Message From the Chamber Board Chair Chamber Staff I have had the pleasure of sitting on the board own a business as well as the pitfalls they can Shane Etzwiler - President/CEO of directors for the Great Falls Chamber of face. I went from operating one small, often [email protected] Commerce for the last three years and it is a hot dog focused, business in the Voyagers Roxy Perez - Director of Operations sincere honor to be your next chairperson. to taking the leap with a group of partners in [email protected] I have had the great honor over the years 2017 to invest in downtown Great Falls, open- Kali Jean Tuckerman - Membership to see the Chamber in a number of different ing Enbar and then later The Block Bar and Development Director ways. All the way back in 2011, when I had Grill. The strides our community has taken in [email protected] just moved to Great Falls, I spent a year just my nine years is truly remarkable and I am Derek Jacobson – Administrative Assistant volunteering with the ambassador committee. thankful every day to call Great Falls home. [email protected] Since joining the Chamber board in 2016, it This next year, we will focus on what the Taylor Etzwiler – Leadership High School has been a privilege to visit each committee Coordinator Chamber can become moving forward and and see both what the Chamber has already [email protected] what type of leader we want to be in the accomplished as well as the untapped poten- community. We live in a special place but Officers tial we still have moving forward. have challenges ranging from recruitment and Scott Reasoner - Chair Since moving to Great Falls nine years ago I retention to wage stagnation and drug abuse. Great Falls Voyagers have truly fallen in love with not only what this I am honored to step into the shoes of board Holly Kopeikin - 1st Vice Chair community is but, what it has been and what chair, during a time when the Chamber can KRTV it will become. In my position as the General revisit our place in the community and how we Amy Dardis - 2nd Vice Chair Manager of The Great Falls Voyagers, I have can be an agent of action, building the city we 406 Marketing & Design been fortunate to work with hundreds of busi- would all like to see Great Falls become. Wade DeBoo - Treasurer ness of all sizes and focuses. Through those TD&H Engineering I look forward to a wonderful year. business relationships I have learned both Vicki Newmiller - Past Chair what makes Great Falls the perfect place to Scott Reasoner – Chamber Board Chair, Great Falls Clinic CEO Great Falls Clinic 18-19 Board of Directors Bill Sterling - Sterling Embroidery & Screen Message From the Chamber CEO Printing Back in the mid 80’s through the mid 90’s Quarterly Luncheons, Annual Dinner, along with Chelle Fried - Easterseals-Goodwill Northern (some of you might not have been around then workshops and seminars. You don’t need to Rocky Mountain, Inc. or been very young) American Express ran an come to them all to be engaged, just pick one Eric Bliss - General Distributing Company ad campaign with the main theme and catch or two a month or even every other month. Keith Schumacher - CHS Big Sky phrase of, “Membership has its privileges!” Use your vouchers we send when you initially Kirk Meyer - D A Davidson Companies They have had advertising campaigns before signed up this past year or paid your renewals. this one and after this one, but I would have to We want you to utilize your vouchers to join us, Len Watkins - Gusto Distributing say that this one is the most recognized, pop- meet others, build relationships and build your Max Grebe - L’Heureux Page Werner, PC ular and most remembered one for American business! Randy Williams - Stockman Bank Express. Finally, it has been a short 30 months (2 ½ Al Volk - Pepsi of Great Falls The same could be said and true for Chamber years) since I was selected as the new Pres- Jason Madill - Madill Enterprises Membership! Being a Member of the Great ident/CEO of the Chamber and I can tell you Mark Cappis - Anderson ZurMuehlen Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has tremen- that it is truly an honor and I am humbled to dous benefits, advantages, and values to you! represent you and the Great Falls Area busi- Scott Anderson - First Interstate Bank We hear time and time again at the Chamber, nesses in advocating, supporting, and working Ex-Officio Members “Once I joined the Chamber and became with and for you. I am just as excited about the Bill Bronson - City of Great Falls involved, my business took off!” And others future opportunities and possibilities for Great Brett Doney - Great Falls Development have told us “When I tell people I belong to the Falls as the first day I started with the Chamber! Authority Chamber, I gain instant credibility!” I have a fantastic staff with Roxy, Kali, Derek, Colonel Jennifer Reeves - Malmstrom Air and Taylor who all work hard for you to make There are