Gallatins Greatest 2020 by Bozeman Daily Chronicle

PRESENTING THE WINNERS OF

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GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

GALLATIN COUNTY

HAS SPOKEN! TERRY CUNNINGHAM

BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION

The Daily Chronicle conducted an online poll during the month of March, looking for the best and the brightest across a wide spectrum of individuals and businesses that go out of their way to provide outstanding goods and services to our community.

THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR! Gallatin County is blessed with dedicated public officials who strive to improve our community—and I’m grateful to serve alongside them.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

OVER 21,000 VOTES WERE CAST, AND HERE ARE THE RESULTS

“I fell in love with the industry after that happened and I sort of never left,” he said. He discovered that, through food, he could make a difference in people’s lives. “I feel like everybody has the chance to leave their mark on the world, and food was the way to leave my mark,” he said.

“Honestly, I think that we really, really focus on giving people a unique flavor profile,” he said. “But it has to start with really quality-based ingredients.” All of University Burger’s ingredients are fresh, Ehlert said — no meat ever hits the freezer. And when it comes to crafting unique flavors, he said the restaurant focuses on duality, meaning maybe making it spicy and sweet or some other flavor combination. “That’s our forte, that’s what we do,” he said. “We try and do an assault on the senses.”

Sean Ehlert

GREATEST CHEF When Sean Ehlert first got started in the food and beverage industry, he was a teen with blue hair and black nail polish. Now, after 25 years of working at several iconic Bozeman restaurants, he owns University Burger and has been voted Gallatin’s Greatest chef. “Honestly, it’s an industry that sort of found me.” Ehlert said he’s been in kitchens for most of his life, with his first job being at Ruppert’s Tap House, now closed, when he first moved to Bozeman from Louisiana his junior year of high school. After that, he got a job at Boodles, and he was hooked.

University Burger GREATEST LUNCH

University Burger may have opened on April 1, also owner Sean Ehlert’s birthday, but it’s food is no joke. “I think that love and that character we put into every burger we make translates, and I think people can resonate with that,” he said. Ehlert bought and opened University Burger, formerly U-Burger, a year ago, with the goal of incorporating creativity and excellence into everything on the menu.

Dino Drop In

GREATEST CHILD CARE When Jessica Dehn opened Dino Drop-In in Bozeman four years ago, she didn’t know what would happen. Now, there are locations in Bozeman, Belgrade, Livingston, the Tri-Cities in Washington and Fargo, North Dakota. “I realized I could provide this for a lot more people than what I’ve been doing,” she said.

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Dehn has been immensely successful, as owning and operating her Bozeman location has turned into mentoring other early childcare professionals to give them the skill sets they need to become co-owners. Many professionals know how to run a childcare facility, but haven’t been trained to handle the business side of things.

getting to make people happy and putting on a performance. “All the bar’s a stage, if you will,” he said. “Putting on a performance, being a character … Getting paid to do that every night is pretty awesome.”

“It’s exciting to see them grow into entrepreneurs,” she said. “That’s kind of the fun part of it.” The best part of running a child care facility, though, is the kids and the community that forms. “I mean you can’t get much better than getting to go to work and get hugs and high-fives and seeing smiling faces every day.”

Caleb Cherry

GREATEST BAR TENDER For Caleb Cherry, crafting the perfect drink for someone is like putting together a puzzle. “I love puzzles,” Cherry said. “Finding the drink they love is the final puzzle.” Cherry has been in the food and beverage industry since he was 15 years old and bussing tables at an Outback Steakhouse. Over the years, he came to love the industry, and has worked as the bar guru and culture keeper for OK Cool, which manages Kitty Warren and El Camino, and he was recently hired to manage the three bars that will be housed in the new Kimpton Armory Hotel. Helping people solve the puzzle of figuring out what they want to drink is one of Cherry’s favorite parts of bartending. He said he also loves

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Luke Flansburg

GREATEST MUSICIAN To become a musician full time, Luke Flansburg said one thing takes precedent. “It’s persistence and just believing in what you’re doing, and believing what you’re doing can be done,” he said. Flansburg has been playing music ever since he can remember, picking up the guitar when he was 15 years old. Recognizable to anyone who’s a Bozeman local, he plays in Pinky and the Floyd; Tsunami Funk; MOTH, which stands for Men of the Haufbrau; Dead Sky and he plays many solo acoustic shows around town.

On top of that, he also holds a fulltime day job as a music teacher at Music Villa, teaching guitar, bass guitar, ukulele and songwriting. He said his favorite part of being a musician and performing is the exchange that happens between the performer and the audience. “What I really just love about it is being a part of something as an individual that makes up a whole, you know?” he said.

