At a Glance In This Issue Chamber Snapshot Education and its Role

September 2010
Education
and its Role in
the Regional
Economy
In today’s business environment,
regions are looking strategies to create
a competitive edge. At the Chamber’s
September 21 luncheon, businesseducation expert Brian Bosworth of
FutureWorks will present information on
how increases in educational attainment
help drive economic growth in regions
across the country. This luncheon is
sponsored by Walmart.
Brian Bosworth, founder and President
of FutureWorks, has over 35 years of
experience in economic and business
development. In 2000, Brian launched
FutureWorks, a private consulting and
public policy research firm that builds
regional institutions and strategies for
economic growth, workforce education,
and civic improvement. He has also
served on numerous commissions and
task forces and is a frequent speaker
on economic and human resources
development. He is the author of
several publications on economic
growth, workforce development, and
civic improvement. Brian is a graduate
of Dartmouth College and attended
graduate
school
at the
Fletcher
School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts
University.
continued page 7 >>
Membership
Event to Kick-off
Fall Schedule
A Membership Event will be held on
September 22 to invite all Kalispell
businesses to join the Chamber. Teams
are forming now and everyone is invited
to participate in this fun event. You can
help by joining a team or letting us know
about and enterprise you think might
benefit from Chamber membership. It is
only three hours – from 9:00-12:00, at the
Red Lion Hotel. So, bring your sell phone
and join us. For more information, and to
join a team, call 758-2804.
Chamber Snapshot
At
a Glance
l
September UNWINDs:
>> Tuesday, September 7
DA Davidson
200 First Ave E, Kalispell
5:00-6:30 pm
>>
Wednesday, September 22
Central Heating and Cooling
1650 Hwy 35, Kalispell
5:00-6:30 pm
Luncheon:
>> Education and its Role in the
Regional Economy
Tuesday, September 21
FVCC – Arts and Technology Bldg.
12:00-130 pm
In This Issue
2 New Members
3 New Members, continued
Renewals
Visitor’s Center Information Requests:
Board of Directors Nominations Open
July & August ‘10
Phone Calls:
678
Walk-ins
872
VACATION
Packets
2
Inquiries
76
Email Inquiries
14
RELOCATION
Packets
0
Basic
38
Phone Books
2
Web Activity
Unique Visits
6,755
4 Natural Resources Tour
31,490
Total Visits
20,844
8437
YTD
3,955
3,215
28
574
106
21
245
16
Luncheon Meetings Resume
Brown Bag Series with Morrie
Schechtman
5 September Calendar
6 Convention & Visitors Bureau
Government Affairs Briefs
Education & Economy, continued
7 Fair Parade Ribbon Winner’s Photos
UNWIND
8 Walla Walla Inter-city Visit
Cost of Living Figures for 2nd Quarter
Officers
Terry Kramer, Chairman of the Board, Kramer Enterprises
Tom Lund, Vice Chairman of the Board,
Rocky Mountain Bank
Dave Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer,
CTA Architects and Engineers
Bob Schneider, Immediate Past Chairman,
First Interstate Bank
Directors
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Mission Statement
The central mission of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is the
cultivation and development of entrepreneurs and communities
through the spirit of enterprise.
New Members
Please welcome these new members with your business.
Susie Burch, Flathead Valley Community College
Kris Carlson, A+ Plus Healthcare
Nancy Davis, Prudential Financial
Reed Gunlikson, R Gunlikson CPA’s
Scott Hagel, Crowley Law Firm
Dave Harvey, Sportsman Ski Haus
Tom Kurdy, The Daily Inter Lake
Mark Lalum , CHS
Jason Manger, Applied Materials - Semitool
Denise Nalty, Nalty Real Estate
Cheri Nelson, Express Employment Professionals
Jim Ness, Glacier Bank
Jim Oliverson, Northwest Health Care
Kelly Robinson, Plum Creek Timber
Loren Sallee, Loren’s Auto Repair
Ken Sugden, Flathead Electric Cooperative
Chris Walters, Hilton Garden Inn
Ex-officio Directors
Mike Pence, Flathead County Administrator
Jane Howington, Kalispell City Manager
Flathead Living Magazine
Owner ~ Clint Walker
6477 HWY 93 South #518
Whitefish, MT 59937
Email: clintw@flatheadliving.com
Phone: 406-756-3348
Fax: 406-258-0511
Flathead Living Magazine is the premiere lifestyle and recreation publication of
Northwest Montana. Each issue features the people and places that make this area
special to visitors and residents alike.
