Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 152
Goal: Juan de Santa Anna defines photography as the magic of recording a moment that will never be again. He said, "It's a nostalgic art really. Everything becomes a moment that has passed." He sees his mission as "recording as much of now as I can" and sharing as many pictures as possible with people all over the world. History: De Santa Anna's formal training in photography began in 1999 when he took a course at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography (RMSP) in Missoula. After he graduated,...
Goal: David Pitman Transportation, LLC's goal is to have a truck locally available to haul heavy equipment. Owner David Pitman can haul equipment up to 60,000 pounds including: firefighting and logging equipment, excavators, bull dozers and hay. History: Pitman worked with his dad and brother for three years contracting out Pitman Resources' skidgine for wildland fire fighting. They were hiring a truck driver to haul their equipment. He realized that while the initial investment was big, being...
SEELEY LAKE – Rocky Mountain Adventure Gear (RMAG) in Seeley Lake is under new ownership and operating with a new business model offering outdoor recreation rentals. Moose Jergesen and Duane Anderson purchased RMAG from Mike and Cathy Kahnle and also Seeley Sport Rentals from Bob Skiles. RMAG now offers the "best of both worlds" providing a one-stop-shop for winter and summer motorized and non-motorized rentals as well as offering a selection of outdoor merchandise. Jergesen was the general m...
Goal: Haines Contracting's goal is to provide quality work for his customers providing for all their forest-related needs. This includes cutting stumps low, making sure the clean-up is aesthetically pleasing and maintaining regeneration when felling larger timber. Owner Brett Haines' personal goal is to make a living so he and his family can live in Seeley Lake. History: Haines started working in the logging industry during the summers that he attended college. After his freshman year in the... Full story
SEELEY LAKE – Four downtown businesses in Seeley Lake set out food and beverages and invited the community to join in holiday cheer. Blue River Station, Citizens Alliance Bank, Kurt's Polaris and the shops in the Heritage Building all offered special merchandise discounts in conjunction with their open house events, but each business said the main focus was on fellowship rather than on sales. Owner of Blue River Station Nancy Butcher said it is difficult to keep the store profitable once the s...
Goal: Owner Bud Jewett's goal is to provide reasonably priced matting and framing services in the Seeley Lake area. History: Jewett has been matting and framing for he and his wife Chris's photography business (Silentwings Photography) for the past 15 years. When local framer Sandy Irons moved from the area, Jewett decided to do matting and framing as a business. "I've always enjoyed making artwork look its best with the right color mat and frame," said Jewett. "The matting and framing should...
Goal: The mission of Lake Country Builders is to be a customer-driven building contractor. By focusing on the customer, the business can thrive and the employees can have a good working environment. History: The business in its first iteration started in 1979. In 1993, Lake Country Builders incorporated and its two partners Mark Williams and Tim Tanberg formed the corporation. In the early years, winter work was rare and Williams' annual pilgrimage to work in the ski business helped keep him...
Goal: The most important goal at Clearwater Montana Properties (CMP) is to listen to their clients' needs and to help them achieve their goals. "We don't do anything in business that we are not willing to stand behind," said owner and founder Kevin Wetherell. "We do the right things for the right reasons and always place our clients' interests above our own." History: Kevin and Wendy Wetherell founded Clearwater River Realty (CRR) in 1994. They opened for business in their present location in...
Goals: Owner and musician Scott Milner's goal is to help his students reach their own musical goals. He listens to what they want to accomplish, helps them improve at their own pace and have fun with their music. History: Music has been an important part of Milner's life since the fourth grade. He could never imagine life without music being a part of it. He received a bachelor's degree in flute performance from the University of Montana. He continued his musical studies at Boston University...
Goal: Seeley Lake Antler Crafts owner Wade Rathbun's goal is to offer a unique craft for others to enjoy and use in their homes. He uses the freshest antler sheds possible offering a high quality product where the antler component has not been altered. History: Rathbun started creating antler art with his ex-wife's grandfather and father between 1995-1996. Together they attended large craft shows in California offering antler-handled fire starters. "It's interesting and fun to work with antlers,...
Goal: Owner and General Contractor Ted Linford works to build a lasting quality product that has his customers smiling when the project is done. Linford enjoys paying close attention to detail in all areas of construction. "We specialize in working with the customer to achieve their vision," said Linford. History: When Linford was a teenager, his father started buying one house at a time that needed a face-lift. He and his brother were the crew on the projects that, as he said, "always turned...
Goal: Christi Barr's goal is to provide affordable accounting, business consulting and tax preparation services to the Condon and Seeley Lake areas. History: Barr's grandmother was a school district clerk in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. She said being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) was something her father always wanted to do but never had the chance. She jokes about accounting being an inherited interest because she too enjoys working with numbers. She said she also gets satisfaction from helpi...
Goal: Great Bear Properties strives to look after the best interest of their customers as a dual agency representing both buyers and sellers. Owner Kim Koppen asks lots of questions to help buyers find the best fit that suits their needs and offers sellers the best representation of fair market value and gets the best price for their property. "I want to be a source of information because that's my expertise," said Koppen. "People appreciate that I take the time to listen for what is important...