Jong specializes in dying hair bright, fun, unique colors. Having gone to cosmetology school in Great Falls and working at salons in Bozeman, she said she’s known she wanted to be a hair stylist since the fifth grade, when she was bullied until her mom dyed her hair and it gave her new confidence. “I don’t remember ever wanting to do anything else besides being a mermaid,” she said. De Jong has honed her craft, having undergone countless hours of training and attending several conferences across the country. She’s had to learn about the chemistry of hair dye and how the color wheel works, which keeps her job constantly fun and challenging. “With haircuts you can kind of get stagnant,” she said. “With color, there really is a chemistry behind it and you really have to know color correction.”

Sierra De Jong

GREATEST HAIRDRESSER For Sierra De Jong, being a hair stylist is about so much more than just hair: it’s chemistry, artistry and confidence creation. De Jong is a hair stylist and colorist with her own suite in the new Gildhouse building. Known in the Gallatin Valley for her rainbow colors, De

Vanessa Foerster GREATEST FITNESS TRAINER

For Vanessa Foerster, the best part of being a fitness trainer is being in the presence of people doing things they didn’t think they could do. “The biggest thing for me — helping people realize that they’re stronger than they think that they are,” she said. Foerster has been a fitness trainer for seven or eight years, she said. She was working for a public accounting firm in Atlanta when she realized she needed a job with more interaction with people. So she packed her bags and headed out west, making it to Bozeman about two years ago. Now, she works as a trainer at Orangetheory Fitness and also runs a GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

business providing mental training and coaching for triathletes. Her favorite part of what she does is helping her clients reach new heights. “I just love the ability to interact with people regularly and help them achieve more,” she said.

patients ranging in age from grade school to 90 years old. He said the people are his favorite part of his job, and the way the patients and chiropractors can work together to reach the goal of getting someone well. “The symbiosis of that is kind of my favorite part” he said. “If I do my job, you don’t have to come back.”

burg Massage. She specializes in deep tissue and medical massage, which she said is her passion. In Slovakia, she said more emphasis is placed on massage as a medical treatment, rather than simply a tool of relaxation. She said many people don’t realize how useful massage therapy can be on their road to bodily recovery. “That’s something a lot of people don’t realize, is this can really be a lot of help,” she said.

Clete Linebarger

GREATEST CHIROPRACTOR For Clete Linebarger, it was an injury that got him into his lifelong career. “I got hurt playing football for MSU for the Bobcats, and the chiropractor kind of got me on the road to recovery,” he said. After that, he said he saw the need for chiropractors, especially for athletes. He said he got an idea of how important they were in the big picture of recovery, which includes other healthcare professionals in orthopedics, physical therapists, etc. With Linebarger Chiropractors, he focuses on acute pain and serves

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Ludka Didier

GREATEST MASSAGE THERAPIST The reason why Ludka Didier loves her job is simple: She wants to help people, and she wants to be useful. “I’m just happy to see their faces when they’re living without pain,” she said. Didier originally got started as a massage therapist through her schooling in Slovakia, where she’s from, and now she works at Press-

Brian Ortega

GREATEST LAWYER It’s not easy being the person no one wants to see. Working as a certified public accountant as an auditor, Brian Ortega said he often felt like he wasn’t getting to help the client directly. Though being an auditor is a necessary job, he said he wanted to go to law school

so he could help and work with them. Now, the Butte native works with Silverman Law Offices and helps many new business owners as they’re just getting started. He said he works with many bars, casinos and restaurants to meet all their business needs. The best part of the job, by far, is when every “I” has been dotted and “T” crossed. “The best part is when the business gets to open their doors and start making money,” he said.

Gunther has been a mechanic in the Belgrade area for nearly 18 years now, getting a feel for the profession from hanging around the shop belonging to his father, who’s also a mechanic in the Gallatin Valley. He said the work gives him a lot of satisfaction, with his favorite part being giving a car back to its owner. “My favorite part of the job is giving a customer their car back fixed and there’s no more problems,” he said.

“If you’re truly pushing yourself as an athlete and truly pushing yourself as a coach, it shows,” he said. A Gallatin Valley native, Weatherston coaches wrestling in Gallatin Gateway. He’s been wrestling since he was six years old. Now, at 24, he’s coaching around 22 kids of a wide range of ages. Several of the kids who Weatherston coaches have rocky home lives and have a lot to work through. The sport gives them confidence, something to aspire to and someone to hold them accountable, he said. “My favorite part for both is the preparation for life and being a hard worker and the work ethic it brings,” he said.

406 Auto

GREATEST MECHANIC Being a mechanic means always being a student. “Most people wouldn’t realize how much it changes year to year and how much you have to study on these cars,” 406 Auto owner Chad Gunther said.

Bryce Weatherston GREATEST COACH

For Bryce Weatherston, the best part of being a wrestling coach is seeing himself and the athletes he coaches grow.