Montana Frame Works & Gallery
Owner ~ Steve Russell
Primary Contact ~ Jake Russell
141 South Main
Kalispell, MT 59901
Email: montanaframeworks@centurylink.net
Phone: 406-257-2300
Fax: 406-257-2300
We provide professional custom framing of your artwork and heirloom pieces. We
strive to take care of our customers and provide an atmosphere of knowledgeable and
seasoned expertise. Our gallery provides pieces from local and nationally recognized
artists and can search for any artwork desired.
Sears Authorized Retail Dealer
Professional Staff
Joe Unterreiner, President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758-2804
Cary Aubrey, Executive Assistant. . . . . . . . . . . 758-2803
Diane Bebee, Receptionist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758-2800
Doug Bolender, Government Contracting . . . 755-4221
Diane Medler, CVB Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758-2808
Chris Parson, Small Business Development . . 758-2802
Jill Seigmund, Leadership Flathead. . . . . . . . . 758-2810
Consultants
Anderson, Baker & Swanson - Government Affairs
Edge Communications - Media & Public Relations
JCCS - Tax & Audit Counsel
Janet Schwalk - Bookkeeping
Primary Contact ~ Jill Sargent
1105 Hwy 2 West
Kalispell, MT 59901
Email: ds3248@searshc.com
Phone: 406-755-5678
Fax: 406-755-5683
Appliances. Electronics. Lawn and Garden. Tools
Not Just A Brand ~ America’s Brand. Retail Store
Snoops K-9 Detection Services
Owner ~ Chris Fansler
PO Box 179
Libby, MT 59923
Email: snoopsk-9@hotmail.com
Website: www.snoopsk-9.com
Phone: 877-593-5911
2
New Members
>> from page 2
Snoops K-9 Detection Services provides a unique and trusted service using a certified
dog to detect bed bugs and mold. Scent detection dogs are fast, efficient and accurate.
These highly trained dogs and their handlers can inspect the average hotel room in 3-5
minutes and are over 90% accurate.
West Coast Paper
Primary Contact ~ David Juarez
730 Holmes Street
Missoula, MT 59802
Email: jdavid@wcpc.com
Website: www.wcpc.com
Phone: 406-241-4822
Fax: 888-449-9275
15 Depot Park
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 758-2800
(406) 758-2805: Fax
Business Expansion and Retention
Chris Parson
(406) 758-2802
sbdc@kalispellchamber.com
www.nwmontanabear.com
Flathead Job Service Workforce Center
Mora McCarthy, Business Resource Consultant
(406) 758-6241
mmccarthy@mt.gov
www.employflathead.com
Flathead Valley Community College
Jodi Smith, Workforce Training Director
(406) 758-2809 (Wednesday’s only)
jsmith@fvcc.edu
www.fvcc.edu
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Joe Unterreiner, President
(406) 758-2800
joe@kalispellchamber.com
www.kalispellchamber.com
Renewals
A Able Fishing Charters & Tours
Alamo/National Car Rentals
Applied Materials
Christensen Moore Cockrell Cummings &
Axelberg
Crescent Electric Supply
Glacier Park Boat Co
Kalispell Montessori Schools
Morrison-Maierle Inc
Mountain West Bank of Kalispell
National Flood Services
Norms News
Northwestern Energy
Papa Murphy’s Take N Bake Pizza
RLK Hydro Inc
Rocky Mountain Hi RV Park &
Campground
Wheeler Jewelry
Wild River Adventures
Flathead Regional Business Center Partners
Flathead Community Foundation
Marc Lorenzen, Board President
(406) 756-9047
info@flatheadcommunityfoundation.org
www.flatheadcommunityfoundation.org
West Coast paper is an independent wholesaler that markets and distributes paper,
packaging, packaging equipment, janitorial, sanitary and safety supplies to a variety of
industries including graphic arts, manufacturing, maintenance, healthcare, food service
and hospitality. Based in Kent, Washington, the company is less than 20 miles from
Seattle and operates distribution facilities in Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon,
and Washington.