Goal: Eagle Port Lodge provides comfortable, elegant lodging for fly-in or drive-in guests located in the heart of Seeley Lake's recreational opportunities. With full kitchens and spacious rooms overlooking the Seeley Lake Airport to the west and mountains to the east, owner Brian Bertsch said, "Even if you live in town it's a great get away. Experience something local. Experience the Tower." History: Owners and operators Brian and Kerry Bertsch "took a stab at living and investing in Seeley...
SEELEY LAKE - Glen and Mary Ann Morin opened Glen's Automotive Service (Glen's) Oct. 15, 1985 on Highway 83 in Seeley Lake. While Glen's goal has always been to offer first class bumper-to-bumper service, the last 30 years have brought about significant changes in the automotive industry, challenging the Morins to hire qualified service personnel and keep up with new technology. Glen grew up on a ranch in Arlee, Mont. His family tested machinery, making recommendations to the company to help it...
Goal: The goal of Nordique Log Homes is to provide a quality, hand hewn log home package at a reasonable price. Their patented system allows for the construction of a log home that will not "settle", saving time and money. History: Nordique System Log Homes was started by Bruce Janssen and Dan Baker in 1996 in the Swan Valley. In 1998, Ken Donovan purchased a third interest in the company and upon the passing of Bruce, the business has been owned by Baker and Donovan. On April 2, 2002, Nordique...
SWAN VALLEY – Fairytale Farms is seeking funds to get started with the process of becoming a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization that offers organic produce (grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides). Fairytale Farms is currently located on Glacier Creek Road. The mission of the newly-formed organization, composed of a board of directors and executive committee, is to provide access to organic food and gardening education for those in need. CEO Sarah Mendenhall said, "...
Goal: Owner Karen Dove's goal is to meet the health care and medical needs of the community. She takes pride in filling prescriptions quickly and efficiently and treating all her customers' individual needs. History: Dove received her bachelor of science in pharmaceuticals from the University of Montana in 1986. She was in the last class before the requirement to become a Medical Doctor prior to graduating. "I liked science and medicine and thought this profession was wise for a female because...
SEELEY LAKE - In an effort to fill a need for office space and services in the community, Rachel Jennings has opened The Hub in the Bison & Bear Center, Highway 83 in downtown Seeley Lake. Jennings' goal is to offer an office with all the services for non-profit and for-profit businesses that do not have the resources to staff a full-time office. The Hub is also available for meeting space and offers customizable a la carte services to fit any organization including grant writing, reception...
Goal: Deer Creek Excavating's goal is to provide all levels of excavating service in the Seeley-Swan Valley. Owner Gary Lewis said he truly enjoys his work, "If I didn't have bills, I'd dig for free!" History: Lewis grew up operating equipment for his dad, Chuck Lewis. Chuck owned and operated Lewis Excavating during the early 1970s. The business was sold to Gary's brother Dick Lewis and then to Gary in 1990. Gary has operated it with his wife Cheryl for the past 25 years. Deer Creek Excavating...
Goal: Owner Kris Martin's main goal for The Filling Station is to make money. "If I make money, my employees make money and they can afford to live here," said Martin. "I can't offer anything to this town unless I'm making money." Martin also strives to serve something for everyone in the family, from children to the adults. "I can't change much because I let the community guide me," said Martin. "We stick with the family favorites." History: Eddie and Jerrie Coyle started The Filling Station...
Goal: Master Plumber Ken Schmitz's goal is to build on his plumbing and heating company whether it is with new, remodel or other construction clientele. He also strives to stock plumbing parts and pieces that people need and provide advice to those that ask. History: Schmitz grew up in a family of plumbers. His mother Darlene Smith and father Don Schmitz owned a plumbing business and several relatives were also in the business. When Schmitz finished his service in the Marine Corps nearly 24...
SWAN VALLEY – Swan Valley resident Kathy Koors has offered free range boarding for dogs to her friends and family for the past seven years. This past month she received her Missoula County license and is insured to officially open the doors to Unleashed in the Swan Dog Camp. Her goal is to provide a safe place where dogs can come and socialize and have fun while their owners are away. Koors started her career in human medicine working as an Emergency Medical Technician in Seattle, Wash. at H...
Goal: Managers DJ Sharp and his wife Alona strive to keep locals and tourists happy with the products and services they offer. Being one of the major businesses in Ovando, they feel it is important to "keep things rolling" for themselves and the community. History: The Blackfoot Commercial Company started off as a dry goods store in the 1880s. The building burned in 1919 and was rebuilt in its current location in the early 1940s. When the Cenex Cooperation decided to sell in 1996, Howie and...
SEELEY LAKE – Twenty-five years ago Pat Boyd saw a classified ad that Bud's Dairy Hut in Seeley Lake was for sale. She asked her daughters Laurel Daniels and Kim Boyd, "Do you guys want to own an ice cream place?" They said, '"Sure." The three women formed a corporation and bought the business which was housed in a converted garage in the middle of Seeley Lake. One of the first things the family did was choose a new name. After rejecting a number of possibilities, they finally asked t...
