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. 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.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. 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. 63 - Pathways Beyond Prison: The Flathead Valley Reentry Center
Join host Drew Zagorski as he sits down with Brian Gootkin, Director of the Montana Department of Corrections, and Jim Sanderson, Operations Manager of the new Flathead Valley Reentry Center, for a revealing conversation about how we reintegrate formerly incarcerated individuals back into society. This isn't just another corrections facility – it's Montana's first-ever state-run reentry center.
Ep. 60 -Flathead Lake Biological Station: Preserving Our Natural Treasure
Flathead Lake’s clean waters and mountain views aren’t just beautiful—they’re essential to our region’s economy, culture, and future. For over 100 years, the Flathead Lake Biological Station has worked to protect one of America’s cleanest lakes. Join us as Tom Bansak, Associate Director, shares how the station's work in science and education helps to preserve the integrity of our region's waters and more.
Ep. 59- Lemonade Day Champions: Two Sisters' Recipe for Success
"Young entrepreneurs can teach us all a thing or two about business," is the lesson that shines through in my conversation with Parker and Lucy, the young founders of Two Sisters Lemonade and winners of the 2024 Youth Entrepreneurship Award for Lemonade Day Flathead. Over three years of participation, these sisters have transformed from novices with a simple setup to savvy business owners making strategic decisions about products, branding, and customer service.
Ep. 57- Catapult Your Career with the Kalispell Chamber
Ready to transform your professional trajectory? The Discover Kalispell Chamber unveils Catapult Collective, an innovative leadership and career development program poised to revolutionize how professionals grow in the Flathead Valley. Catapult Collective serves professionals at every career stage—from emerging leaders to seasoned executives contemplating retirement.
Ep. 54 - Montana's Economic Pulse: Labor Trends & Workforce Insights with State Economist, Amy Watson
Join us as Montana State Economist, Amy Watson, paints a picture of what's driving this growth and the challenges that come with it. Montana's economy is booming. Labor force numbers have pushed total workforce to over 579,000 people, with nearly 50,000 jobs added since COVID-19 began reshaping our economic landscape. The Flathead Valley stands out with even more impressive growth – outpacing state averages with 2.8% labor force expansion last year alone.
Ep. 48 - 2024 Educator of the Year, Jen Stein, Principal of Edgerton Elementary
Jen Stein, the inspiring 2024 Discover Kalispell Chamber Educator of the Year, shares her journey from a school-loving child to a pioneering elementary school principal. Her personal experiences have deeply influenced her leadership style, making her a prominent advocate for inclusive education. Jen reveals her commitment to creating supportive environments where every student feels cherished and valued, underlining the power of community and teamwork in fostering a sense of belonging among students and educators alike.
Ep. 39 - Our Kids. Our Future. An interview with Matt Jensen, Superintendent Kalispell Public Schools
Matt Jensen, the new superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools, shares his vision for the district, including a focus on personalized competency-based education to empower students and enhance learning outcomes. Through this engaging podcast, we dive into school finance, enrollment, charter schools, work-based learning and more. Listen and learn how Kalispell Public Schools tackles challenges and brings new opportunities to our students and community.
Ep. 35 - Get to Know Glacier Institute with Anthony Nelson
As the official education partner of Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest, the Glacier Institute offers an array of programs that bring people of all ages, both locals and visitors alike, closer to nature. From guided hikes to hands-on educational experiences at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, Executive Director Anthony Nelson shares how these initiatives are fostering a lifelong love of the environment, especially for youth encountering nature for the first time.
Ep. 33 - Stirring up Success with Lemony Lemonade
Lemonade Day Flathead returns to the Flathead on June 22nd, providing young entrepreneurs the perfect opportunity to jump into the business world for the day with their own lemonade stands. In this podcast. 2023 Lemonade Day Flathead Youth Entrepreneur winners, Lemony Lemonade, share with us the secrets to lemonade business success. These dynamic siblings and youth entrepreneur winners, along with their mom, Nichole, share their journey of innovation, resilience, and growth, along with tips for other young entrepreneurs and their families.
Ep 20- Redefining Recruitment and Retention in Manufacturing: A Conversation with Dorothy Meyer
Wondering what it takes to navigate workforce development in a male-dominated industry like manufacturing? We'll take a deep look at the significant shifts in the manufacturing sector influenced by the pandemic in this insightful interview with Dorothy Meyer of Nomad GCS.
Ep 19 - Unraveling Workforce Trends in Flathead County: A Conversation with Laura Gardner from Job Service Kalispell
Are you curious to uncover the hidden dynamics of workforce trends in Flathead County, Montana? Today, we're giving you an exclusive seat at our table as we talk with Laura Gardner from JobService Kalispell. With her robust 40 years of experience with the Job Service, Laura brings forth fascinating insights into how reduced business hours, low unemployment rate, and population influx are shaping the local labor market.
Ep 18 - Innovative Strategies in Workforce Development and Career Discovery with FVCC
Ever wondered how education systems are evolving to meet the dynamic needs of industries and businesses? Let's explore the innovative strategies being implemented by Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) to fulfill these transformations in this fascinating conversation with Lisa Blank, the Executive Director of Workforce Development.
Ep. 17 Innovation in Education: The Transformational Learning Initiative
If you've ever questioned the traditional education model and wondered how we can better prepare students for the real world, then this episode is for you. We sit down with Mike Kelly, the Work-Based Learning Director for Kalispell Public Schools, who is at the forefront of transforming education through personalized learning and work-based opportunities.
Ep. 13 - Lemonade Day Flathead, June 24th
Lemonade Day is a program of the Kalispell Chamber that promotes entrepreneurship to youth in Kindergarten through 8th grade, one lemonade stand at a time. This year’s lemonade day program is bigger than ever, spanning the entirety of Flathead County, and it happens on Saturday, June 24th. We’ll learn more about the program and how kids can participate to become the next generation of Flathead entrepreneurs.
Ep. 6 - Flathead Legacy Award Winner - Dr. Jane Karas -Flathead Valley Community College
Visionary. Leader. Innovator. These are words often used when describing our podcast guest, Dr. Jane Karas, President of Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC). Dr. Karas was awarded the Kalispell Chamber’s highest honor, the Flathead Legacy Award, for her outstanding contributions to the Flathead Valley community through her work at FVCC. Dr. Karas has been President of FVCC for over 20 years, helming the college through a variety of economic climates while steadily growing the college’s programming, facilities, and campus.