Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 6 Graphic Design Plumrosefern LLC, Cecilia Morales, 637 Westgate Ave., Unit C, Bozeman, Oct. 29 Home – Arts & Crafts Luxenore, Grant Petrelli, 1230 N. 17th Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 28 Hotels/Motels Treasure State Hostel LLC, Nina Erickson, 2415 Bluebell Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 1 Itinerant Vendors Southwestern Advantage Co., 2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 12 Manufacturing – Non-hazardous Map Brewing Co., Patrick J. Kainz, 510 Manley Road, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Marketing & Advertising C.P.R. Marketing Inc., Chance Roullier, 745 Mary Road, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Photography/Processing Natural Exposures Inc., Daniel Jack Cox, 810 N. Wallace Ave., Suite E, Bozeman, Oct. 6 Big Sky Photo Booth, Tara Martin, P.O. Box 6422, Bozeman, Sept. 30 Property Managers/Agencies Vacation Home Services Inc., Shelley L. Henry, P.O. Box 11754, Bozeman, Oct. 7 Retail – Accessories Stone Glacier, Kurt M. Racicot, 57 Prospector Trail, Bozeman, Oct. 8 LD Glass, Lisa Nelson, P.O. Box 1064, Manhattan, Oct. 22

ON THE RECORD CON T. Retail – Arts and Crafts B&B Pallet Art and Design, Brandon Keim, 59 Hyalite View Drive, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Collective By Dawn Josephine, Dawn Kimpisty, 5 E. Main St., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Retail – Auto Parts and Accessories Wicked Edge Motorsports LLC, 61 Ramshorn Peak Lane, Bozeman, Oct. 13 Retail – Beauty and Health Botanical Blends, Suzanne C. Bell, 2178 Little Bear Road, Gallatin Gateway, Oct. 22 Trash-Free Apothecary, Kara Jane Wickwire, 1814 W. Lincoln St., #203, Bozeman, Oct. 13 Five Star Tan, 12670 Lone Bear Road, Bozeman, Oct. 20 Retail – Building Materials Harbor Freight Tools, Lisa Gasparro, 1525 W. Main St., Bozeman, Oct. 12 Retail – Clothing and/or Shoes Shirtworks, Don C. Cowles III, 1400 N. Rouse Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Mahalo Knights, Duncan McGovern, 407 N. Ninth Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Outa Ware, Andrew Tuller, 612 W. Griffin Dr., Unit C, Bozeman, Oct. 28 Retail – Furniture/Home Interiors Smart Rooms Inc., Michael J. Fawcett, 1527 W. Main St., Unit A, Bozeman, Oct. 8 Retail – Jewelry Jewelry Studio, Ken Saatjian, 862 Harmon Stream Blvd., #102, Bozeman, Oct. 29 Retail – Other Sprit Halloween, Paul Simpson, 6533 S. 19th, Bozeman, Sept. 30 Retail – Specialty Food J&C Consulting dba Senioritas, Jon Patterson, 7675 Shedhorn Dr., Unit 5, Bozeman, Oct. 29 Retail – Specialty Store Go Calendars, Lois A. Bolton, 1301 S. Wilson, Bozeman, Sept. 30 Sales Rogue Gunn Works, Armistead L. Coleman II, 236 Valley Grove Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 9 Service – Auto & RV Repair/Maintenance A&D Auto Body Repair, Inc., 522 W. Aspen St., Bozeman, Oct. 12 Service – Bookkeeping Bozeman Administrative Systems, Julie Langaker, P.O. Box 11563, Bozeman, Oct. 8 Service – Childcare Discovery Place Child Care, Deann Jones, 4649 Kimberwicke St., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Little Tree Education Center, Callie Glanzer, 661 Rosa Way, Bozeman, Oct. 28 Service – Cleaning Service Clear Reflections Cleaning, Sydney Wemple, 206 E. Mason St., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Tru Shine Cleaning, Betsy Greiner Vandever, 301 Virginia Way, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Busybee Cleaning ECT, Marie A. Cislo, 19 Chelsea Way, Belgrade, Oct. 22 Diamond Shine Cleaning, Marlene Hernandez, 6090 Pleasant St., Manhattan, Oct. 22 Diana Woods, Diana Woods, 140 Little Brook Lane, Belgrade, Oct. 27 First Class Carpet Care LLC, Tyler Bugni, P.O. Box 1922, Bozeman, Oct. 29 A&A Cleaning, Toni M. Stewart, 1044 Pacre Rd., Bozeman, Oct. 8.