Krista Menzel GREATEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

There’s one moment that’s the icing on the cake every time real estate GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

agent Krista Menzel helps aspiring homeowners buy their first homes. “It doesn’t get much better than when you get to hand those keys over to a first-time home buyer,” she said. Menzel is a real estate agent for RE/ MAX Real Estate Group, where she said she works with broker Chris Johnson, whom she said made her the realtor she is today. It’s not an easy job, Menzel said, but working with first-time homeowners is incredibly rewarding. “You don’t always cross the finish line easy,” she said. “But if you are hardworking and you are striving to help out your clients, then you will be rewarded.”

One of her earliest childhood memories is being around four years old and drawing on a blank piece of paper to the sounds of the radio. She hasn’t stopped creating since. “It was always an outlet for me,” she said. Dzintars is a graphic designer and illustrator in addition to being a painter. She also works as a guide on the North Fork Salmon River in the summer, something she said inspires her work. “And a lot of my work is inspired by my own experiences in the outdoors here in Southwest Montana,” she said.

“We wanted to do things differently than a lot of the bigger organizations to give more of an enhanced overall approach to our clients’ needs and tailor that to what we felt like was really in the best interest of the consumer,” she said. So in 2015, the couple opened Blackmore Financial Solutions. Finances are often a huge stressor in people’s lives, and Blackmore aims to relieve some of that stress through helping people learn how to make the most out of their hardearned money, Schimbeno said. Relationship-building is one of the most fulfilling parts of the job, she said, as is watching Bozeman get through the challenges of the current COVID-19 crisis. “The creativity and the things our community is stepping up to do to try and keep as many businesses in survival mode is such a testament to what an awesome community we live in,” she said.

Kelsey Dzintars

GREATEST AR TIST Kelsey Dzintars has been painting ever since she can remember.

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Blackmore Financial Solutions GREATEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR

After working at big financial institutions, Jen Schimbeno said she and her husband wanted to do things a little differently.

Andrew Hurlburt GREATEST BOSS

For Andrew Hurlburt, passion for people is what makes a good boss. “The passion is in the people-managing, the other brokers and agents and managing the staff,” he said. “I think seeing all of that come together in one big symbiotic relationship is what makes everything worth doing.” Andrew Hurlburt works at Bozeman Real Estate Group and has been doing real estate brokerage for about 16 years now. Being a mentor and creating a positive office environment is key to his job, he said. “And I love coming in and seeing that whole crew happy to be in the office and happy to be working,” he said. “And lives impacted in a positive way by the work environment we’ve created.”

Notarius Photography

GREATEST PHOTOGRAPHER Through photography is just the way Sarah Notarius sees the world. “I’m always looking through the lense of a camera,” she said. “I’m definitely a watcher, and I just love to see how beautiful things are.” Notarius has been taking photos ever since she was a little kid, she said. Now she does it for a living, photographing families, weddings, seniors — you name it. Though many photographers focus on just one type of photography, she said she loves it all. Getting to be present for some of the most special moments in people’s lives is her favorite part of her job. “I really just love that I get to start with people at a moment in their lives,” she said. “And from there, I get to continue on in their journey and capture all the beautiful things that have happened in their lives.”

Sarah Kremer

GREATEST SERVER For Sarah Kremer, the way the owner of Plonk spoke about the atmosphere and experience of dining and drinking made her want to be part of the industry. “And that was just intriguing to me, and I thought, ‘Yeah, I want to be a part of it,’” she said. Kremer has worked in the food and beverage industry in Bozeman for about nine years, and now she works at Blacksmith Italian. As a server, she said one of her favorite parts of the job is getting to know the community that forms around the restaurant, both with the other employees and the servers. “You just start to become a closeknit family,” she said. “You see the GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

worst of one another; you see the best.” But mostly the best. “I think I am constantly astounded by the family aspect,” she said.

working with patients is what got Justesen into dentistry, and he said he thinks it’s the whole practice’s same passion that makes Shine special. Many people have had experiences with dentists where they felt uncomfortable coming in because they felt judged. At Shine, Justesen said staff leaves judgment out of all of it. “When you allow them to come in and they know that’s not allowed — we don’t judge people when they come in,” he said. “You gain that trust from someone. Not only for their teeth and their aesthetics, but their health and the confidence they gain back from that.”

Shine Dental

a location felt just right to the owners. “We were very skeptical,” said Steve Dragone, who owns Blacksmith with his son, Cory Dragone. “We were being really careful because so many new restaurants fail … “We found this spot in Bozeman and both felt really good about it right off the bat.” In the six and half years Blacksmith has been open, it has cemented itself as a staple for South Bozeman. Two Italians from Rochester, New York, Dragone described their fare as quality comfort food with ample portions. “So coming to Blacksmith is a little bit like going to your Italian grandmother’s house where you know you’re going to leave with a full belly.”

