Page 38 - Flathead Beacon // 6.24.15

PEOPLEINBUSINESS
David Fetveit Awarded Distinction of Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist
Leading Trails West Real Estate bro- ker David Fetveit was awarded the elite distinction of “Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist” following his participation in the second edition of the world’s leading luxury real estate net- work’s Top Agents Conference.
David Fetveit was among the most suc- cessful real estate professionals within the Christie’s International Real Estate network who took part in the sympo- sium, hosted at the Trump International Hotel in Chicago in June. The 2015 Top Agents Conference provided an in-depth focus on the global luxury real estate market, trends in the art market, and other important topics in marketing through a range of special seminars led by top industry experts.
Criteria for participation in the Top Agents Conference required that each attendee be among the top 10 percent in sales volume of their affiliated brokerage. The prestigious designations awarded by Christie’s Education were presented to each of the attendees at the event’s close.
“We were delighted that David Fetveit was able to participate at out Top Agents Conference,” said Dan Conn, Chief Exec- utive Officer of Christie’s International Real Estate. “Fetveit is a leader in the lux- ury real estate market and is well posi- tioned to meet the needs of the world’s most discerning buyers. This specialist symposium offered insights into mar- keting to buyers and sellers in the upper- tiers of the luxury real estate market, and allowed attendees to explore ways in which to increase their level of service to clients through their exclusive connec- tion with Christie’s International Real Estate and Christie’s auction house.”
“It is an honor to have David Fetveit designated as a ‘Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist,’” said managing broker Ellie Stimpson. “This unique distinction is one that will not only help our agents elevate their busi- ness profiles in the marketplace, but heighten their global visibility in the lux- ury sector.”
RE/MAX Agent Cherie T. Hansen Recognized
Cherie Hansen with RE/MAX of Big- fork ranked ninth for the state of Mon- tana, Pacific Northwest Region of RE/ MAX, for total individual sales in the first quarter of 2015.
Hansen, a fifth-generation Montanan, has been working in the real estate indus- try in Bigfork for more than 36 years and has extensive experience. Among Han- sen’s many achievements are Montana Association of Realtors Salesperson of the Year, RE/MAX Prestigious Hall of
Fame Inductee, and RE/MAX top 1 per- cent of all agents in Pacific Northwest Region.
Plum Creek Grant Teaches Kids about Composting and Ecosystem
It’s not often that a toilet can be used as a teachable moment, but the Glacier Insti- tute plans to use the new composting toi- lets funded with the help of a Plum Creek Foundation grant as a way for elementary students to learn about conservation.
“The addition of composting toilets will enable us to teach youth about varied ways of preserving valuable water sources like the pristine Big Creek, located on the perimeter of our campus,” says Joyce Baltz, the institute’s executive director. “This project will take the pressure off the existing septic system at Big Creek and add the composting toilet system as a lesson.”
The $5,000 grant will be used with other funding being sought, for the installation of handicapped-accessible restrooms with two composting toilets at the Glacier Institute’s Big Creek Outdoor Educational Center, located on the Flat- head National Forest. The rustic campus, which resides off of the traditional power grid, runs on propane generator and solar power and provides running water only when temperatures permit. Classes offer hands-on, field-based programs to teach Flathead Valley elementary stu- dents about the Crown of the Continent ecosystem.
In the past 31 years since the Glacier Institute was founded, it has educated more than 29,000 elementary school students and countless adults. Approxi- mately 50 percent of the youth living in the shadows of Glacier’s peaks have never been to Glacier National Park until they visit on their way to the Big Creek Out- door Education Center.