Service – Consulting EP Consulting LLC, Eric Percy, 291 Eagle Creek Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 22 Mountain Goat Instructional, Molly J. Ward, 3401 Fallon St., Unit 1C, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Sky Ark Consulting LLC, P.O. Box 164, Bozeman, Oct. 26 Creative Pause Consulting, Vivian Fowler, 296 Pine Creek Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 27 Datus Inc., Randall Begger, 601 Nikles Dr., Suite 2C, Bozeman, Oct. 30 Service – Guide Service Hoag Expeditions, Jonathan Hoag, 1716 S. Willson Ave., Oct. 8 Service – Health and Beauty Canyon River Salon, 1735 S. 19th Ave., Unit B2, Oct. 8

Ambience Wellness Boutique, Johnny Ruff, 1155 Ali John Dr., Belgrade, Oct. 5 “Qi” Essence of Wellness, Michelle R. Allmendinger, 73 Barnes Road, Belgrade, Oct. 15 Service – Health Care Nightingale Nursing Inc., William Francis Woody, 1001 W. Oak St., Building B, Suite 205, Bozeman, Oct. 30 Suite Dental, Roderick Ross Spencer, 822 Stoneridge Dr., #3, Bozeman, Oct. 8 The Diet Solution, Heidi J. Snyder, 3285 Lily Dr., Bozeman, Oct. 8 Body in Balance Pilates Studio, Elizabeth Kudrna, 1017 E. Olive St., Bozeman, Sept. 30 Nourish LLC, Michael Fox, 2100 Fairway Dr., Ste. 100, Oct. 22 Simply Fit, Carole Jeanne Brennan, 404 Mineral Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 22 LB Kitchens LLC, Liz Kilby, 614 W. Griffin Dr., Unit B, Bozeman, Oct. 22 KM Nursing PLLC, Kamy Jo Miller, 2200 W. Cameron Bridge Road, Bozeman, Oct. 9 Service – Interior Design Shelter Interiors, Sharon Lohss, 522 W. Babcock St., Ste. A, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Service – Maintenance/Repair Services Dougherty Floor Covering, Shane P. Dougherty, P.O. Box 1405, Three Forks, Oct. 22 Best Services, Brian L. Best, 6 W. Babcock St., Apt. 301, Bozeman, Oct. 9 Coyote Mechanical LLC, P.O. Box 326, Belgrade, Oct. 28 Service – Massage Therapy Elevation Massage Therapy, Michelle R. Esper, P.O. Box 10424, Bozeman, Oct. 14 Service – Other Thinking Cap Educational Services, Chelsea D. WesselSloan, 103 S. Eighth Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 8 @ Your Service, Nathan K. Galbreath, 602 Dakota St., Belgrade, Oct. 12 Bridger Aero Space, Michael Tragiai, 351 Floss Flat Road, Unit A, Belgrade, Sept. 30 Super Sun LLC #1, Francis Keyes, 22 Comleyville Road, Ennis, Sept. 30 Super Sun LLC #2, Francis Keyes, 22 Comleyville Road, Ennis, Sept. 30 Wall Wizard, 4634 Danube Lane, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Fry Steel and Wood, Russell K. Fry, 2104 N. Rouse Ave., Sept. 30 Mark 1 Design Build Inc., Desaray N. Paunovich, 132 S. 15th Ave., Unit 11, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Tymarc LLC, Tyler Gleason, 57 Arrow Trail, Bozeman, Oct. 22 MRM Services, Moriah R. McKee, 739 Rosa Way, Unit A, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Bici Build 406, Kimberly Roush, 401 Powder River Ave., Bozeman, Oct. 15 Three River Defense, 612 W. Griffin Dr., Unit C, Bozeman, Oct. 20 Green Paws LLC, 4512 Alexander St., Bozeman, Oct. 27 Hart Real Estate Solutions, Timothy Hart, P.O. Box 10964, Bozeman, Oct. 27 Service – Outside Services Big Twig Tree Care, Thomas Molitor, 2137 Alaska Road, Belgrade, Oct. 22 Youma’s Tree and Forestry, Glade Young, 70 Lower Rainbow Road, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Advantage Spraying Services, Stephen Samuel Lee, 708 W. Southview, Belgrade, Oct. 12 Service – Printing Lone Mountain Printing Inc., Colin M. Shane, 421 W. Griffin Dr., Unit 1, Bozeman, Oct. 22 Service – Security Advanced Protection Systems Inc., Lawrence McGovern, 2120 Lampman Dr., Unit B, Billings, Oct. 28 Wholesale – Generic Western Feedstock Technologies, Thomas K. Blake, 205 Haggerty Lane, Bozeman, Oct. 8

Gallatin College MSU Workforce Development for Southwest Montana Gallatin College supports a vibrant local economy. Through relevant workforce training, businesses gain qualified employees, and individuals benefit from enhanced career opportunities.

Spaces still availabe in the following programs this Spring!

