Message From the Chamber Board Chair Chamber Staff As spring finally arrives and the days are Our guests enjoy the friendly nature of our Shane Etzwiler - President/CEO filled with sunshine, many of us experience residents as they stay in our wonderful lodg- [email protected] euphoria that comes from spring weather ing establishments, dine at our unique and Roxy Perez - Director of Operations and planning our Montana summer adven- tasty restaurants, attend an exciting Voyag- [email protected] tures. ers game, or shop locally to find interesting Kali Jean Tuckerman - Membership gifts and souvenirs. This is a time when we start thinking about Development Director tourism season in Montana and what it The Great Falls Chamber’s calendar is bus- [email protected] means to our state and community. The ier than ever with exciting ribbon cuttings Missouri river and the Lewis and Clark ex- for new members and Business After Hours Officers pedition are well known attractions bringing events to showcase our existing businesses Vicki Newmiller - Chair visitors to our community, however, it is the and network with local colleagues and Great Falls Clinic hospitality of its residents that keep them friends. Spring is a time for renewal and coming back. We greet our guests with a increased excitement in our community. We Scott Reasoner - 1st Vice Chair smile and a generous reception. Many of us encourage you to join us at the Great Falls Great Falls Voyagers still instinctively wave at the occupants of Area Chamber of Commerce and see all Holly Kopeikin - 2nd Vice Chair vehicles meeting us on our streets, whether of the exciting things that are happening in KRTV we know them or not. It was exciting news our home town. Forrest Ehlinger - Treasurer to see the recognition that Great Falls was All my best to you. Benefis Health System listed in the 2019 top 100 places to live in Bonnie Mitchell - Past Chair Vicki Newmiller – Chamber Board Chair, our country, however we already knew that, Echoz Pregnancy Care Center right? CEO Great Falls Clinic 18-19 Board of Directors Message From the Chamber CEO Amy Dardis - 406 Marketing & Design Bill Sterling - Sterling Embroidery & Energy, Enthusiasm & Excitement The energy, enthusiasm and excitement is Screen Printing – The Electric City palatable at the Great Falls Area Cham- ber and many active members are finding Chelle Fried - Easterseals-Goodwill When people are passionate about some- tremendous value. From our six committees, Northern Rocky Mountain, Inc. thing, you can see the energy, enthusiasm and including the Leadership Great Falls pro- Eric Bliss - General Distributing Company excitement as they pursue that very thing. gram, to our six Business Networking Groups The three ‘E’s can easily overcome the three Keith Schumacher - CHS Big Sky (Yes – six now), to our ever-growing quarterly ‘D’s – despondency, despair, and depression, Kirk Meyer - D A Davidson Companies luncheons and annual dinners, we are seeing which can plague people, businesses and Len Watkins - Gusto Distributing members growing their business BECAUSE even cities. of their involvement with the Chamber! We Max Grebe - L’Heureux Page Werner, PC There is so much to be excited about with are not the ‘end all’ and ‘be all’ or the only Randy Williams - Stockman Bank what has happened in the Electric City over reason for our members successes – they Wade DeBoo - TD&H Engineering the past two years. New schools and expand- are successful through using their 3 ‘E’s, but ed facilities are being built for our communi- the Chamber helps enhance and accelerate Ex-Officio Members ty. The West Bank Landing is coming to life their success! We help make networking and Dr. Anthony Aretz - University of with new hotels, a fitness center, and office building business connections easier. buildings. Vacant retail buildings are being Providence This 2019 Spring Directory represents renovated and occupied by new businesses. Bill Bronson - City of Great Falls business owners, managers, CEOs and Pres- Healthcare facilities are expanding and there - Great Falls Development idents of companies who see and believe in Brett Doney is a tremendous amount of new business Authority the value of the Great Falls Area Chamber! activity downtown. New hotels are being We thank you for supporting the Chamber Colonel Jennifer Reeves - Malmstrom built and old hotels are being renovated. and our Mission – to advocate, support, Air Force Base Montana Unsightly business corners are being trans- promote and offer networking opportunities - Cascade Co. Commissioner formed with curb appeal, Grocery Stores are Joe Briggs for our members to enable them to grow, being remodelled, dining options and coffee John Faulkner - Great Falls International flourish and thrive in Great Falls! It is easy shops are abundant. New Real Estate and Airport Authority for everyone to show Energy, Excitement and Property Management Companies are