10 Plus Years
5 to 9 Years
Collection Center/Checkrite
Dudley Trees
Flathead Lake Charter Service
Moonlighting Detective Agency
Pella Windows & Doors
Spring Hill Press LLC
Timberline Tool
1 to 4 Years
Advanced MedTech, Inc
Affective Neurosciences
Escrow Services
Flathead Food Bank
Glacier National Park Fund
National Quik Cash
Kalispell Chamber Foundation
(406) 758-2800
info@kalispellchamber.com
www.kalispellchamber.com
Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau
Diane Medler, Director
(406) 758-2808
dianem@kalispellchamber.com
Leadership Flathead
Jill Seigmund, Manager
(406) 758-2810
seigmund@centurytel.net
www.leadershipflathead.com
Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
Bill Nicholson, Manager
(406) 756-8329
bnicholson@coe.montana.edu
www.mtmanufacturingcenter.com
Northwest Montana SCORE
Scott Roberts, Chapter Chairman
(406) 756-5271
nwmtscore@montanasky.net
Board of Director Nominations Open
Nominations are now open for general members interested in serving on the board
directors of the Kalispell Chamber. The term of office is three years and commences on
January 1, 2011. Interested candidates should complete an application and receive a
description of responsibilities. The deadline for submission is Friday, September 10. For
further information, please contact Joe Unterreiner at 758-2804.
3
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Doug Bolender, Director
(406) 755-4221
ptac@kalispellchamber.com
Small Business Development Center
Chris Parson, Director
(406) 758-2802
sbdc@kalispellchamber.com
www.kalispellsmallbusiness.com
“Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the
U.S. Small Business Administration.”
Natural Resources
Tour to Focus
on Energy
Production
Northwest Montana natural resources
provide both residents and nonresidents with multiple commercial
and recreational benefits. Can these
resources also provide fuel for emerging
energy production capabilities
including biomass, geothermal, and
solar? This year’s field tour seeks to
provide information on that possibility.
The program is sponsored by Applied
Water Consulting, Best Insurance
– Dottie Hanson, Department of Natural
Resources and Conservation, FH Stoltze
Lumber, Flathead Electric Cooperative,
Plum Creek Timber Company, and RLK
Hydro. The tour will be held Wednesday,
September 15, 12:30-5:00 pm, leaving
and returning at Flathead Electric
Cooperative’s main office.
Luncheon
Meetings Resume
in September
Flathead Regional Business Center
Brown Bag Series:
The Leadership Challenge:
Managing in Turbulent Times
There would be little argument that
we are living in turbulent times. As
information increases, conflict increases.
In business, it results in the need for
adapting to new information and
technology with fast decisions and
problem solving. Conflict avoiders will
drag you down. The rate of change
is accelerating and our work world is
rapidly changing. What are the key
skills that leaders will need to meet the
unique challenges of these turbulent
times? • Growing and developing
people has become the prerequisite
for organizational success. Leaders
now need to be developers of people.
• Bring down the firewall between
personal and professional life. Personal
change proceeds professional change. •
Company culture requires articulation of
core values in everyday behavior. • Set
boundaries and expectations. • We live to
learn and need to shift from task oriented
environments at work to learning
environs.
two books – Working Without A Net: How
To Survive And Thrive In Today’s High Risk
Business World and Fifth Wave Leadership:
The Internal Frontier, and co-authored
a third book with his wife and business
partner Arleah: Love In The Present
Tense: How To Have A High Intimacy,
Low Maintenance Marriage. The results
his clients enjoy are more important to
him than his personal achievements.
His goal is to create a company filled
with employees who have the capacity
for self-analysis and adaptive learning.
