Send us your feedback! The semiconductor industry has a long history in Kalispell, thanks to the entrepreneurial Ray Thompson, who founded Semitool which was acquired by Applied Materials in 2010. Our special guest, Brian Aegerter, General Manager of Kalispell Applied Materials, shares the how the bold move to establish a semiconductor industry in …

Send us your feedback! Discover how Montana is blazing a trail in tech innovation with the dynamic Headwaters Tech Hub (HTH). We sit down with Dr. Tim VanReken, the visionary Executive Director and Regional Innovation Officer of the HTH. We uncover the strategic impact of the Chips and Science Act and a transformative $41 million boost from the US …

Send us your feedback! Join us for a conversation with Matt Jensen, the new superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools, as he shares his vision for the district. You'll discover how Matt's focus on personalized competency-based education aims to empower students and enhance learning outcomes. Despite grappling with budget issues and the complexitie…

Send us your feedback! Ever wondered how a 15-year-old BMX enthusiast evolves into the proud owner of a century-old bike shop? Meet Hans Axelsen, the passionate powerhouse behind Wheaton's Cycle in Kalispell. Hans shares his transformation from a skateboarder and professional snowboarder to a seasoned bicycle mechanic with over four decades of expe…

Send us your feedback! What if over 80% of your region's electricity came from a single source? Join us on Venture Boldly as we explore the profound impact of hydropower in Northwest Montana with our guest, Clark Mather, Executive Director of Northwest RiverPartners. Discover how this renewable energy powerhouse fuels the local economy and provides…

Send us your feedback! Curious about the massive transformation happening at Glacier Park International Airport? Join us on Venture Boldly as we visit with Airport Director Rob Ratkowski, who provides an insider's look at the ambitious expansion project. With the airport nearly tripling in size to 210,000 square feet, you'll get a front-row seat to…

Send us your feedback! As the official education partner of Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest, the Glacier Institute offers an array of programs that bring people of all ages, both locals and visitors alike, closer to nature. From guided hikes to hands-on educational experiences at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, Executive …

Send us your feedback! Encounter the remarkable journey of Mady Rigg, a guiding light from the Flathead Valley who carries the title of Miss Montana USA 2023 with unparalleled grace. As we chat with Mady, her story unfolds like a winding mountain trail—full of unexpected turns but leading to breathtaking vistas. From the disappointment of high scho…

Send us your feedback! Turning lemons into lemonade, and a lemonade stand business, is more than just stirring up juice, sugar and water - so who better to share with us the secrets to lemonade business success than our Lemony Lemonade stand business proprietors and 2023 Lemonade Day Flathead Youth Entrepreneur winners, Alina, Alana, and Scott. The…

Send us your feedback! Leadership Flathead is a 2-year program that helps to shape the Flathead Valley's leaders of tomorrow. In this episode, we'll learn all about this decades-long leadership program that has developed over 1000 community leaders over the years, and how the program stays current, developing local leaders for the 21st century. We'…

Send us your feedback! Join Joel Rosenberg, banking executive and Executive Director of Highlander Track, as he unfolds the story of this legacy, free youth track and field and cross-country program's impact in the Flathead Valley. Established in the '70s by Jack King and Three Rivers Bank of MT, Highlander Track has evolved into an annual signatur…

Send us your feedback! Ever wondered how a leap of faith from legal practice to launching a tech business feels? Bill Moseley, CEO of GL Solutions, shares how he pivoted from the world of law and government to the tech frontier, crafting software that transforms regulatory operations. Bill recounts GL Solutions' move from Bend, Oregon to Kalispell,…

Send us your feedback! Join us as we visit with Todd O'Hair, the President and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, in this week's Venture Boldly episode where we dissect the multitude of strategies fueling Montana's economic engine. Todd brings a wealth of experience from his roots on a family ranch to the halls of government affairs, offering …

Send us your feedback! Dive into the hidden dynamics of the Flathead Valley's economy and housing market as we team up with James Williamson from Sage Appraisal and Strategy. With James's expert analysis fresh from a presentation at the University of Montana's local BBER presentation, we dissect the local economic trends that show a slight decelera…

Send us your feedback! Join us as Lorraine Clarno, President and CEO of the Discover Kalispell Chamber, shares an exciting look into the Chamber's 2024 initiatives. From the strategic relocation to Main Street to a strong emphasis on a vibrant downtown and a focus on education, this episode is your personal roadmap to understanding the growth and v…

Send us your feedback! Evan Eleff from the Sports Facilities Companies joins us to dissect potential impact of a tournament-quality sports facility in the Flathead Valley. We'll touch on the economic, social, and community benefits that such a development would entail—not just a mere venue for sports, but a powerhouse for local businesses during sh…

Send us your feedback! As a community bank, Glacier Bank has been a foundational part of the Flathead Valley and northwest Montana economic landscape for decades. In today's episode we talk with Mike Smith, the influential Market President of Glacier Bank. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss the history of Glacier Bank and its relationship w…