• Associate of Arts • Design Drafting • Business Management Professional Certificate

• Associate of Science • Interior Design • Health Information Coding

Start classes spring 2016. For more information contact Nicole Berg. gallatin.montana.edu 406-994-5536 gallatincollege@montana.edu

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My Two Cents

By Ris Higgins Sometimes role models are showcased on LinkedIn. But not always. There is a young woman somewhere in our town who has earned that designation in my book. I wish I knew her. I read about her in a letter to the editor in the Nov. 22 Chronicle that offered this story about her: “Last night, Ladies Night in downtown Bozeman. A single man, homeless, sits on a bench between storefronts. Quietly. Unassumingly. Snow and cold surround him. He looks frail, lost, dazed.

He is alone. I observe a young lady, with a friend, approach him. Softly, kindly, she asks if he would like something to eat, ‘A burrito? A taco?’ I don’t hear his answer, but he begins to rise slowly, carefully. She escorts him to the restaurant for a meal, with the same kindness and respect that I assume she would show her own father.

In that moment my heart was full, and also broken. Tears came to my eyes: thankful for this moment, for this young woman, for the opportunity to observe this act of love and kindness. I felt shame that I had just walked by without thinking, without offering my own hand, and that so many others had done the same. How could this man, so clearly in need of help, go practically unnoticed on a bench downtown in the cold and snow during a Ladies Night event?

Thank you so much, kind, young ladies, for your strength, courage, generosity and love. Thank you for seeing when so many of us acted blind. You remind me to be in the moment, to remember what truly is most important. I stand humbled. In times when violence, evil, and fear are prevalent and projected in the world, we must remember the power of love. The gift of compassion. One act of kindness at a time, we can make Bozeman a better place. We can make the world a better place. My confidence in the human spirit is redeemed in one small act of kindness on Ladies Night in Bozeman. Thank you, ladies. You were angels last night.”

You can’t buy those kinds of gifts. It reminded me of the white envelope story which was given to me in 1999. I have since learned it is a true story, which inspires me even more. Still does. Here is the story: 16

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“It’s just a small white envelope tucked among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas — not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it. The overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma — the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth.

I reached for something special just for Mike.

The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.

These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. We ended up walloping them. We took every weight class and as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly. “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved kids and he knew them, having coached little league, football, baseball and lacrosse. That’s when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition. One year I sent a group

of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents but the white envelope never lost its allure.”

This is a tradition that can inspire goodwill, move others with kindness, and stir generosity. It gives the holidays more meaning. This morning, our company delivered our own white envelope.

We took the dollars we would normally spend on an expensive office dinner and decided to anonymously spend them differently to help.

Just exploring the things we could do shifted our discussion to even more possibilities. It was fun to talk about what really mattered and what we wanted to do. All you have to do is read the newspaper or listen to the radio to see where people may have hit a rough spot in their lives. Maybe all you have to do is look next-door. Instead of feeling fatigued today, the start of the holiday season, we feel elated.

Instead of feeling hassled, we feel joyful. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, we feel focused and clear.

So I challenge you, dear readers. What could your company do with your own team of people?

Figure out what touches your hearts and together find a way to touch a heart or two in our community. This is not about coming up with a donation to write off on your taxes. It’s about getting your team together to talk about what you as a group think is important to do, and then putting money or time behind it to make it happen.

It’s amazing what a sense of purpose can do to build a team and make a difference. All of us who have so much to be thankful for, also have so much to contribute. Consider this thought from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross: “I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love. You can find it in a simple act of kindness toward someone who needs help. There is no mistaking love. You feel it in your heart. It is the common fiber of life, the flame that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives.”

Ris Higgins is a leadership coach, change agent and innovative thought-leader at Leadership Outfitters. Contact her with at 406586-5504 or at ris@leadership-outfitters.com.

▲

PARTING WORDS

My quest for high-paying Montana jobs

By Christina Henderson I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in Montana.

I first visited Montana five years ago. My husband had landed his dream job with the U.S. Forest Service. So the week before Christmas in 2010, we flew to Missoula to look for a house.

I had a good job as economic development director in Escanaba, Michigan, and wasn’t sure a move to Montana would help my career. But I was up for an adventure and optimistic. Surely, I reasoned, Montana’s economy would be better than Michigan’s. At least Montana didn’t have Detroit.

In January 2011, I drove out a week ahead of the moving van to learn about Montana’s economy and scope out job prospects. I braved snowy mountain passes and slept on an air mattress to attend the annual Montana Economic Outlook Seminars hosted by the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER).

At the seminar I sat next to a job counselor for a local employment agency who deflated my optimism. I was shocked to discover Montana is 49th in the country for wages, ahead of only Mississippi. He warned me to expect a pay cut. Some candidates searched years before finding a job.

Thankfully, my search ended relatively quickly. BBER hired me as their marketing director to plan the Montana Economic Outlook Seminars in 2012; my first great opportunity.

At BBER, I interrogated economists about Montana’s low wages. I wrote articles for Montana Business Quarterly examining the outsized impact of high-growth companies on job creation.

