Archive: June 2023

KOA Addresses “Explosive Growth” by Restructuring

19 June 2023
Press Room
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Recently restructuring to approach business operations more holistically, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) announced two new leaders tasked with leading both franchise and owned campground operations. Jill Currier has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for the owned properties of KOA. And, Bill Gottwals joins the company to oversee the franchised locations as senior vice president of franchise operations.

KOA has also been announced as a double award-winning franchise in Franchise Business Review’s most recent recognition.

With over 500 locations across the United States and Canada, Kampgrounds of America entered 2023 taking a unified approach to business functions and campground operations. Currently, the company has more than 40 owned locations that Currier will lead while supporting the goals and initiatives of the larger KOA system of campgrounds.

In a new role for the company, Currier will oversee a national team of campground professionals operating and growing a robust, industry-leading portfolio of KOA campgrounds across North America.  

Currier has been a crucial part of KOA, Inc.’s owned portfolio operations staff for more than 15 years. During her tenure, Currier has held several roles and proven her ability to work strategically and cross-functionally to achieve results. Most recently, as regional vice president, Currier effectively navigated the challenges of managing a diverse and dispersed organization. 

“Over a long career in addition to her vast experience at KOA, Currier previously worked in operations for Minor League Baseball (MLB). She also held positions at Aramark’s food service division in Chicago, Illinois and Billings, Montana.

A Billings native, Currier received a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in sports and fitness management from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

Filling a similar role within franchise operations, Gottwals joins as Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s senior vice president of franchise operations. In his position, Gottwals will be instrumental in the success of more than 440 franchised campgrounds with extensive experience building relationships and encouraging customer satisfaction.

Before coming to KOA, Gottwals spent over 30 years in different leadership roles in the banking and financial industry. Gottwals served as a regional vice present at U.S. Bank before holding the title of chief banking officer at 1st Interstate Bank. 

Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, and calling Billings home since 1995, Gottwals attended Washington and Lee University in Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting.

KOA has  received two awards as a 2023 Top Recession-Proof Franchise and a Top Franchise for Women. Across both award lists of Franchise Business Review, KOA, Inc. was the only hospitality provider of any type included.

KOA’s inclusion as a Top Franchise for Women was based on a survey of over 8,100 female franchise owners. According to Franchise Business Review, women own 32% of all franchises and are, on average, more satisfied overall than men regarding franchise ownership. Companies were selected for how well the franchise meets their expectations in terms of support, work-life balance, financial opportunity and other critical areas of business ownership, according to female owners. Only 48 franchise opportunities made the final list.

When a Value is not a Value

19 June 2023
Evelyn Pyburn
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Evelyn Pyburn

We are over the top, ridiculous, when freedom is so far lost that people are turned out into the cold to freeze in order to defend bureaucrats’ regulatory turf. That’s what happened in Montana when in the depth of winter, churches wanting to provide a warm place for homeless families were thwarted by fat and happy, taxpayer-kept code enforcers, because the churches did not meet fire codes.

It’s a case in which some people believe that their rules and their power are more important than human life. This incident, which required an act of the state legislature in order to instill some common sense, is actually a clear and stark example of what really stands in the way of things like affordable housing, as well as many other aspects of a free society.

Life is about risks and making choices in dealing with risk. It’s apparent that some people are pursuing the impossible – to remove all risk – not understanding that to remove risk is to remove life.  Such it is,  to insist that people endure sub-zero cold on a winter’s night just in case a church might burn down. It is to make pursuit of perfection a higher priority than human life. It is to conclude that the “ideal” square footage of a house is more important than actually sheltering human life.

To go on …. it is to eschew cheap and abundant energy in a quest to eliminate potential risk for future life, even if it means the death of current life. It is to conclude that the hypothetical rescue of a planet is more important than the people who live on it. Pursuit of such a value is not to know that a planet or any inanimate object does not hold values… life is required for values to exist. Sustaining life is the sole purpose of values. So how is one to explain the purpose of pursuing a “value” that destroys life?

