Newsmakers & Annoucements

Wittman Promoted at Stockman Bank

17 November 2021
Dennis Pyburn
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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.”

KLJ Names New CEO

5 August 2021
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The KLJ Solutions Holding Co., parent organization to KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), and its Board of Directors has announced Eric Michel, as the organization’s chief executive officer (CEO). Michel fills the gap left by previous CEO Barry Schuchard, who passed away in March of this year. “It’s really an exciting time at KLJ. Eric brings a combination of extensive industry experience and an enthusiasm for growth to this role,” said Dan Bayston, Vice Chair of the KLJ Solutions Holding Co. Board of Directors.  

Michel brings decades of construction, engineering, and leadership experience to the role. In joining the nearly 85-year-old company, he also brings enthusiasm for the firm and the industry, having previously spent time with the company as the Vice President of Energy and Natural Resources. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from North Dakota State University. He will locate out of the company’s Saint Paul, Minn. office.

Janiel Olson Joins RBC Wealth Management

5 August 2021
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Janiel Olson recently joined RBC Wealth Management as a Financial Advisor. RBC Wealth Management financial advisors assist individual and corporate clients in selecting appropriate investments including stocks, taxable and tax-exempt bonds, options and mutual funds. They also assist clients with wealth plans, retirement plans and goals-based planning.  Janiel graduated from Montana State University Billings (MSUB) with a Bachelors in Business Management and Masters in Healthcare Administration and was a member of the MSUB basketball team.  Janiel was born and raised in Billings, where she now lives with her husband.   

Update Looks at Growth Industries

26 July 2021
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Over 18% of the total manufacturing earnings in Montana during 2018 came from petroleum and coal products. With regulatory changes, a shift in the manufacturing industry is inevitable. Recent data shows growth coming in pharmaceutical; dairy; aerospace; beverage; and other wood products sectors to name a few.
This year’s Economic Update Series will bring expert panelists highlighting Montana’s ‘Centers of Opportunity’, including manufacturing, high-tech, and bioscience,- industries critical to Montana’s economic recovery.
Dr. Pat Barkey from University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research will also present his state and local post-pandemic economic projections.
The Economic Update Series takes place in 4 cities across Montana.
*July 29- Kalispell (Hilton Garden Inn)
*August 17 – Bozeman (GranTree)

  • August 18 – Billings (Northern Hotel)
  • August 19 – Helena (Delta Marriott)

Pennington Named Chamber Marketing Manager

26 July 2021
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Marya Pennington has been promoted to Billings Chamber Communications and Marketing Manager. Pennington has been with the Billings Chamber for over two years, and has a strong background in public relations and communications. Her responsibilities will include overseeing all communications, public relations, and marketing, while generating a positive local awareness of the Billings Chamber and promoting the Chamber’s brand.
Pennington was born and raised in Billings and is a graduate of Billings West High and Montana State University Billings, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in public relations. She began her work at the Billings Chamber with Visit Billings to bring the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) conference to Billings. In 2021, she led the Billings Chamber’s most recent rebranding campaign, resulting in the Western Association of Chamber Executives’ highest award for the western Unites States in communications.