As a university employee I had the opportunity to enroll as an MBA student,

which opened several doors. I led the Entrepreneurship Club and got to interview Obama campaign manager Jim Messina. I volunteered with the technology team for then-Sen. Max Baucus’ 2013 Jobs Summit.

The senator’s first rule was “no politics.” As an Independent, I appreciated this nonpartisan focus on jobs.

In the fall of 2012, UM honored Greg Gianforte with the Pioneer in Industry Award and invited MBA students to lunch with Greg and his wife, Susan.

In 1997, the Gianfortes had started RightNow Technologies in their spare bedroom in Bozeman. RightNow eventually employed 1,100 people, half in Montana, with average wages of $86,000. They sold to Oracle in 2011 for $1.8 billion. Greg insisted his success could be repeated anywhere in Montana.

At BBER, data showed the sale of RightNow created an almost 80 percent increase in wages in Gallatin County in 2012. And the effects have continued. In 2014, 40 percent of wage growth in Montana occurred in Gallatin County.

I suggested Gianforte as keynote speaker for the 2014 Economic Outlook Seminars.

Everybody told me he would never do it.

But he said yes, and BBER had record attendance for the nine-city tour.

In his speech, Greg mentioned a new, nonpartisan statewide association for hightech and manufacturing companies. They needed an executive director. I interviewed with Greg and the other six founding board members in Bozeman. They hired me; another amazing opportunity.

Launched in April 2014, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance has grown from 20 founding members to more than 250.

One-third of members are in Bozeman, onethird are in Missoula, and the rest are across Montana. We hold networking events, promote members and host a jobs portal.

Christina Henderson is the executive director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, a nonpartisan statewide association focused on creating more high-paying jobs in Montana.

A BBER survey released in February 2015 found Alliance members are growing 8-10 times Montana’s economy and paying twice the median wage. We will release another survey in 2016.

At the 2016 Economic Outlook Seminar, I plan to sit next to a job seeker just out of college or fresh off the U-Haul. I will tell her about growing Montana companies creating high-paying jobs.

Christina Quick Henderson is executive director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. Contact her at director@mthightech.org.

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D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 01 5 • B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L

Technical

Super 8 Belgrade is hiring: (2) FT Desk Clerks, Also, PT Housekeeping.

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Medical

Join our growing team

Livingston Branch - Full time Responsible for all aspects of mortgage lending to include originating, interviewing, gathering background information and analyzing applicant's credit history. Will approve or deny applications based on analysis in accordance with goals and standards of the Credit Union and compliance of state and federal rules & regulations and secondary market standards. Experience in mortgage lending preferred - Full Time Belgrade Branch Responsible for processing mortgage loan documents and disbursing the proceeds, submitting packages to the secondary market, clearing up title issues, preparing closing documents, coordinating closings, ordering required documents such as credit reports, title and mortgage insurance, flood certifications, etc. Also responsible for paying real estate taxes, homeowners, mortgage, and flood insurances, and maintaining tracking system for all.

Excellent Excel and Access skills required. Will be in constant communication with appraisers, title companies, secondary market investors, mortgage loan officers, and our members. Financial experience required, will train processing function.

Bozeman Branch - Teller Part Time-Monday-Friday, 10-2 and fill in for vacations and sick. Assist members with all transactions including deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and loan payments. Responsible for data entry of all transactions and end of day balancing. Prior member service, keyboard/ calculator, & cash handling experience preferred.

Excellent benefits. Email Letter of Interest and Resume to: skyhr@skyfcu.org

for Community Health Partners Bozeman & Livingston.

To apply, please send a letter of interest, resume, and references to Maya Howell, or 126 S. Main Street, Livingston, MT 59047.

CHP is an equal opportunity provider and employer

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General

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*FT/PT Housekeeping *FT/PT Laundry *FT/PT Comp Service Fantastic Benefits: Med, Dental, Vision, 401k Apply online at www.hilton.com Select “Careers” link at bottom of page or call 406-587-8180 for questions

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JOIN US MONDAY, JANUARY 25

FEATURED SPEAKER:

ROBYN ERLENBUSH

BUSINESS F O R S O U T H W E S T M O N TA N A

JOURN A L

Monday, January 25 11:30 - 1:00 at the Hilton Garden Inn

ERA LANDMARK Join us for an important real estate market and economic update from one of the area’s industry leaders. Erlenbush lends her expertise to this extensive annual analysis of southwest Montana.

This detailed information is relevant for all business sectors.

$35 through January 18 $40 After Deadline Tables, packages, charitable rates

available

SPACE IS LIMITED - RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!

REGISTER ON THE CHRONICLE WEB SITE W W W.BOZEMANDAILYCHRONICLE.COM / LUNCH OR AT B2BJAN.EVENTBRITE.COM

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