Send us your feedback! In this episode we're talking with Doug Russell, the Kalispell City Manager. Doug, a certified manager and public finance officer, navigates us through world of local government management and the upcoming 2024 spring vote for a dedicated emergency responder levy in Kalispell. We shine a light on the council-manager form of g…

Send us your feedback! Join us as we sit down with John Hendricks, the dynamic owner of KGEZ Radio, and proud winner of the 2023 Kalispell Chamber Small Business of the Year Award. We delve into his extraordinary career, gain insider wisdom on navigating the radio industry, discuss grasping the wave of technological change and reenergizing a local …

Send us your feedback! Ever wondered what it takes to earn the coveted Flathead Legacy Award by the Discovered Kalispell Chamber? This episode of Venture Boldly is where you'll find out! We sit down with the 2023 winners, Joe and Colleen Unterreiner, a couple whose inspiring journey from Washington DC to Montana's Flathead Valley has left an indeli…

Send us your feedback! Do you ever wonder about the future of the timber industry in our rapidly changing world? This episode will take you deep into the heart of Northwest Montana, where innovation and sustainability are at the forefront of the timber sector. Together with our expert guests, Cameron Wohlschlegel, Lands & Resources Manager for F.H.…

Send us your feedback! Wondering what it takes to navigate workforce development in a male-dominated industry like manufacturing? Join us as we glean wisdom from the remarkable Dorothy Meyer of Nomad GCS, a change-maker with an eclectic background spanning childcare, gardening, hospitality, and marketing. As the workforce development and community …

Send us your feedback! Are you curious to uncover the hidden dynamics of workforce trends in Flathead County, Montana? Today, we're giving you an exclusive seat at our table as we talk with Laura Gardner from JobService Kalispell. With her robust 40 years of experience with the Job Service, Laura brings forth fascinating insights into how reduced b…

Send us your feedback! Ever wondered how education systems are evolving to meet the dynamic needs of industries and businesses? Let's explore the innovative strategies being implemented by Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) to fulfill these transformations in this fascinating conversation with Lisa Blank, the Executive Director of Workforce D…

Send us your feedback! If you've ever questioned the traditional education model and wondered how we can better prepare students for the real world, then this episode is for you. We sit down with Mike Kelly, the Work-Based Learning Director for Kalispell Public Schools, who is at the forefront of transforming education through personalized learning…

Send us your feedback! Meet Adam Cebulla, Discover Kalispell Chamber's Rising Star of 2022, as he takes us on a journey through his personal and professional leadership experiences from his days as an Eagle Scout to his role in leading a championship-level track team in college. Tune in and learn how his approach to leadership is deeply rooted in u…

Send us your feedback! What does it take to make a real impact in your community? Join us as we sit down with Tony Brockman, the 2022 Community Spirit Award winner from the Discover Kalispell Chamber and Montana House District 9 Representative, to find out! Tony shares his story of growing up in the Evergreen community and how his father instilled …

Send us your feedback! Anton Kaufer, Publisher of The Daily Inter Lake The Daily Inter Lake delivers the news to thousands of subscribers throughout the Flathead and beyond. Its papers include the area’s signature daily, the Daily Inter Lake, as well as the Hungry Horse News, the Whitefish Pilot, and the Bigfork Eagle. And while they publish a trad…

Send us your feedback! Jenn Cronk, Workforce & Special Initiatives Director, Discover Kalispell Chamber On a hot summer day, who doesn’t love a glass of lemonade, especially when it’s sold by kids at a Lemonade Stand? My guest today is Jenn Cronk, the Discover Kalispell Chamber’s Workforce & Special Initiatives Director, and we’ll be talking about …

Send us your feedback! Dave Roemer, Superintendent, Glacier National Park Glacier National Park is a crown jewel of the National Park System. Its over 1 million acres, located in Northwest Montana and situated just outside of Kalispell in the Flathead Valley, provides stunning mountain, valley, and glacial views via the Going-to-the-Sun Road, plent…

Send us your feedback! As the snows of winter fade in the Flathead and tourism to the valley picks up as we head toward summer, Venture Boldly takes time to talk with Diane Medler, the Executive Director of Discover Kalispell, a destination marketing and stewardship organization as part of the Discover Kalispell Chamber. With top tourism destinatio…

Send us your feedback! Ashley King-Jones, Senior Vice President of Operations Three Rivers Bank of Montana is a key community bank in the Flathead Valley. Founded in 1973 by Jack King along with 11 local businessmen, First Security Bank of Kalispell, now Three Rivers Bank of Montana, has established itself over nearly five decades as a community ba…

Send us your feedback! Clay Binford, Chief of People and Development and Co-Founder In this episode we’re talking with Clay Binford, Chief of People and Development and Co-founder of Nomad Global Communication Systems. Nomad GCS designs and manufactures cutting-edge connected mobile operations centers for clients worldwide. The company was founded …

