Page 36 - Flathead Beacon // 3.25.15

36 | MARCH 25, 2015 BUSINESS MONTHLY PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
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written by children’s science author, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent of Missoula, author of several books on Yellowstone wildfires. The original sound score was developed by Montana musicians.
For more information, visit http:// comotiondanceproject.com/.
JESCO MARINE AND POWER SPORTS NAMED TO 2014 POWERSPORTS BUSINESS POWER 50 DEALER LIST
Jesco Marine and Power Sports has been named one of the Power 50 dealers in North America by Powersports Business, the leading trade publication for the powersports industry.
“Out of the thousands of powersports dealers in North America, only the very best make the Power 50 list,” said Powersports Business Editor in Chief Dave McMahon. “These companies are the elite of the powersports industry, excelling at all aspects of their business.”
The Power 50 is an annual list of dealerships that are unsurpassed in business operations, professionalism, marketing tactics, customer service and more. This year marked the 2nd annual Powersports Business Power 50 program.
MARCH 26 WEBINAR EXPLORES INSTITUTIONAL MARKETS FOR MONTANA AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS
On March 26, NCAT will host a free, live webinar for local producers looking to expand their opportunities into wholesale and institutional markets.
“Selling to Institutional Markets: Strategies and Considerations for Montana Producers” will begin at 11 a.m. The University of Montana’s Farm to College Program will provide information and technical assistance to Montana farmers, ranchers, and food processors who are interested in accessing larger food service markets.
Participants will learn what institutions look for when sourcing local food; methods for approaching buyers; supplier best practices; food-safety considerations; and other tips and tricks for partnering with institutions for wholesale success.
Ian Finch, the Farm to College Program Manager at the University of Montana, will be the presenter during the webinar. The webinar will include time for participants to ask questions of Finch as well as a panel of experts in the field, including buyers from the school and hospital markets and an organization experienced with selling to institutions.
The webinar will be held at 11 a.m. MDT on March 26.
SONJU INDUSTRIAL RECIPIENT OF PRESTIGIOUS NUNN-PERRY AWARD
Sonju Industrial (SI) and Raytheon Missile Systems have been selected by the Department of Defense (DoD) to receive the prestigious Nunn-Perry Award. The award was presented March 12 in Alexandria, Virginia. The award is named in honor of both Sen. Sam Nunn who sponsored legislation to create the Defense Department’s Mentor-Protégé program, and former Secretary of Defense Dr. William Perry in recognition of his implementation of the program.
The Nunn-Perry award is honored to Mentor-Protégé teams who have excelled in areas of technical assistance, returns on investment, quality, and overall protégé development. Sonju Industrial is an aerospace and defense company that manufactures components for the DoD and aerospace giants such as Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and United Technologies. Raytheon Missile Systems, located in Tucson, Arizona, is a major prime contractor that builds missile technology for the DoD and its allies. Over the last six years, Raytheon Missile Systems and SI have worked together by participating in the Mentor-Protégé program.
The Mentor-Protégé program is designed to build strategic partner relationships, including enhancing technical business capabilities that allow small businesses to compete more effectively for defense-related work. During the Mentor-Protégé agreement with Raytheon, SI has gathered expertise and capability in manufacturing key components on numerous missile programs that include the AIM 9X, SM-6, Tomahawk, Griffin, and DSWS. Besides missile work, the company manufactures numerous components for the F-22 and F-16 fighter, and numerous Boeing Commercial aircraft. It also manufactures firearm components, particularly for SI Defense, its sister company. SI’s core capabilities include CNC machining, assembly, and process finishing.
“To get the chance to participate in a Mentor-Protégé program with a major prime is extremely rare,” Jason Sonju said. “To win the Nunn-Perry award and be recognized as one of the best is an absolute God-given blessing. At a personal level it means a lot to me. It was something my father and I started years ago and has become a reality when my wife Melinda joined our team.”
