Gregg Mortensen

Greg

MORTENSEN

I had basically two careers, two full careers in a lifetime. ”

After serving for 26 years in an active duty role for the U.S. military, Colonel Gregg Mortensen retired. But that was far from the end of his professional career. After moving to Bozeman from Virginia, where he’d spent the last few years working at the Pentagon, he and his wife decided they wanted to go into an entirely new business for themselves. The couple were both from Montana, and had designs on returning to the state that they were able to ultimately make good on. “I always loved Montana. Growing up I was an athlete and I loved the outdoors,” Mortensen said. “We always said when we retire we’re going to move to Montana. Nowhere else. What’s not to like?” Although it allowed him the opportunity to travel internationally and be a part of exciting strategic victories in his time, the military life had been particularly demanding on him and his family. As a result he was prepared to make a change, personally and professionally. “It just drains you emotionally and I was ready to get back to Montana,” he said. “I was ready to be my own boss.” In 2000 he became a realtor in Bozeman and later bought and was a co-owner of Keller Williams Realty, a company that employed over a hundred individuals and he spent decades building up, though he plans to give up his license at the end of this year. “I had basically two careers, two full careers in a lifetime,” he said. Mortensen continues to stay connected to his first career though by supporting active military members and veterans through his volunteer work as president of Friends of the Bozeman Veterans Court. The non-profit board helps provide assistance to veterans and current active servicemen and women who are in the court system and determine if they should receive a variety of treatments. Mortensen said this work is meaningful to him as he’s seen firsthand how military members and families struggle as a result of their service. “I think it’s important to expend some of my energy to help those members get better aand become productive members of society,” he said. “ A lot of their problems are caused by their time in the military service. Having been through that myself and not having had those issues I want to be able to help as much as I can.” Mortensen said he is proud to be a retired soldier and colonel, but “my identity in Bozeman has always [just] been Gregg,” and he’s happy to be remembered “as who I am and what I did” rather than a title.