so many things that grab our time, Force Base Montana your Chamber experience exceptional. attention, and money these days. The best Joe Briggs - Cascade Co. Commissioner value for BOTH your time and money is Thank you for your support and encourage- John Faulkner - Great Falls International belonging to the Great Falls Area Chamber. ment this past year! Airport Authority The key is a little bit of action and engagement Shane Etzwiler – President & CEO Scott Shull - Great Falls Area Lodging on your part. We have committees, Business Association Networking Groups (BNGs), Ribbon Cuttings, Dr. Susan Wolff - Great Falls College MSU Business After Hours, Business 4 Breakfast, Tom Moore - Great Falls Public Schools Cover photo courtesy of Jenn Rowell with The Electric www.greatfallschamber.org Page 3 Advocacy • Promotion • Relationships Thank You to Our Premier Partners Lewis & Clark Level Paris Gibson Level C.M. Russell Level Both Great Falls Locations www.greatfallschamber.org Page 4 Advocacy • Promotion • Relationships Great Falls Level APARTMENTS, HOMES, OFFICES & COMMERCIAL Membership Development When you are looking for a roofer, a dentist, a plumber, etc. – where do spreads! It actually spreads through more natural channels than viral you look? Who do you ask? Most people’s first instinct is to ask friends/ marketing and is free to the company! family who they have used or if they know anyone personally. People I feel that Great Falls is a tight knit community and we are constantly trust their friends/family over strangers and ratings. Your friends/family doing word of mouth marketing for each other! We all want what’s best also know you and what you like and can recommend businesses for each other and we all want to see each other grow and thrive! Let’s based of that as well. They are not going to steer you wrong! look to other Chamber Members first before looking outside the Cham- Word of Mouth Marketing is the most valuable source of marketing. The ber. Let’s refer one another and help each other grow! referrals don’t stop after just one interaction. One person will tell another Kali Jean Tuckerman – Membership Development Director and that person will tell someone else and the chain continues and www.greatfallschamber.org Page 5 Advocacy • Promotion • Relationships Chamber Committees Ambassador Committee Non Profit Alliance Committee Chair: Janel Novak, Quality Life Concepts Committee Co-Chairs: Lori Eckhart, Family Connections and Jen The Great Falls Ambassador Committee is dedicated to presenting the Butler, Quality Life Concepts most professional business image of the Chamber by welcoming new The Non Profit Alliance fosters and promotes a better understanding of Chamber Members, retaining existing Members through “high-touch” and relationship between the nonprofit industry and the community, as Member contact and strengthening and supporting the mission of well as promoting a strong message of community appreciation for the The Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. We accomplish this by nonprofit industry overall. representing the Chamber as official hosts at Chamber and Community Events. Military Affairs Committee Committee Chair: Bill Ferrin, Ferrin’s Furniture Agriculture Committee The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) fosters and promotes a vital military Committee Chair: Bill Harp, General Mills, Inc. presence in our community through activities that support our military The Agricultural Committee will foster and promote a better under- populations. The MAC works diligently at maintaining relationships with standing and relationship between the agricultural industry and the the military, showing how much the presence of Malmstrom Air Force community, as well as promoting a strong message of community Base, the Montana Air National Guard and the Army Guard is appreciat- appreciation for the Ag industry overall. ed by sponsoring following programs and events, such as MAC Annual Appreciation Events, MAC Monthly Luncheons, MAC Annual Ball, MAC ATHENA Committee Golferoo, Co-Commanders Program, Presentation of Quarterly and The ATHENA Leadership Award® was inspired by the goddess of Annual Awards and Sponsorship and support of Global Strike Challenge Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlight- and other events. enment – qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership Model®. The Award is unique in both scope—local, national and international—and Montana Defense Alliance the ATHENA mission upon which it is based. The ATHENA Leadership Interim Committee Chair: Steve Grooms, 1st Liberty Federal Award® is presented to a woman —or man— who is honored for Credit Union professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting The Montana Defense Alliance was initially created to advocate for both women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB) and the Montana Air National Guard skills.