GREATEST DENTIST For Steve Justesen, seeing his brother’s teeth get knocked out during a church basketball game as a kid was the moment that set his life into a whole new direction. “We took him to the dentist,” Justesen said. “My dad, who had really worked hard his whole life, said, ‘OK boys, I really want you to go to school and get an education and do what this guy does.’” Justesen owns Shine Dental, which he opened after moving to Bozeman about two years ago. A passion for

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Blacksmith Italian

GREATEST FINE DINING AND GREATEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT Just like most things involving Blacksmith Italian, choosing Bozeman for

MAP Brewing Company GREATEST OUTDOOR DINING

Life doesn’t get much better than when you’re on MAP Brewing’s out-

door patio with friends, sipping on a beer and eating some delicious food along the backdrop of Bozeman Pond and the Bridgers. “We pride ourselves on creating really great beer and food,” co-owner Dash Rodman said. “But really, it comes down to we are a community connection spot.” MAP opened four and a half years ago with the intention of being a community gathering place, holding a fundraiser even on the first day it opened, Rodman said. And it hasn’t stopped being involved in the community since.

Ravyn Dighans

GREATEST BARISTA

Food is definitely a big part of creating space for that community connection, he said.

For Ravyn Dighans, connecting to the Manhattan community has started with a simple step.

“We’re a little bit off the beaten path, and we’ve always kind of embraced that,” he said. “Because we feel like most everyone who lives in Montana lives in Montana to be a little bit off the beaten path as well,” he said. “We just decided that we wanted to make sure we could take care of folks that were kind of making the journey to come out here.”

“I’ve developed a lot of relationships just from pouring coffee every day,” she said. Dighans opened Camp Creek Coffee Bar in December, and the small shop has quickly become a favorite for coffee lovers across the Gallatin Valley. In addition to being the barista, Dighans also does all of the bookkeeping, baking and everything it takes to keep the shop up and running. It’s hard work but she said she loves being the place where people can come do their homework, meet a friend or just get a quick caffeine jolt. “And the Manhattan community is absolutely amazing,” she said.

Bridger Brewing

GREATEST BREWERY At Bridger Brewing, one of the most important things owners tell the staff to do is to get to know their regulars. “We’ve got the best regulars in town,” said co-owner David Breck. Known for its craft beer and tasty pizza, regulars at Bridger Brewing have been filling growlers and ordering food throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Breck said. The key to the brewery’s success and connection to the community comes through its creativity and willingness to try new things while also staying true to what customers love. “It needs to be a dynamic situation where you’re being true to your roots and what people have really come to love about your business,” GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

he said. “People keep what they know and love about the brewery, but having something fresh to offer all the time is important.”

and playing music every day can make a huge impact on their life. Winning the award of greatest teacher was very humbling, he said. “To think that somehow I’d impacted somebody that greatly … is really powerful,” he said. “I’d also say that there are dozens upon dozens of really phenomenal teachers in our school district, and I am honored to be amongst them and to be able to work with them.”

He said that philosophy translates to the company making sure its employees are living full lives outside of work, and it also has to do with how the restaurant wants guests to experience it while they’re there. It aims to be the kind of place one wants to come after a day of exploring everything the Gallatin Valley has to offer. “I think we’ve definitely kind of created an atmosphere for people to come in and relax,” he said. “We try really hard to try and be a part of the community as much as possible.”

Kelly Berdahl

GREATEST TEACHER While students in Kelly Berdahl’s band class may come from all backgrounds and walks of life, there’s one thing that unites them. “They all have to play the music exactly the same,” he said. “So all of that coming together, and when we all perform to the best of our capability … It’s really a uniquely human, expressive, emotional experience.” As a band director at Bozeman High School, Berdahl said he stresses both that unity and the humanity side of being a good citizen in his teaching. He’s heard from multiple students and parents over the years that band class saved their life, literally. For struggling students, coming to band

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Mackenzie River Pizza Company Ressler Motors GREATEST FAMILY RESTAURANT

GREATEST CAR DEALERSHIP

One of General Manager Kyle Gallagher’s favorite parts of working at Mackenzie River is the company’s philosophy.

When the late Dave Ressler bought Ressler Motors from another dealership group in town 21 years ago, it was one car dealership.

“I guess one of the things I like the most about it is how much the company’s philosophy is work hard, play hard,” he said.

Now, there are eight dealerships employing over 400 people, marketing coordinator Caylin Lancione said.

“It is a legacy he left in treating people, treating employees like family,” he said. Lancione said the dealership does this by being a best-price dealership, where everything’s a set price and customers don’t have to negotiate with salespeople. It has also found new ways to adapt and work with customers through the pandemic, picking up vehicles and sanitizing them for free. The dealership is also selling cars remotely. “So we’ve adapted for the times and we really try to take care of people along the way,” he said. “What has permeated throughout time is being community-driven in all we do.”

RSVP Hotel

this,” co-owner Hillary Folkvord said. “This project kind of fell into our lap.” It was a huge project that needed a lot of love, she said — there was so much shag carpet. But all the hard work translated into beautiful rooms and led to the Farmer’s Daughters Cafe, another passion project for the sisters. Coming from a third-generation Montana farming family, they wanted to create a place where they could serve delicious, healthy food.

“When the Rainbow Motel was for sale, we said we’ve got to hop onto

“It just makes us really happy,” she said.

“Our mom and grandma are great cooks,” she said. “And we just wanted to bring delicious food into the hotel.”

Sweet Chili

GREATEST HOTEL/MOTEL; FARMER’S DAUGHTERS, GREATEST BRUNCH/ GREATEST ASIAN BREAKFAST AND GREATEST RESTAURANT COFFEE SHOP/HUT For Sweet Chili Asian Bistro owners, After years spent in the hospitality industry, sisters Hillary and Hayley Folkvord knew they wanted to do something fun and different.

Open 10 years, she said customers really enjoy Sweet Chilis appetizers, wine, cocktails and desserts. And getting to know all the customers and sharing in their happiness is one of her favorite parts of owning the restaurant. Often, people dining in are coming for dates, graduation, birthdays and other celebrations. It means a lot to get to share in their joy, she said.

the secret to the restaurant’s success is in its fresh, local, quality ingredients. “We wanted to open a restaurant where we could do this kind of cooking,” owner Fei Qiu said.

Babs Noelle at Alara Jewelry GREATEST JEWELER

Babs Noelle at Alara Jewelry said she can’t take credit for finding the profession of being a jeweler. “It more found me,” she said. Noelle, who has a science and engineering background, got her start in the jewelry industry graduating with a degree in design from the oldest jewelry school in the world, which GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

is in Germany. From there, she said she moved to Bozeman after her previous jewelry shop was robbed at gunpoint by the Russian mafia.

products, or its competitive prices or that it’s employees are part of the community and in tune with locals’ needs.

She found a home here, and gets to do the trade she loves. Being a jeweler means getting to create a very specific type of art, one that isn’t hung up on a wall, but rather gets toted around.

“All of our decisions are made locally,” he said. “We try and not have a cookie-cutter mentality, and that each store has a little bit of a flavor of the town they serve.”

GREATEST GROCER

In Bozeman, Town & Country gets a lot of love from locals, President Travis Frandsen said.

Tom’s Alignment

GREATEST AUTO REPAIR For TJ Hinman, fixing cars never gets old.

“And it’s always hard for us to put our finger on what causes that,” he said.

Just to be able to work with your hands, and it’s something different every day,” he said. “It’s just nice to be able to fix something someone else can’t figure out.”

There’s no one thing that’s in the secret sauce that makes Town & Country special; it’s more a combination of things, he said. Maybe it’s that it carries a lot of local, Montana-made

A downtown mainstay, Tom’s Alignment was opened by Hinman’s father in 1976. After studying engineering at MSU, Hinman decided he’d rather be a mechanic and came

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Being such a staple in the community, Hinman said Tom’s Alignment has a great customer base, and it’s humbling to see them vote for Tom’s in the Gallatin’s Greatest competition. “It definitely makes you feel like you’re doing it right with your customer service,” he said.

“It’s that — there’s a human element, an art element and a science element,” she said. “And that just kind of fills my cup.”

Town & Country Foods

on in 1987. He’s gradually been taking over the business over the past several years.

Roundhouse Ski and Sports Center TIE FOR GREATEST SPOR TING GOODS/ OUTDOOR SUPPLIER

For Roundhouse Ski and Sports Center owners Larry and Rita Merkel, the outdoors are an essential part of life in Bozeman. “The outdoors was our life, not unlike it is today,” Larry Merkel said.

The couple grew up in Bozeman and said they’ve always been active in the outdoors, whether it be through skiing, backpacking, biking or anything else in the myriad of things to do in the Gallatin Valley.

ers can join the co-op by paying a one-time $20 fee.

keep doing it and keep it here for another 100 years at least.”

Outdoor recreation attracts a certain type of person, and Merkel said it’s important to his family that they serve that group of people. “The people that this industry attracts is what we want to be a part of,” he said. “And being involved and interacting with skiers and hikers and bikers, everything that we do, that’s really why we’re in the business.”

The Ellen Theatre

GREATEST ENTER TAINMENT VENUE Built in 1919, it’s hard to find a building in Bozeman with more history than The Ellen Theatre.

REI

TIE FOR GREATEST SPOR TING GOODS/ OUTDOOR SUPPLIER Though its physical retail location in Bozeman has been closed, REI typically houses 25,000 square feet of bliss for outdoor lovers in the area. The store offers camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, snow sports and travel products as well as REI Co-Op brand gear. It also features a gear-rental department, and custom-

“It’s a piece of history here in Bozeman, and it has a lot of meaning for people that grew up here, people that have transplanted here, college students,” said executive director John Ludin. The Ellen just received extensive renovations to make both the interior and exterior as close as possible to how it originally looked when The Ellen was built 100 years ago. It’s atypical for a town of Bozeman’s size to have a theater as large as The Ellen, Ludin said, so it’s been important to preserve the building as a gathering space for the community. “We appreciate people showing up,” he said. “And as long as people keep attending things here, we’ll

Pizza Campania GREATEST PIZZA RESTAURANT

Located in The Cannery District, Pizza Campania is unlike any other pizza restaurant in the Gallatin Valley. “The dining room itself is quite delightful and unique,” said Yvonne McDonald, general manager. Anyone who’s been inside the old granary building, narrow with high ceilings, knows what McDonald’s talking about. Serving classic neapolitan pizzas, she described the food as not complicated, but very gratifying. “I think this style of food warrants itself to kind of meeting what people are looking for,” she said. The atmosphere matches the food, she said: It’s dynamic, simple and happy. “It’s not as hard to make people happy with pizza.” GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

“There’s a big life change happening, and I just love that I get to be a part of it,” she said.

Charlotte & Co. Real Estate GREATEST REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

Invisible Fence of the Big Sky GREATEST PET SERVICES/GROOMING

Sarah Kirkpatrick

Helping people purchase a home is no small task.

If there’s one thing Bozeman loves, it’s dogs.

GREATEST OPTOMETRIST/ OPTOMOLOGIST

“I get to help people through the biggest purchase of their life,” Charlotte & Co. Real Estate owner Charlotte Durham said.

And Invisible Fence of the Big Sky is there to take care of all residents’ canine needs.

Sarah Kirkpatrick became more familiar with eyes at a young age than most will ever be in their lives.

“We’re pretty well-rounded in terms of our services we provide pet owners,” said Courtney Horning, dog trainer and office manager for Invisible Fence.

Her father was an optometerist and he would let her watch certain procedures, sometimes dragging her out of bed in the middle of the night to go see an emergency procedure.

Invisible Fence offers obedience and training classes, sells as many locally-sourced quality dog products as it can and, of course, sells invisible fences. Horning said her family has used Invisible Fence containment systems, and they’ve always loved it. Using them makes sense in a place like Bozeman, where homeowners want to preserve their scenic views.

“People are like, ‘Eyes are so gross,’” she said. “He kind of exposed me to it.”

After graduating from MSU with honors in 2011, Durham said she went to get her real estate license right away. After working in real estate for a while, she said she wanted to offer people a more boutique, altered experience, and that’s how Charlotte & Co. was born. She loves working with people, and she said she wanted to give them the best possible home buying experience they could dream of. It’s exciting for her to be a part of that experience.

“We’ve always been big believers in the invisible fence and giving your dog that freedom and just being able to let them run outside,” she said.

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

The more Sarah got into optometry, the more she loved it. Practicing at Twenty20 Eyecare, she gets to meet people in the community coming from all walks of life, and every day is a new challenge.

“And not only are we checking vision, but you can find a lot of systemic diseases from looking at the eyes,” she said. Overall, it’s the people that make her love her job.

been an assisted living community for those ages 65 and older. An active community, residents are close by Peet’s Hill and Bogert Park, and there are several annual events, like the community’s fashion show and car show.

“There’s a lot of, “One or two?” but I think it’s really cool that no one encounter is the same,” she said.

The staff, residents and their families all have relationships that make Hillcrest special. “The residents enjoy being a part of our lives and knowing how we’re doing, how we’re growing and doing,” Clemens said. “It becomes a bit of an extended family.”

Bozeman Health Hillcrest Senior Living, Birchwood GREATEST ASSISTED LIVING/RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

At Bozeman Health Hillcrest Senior Living, community is key. “We see them on their holidays, their special occasions, even in their challenging times,” said Rachel Clemens, director of senior services for Hillcrest. “We build connections with them that have become very special, very family-oriented.” Since the ‘60s, Bozeman Health Hillcrest Senior Living, Birchwood has

“Creating for kids that positive environment in the dental office that makes them interested in their dental health, so they want to take those precautions to prevent cavities and choose good foods,” she said. Having been in Bozeman three years, Richmond-Stevens said that she and her husband try and make their office somewhere kids want to come. Sometimes part of that involves prizes, but it’s about more than that. “Seeing them work hard to get that prize, it’s very rewarding,” she said. “The parents will say they couldn’t wait to come into the dentist … I love having those conversations with parents and sharing with them the knowledge and expertise that I have and getting them to feel good about the decision they’re making for their children, too.”

Gallatin Valley Pediatric Dentistry GREATEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST

Going to the dentist doesn’t have to be scary. That’s what Joni Richmond-Stevens and her husband try to instill in children when they come to Gallatin Valley Pediatric Dentistry

Bridger Creek Golf Course

GREATEST GOLF COURSE For golf lovers in the Gallatin Valley, life doesn’t get much better than when at Bridger Creek Golf Course, GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

the stream trickling and the mountains in the background.

opening Christmas presents,” she said.

said. “I think that instilled in me a strong foundation of service.”

“And I think they like the design and the character of the golf course,” PGA director of golf Mark Holiday said. “It’s very subtlely challenging.”