Flathead Shelter Friends Chosen for Great Fish Community Challenge
Flathead Shelter Friends, a local non- profit group supporting the mission of the Flathead County Animal Shelter, was selected to participate in the 2015 Great Fish Community Challenge sponsored by the Whitefish Community Foundation. Funds raised will go toward equipment for the new surgical suite at the shelter. The designated giving period is through September 18. Flathead Shelter Friends will receive 100 percent of all designated gifts and a matching grant, up to $15,000 of designated gifts, will also be received. Contributions on behalf of Flathead Shel- ter Friends need to be made directly to the Whitefish Community Foundation accompanied by the official donor form. The donor form can be found at www. greatfishchallenge.org. The Great Fish Community Challenge benefits each
nonprofit group by promoting their mis- sion and encouraging community par- ticipation. The campaign makes it easy to donate to more than one organization with a single gift. For further informa- tion go to www.flatheadshelterfriends. com
Thirteen Montana Colleges and
Universities to Match Education Award
In an effort to attract more civically engaged students to pursue higher educa- tion in Montana, 12 colleges and univer- sities, including Flathead Valley Commu- nity College, are offering matching funds for AmeriCorps alums who use their Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to attend their institutions.
The initiative is being led by Montana Campus Compact, a CEO-led coalition of colleges and universities that drives civic engagement, service-learning and volunteerism. Last year, Montana Cam- pus Compact’s board of directors voted unanimously to encourage its affiliates to match the education award. Mon- tana’s Campus Compact is a 15-campus network led by Flathead Valley Commu- nity College president Jane Karas.
“My colleagues and I believe in the importance of student volunteerism and engaging with community,” Karas said. “By matching AmeriCorps Education Awards, we formally add support to the national effort to address our most press- ing community needs.”
The initiative is another indication of Montana’s leadership in national service. ast month, CNCS announced that Mon- tana ranked first in the nation for states that generate the most AmeriCorps members per capita. In March, Governor Steve Bullock announced that Montana is the first state in the West, and the second in the nation, to become an Employer of National Service, taking steps to encour- age AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni to apply for careers with Montana state government.
Montana Elk Habitat, Wolf Management Get Boost from RMEF Grants
Grant funding provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will improve 22,065 acres of wildlife habitat across 18 Montana counties.
The 2015 grants total $386,080 and directly impact Beaverhead, Broadwater, Carbon, Deer Lodge, Jefferson, Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mis- soula, Petroleum, Powder River, Powell, Rosebud, Sanders, Stillwater, Sweetgrass and Teton Counties. There are also several projects of statewide and regional benefit.
“Prescribed burning, meadow resto- ration and noxious weed treatments are just a few of the many projects funded by these grants that will enhance habitat for elk and other wildlife,” said David Allen,
RMEF president and CEO. “In addition, wolves continue to remain well above minimum objectives and this funding will help managers better determine how many wolves are on the landscape and where they’re located so they can be better managed.”
Allen thanked Montana volunteers who raised funds for the on-the-ground projects through banquet activities, membership drives and other fundrais- ing efforts. He also thanked RMEF vol- unteers and members around the coun- try for their dedication to ensuring the future of elk, elk country and our hunt- ing heritage.
Since 1985, RMEF and its partners have completed 841 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Montana with a combined value of more than $146 million. These projects have protected or enhanced 769,282 acres of habitat, of which 226,954 acres have been opened or secured for public access.
Beacon Named Best Large Weekly Newspaper in Montana
For the third year in a row, the Flat- head Beacon took home a top honor among large weekly and small daily newspapers at the Montana Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The awards were handed out earlier this month at the association’s annual ban- quet in Big Sky.
In total, the Beacon took home 18 awards and six first-place plaques, including General Excellence in Division 4, which “recognizes the very best news- paper” in each respective division.
Tristan Scott won awards for “The Legend of Le Grizz,” which chronicled the quirky history of a local 50-mile ultra- marathon, and “Cruel and Unusual?” which looked at the death penalty in Montana. Justin Franz won the Mark Henckel Outdoors Award for his piece, “Warriors of Winter,” on soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division. Dillon Tabish won first place for headline writing and Steve Larson for front page design.
Other general excellence award win- ners included The Big Timber Pioneer (Division 1), Lone Peak Lookout (Division 2), Whitefish Pilot (Division 3), and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Division 5).
Next year the conference is in Whitefish.
NMAR Hands Out Annual Awards
The Northwest Montana Association of Realtors recently honored the follow- ing honored the following realtors.
2015 Realtor of the Year: Brian Nicodemus.
2015 Rookie of the Year: Phillippa Labuda.
2015 recipient of the Jean Carter Spirit Award: Larry Wakefield.
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JUNE 24, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM