Ep. 88 – From Downtown to Discover Kalispell: Building Community & Business
What's next for downtown Kalispell? Discover Kalispell Chamber CEO Lorraine Clarno discusses downtown revitalization, favorite winter events, and the Chamber's priorities for 2027—from business advocacy and housing to workforce development and community growth.
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Ep. 88 - From Downtown to Discover Kalispell: Building Community & Business
What's next for downtown Kalispell? Discover Kalispell Chamber CEO Lorraine Clarno discusses downtown revitalization, favorite winter events, and the Chamber's priorities for 2027—from business advocacy and housing to workforce development and community growth.
Ep. 87 - Job Service Kalispell & the NWMT Jobs & Opportunity Fair
Employers across Northwest Montana are hiring—and skills like dependability, communication and a willingness to learn matter. Dr. Crystal Armstrong of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry shares local job opportunities, workforce resources and details on the Northwest Montana Job & Opportunity Fair.
Ep. 86 - The FVCC Trades Institute with Dr. Lisa Blank
Skilled trades are changing fast, and the career opportunities are growing with them. Dr. Lisa Blank, Executive Director of Workforce Development at Flathead Valley Community College, joins us to talk about how the FVCC Trades Institute is preparing students and career changers for in-demand jobs across Northwest Montana.
Ep. 85 – Meet Kelsie, Chris & Marisa: New Faces at the Chamber & Discover Kalispell
Kalispell is more than the gateway to Glacier National Park, and three new members of the Kalispell Chamber and Discover Kalispell team are helping tell that bigger story. Meet Kelsie Ring, Chris O’Boyle, and Marisa Mikonis and hear how their work is strengthening community connections, supporting local businesses, attracting meetings and visitors, and showcasing Kalispell as a destination worth experiencing on its own.
Ep. 84 - The Glacier National Park Conservancy with President, Tagen Vine
Glacier National Park may look timeless, but protecting it takes ongoing work and strong community support. In this episode, Brenden Craig sits down with Tagen Vine, the new president of the Glacier National Park Conservancy, to discuss how the organization helps fund critical park priorities.
Ep. 83 - Growing Flathead: Building for the Future with Pete Melnick, County Administrator
How does Flathead County manage rapid growth without losing its rural character or overextending taxpayers? Brenden Craig talks with County Administrator Pete Melnick about the pressures shaping local government, including rising service demands, land use, infrastructure, budgeting, and property taxes.
Ep. 82 - Community Over Competition with Beth Kornick of Princess & Buck
In this episode of Venture Boldly, we sit down with Beth Kornick, co-owner of Princess & Buck, to talk about building one of downtown Kalispell’s most distinctive retail destinations. Beth shares her journey as an entrepreneur, the importance of creating memorable customer experiences, and why a thriving downtown depends on collaboration, not competition.
Ep. 81 - Flathead Electric Cooperative: Powering the Flathead with Katie Pfennigs
n this episode of Venture Boldly, we sit down with Katie Pfennigs of Flathead Electric Cooperative to break down the forces shaping the future of electricity in Northwest Montana. From rising rates and growing demand to new power generation investments and the impact of AI and data centers, Katie explains what members need to know.
Ep. 80 - Raised on Freedom - Rooted in Montana's Best: the 2026 NWMT Fair & Rodeo
The Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo is back for 2026, and summer in the Flathead is about to get a whole lot louder. In this episode, we sit down with Flathead County Fairgrounds Manager Sam Nunnally and Event Sponsorship Coordinator Kelsi Hansberry to preview everything coming to this year’s fair—from Walker Hayes, rodeo action, and carnival favorites to new attractions like pig races, a petting zoo, and pony rides.
Ep. 79- Glacier Range Riders: Building More than a Baseball Team
The Glacier Range Riders and Glacier Bank Park have, in a few short years, become an integral part of the Flathead Valley's sports and recreation scene. Glacier Bank Park is a pro ballpark, built fast, built right, and built Montana — with locally sourced materials, authentic Flathead Valley food, and a design that makes visitors feel like they're somewhere, not just anywhere. Now it's drawing national recognition and becoming the kind of place families build traditions around.