Such companies – characterized by
increased productivity, open and honest
communication, and a willingness to
eliminate dysfunctional behaviors – have
a remarkable advantage in today’s highrisk business environment. Monthly
Blueprint for Business Success brown bag
sessions feature business professionals
facilitating informative discussions.
Attend to receive relevant information,
opportunities to ask questions of the
professionals and network with peers.
This month’s facilitator: Morrie
Shechtman, Chairman, Fifth Wave
Leadership
Who should attend? Employers
interested in growing and evolving more
effective organizations.
Facilitator:
Morrie
Shechtman
is a highly
sought after
speaker who
has lectured
worldwide
on the
connection
between
personal and
professional
The September 21st chamber luncheon,
Education and its Role in the Regional
Economy, will focus on how educational
attainment helps drive regional economic
performance. The presenter is Seattlebased Brian Bosworth of Futureworks.
This program is sponsored by Walmart.
On October 13th, the Chamber will host
Meet the Candidates, a forum featuring
candidates in the County Commissioner
race and in select races for the Montana
House and Senate. This session is
sponsored by New West Healthcare.
The November 9th luncheon program
will feature a State of the County address
by this year’s chairman of the county
commission, Joe Brenneman.
transformation and productivity. His
professional background includes
university professor, psychotherapist,
national policy advisor and consultant
to government, education and law
enforcement. He is also a lecturer and
bestselling author. Morrie is the author of
4
Why?
• Exchanging ideas, insights and realworld solutions directly impacts your
bottom line.
• Making better decisions quickly requires
more and better information.
• Utilizing all available resources to
operate and grow is smart business.
• Engaging and energizing your
employees helps make your business
successful.
Date: Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Time: Noon – 1:00 pm
NEW Location:
FVCC Arts & Technology Building
Room 139
Cost: No cost!
RSVP: Terri Haueter @ 758-6279 or
thaueter@mt.gov
Chamber Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
All Meetings
are at The
Chamber
unless
otherwise
stated.
5
Wednesday
September 2010
Thursday
2
3
Saturday
4
Flathead Young
Professionals
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Education &
Communications
Committee Meeting
8:00am–9:30am
Kalispell Tourism
Business Improvement
District Meeting
3:00pm – 5:00pm
6
7
8
9
10
11
16
17
18
23
24
25
Ambassador Meeting
4:00pm – 5:00pm
12
Friday
Labor Day
Chamber Office
Closed
13
Government Affairs
Committee Meeting
4:00pm – 5:00pm
14
15
Leadership Flathead
Retreat
Renewable Energy Tour
12:30pm – 5:00pm
Tour begins at Flathead
Electric Coop
Kalispell Tourism
Business Improvement
District Meeting
3:00pm – 5:00pm
19
26
20
21
BEAR Meeting
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Executive Board Meeting Membership Event
7:30am – 8:30am
9:00am - Noon
27
Luncheon: “Education
and its Role in the
Regional Economy”
11:45pm –1:00pm
Flathead Valley
Community College
28
Board Meeting
7:00am – 8:00am
22
Red Lion
Transportation
Meeting
4:00pm – 5:00pm
29
30
Health Care Reform:
The Who, What and
When
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Sponsored by Western
States Insurance
Flathead Community
Foundation
4:00pm – 5:00pm
5
Kalispell Convention & Visitors
Bureau Gets Underway
Diane Medler began work on August
16th as director of the new Kalispell
Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB).
Medler will be responsible for the
daily activities of the CVB including
the marketing and promotion of
Kalispell as a tourism and convention
destination, member services and
financial administration. She will oversee
a projected budget of $420,000 derived
from Kalispell’s allocation of the Montana
Accommodations Tax and revenues
from the newly-created Kalispell Tourism
Business Improvement District (TBID).
Medler moves to the CVB from Coldwell
Banker Wachholz & Company where she
served as Marketing and Advertising
Manager for eight years. In that
position, she was responsible for the
creation, management, and execution
of all internal and external advertising
campaigns for the nine-office, 100+ agent
firm. Medler began her career in Seattle at the
Westin Hotel where she worked for five
years as administrative assistant to senior
management. She then worked for Fine
Line in Seattle, a company that provided
business services to small business and
local government offices.
According to Unterreiner, “Diane’s
background makes her a perfect fit for
the CVB. Her work in real estate, business
services and hospitality give her insight
into the markets that we hope to bring
to Kalispell.” Chris Walters, chairman of
the board for the
Kalispell tourism
district stated that
“The members
of the TBID are
determined to
improve the
economy of
Kalispell through
increased
tourism. Our
marketing efforts
Diane Medler
are designed
to increase
our shoulder seasons by targeting
leisure travelers as well as meetings
and conventions. Diane’s background
in marketing and advertising and her
knowledge of the industry will serve the
CVB very well.”
“This is an exciting time for the city
of Kalispell”, stated Medler. “With the
creation of the TBID we are able to more
effectively focus on promoting Kalispell as
a destination when a visitor is considering
the Flathead Valley. The majority of first
time visitors come for Glacier National
Parks, but ultimately they come here for
the whole Flathead Valley package. My
goal is to build and strengthen tourism
partnerships within the Valley to build offpeak season tourism business. How well
we communicate our local amenities, our
events and the character of the Kalispell
area will determine where the visitor will
stay, how long they will stay and how often
they will return. I look forward to being
part of this process”, stated Medler.
Education & Economy
>> from cover
The luncheon is scheduled for noon - 1:30 pm on Tuesday, September 21 at the Flathead
Valley Community College – Arts and Technology Building. Luncheon tickets are $16
each for Chamber members and $21 for non-members. Tables of eight may be reserved
for $120. Tickets are purchased in advance by calling 406-758-2800 or register on-line at
www.kalispellchamber.com
6
Government
Affairs Briefs
MT Legislative Session –
Representatives of the government
affairs committee are meeting with
their counterparts from large chambers
across the state to discuss priorities and
strategies for the upcoming session
including the topics of: budget, work
comp, marijuana law revisions, ballot
initiatives.
Kalispell Business Registration–
The City of Kalispell is under discussion
on the establishment of a business
registration to assist fire services and to
better understand the amounts and types
of residential businesses. Look for further
information about this proposal in future
communications.
Ballot Issues – Three issues have
qualified for the ballot in November: 1) a
prohibition on real estate transfer taxes,
2) the elimination of outfitter hunting
license, and 3) a cap on the interest rate
for so-called payday loans.
County Trails Plan – At their
meeting on August 24th, the chamber
board of directors agreed to support
the creation of a county trials plan as an
amenity that will benefit residents and
promote longer length-of-stay with nonresidents, as long as it respects private
property rights.
Health-care Funding’s 1099
Provision Could Face Repeal Five months after the adoption of
the sweeping new health-care law,
momentum is building to modify and
possibly repeal one of its funding sources.
The provision, which takes effect next
year, will require businesses to file 1099
tax forms reporting any purchases they
make of goods or services above $600
from any individual or business, including
corporations. “I’ve never seen an issue
resonate so deeply in the minds of smallbusiness owners,” said Giovanni Coratolo,
a vice president of the US Chamber of
Commerce.
Fair Parade
Ribbon Winners
UNcover What’s Interesting,
New and Developing
Stock Sale Unwind Enjoyed by All
D.A. Davidson & Co. cordially
The Chamber Ambassadors relax on
their float after putting on a great
parade.
Hot Diggity Dog, what a time was had in
Depot Park on Thursday, August 19 at the
2010 Fair UNWIND. Grand Champion and
invites
youChampion
to an informative
Reserve
Beef, Hogs andseminar:
Lambs
were displayed. The crowd devoured
the roasted pig, potato salad, macaroni
salad, green salad, fruit salad and rolls &
cookies.
Our special thanks go out to this year’s
sponsors: Crowley Fleck, Northwestern
Energy, Tire Rama Service Centers, Valley
Bank, and Western States Insurance
– Kalispell.
Wednesday, May 7
3:00 p.m.