being Scott Shull - Great Falls Area Lodging Enthusiasm when we see Great Falls succeed! established. These are just small examples Association of the many things that have happened in a Thank you! It is an honor to serve you! Dr. Susan Wolff - Great Falls College MSU very short two years! Shane Etzwiler – President & CEO Tammy Lacey - Great Falls Public Schools Cover photo courtesy of Really Montana Photography 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 April 2018 started a new adventure for me are being either formed or nurtured. I’ve Thank you to all of you, our Members, for as the Membership Development Director always heard the saying “it takes a village taking me in and being willing to work with here at the Great Falls Area Chamber of to raise a child.” The term “it takes a me over the last year. For those of you who Commerce. I’m so thankful to have been village” could be used for a lot of different I have not met yet – let’s set up a meeting! selected for this position. It has been an situations. I believe it “takes a village to I’m excited for the future and what we can absolute pleasure to serve you, the Chamber take care of and grow our community.” I do as a team to grow your businesses and Members, for the last year! know I definitely could not do it by myself, our community! I’d have to say the thing I have enjoyed most one single business in Great Falls could not Kali Jean Tuckerman – Membership about this position is the partnerships that do it by themselves, but together – we can!! Development Director www.greatfallschamber.org Page 5 Advocacy • Promotion • Relationships Chamber Committees Ambassador Committee Military Affairs Committee Committee Chair: Curtis Finnicum, Wells Fargo Advisors Committee Chair: Matt Lynde, Health Care Service Corp. The Great Falls Ambassador Committee is dedicated to presenting The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) fosters and promotes a vital the most professional business image of the Chamber by welcom- military presence in our community through activities that support ing new Chamber Members, retaining existing Members through our military populations. The MAC works diligently at maintaining “high-touch” Member contact and strengthening and supporting relationships with the military, showing how much the presence of the mission of The Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. We Malmstrom Air Force Base, the Montana Air National Guard and the accomplish this by representing the Chamber as official hosts at Army Guard is appreciated by sponsoring following programs and Chamber and Community Events. events, such as MAC Annual Appreciation Events, MAC Monthly Luncheons, MAC Annual Ball, MAC Golferoo, Co-Commanders Agriculture Committee Program, Presentation of Quarterly and Annual Awards and Spon- Committee Chair: Bill Harp, General Mills, Inc. sorship and support of Global Strike Challenge and other events. The Agricultural Committee will foster and promote a better under- Montana Defense Alliance standing and relationship between the agricultural industry and the community, as well as promoting a strong message of community Committee Chair: David Weissman, Subway appreciation for the Ag industry overall. The Montana Defense Alliance was initially created to advocate for both Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB) and the Montana Air ATHENA Committee National Guard (MTANG) with a single voice and message. The The ATHENA Leadership Award® was inspired by the goddess MTDA has since grown to promote all of Montana’s military and of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and Department of Homeland Security interests. MTDA’s primary key enlightenment – qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership partners include Cascade County, the City of Great Falls, Great Model®. The Award is unique in both scope—local, national and Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, the Great Falls International international—and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based. Airport, the Great Falls Development Authority and other strategic The ATHENA Leadership Award® is presented to a woman —or partners. man— who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of pro- Non Profit Alliance: fessional excellence and leadership skills. Committee Co-Chairs: Lori Eckhart, Family Connections and Jen Butler, Quality Life Concepts Business Advocacy Committee The Non Profit Alliance fosters and promotes a better understand- Committee Chair: Lewis Card, D A Davidson Co ing of and relationship between the nonprofit industry and the The Business Advocacy Committee (BAC) identifies public policy community, as well as promoting a strong message of community issues at the local, state and federal levels. The BAC establishes appreciation for the nonprofit industry overall. the public policy position of the Chamber with approval by the Board of Directors.