Page 34 - Flathead Beacon // 5.27.2015

34 | MAY 27, 2015 BUSINESS MONTHLY PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
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quite unique -- if you see home for sale, you open the app, snap a photo of the house, and the MLS listing information automatically populates – it is easy to use, fast, and has great mapping of hous- es that are for sale across Northwest Montana.”
The app could come in handy when buyers are looking at the local market this spring, with homes selling a little quicker than in prior years.
ROBOTS TO COME TO GLACIER HIGH, THANKS TO A GRANT
In support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instruction at Glacier High School, the Plum Creek Foundation is contributing a $5,458 grant for the purchase of kits to build robots.
The Glacier High School Technology Student Association (TSA) will use the grant to acquire VEX Robotics compo- nents so that more students can partici- pate in hands-on activities to build the computerized machines. The more than 60 TSA members will then enter their robots in competitions with other high schools.
“The school currently has one robot- ics kit, but this grant from Plum Creek will allow us to have two more so more kids can participate,” says Lisa Lykins, audio visual specialist/librarian who is also the TSA co-advisor. “It also is our goal to get more girls interested in STEM subjects like math and engineer- ing. We would like to form an all-girls team, which would a first in Montana.”
Lykins says the mission of the TSA, a national organization, is to encourage leadership development and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
AT&T INVESTS NEARLY $130 MILLION TO ENHANCE NETWORKS
AT&T has invested nearly $130 million in its best-in-class wireless networks in Montana between 2012 through 2014, driving a wide range of upgrades to reliability, coverage, speed and performance for residents and busi- ness customers.
As part of its Project Velocity IP (VIP), an investment plan focused on network enhancement and expansion, AT&T in 2014 made 155 network up- grades in Montana including new cell sites, addition of wireless network ca- pacity, and new broadband network con- nections.
“With a growing range of connected home appliances, cars and wearable de- vices, we depend more on network con- nectivity than ever before,” said Tara Thue, director of external affairs, AT&T- Montana. “AT&T’s continued invest- ment in Montana brings a host of new, innovative opportunities for residents and businesses to connect with each other and their customers.”
KALISPELL AUTO REPAIR SHOP ATTENDS INDUSTRY EXPO
Loren’s Auto Repair of Kalispell re- cently attended the NAPA Auto Parts 2015 Expo in Las Vegas. Loren’s Auto Repair was the only auto repair shop represented from Kalispell. Held only once every 10 years, the NAPA Expo is considered a must attend event for shops looking to increase their knowledge base, strengthen their business and stay ahead of industry trends.
Travis Sallee, general manager of Loren’s Auto Repair, said in a statement “this Expo was a tremendous opportu- nity to meet face-to-face with the man- ufacturers and suppliers of products we use every day, as well as learn improved ways to run our businesses and service our customers.”
The NAPA 2015 Expo was held May 5-8 at the Luxor and Mandalay Bay Re- sorts. It was attended by over 18,000 NAPA Auto Care Center owners as well as NAPA Auto Parts Store Owners.
PLUM CREEK DONATES $4,300 TO SINOPAH HOUSE FOR GIRLS
Teens today face so many issues and a $4,300 grant from Plum Creek Foun- dation will help the Western Montana Mental Health Center update its therapy materials for teenage girls dealing with abuse, neglect and other problems.
The materials will be used at Sin- opah House, a residence for teenage girls with severe emotional difficulties who are in need of therapeutic group home care. Sinopah House is home to eight girls at a time and typically serves 17 to 21 teens annually. The Plum Creek grant will also be used to upgrade some of the therapy materials at Sinopah House.
“This project will bring us out of the 1970s!” says Heather Richards, pro- gram therapist. “Our therapeutic books and materials are so old that they don’t cover the issues today’s youth face. We believe that if we can replace these out- dated materials with ones that reflect problems faced by today’s teens, these amazing young women will fare better in modern society. These girls have a lot of potential, and we want to help them realize it.”
Since 1971, the Western Montana Mental Health Center, located in 15 counties in western and southwest- ern Montana, has assisted individuals and communities dealing with mental health issues, substance use and behav- ioral disorders. In the past few years, the center has developed more housing pro- grams to help insure adequate and af- fordable care for clients.
EVERGREEN GETS NEW REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE
RE/MAX Home Again Realty, owned by Flathead Valley native Charles Lapp, celebrated its opening at 2117 Highway 2 East in Evergreen this month.