As a direct result of the Mentor- Protégé program, SI has seen substantial growth in many areas. A 30,000-square- foot building was added recently to the existing facility to accommodate more manufacturing capability. Additional automated CNC equipment
was purchased to offer more capability and extend capacity for current and future growth. The company has plans to continue to expand its growth by becoming a complete vertical integrator that includes front-end engineering.
SAPPINGTON BROKERS TRANSACTIONFORYOGOINN
Jim Sappington, a broker and commercial specialist with RE/ MAX American Dream Properties of Kalispell, recently brokered the transaction for the Yogo Inn, a historic Lewiston, Montana landmark, in which on Feb. 5 David Wigginton signed the papers and became the new owner of the 123-room hotel, convention center and restaurant.
AWARE INC. ANNOUNCES NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR
AWARE Inc. announced recently the promotion of Thomas Hoffman, M.D. of Butte to medical director.
“We are very pleased and delighted to announce Dr. Tom Hoffman as AWARE, Inc.’s new medical director,” said Jeff Folsom, AWARE’s chief of operations. “Dr. Hoffman brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role.”
Hoffman is a Montana native and a graduate of Carroll College. He received his M.D. from the University of Washington and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Vermont. He then attended the University of New Mexico for his child psychiatry residency and the University of Colorado for forensic psychiatry.
Hoffman has been with AWARE providing outpatient care in Butte and surrounding communities for the past five years. In his new role as Medical Director, Hoffman will not only provide leadership to AWARE’s clinical team, but he will also oversee AWARE’s statewide mental health service systems. Hoffman will continue to provide outpatient care in Butte and surrounding communities.
“I believe strongly in the services AWARE provides and am very much looking forward to playing a key role in developing the direction of AWARE’s mental health services,” said Hoffman.” As a growing organization, the impact we can have throughout the state – and beyond – is enormous and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
FORMER GRIZ STRENGTH COACH OPENING MONTANA SPORT-STRENGTH FOR FLATHEAD ATHLETES
Michael Gerber, former head strength and conditioning coach for University of Montana football team, is opened Montana Sport-Strength in Kalispell. Gerber is now available to coach Flathead Valley athletes. He trained professional, college, and
scholastic athletes for over 30 years. Mike is offering local male and female athletes the unique programs and coaching that helped hundreds compete at the highest level and get noticed by college recruiters.
Many of his former athletes have received college scholarships and professional contracts.
College, high school, and recreational athletes can reach their goals at Montana Sport Strength, which opened March 2 in Kalispell on Demersville Road. For more information call 406-210-9227 or email [email protected].
BETH MILLER JOINS PAYNEWEST INSURANCE
Beth Miller joins PayneWest Insurance as a commercial insurance account specialist in the Kalispell office. Miller previously worked as an administrative assistant, a licensed income-qualified assessor, and in non- profit management. She believes in providing consistent, high-quality, comprehensive customer service and is excited to be a part of the insurance industry.
PayneWest Insurance has over 600 colleagues in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Find all of us at PayneWest.com/Colleagues. You can contact Beth Miller at (406) 758-4204 or by email at [email protected].
PLUM CREEK GRANT FUNDS COMOTION EDUCATIONAL DANCE PROJECT
Montana is blessed with an abundance of forests, and residents and visitors need to be knowledgeable about wildfire. A Plum Creek Foundation grant will help bring performances of “Fire Speaks the Land,” an innovative educational presentation by the University of Montana’s CoMotion Dance Project, to more people this year.
The $2,000 grant will be used to help fund summer performances of “Fire Speaks the Land” in the Flathead Valley, Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Combining the performing arts with environmental education and stewardship, the highly interactive dance performance teaches fire ecology and forest regeneration.
“Fire Speaks the Land is a visually stunning, nationally celebrated approach to fire education,” said Karen Kauffman, director of the CoMotion Dance Project. “Our 50-minute performance uses choreography, original music and narration to teach the fire triangle—convection, conduction, and radiation— and how Native Americans used fire.”
“Fire Speaks the Land” is a collaborative effort: Jack Gladstone, an award-winning troubadour from Montana’s Blackfeet Indian Nation, narrates the presentation, which was