Newsmakers & Annoucements

International Jet Donates Flight Hours

18 October 2022
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International Jet has donated 10 total hours of flight time on a Learjet 55 (N5572) to Angel Flight West, a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization that arranges no-cost, non-emergency air travel for children and adults with severe medical conditions and other compelling needs. Thanks to this donation, Angel Flight West has been able to schedule recent missions in the Billings area for patients in need. 

Every day, Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots fly people to their medical appointments at no cost to the passenger. Angel Flight West has spent nearly four decades—and provided more than 95,000 flights—creating pathways to healthcare across the Western United States, arranging donated flights to people in need, and providing them safe passage to and from medical care. With a network of 1,600+ pilots throughout the 12 western states, pilots donate their aircraft, piloting skills, and all flying costs to help families in need, enabling them to receive vital treatment that might otherwise be inaccessible.

Averaging $5,000/hour for 10 hours of flight time, Angel Flight West patients have been given the gift to receive the care they need thanks to the volunteer pilots, staff, and flight crew with International Jet. This charitable donation supports all expenses related to the flight missions such as fuel, flight time, airplane, and crew consisting of two FAA part 135 qualified pilots. In addition, the patients, family members, staff, and supporters of the missions have been given the opportunity to personally sign their names on the side of the airplane, making this a truly unforgettable experience for all involved.

Transportation challenges create one of the most daunting barriers to healthcare—a barrier second only to cost. Through a network of pilots and airline partners, Angel Flight West arranges no-cost air transportation for people in need, supporting more than 95,000-lifetime missions since 1983, all thanks to their volunteers. Each year, in-kind donations from Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots exceed $6 Million, helping over 5,000 passengers reach medical treatment. International Jet’s in-kind gift of aircraft, fuel, time, and pilot expertise helped multiple patients and their families reach life-saving health care.

Chamber All Stars

8 March 2022
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Altanta FCU has been named Employer of the Year and Devon Davidson of MARS of Billings has been named Business Person of the Year by the Billings Chamber of Commerce.

Other award winners are Virginia Mermel, Ph.D., CNS, of Backpack Meals and Teen Pantries recognized for Customer Service Excellence and Jaidyn Simmons, Treasure Realty Group has been recognized as NextGEN Exceptional Emerging Leader. Billings Clinic is the recipient of the “Inclusion Award.”

 The award recipients were nominated by the public as outstanding businesses and professionals, and the winners were selected by a volunteer scoring committee.

 Earlier this year, the Chamber honored Kris Carpenter as the Legacy Award honoree and Bill Dutcher was recognized for Agricultural Excellence.

Award recipients will be honored during the 2022 Billings Chamber Breakfast event at MetraPark featuring Tony Hawk and presented by KULR8 and Billings Clinic on April 7. The event will be held from 7 – 9 a.m. with doors opening at 6 a.m.

Altana Federal Credit Union has served Montana for over 70 years with innovation, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to redefining what others say banking should look like. It started with nine refinery workers pooling $5 each to create a lending channel not otherwise afforded to them through traditional banking. Today, Altana’s 90 employees serve community members across seven Montana counties. Altana team members continue to uphold the promise of those nine founders by creating financial opportunities for all. 

Jaidyn Simmons of Treasure Realty Group is a Montana native, growing up in Laurel. She attended Montana State University Bozeman where she earned a bachelor’s in business finance. Jaidyn embarked on her real estate career in college, knowing that she wanted to be an entrepreneur. After a successful few years, Jaidyn launched her own real estate brokerage, Treasure Realty Group, thinking she could grow her business while also sharing her success with other agents and fill a passion for teaching others. Today Jaidyn has eight agents as part of the brokerage. With her continuing drive to grow, Jaidyn and her husband, Robert, purchased Rimrock Property Management to add to their services. With Robert as the contractor and Jaidyn as a realtor, they offer great expertise and tools to the property management business. They have five employees at Rimrock who help them manage approximately 350 rental units.

Virginia Lee Mermel, Ph.D., CNS of Backpack Meals and Teen Pantries holds both an MS and PhD in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from the University of California, Davis, and is a board certified Human Nutrition Specialist (CNS).  Ginny spent the majority of her career working in health risk management. She has taught college nutrition courses and written college nutrition and wellness textbooks.  For the past 16 years she has focused on school nutrition. During this time, she chaired the School Health Advisory Committee for Billings Public Schools (BPS) for 4 years and worked part-time as a School Wellness Consultant for Montana Team Nutrition, a division of USDA for 6 years, in addition to her volunteer work to reduce food insecurity.

Ginny grew up in a food insecure home.  Since learning that 35%-40% of students in BPS have the same experience, she has volunteered several days each week addressing food insecurity issues in Yellowstone County and throughout Montana.  She believes, “Every child should be fed, fit and ready to learn so that they grow to be self-sufficient adults ready to earn.” 

To help this happen, Ginny started the BackPack Meals and Teen Pantry Programs for BPS in 2009 and 2011 respectively, with support from key members of the School Health Advisory Council and VISTA, Kendell Coombs and seed grants from Montana Food Bank Network.  In the ensuing years, Ginny has helped other communities across Montana and the Intermountain west do the same.  She has consulted with MSU Billings and other Montana colleges on the development of student staff pantries.

Ginny serves on the steering committee for the statewide nonprofit Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger and has served as the nutrition lead for both the Best Beginnings of Yellowstone County and Healthy By Design of Yellowstone County committees.  She is on the Family Promise of Yellowstone County Board. This organization provides emergency shelter and complex case management to some of the homeless families receiving out-of-school time meal support.

Ginny’s husband Gary Mermel, MD, a retired anesthesiologist, is her chief supporter philosophically and financially.  Together, they decided her volunteerism was an important service to the community and adjusted their lifestyle to accommodate it.  Since the onset of Covid, Gary has been her only warehouse volunteer.  He has happily done the heavy lifting required to send weekend meals to over 250 elementary school students, as well as several hundred tweens and teens that use the middle and high school pantries each week.

Gary’s love of a good Cali-style burrito motivated him to return to his family’s food service roots and obtain the Qdoba Mexican Eats franchise for Billings in 2010.  The Mermels are now co-owners of three Qdoba franchises in Billings, Bozeman and Helena. 

They have two adult sons Matt and Kevin. 

Devon Davidson is originally from Froid, Montana. Devon is the owner of MARS of Billings. He is also the President of MARS Nation, the association of 19 individually owned MARS business across the United States. Devon has a bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota.

Devon’s professional goals include growing the business while offering the highest level of service to their customers. They strive to apply and install quality products from the best vendors in the industry, and want to help other MARS Nation affiliated grow their business as well. As for the team, they continue to cultivate a work culture and environment that is attractive and retains their great staff. The MARS of Billings mission says, “Fueled by our passion to help our customers enhance their vehicle, we go above and beyond to provide top-notch customer service, quality products, and expert craftsmanship.”

Devon is a highly motivated and driven individual. His leadership skills and business development background truly shape how he runs his business and empowers his team. His focus on relationships and his empathy for others helps to connect him with not only his staff members but also his customers. In 2019, Devon was named the Small Business Person of the Year for the state of Montana by the Small Business Administration.

Devon is married to his wife Kim Davidson of 25 years in June, and has two sets of twins: Bridger and Gentry who are 17 years old and Gavin and Paige at 15 years old.

Warmer Named to CBC Board

9 February 2022
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George Warmer, CCIM, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial CBS, Billings, has been named to the 2022-2024 Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisory Board. The board is comprised of a select group of CBC affiliate owners nationwide and was created to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between CBC franchisees and the brand’s corporate leadership.

The CBC Advisory Board has proved to be a successful means of driving innovation and gaining critical insight into the evolving needs of overall CBC strategies. Each member of the Advisory Board serves as a liaison for their respective region, providing updates on the latest developments, policies, and services, as well as reporting and proposing actions to resolve any issues.

Paige Joins Symphony Staff

21 December 2021
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Anna Paige is joining the staff of Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale as the director of marketing and audience engagement.

Previously, Anna was the arts and entertainment reporter for the Billings Gazette. She has worked in the newspaper and publishing industry since 2004, and she also worked in marketing and development for regional nonprofit and corporate organizations including Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming and Kampgrounds of America.

Originally from Wyoming, Anna has undergraduate degrees in journalism and anthropology from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Denver. She has lived in Billings for more than a decade, where she teaches poetry in the elementary schools and is the co-host of Resounds: Arts and Culture on the High Plains on Yellowstone Public Radio. She is also the co-founder of Young Poets, winner of the 2021 Library of Congress Award for Literacy.

Wittman Promoted at Stockman Bank

17 November 2021
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Misty Wittman has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Consumer Loan Officer for the Stockman Bank Billings Shiloh location. Her responsibilities include administering installment loans, lines of credit and home equity loan portfolios, along with assisting clients with their financial needs. 

Wittman brings over 20 years of banking experience to the position, which includes personal banking, customer relations, new accounts and business development. She has been with Stockman Bank since 2012 and most recently served as a personal banking officer.  

Wittman is active in the community, serving as a board member for the Laurel Exchange Club and is a member of the Billings Chamber Leadership Alumni Task Force. She is also involved in Stockman Bank related events.

 She is located at 1450 Shiloh Road.

Johns Joins Stockman Wealth Management

17 November 2021
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Larry Johns has joined Stockman Wealth Management as President. He will oversee and manage the daily operations, along with helping establish the long-term strategic initiatives of Stockman Wealth Management. His responsibilities include project management, employee supervision and daily involvement in the decisions impacting selected investments.

 Johns brings over 25 years of investment management experience to the position, which includes portfolio management, analysis, and business development. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder as well.

Johns earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1995 and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Montana in 2004. He also served in the United States Army in an Artillery Unit. Johns is active in the community serving as a member of the board of directors and chair of the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation Investment Committee.

 He is located at 402 North Broadway.

Goodridge Named Interim Manager

17 November 2021
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Tim Goodridge, Assistant Manager at Metra Park, has been named to serve as interim manager by County Commissioners, following the departure of Bill Dutcher, who is retiring at the end of the year.

When asked by County Commissioners if he would be interested in the position on Monday, Goodridge said that he would have been excited to accept the position a couple weeks ago (before the issue of privatizing Metra Park emerged as a consideration by the commissioners). He added that if asked he would accept. “I’ll do my part,” he said, regarding supporting Metra Park.

Dutcher’s final day at Metra Park, after 40 years, is December 30. It was announced on Tuesday that a retirement celebration is being planned for Dutcher on Dec. 10.

Commissioner Don Jones said that the commissioners may not have yet determined the direction they will go regarding the issue of privatization of Metra Park management by the end of the year, although they have interviewed a couple of candidates who sent in applications to fill the position

Coldwell Banker Broker Achieves Honor

17 November 2021
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Kyle Schlichenmayer, affiliated with Coldwell Banker Commercial CBS in Billings, was among those awarded the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation by the CCIM Institute.

Along with 200+ commercial real estate professionals from around the world, the Coldwell Banker Commercial professionals earned the designation by passing the CCIM Comprehensive Examination, the final component and capstone in the designation process.  One of the most coveted and respected designations in the industry, only 6 percent of the estimated 150,000 commercial real estate practitioners nationwide have achieved the CCIM designation, reflecting the caliber of the program.

The CCIM designation is awarded to commercial real estate professionals upon successful completion of a graduate-level education curriculum and presentation of a portfolio of qualifying experience.  The curriculum addresses financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis, the cornerstones of commercial investment real estate.  CCIMs are recognized experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management, valuation, and investment analysis.

Denbury CEO to Speak Here

6 August 2021
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Christian S. Kendall, President and Chief Executive Officer of Denbury Inc., will be the guest speaker at the annual Montana Petroleum Industry’s Appeciation Day Luncheon on Sept. 1, in Billings at the Doubletree Hotel, 3rd Floor, 11:30 am.

Kendall also serves as a member of Denbury’s Board of Directors. He joined Denbury as Chief Operating Officer in September 2015 and was named President in October 2016. He was appointed to his current role as a Director and CEO, July 1, 2017. Prior to joining Denbury, Chris was with Noble Energy for 14 years prior to that, holding a wide range of domestic leadership positions, primarily in the Eastern Mediterranean, Latin America, and the Gulf of Mexico.

The luncheon is part of Montana Petroleum Association’s annual conference, which will be held in Billings Aug. 30 – Sept. 1.

Features of the conference include discussions about “Montana’s Tax Picture, Government Revenue vs. Tax Equity,” with Brendan Beatty, Director, MT Department of Revenue; Bob Story, Executive Director, Montana Taxpayers’ Association; and Kurt Alme, Montana State Budget Director.

Also a panel discussion on “Methane Monitoring and Control” and on “Regulatory Update will be held.

For more information email: mpa@montanapetroleum.org

Kola to Head New Whitefish Bank

5 August 2021
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Joe Kola has joined Stockman Bank as market president of Stockman’s new bank scheduled for construction next year in Whitefish.  This new bank will be Stockman’s first in the Flathead Valley, and its 37th full-service banking location in Montana. Kola will oversee Stockman’s entrance into the market and supervise all phases of staffing, lending, operations, planning, and development of the Flathead market. 

Kola brings 22 years of banking experience to the position, serving most recently as market president for a multi-state bank in Kalispell. He started his career on the teller line while attending the University of Montana’s School of Business Administration, earning a bachelor’s degree in finance followed by an MBA. After college, he worked as a credit analyst, then as a commercial relationship manager, a commercial group manager, and finally as a market president. He has worked in Missoula, Whitefish, Jackson, Wyoming, and most recently in Kalispell.  Along the way, he attended Pacific Coast Banking School, graduating with honors, and completed Leadership Wyoming (Class of 2015). A Kalispell native, he returned “home” in 2019 from Wyoming.  His wife, Tracy, is also a Kalispell native and their twin boys will attend Glacier High School as freshmen this fall. 

 “We are excited to welcome Joe to the Stockman Bank family,” stated Jeremy Morgret, Chief of Branch Supervision for Stockman Bank. “His experience, and deep-rooted knowledge and understanding the Flathead Valley will be key for us as Stockman enters this new market.”

 “While Stockman already has many customers in the Flathead Valley, we look forward to serving more of our neighbors throughout this beautiful region of our state,” added Bill Coffee, CEO of Stockman Bank. “We will soon have a temporary banking office for Joe and his future team and will begin construction of a new state-of-the-art banking facility in Whitefish next year. We are confident our unique brand of Montana community banking will bring more options and a higher level of customer service to the Flathead Valley.”