“We are thrilled to be the only real estate brokerage in Evergreen,” says
Lapp. “RE/MAX Home Again Realty will be a place where the public can come and expect help with achieving their goals of homeownership in the Flathead Valley. Helping others will be a top pri- ority during all business activities.”
With 14 years of experience in real estate development and construction, Lapp’s knowledge of land use, planning and construction techniques serves as a tremendous foundation for helping peo- ple buy and sell property. Licensed since 2011, Lapp is also prepared to create an atmosphere that’s attractive to both cli- ents and sales associates alike.
Lapp is a member of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce and has served on various planning boards. He served as Government Affairs Director, Board Member and Parade of Homes Co-Chair at the Flathead Building Association. In addition, Lapp and his wife support 4-H, Boy Scouts and the Muzzleloader Club through use of their property for camps and other club activities.
To find out more about how RE/ MAX Home Again Realty is the Ever- green connection to all things real es- tate in the Flathead Valley, call (406) 314-6282.
CLAWSON JOINS NORTHWESTERN IN MISSOULA AS MANAGER, COMMUNITY RELATIONS
NorthWestern Energy has named Steve Clawson to be its manager, Com- munity Relations in its Missoula divi- sion. He replaces Vicki Judd, who re- cently retired after 40-plus years with the utility company.
“We are pleased to welcome Steve to our NorthWestern Energy family,” said Rick Burt, director, Community Relations. “Steve extensive community banking experience and work with com- munity leaders across the much of the state greatly enhances our outreach ca- pabilities.”
Clawson recently worked as District President for Wells Fargo, with respon- sibility for 11 bank locations in nine Montana communities. Formerly with Norwest, Clawson has 21 years experi- ence in senior bank leadership experi- ence in Montana and Wyoming.
Clawson will work on variety of com- munity and local government relations activities in NorthWestern’s Missoula division. The division includes nearly 139,000 electric and natural gas custom- ers in an area that includes Missoula and the Bitterroot and Flathead valleys.
EISINGER AUTO GROUP DONATES $10,000 TO BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
Recently the Eisinger Auto Group presented a generous donation in the amount of $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County (BBBSFC). These funds will help to support the life- changing mentoring program run by BBBSFC.
“We really appreciate this invest-
ment in our program,” says Board Presi- dent Jeff Meredith, “we live in a gener- ous community where local businesses support local programs.”
BBBSFC currently has 68 matches in Flathead County and 17 children on a waiting list for a mentor. Please contact the agency at 752-0092 to find out how you can make a difference in the life of a child.
“We have an amazing community here in the Flathead, with amazing kids who just need someone to spend time with them and help lead them down a healthy path,” says Program Director, Beth Delaney.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF FLATHEAD VALLEY BREAKING GROUND ON NEW PROJECT
Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley held a special ceremony this month to commemorate the ground- breaking of the first single-family home of five total to be built in the Spring Creek Estates development in Kalispell.
“We are very excited to be build- ing in Kalispell once again,” Habitat for Humanity’s Executive Director, Erin Falcon, stated. “Over the last couple of years we’ve received a demand from families in need of affordable housing in the Kalispell area and we are fortunate this opportunity presented itself in such a beautiful, well-established neighbor- hood.”
Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley was able to purchase five lots in the Spring Creek Estates Development in part to a $75,000 SHOP Grant (Self Help Homeownership Opportunity Pro- gram).
Habitat selects families and/or in- dividuals based on their need, ability to pay a 30-year, no-interest mortgage and on their willingness to partner with the organization to perform sweat equity hours on their home. By using volun- teer labor, homeowner “sweat equity,” and donations from local and national building material suppliers, Habitat for Humanity is able to keep the cost of con- struction low.
For those interested in volunteer- ing, additional information can be found by calling the Habitat for Humanity ad- ministrative office at (406) 257-8800.
LOCALMLSANNOUNCESNEW HOME-SEARCH APP
The Northwest Montana Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service announced that it recently partnered with HomeSnap, a dynamic and easy to use free mobile app to locate residences for sale. Crosby Newman encourages the public to download HomeSnap.
“The local MLS feeds all active list- ings to that app, so you will see up-to- date listing information for residential properties which display on a map, or you can search using the filters such as number of beds and baths and location,” said Newman. He explained, “Home- Snap gets its name from a tool which is