Now, Koffman owns The Flower Bar and loves everything about it. There’s so much more variety than the traditional roses and carnations that initially come to people’s minds when they think of flowers. And getting to be a part of some of the happier moments of people’s lives makes the job so worthwhile.

Name a board or organization that relies on volunteers, and Shieffer has probably volunteered with it in some capacity. In addition to working a full-time job as the president and CEO of Leadership Montana, she’s volunteered with a number of nonprofits, MSU organizations, her college sorority board and her church, and she’s won many awards for her service.

Located at the base of the Bridgers, Bridger Creek Golf Course has been in Bozeman for 26 years. In addition to having 18 holes of golf, it hosts camps and lessons for kids of all ages. “If we can help them have fun and help facilitate them having fun and having the same love of the game we do, then that’s gratifying.”

“You’re working with living, breathing products and delivering to people celebrating or needing cheer in their lives,” she said. “It’s just the best of everything.”

Volunteering has always been at the core of who she is, and what it means to be a Bozemanite. “I believe we’re put in these communities to be able to serve the people who live in these communities with us,” she said.

The Flower Bar

GREATEST FLORIST After walking into a flower shop three years ago to help with Valentine’s Day, Richelle Koffman fell in love with floristry. “Every day we got a shipment of flowers that came in, and it was like

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Chantel Shieffer

GREATEST VOLUNTEER For Chantel Shieffer, a passion for volunteering and service came at a young age. “I watched our parents, growing up, volunteer for different organizations, always being the first to say yes when someone needed help,” she

Cashman Nursery

GREATEST NURSERY/ GREENHOUSE You’d be hard pressed to find a greener thumb in all of Gallatin County than one of the Cashman’s.

Jerry Cashman, who owns Cashman Nursery with his two sons and wife, Jan, majored in horticulture in college and comes from a long line of nursery owners. His family has been in the nursery business for over 100 years, and his nursery has been open in Bozeman since 1975.

“Usually you get people who are excited to be in a fly shop and doing what they’re doing,” co-owner Steve Summerhill said. “It seems like fly fishing is their reprieve.”

Jan Cashman said it was hard to pinpoint just one reason why she and her family love owning a nursery so much.

With two locations, The River’s Edge has been in Bozeman for 37 years, and its original location just moved downtown. The fly fishing community in Bozeman is really great, Summerhill said, and he loves getting to be a hub for it.

“Well there’s a lot to love about it — working with plants and people and beautifying the land,” she said.

“We get to talk about things we love to do, right?” he said. “We get to sell Bozeman, sell fly fishing.”

wanted to create a place that was for everyone. “A place where everyone from my family to my friends to my parents could find something they could do,” he said. After opening The Ridge in 2002, Roderick said it has become clear that what makes the gym special is the people, which has been made even more apparent as gyms have emptied during the pandemic. “A building’s just a building, a program’s just a program,” he said. “And people bring it to life.”

And when asked about that nice feeling one gets after walking into a greenhouse, she said it never gets old. “Our greenhouses smell wonderful,” she said. “You don’t really get used to it; it’s still great.”

SLAM The River’s Edge GREATEST FLY FISHING RETAILER

Almost everyone that comes into The River’s Edge is in a good mood.

The Ridge Athletic Club GREATEST GYM/ FITNESS FACILITY

When Steve Roderick was conceptualizing The Ridge Athletic Club with his partners in the ‘90s, he said he

GREATEST COUNTY EVENT Nothing spells summer in Bozeman like SLAM. “I think it’s really just a celebratory community vibe,” Co-Executive Director Callie Miller said. Though everything is uncertain given the pandemic, Miller said SLAM is GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

planning on hosting its 10th festival celebrating local artists and musicians, if it’s safe to do so. In the meantime, though, SLAM is focusing on supporting local musicians in this time when many are out of work.

With in-house Title Plants containing every real estate document recorded in Gallatin and Madison Counties dating back to 1862, according to its website, you can rest assured you’ll find what you need.

They’re offering financial aid grants to artists and musicians in dire need, and she said they are hard at work applying for more grants and doing fundraising so they can offer more. With SLAM, it’s the work that’s done all year round that makes the difference, Miller said.

American Land Title Company gives back to the community by donating to several nonprofits, sports and music programs in Gallatin County. It is also dedicated to the environment, having used digital tools to cut its paper usage back 90%.

“And I think that is what’s so great about SLAM, is that it acts as this support system throughout the year for artists in our community,” she said. “And that festival is kind of the culmination of all of that work.”

HRDC

GREATEST NONPROFIT If you live in Bozeman, you’ve heard of HRDC — it’s hard to name a cause the nonprofit isn’t taking active steps to address in Gallatin County.

Terry Cunningham

GREATEST PUBLIC OFFICIAL Before running for city commission, working in local politics is something commissioner Terry Cunningham never thought he would do. “It was nothing I ever would have imagined,” he said.

GREATEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GREATEST NEW BUSINESS

Plain and simple, HRDC said on its website that its vision and mission is that every life has value.

But after volunteering in a number of capacities and serving on the chairman of the Board of Bozeman Health, he was asked to run for city commission by former mayor Carson Taylor. When he got to thinking of what he might do and the ways he might make a difference, he said he got excited.

If you’re in need of title services, American Land Title Company is the place to go.

“HRDC exists to instill hope, develop resources, design solutions, and change lives.

“Ultimately, I think we all have an obligation to make this world better,” he said.

American Land Title Company

Founded in 1975, some of the causes HRDC works on are community development, energy, housing, children’s issues, transportation, food and nutrition, services for seniors and emergency services.

We envision a place where poverty has no impact because opportunity and quality of life are equally afforded to everyone,” it wrote.

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

Now, halfway through his four-year term, he said he’s loved seeing how passionate Bozeman’s citizens are about the community and how much they want to preserve the things that make Bozeman special.

town, Bar IX is also a great place to get food and or meet for a happy hour after work.

Wild Crumb

GREATEST BAKERY Wild Crumb is the perfect place to treat yourself.

That versatility is what won Bar IX four awards in the Gallatin’s Greatest competition. There’s a little something for everyone at Bar IX. For the partier, there are giant buckets of alcohol for sale on Bucket Nights, and sometimes you might find a dueling piano competition or drag brunch happening. It has great food, and often hosts special events like comedy night every week.

Cozy with lots of light, there’s often a line extending to the door at this Northside mainstay, which sells organic breads, classic pastries such as croissants and tarts, sandwiches and coffee.

Kelsey Baver GREATEST VET

A fourth-generation Montanan, Kelsey Baver grew up in Red Lodge, according to Sorenson Vet Hospital’s website. She went to MSU and received her bachelor of science in biotechnology/animal systems in 2006. From there, she went to Washington State University in Pullman, Washington to get her doctorate in veterinary medicine. She felt Montana pulling her back, though, and moved back to join Sorenson Vet Hospital in 2006.

There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a great place to sit and read the paper while munching on a treat before work, meet a friend or sit and people-watch.

Blackbird Kitchen GREATEST DATE NIGHT LOCALE

Nothing feels fancier than getting taken on a date at Blackbird Kitchen.

Bar IX

GREATEST BAR, CHEAP EATS, DINNER AND HAPPY HOUR While most college students associate Bar IX with a night out on the

The downtown restaurant known for its European-style dishes and homemade pasta has been a staple of the area, and recently opened a bar adjacent to the restaurant with the intent of serving small plates, beer and wine. With romantic lighting and a cozy atmosphere, it’s sure to impress a date. GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

The Frugal Frame Shop El Rodeo

GREATEST FOOD TRUCK For delicious, authentic Mexican food on the go, do yourself a favor and visit El Rodeo’s food truck. Whether you’re looking for tacos, tortas, burritos, mulitas or nachos, El Rodeo has something to satisfy any craving you might have. It also serves a wide variety of specials that varies depending on the day.

GALLATINS GREATEST 2020 - MAY 17, 2020

GREATEST AR T GALLERY/ CUSTOM FRAMING

Murdoch’s

Formerly located in Four Corners, the Frugal Frame Shop has been serving Southwest since 1997. Now it’s located across from Gallatin Valley Mall.

There are few stores that appeal to the core Bozeman’s past and present like Murdoch’s

It is a full-service custom frame shop, with a seasoned staff and quality framers. Conservation framing and lifetime craftsmanship is its standard. It has the largest selection of frame moulding and matting materials in the Gallatin Valley. With custom framing being The Frugal Frame Shop’s primary focus, it’s able to offer affordable prices.

GREATEST FARM AND RANCH RETAILER

Offering farming, yard and outdoor recreation gear, Murdochs was opened by John Murdoch in 1994. Since then, Murdoch’s has expanded to five states and employs about 1,300 people. It’s roots will always be in Bozeman, though.

Open AgAinH! T for VotinG

Thank You

farmer’s dauGhters Café as the Greatest Coffee shop and Breakfast/BrunCh in the Gallatin Valley!

Thank you, Gallatin Valley, for your support!

Your trust in me over the past 29 years is very much appreciated. I am so fortunate to live and practice in this amazing community. Clete T. Linebarger, D.C. P ) 406-586-1531 • F ) 406-587-5830 peakclete@bridgeband.com

2010855

MAY 28

craft beer + pizza voted gallatin’s greatest brewery_2020

thank you Bozeman! for voting for us and more importantly, for all of the love and support you have shown us during this time. We are back open and look forward to seeing you back at the brewery when you are ready. takeout and curb-side delivery are still encouraged as well. Cheers!!! Open everyday • beer 11:30 am - 8:00 pm • Food 11:30 am - 9:00 pm 406.587.2124 • 1609 S 11th Ave Bozeman, MT 59715

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