Of course there is a benefit in reducing the likelihood of fire in a church or to make sure that a house is built as soundly as possible – -but not when the church stands empty because the people it was intended to serve froze to death, or that a house is not built because no one can afford to build it. It is profoundly true, as is being claimed, that there is a shortage of affordable housing because of regulations. There is no doubt that a free market would generate housing in unbelievable abundance if the market were only allowed to do so – if regulations didn’t stop people from building homes.

One of the beauties of a free – UNREGULATED – market is that it quickly and accurately balances risks and benefits – on multiple levels all at the same time – which then advances the ability of human beings to improve upon a situation, whether it’s coming in from the cold or creating more wealth (ie. wellbeing). Or to strive for those things with greater benefits and less risk in a manner of their choosing. Living and serving life is a fluid process not rigid mandates. Choosing what risks one wants to assume is a personal decision – one that requires the freedom to do so.

This is not a new idea.

Billings Charter Coming Up for Consideration

19 June 2023
Evelyn Pyburn
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Emerging from across the spectrum of Billings’ political, civic and business communities are a growing number of people interested in making sure that voters understand exactly what the ten-year revisit of the city’s charter is all about – and to encourage people to vote “Yes.” The issue will be placed on a ballot in June 2024.

Dave Goodridge, one of the leaders of the informal group that has met a couple of times now, said last week that no matter which way a person votes, he wants to make sure they understand what the vote is all about. It was noted numerous times in the course of discussion, that in the past people have voted against reviewing the City Charter simply because there is a small temporary tax associated with it and many people have a tendency to vote against anything that means more taxes – especially if they don’t understand the purpose.

Attending the meeting was Scott Aspenlieder, a civil engineer and local business owner, who announced that he is going to run for city council. Also expressing strong support for revisiting the city’s charter has been current city council woman, Jennifer Owen.

A number of city council members have also apparently indicated that they too would support reviewing the city charter. Goodridge pointed out that if a majority of citizens vote “yes” to review the charter, there needs to be “strong council members” to carry it through, “so, understand who you are voting for.”

The government of the City of Billings functions under a Charter that establishes a unique realm of laws to govern it.  A charter is something of a bubble, within whose boundaries citizens choose how to govern themselves in ways that often supersede state laws or suspend some citizen rights to create a governing structure, to determine how it selects leadership, how it taxes, etc.

It’s been decades since any changes have been made to the Charter for the City of Billings, during which time many things have changed —- most especially the city has grown significantly. “It’s time!” contend those in the group.

It is required by state law that every ten years a governmental body functioning under a charter allow the citizens to vote as to whether they want to continue for another ten years under the charter as it is, or whether they want to do a study of the charter to consider changes.

Only one time did the ten-year vote result in calling for a study review committee and the committee returned with the recommendation to make no changes.

A one-time property tax of $6 to $9 would be assessed to pay for the cost of doing a study, if that is what the citizens indicate they want.

If most citizens vote “no” the existing Charter and city laws remain in force. If a majority votes “yes” a review committee is created to study the Charter, solicit public input and make whatever changes they believe is necessary. The finished product is then put before the citizens for another vote.

The group of citizens – so far functioning without any formal name – understand that they have about a year to get the word out. How to do that in the most effective way possible was basically the focus of discussion. They identified organizations in Billings that they could ask to support the effort and to participate in educating the public. It was noted that the Billings Association of Realtors has already made official its support of reevaluating the City’s charter. And, from the discussion within the group, it sounded like preliminary inquiries have elicited a positive response from most groups.

Whatever the citizens’ group does, it must do with what is, so far, a “zero” budget. So whatever support and cooperation they can get from other organizations will be essential. Getting recognizable and respected people in the community to come out in favor of voting “yes” will also be important, and it was noted that they need to create a one-page sheet that provides answers to basic questions, and to be able to answer questions themselves.

Goodridge said that he believes that this ten-year citizen referendum is important because it does impact the city for the next ten years and it presents the easiest way to initiate a Charter review. State law provides for two other approaches to consider changes to the Charter, but they are more complicated and costly.

This is the time to do it, according to all those in attendance. Another meeting will be held soon. (Anyone interested in being notified about the meeting can contact Goodridge at dave@billingscommercialrealestate.com.)