Send us your feedback! Representative Courtenay Sprunger, House District 7 In this episode we’re diving deeper into specific legislation in this 68th Montana Legislative Session in our interview with Representative Courtenay Sprunger. Representative Sprunger, who is a former chair of the Kalispell Chamber board and is also the CEO and founder of Bi…

Send us your feedback! Erica Wirtala, Chair, The Discover Kalispell Government Affairs Committee It’s Montana’s 68th legislative session – every two years, for 90 days, the state’s legislators work intensively and tirelessly to move forward bills that will craft the newest legislation for the state. As the voice of business for our member businesse…

Send us your feedback! Dr. Jane Karas, President of Flathead Valley Community College Visionary. Leader. Innovator. These are words often used when describing our podcast guest, Dr. Jane Karas, President of Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC). Dr. Karas was awarded the Kalispell Chamber’s highest honor, the Flathead Legacy Award, for her outst…

Send us your feedback! Micah Hill, Superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools Join us for this podcast with Micah Hill, the award-winning Superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools. As the leader of the largest school district in northwest Montana, Micah has deftly navigated the waters through Covid and is helping to usher in transformational educa…

Send us your feedback! Featuring Jason Cronk, CEO Immanuel Lutheran Communities This episode is sponsored by Nomad GCS, Discover Kalispell Chamber, and Workforce Flathead. In November 2022, Immanuel Lutheran Communities (ILC) was awarded the nonprofit of the year award by the Discover Kalispell Chamber. ILC has been providing homes and care for sen…

Send us your feedback! Featuring Corinne Kuntz, Founder/Owner of The Birds Nest – Early Learning Village This episode is sponsored by Nomad GCS, Discover Kalispell Chamber, and Workforce Flathead. Quality child care is a critical need throughout the country and it’s no different for Kalispell. The Kalispell Chamber initiated a child care study in 2…

Send us your feedback! Featuring: Gabe Mariman, Co-owner and General Manager of Bias Brewing, winner of the 2022 Discover Kalispell Chamber Small Business of the Year This episode sponsored by: Nomad GCS | Discover Kalispell Chamber | Workforce Flathead November 26-December 24 is Small Business Season, and in this episode we are talking with a fant…

Send us your feedback! Featuring: Lorraine Clarno, President & CEO of the Discover Kalispell Chamber Tagen Vine, Chamber Board Chair and Chief Development Officer for the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation This episode sponsored by: Nomad GCS | Discover Kalispell Chamber | Workforce Flathead In this episode we're talking about the Kalispe…

Kyle Schwartz is a third-grade teacher at Doull Elementary in Denver Public Schools. Her first book: I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids focuses on realities that students face and how educators can respond to their students’ needs. Her second book: I Wish For Change: Unleashing the Power of Kids to Make a Di…

Part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Bob Dillon about learning spaces. Dr. Robert Dillon is an author, speaker, educator, and a lifelong learner. His twenty plus years in education has seen him serve kids and families as a teacher, principal, technology director, and innovation leader. His primary focus is working to bring synergy to instructional des…

Dr. Robert Dillon is an author, speaker, educator, and a lifelong learner. His twenty plus years in education has seen him serve kids and families as a teacher, principal, technology director, and innovation leader. His primary focus is working to bring synergy to instructional design, technology infusion, and learning space design. He believes tha…

The focus of this episode is going to be on engaging students through 20-time projects and providing them different avenues to express their learning. Our main focus is how are we going to harness the interest of students who are struggling to overcome learning disabilities and other challenges. Keep this in mind and share any stories that you have…

Heidi Bernasconi shares how she engages all students. Heidi has been teaching at Clarkstown (NY) High School North since 2004 where she currently teaches Marine Biology, Biology, and Business. She also serves as the high school's technology liaison and also runs the Wellness Committee. Twitter: @biobernasconi Email: hbernasconi@ccsd.edu Jennifer an…

Stephen is the author of the novel Black Ice, a coming of age thriller with five-star ratings on Amazon. And the short story collection Intolerance. These books as well as much of his writing and focus on kids in crisis - social (often racial), emotional, physical, drug/alcohol related - and the various ways they deal or don’t deal, with their prob…

Rachael Sessler Trinkowsky works with a variety of assistive technology including screen readers and screen magnification software. Dr. Sessler Trinkowsky's credentials include a B.A. in Special Education and a Master of Health Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Florida. She also earned an Educational Specialist and a Ph.D.…

Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant as well as a practicing leader in education as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools at the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District in Massachusetts. With 15 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and 4 books publis…

Mike Marotta continues the conversation and shares great AT recommendations! Mike Marotta is a RESNA Certified AT Professional with over 28 yrs experience. He runs his own technology consulting firm, Inclusive Technology Solutions, LLC. As an evaluator, Mike works collaboratively with teams in all environments (school, workplace, and community) to …