Darryl Iblings of Glacier Tax Advisors
won the Split the Pot. Ron Graham of
Gold Rush Clothing and Bruce Tulloch
ofD.A.
Montana
Land & Home
Davidson
& each
Co.won
Offia ce
cooler full of meat. Pat King of Gold Rush
Clothing won a BBQ gift package. Tom
Anderson of Glacier Precast Concrete,
Adele Krantz of Flathead County
Treasurer’s Office, Ken Kalvig of Kalvig &
LeDuc, and Alan Ruby of Hungry Horse
Liquor each won Parade of Homes
tickets. Jill Kohlbeck of CoRental and
Mark Crowley of Kalispell Public Works
Department each won Golf Balls from
Crowley Fleck. Melanie Iblings of Glacier
Tax Advisors, Bill Hartofilax of Qdoba, Kirk
Nelson and Brent Getty each won Travel
mugs from Crowley Fleck.
Thanks to all for helping us to celebrate
the achievments of this year’s 4-H and
FFA.
200 First Avenue East, K-M Building
Next UNWINDs
Fred Dickson, CMT
Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served
Thursday • September 22, 2010
Please RSVP to Tuesday
Krista at• September
751-58267,or2010
1-800-955-2208
5 - 6:30 pm
5 - 6:30 pm
DA Davidson
200 1st Ave E, Kalispell
Central Heating and Cooling
1650 Hwy 35, Kalispell
As seen often on CNBC
Senior Vice President,
Director of Private Client Research,
Chief Market Strategist,
Businesswoman
of the Year, Tana
D.A.
Davidson
& Co., Lake
Oswegoconvertible
Rae, in a Kalispell
Toyota
driven by Ambassador Robbie
Mathieson.
dd 1
4/16/08 5:28:09 PM
FVCC takes the Sweepstakes prize
for best float, under this year’s Fair
theme “Hot Diggity Dog”.
The Pirrie Family, owners of Western Outdoor and Norm’s News, were
selected as the Grand Marshalls for this year’s Fair Parade. Members of
the family wave to the crowd from their vintage fire truck at the
beginning of the parade.
7
Walla Walla Inter-City
Visit Oct 28-30
You are invited to join us on the Chamber’s 2010 Inter-City Visit
to Walla Walla, WA. The purpose of our Walla Walla Inter-City
visit is to meet with our counterparts in a peer community on
common challenges facing business, our city, and our county
including:
· Understanding public facilities districts for convention, sports,
and entertainment development
· Wine industry development, promotion, and tourism and
hospitality integration
· Downtown vitality and events
· Economic development strategies of a peer community
· Updates from previous inter-city visits in Coeur d’Alene (2008)
and Spokane (2001)
WHO: Business and civic leaders from the Kalispell and the
Flathead Valley.
COST: $275 per person. Includes transportation, two lunches,
reception, one dinner, breakfasts, and conference materials. Not
included: hotel costs and incidentals.
HOTEL: The Marcus Whitman Hotel for $99 plus taxes for King
or QQ room. Phone 509-529-9282 to reserve, and mention
you’re with the “Kalispell Chamber” group.
Plan to join us for this important networking and learning
session. Call the Chamber for more information or visit the event
page at www.kalispellchamber.com
Flathead County
Cost-of-Living Figures for
Second Quarter 2010
Released
Information released by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
revealed that cost-of-living in the Flathead County is 1.6
percent below the national average.
The Flathead County cost-of-living index measures differences
between areas in the cost of consumer goods and services,
excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures. It is
based on more than 57 items for which prices are collected
quarterly. Local data is combined with information from 314
other communities to create the ACCRA Cost of Living Index.
ACCRA is the national association of community and economic
research professionals. Other Montana areas participating in
the survey include Bozeman and Missoula.
The ACCRA Cost-of-Living Index for the Kalispell region during
the second quarter of 2010 is as follows (average of 314 total
urban areas = 100):
Composite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98.4
Groceries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117.3
Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98.4
Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81.9
Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.2
Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.3
Miscellaneous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95.7