Ep. 78 - The Case for Agritourism in Montana with Mike Sullivan of Longview Lavender Farm
At Longview Lavender Farm in the Flathead Valley, Mike turned a stubborn specialty crop into a thriving agritourism business, one that creates local jobs, keeps farmland open, and gives the region something worth stopping for. We talk about how he cracked the code on Montana's soil and climate, why direct-to-consumer beats commodity farming, and how agritourism can keep farms thriving.
Ep.77 - Child Care Center Business Insights with Corinne Kuntz, The Birds Nest Early Learning Village
Infant child care is one of the biggest hidden barriers to workforce participation—and one of the hardest services to sustain. In this episode, Corinne Kuntz of Bird’s Nest Early Learning Village shares her transition from in-home care to a purpose-built center and what it reveals about the real challenges facing child care in the Flathead.
Ep. 76- Entrepreneurship in the Flathead: Wachholz Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center with Eric Harry
In this episode, we sit down with Eric Harry of the Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Flathead Valley Community College to tackle a key question: how do we help founders build and stay in Northwest Montana?
Ep. 75 - Downtown Kalispell Forward: A New Chapter for Kalispell’s Core
In this episode, Brenden Craig of First Interstate Bank sits down with Lorraine Clarno, President and CEO of the Kalispell Chamber, and Gabe Mariman of Bias Brewing to discuss Downtown Kalispell Forward—a new alignment that brings the Kalispell Downtown Association under the Chamber. The conversation explains why this change matters now and how it creates a clearer, more coordinated voice for downtown businesses and partners.
Ep. 74 - Smart Growth, Strong Community: Inside Kalispell’s Next Chapter with City Manager, Jarod Nygren
Kalispell is growing, and the decisions we make now will shape the next decade. In this episode, City Manager Jarod Nygren breaks down how the city is planning for infrastructure, housing, and downtown vitality to stay ahead of that growth. We discuss long-range planning, permitting timelines, and how clear policies create predictability for residents, businesses, and investors.
Ep. 73 - Growing Roots Early Learning Center: A Conversation with Center Director, Leigh Ann Downie-Economy
Childcare is essential workforce infrastructure. In this episode, Leigh Ann Downie-Economy, Director of Growing Roots Early Learning Center in Kalispell, shares what it takes to create a high-quality early learning center—from facility upgrades and safety requirements to hiring and retaining strong educators.
Ep. 72 - Kalispell Education Foundation: Community Support, Classroom Impact
Public funding keeps schools running — but innovation takes more. In this episode, Dorothy Drury shares how Montana school funding really works and how fast, teacher-driven grants are turning small dollars into real classroom impact.
EP. 71 - 2025 Business Person of the Year: Mark Johnson
A bitter cold snap can turn the grid into a high-wire act, and few people understand those stakes like Mark Johnson, CEO and General Manager of Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) and the 2025 Kalispell Chamber Business Person of the Year. Mark's 25+ years at FEC brings decades of steady leadership to keeping power reliable and rates stable as the Flathead Valley grows. In this conversation, he explains the role of hydropower, the limits of transmission, and how long-term planning and a service-first mindset support affordable, dependable electricity.
Ep. 70 - A Conversation with Kalispell Mayor-elect, Ryan Hunter
Growth is here, and today’s choices will shape Kalispell for decades. In this episode, Kalispell mayor-elect Ryan Hunter lays out a clear, practical agenda: protect waterways, expand attainable housing, improve street safety, and apply predictable standards that support a vibrant Parkline Trail—without overbuilding or fragmentation.
Ep. 69 - 2025 Rising Star Award Winner - Miles Terry
Join us as we meet with Miles Terry, Vice President of Terry Homes and the Kalispell Chamber’s 2025 Rising Star. As the VP of Terry Homes, a family-owned homebuilder that's been building homes in the Flathead for over 30 years, Miles discusses how a family builder can deliver attainable, high-quality homes without cutting corners—and his answer blends grit, data, and community.