Page 36 - Flathead Beacon // 6.25.14

36 | JUNE 25, 2014 BUSINESS MONTHLY PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
with additional recognition at the 2014 International Business Conference in Los Angeles.
“I am pleased to congratulate Mark on his exceptional professional achieve- ment,” said Charlie Young, president and CEO of ERA Franchise Systems LLC. “Through personal expertise with an exceptional level of commitment and community involvement, Mark Nelson is a shining example of realized success.”
PLUM CREEK AWARDS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO VALLEY AREA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
Plum Creek has presented scholar- ships to 10 students from Glacier, Co- lumbia Falls and Flathead high schools, including a $5,000 scholarship named for former Chairman of the Board Ian B. Davidson in recognition of his 20 years of service.
Each year since 2007, Plum Creek has provided scholarships to exemplary students who plan to continue their ed- ucation. Scholarship recipients are se- lected based on their academic achieve- ments, participation in extracurricular activities and career goals.
For the 2014-15 school year, Plum Creek awarded $149,000 in scholarships for 121 awards in 14 states. Of these, 25 scholarships were given to students who are the children of employees. Plum Creek provided an additional 96 schol- arships to selected students who are not affiliated with employees but who live in communities where Plum Creek does business.
Plum Creek is pleased to be a part of its communities and to invest in the fu- ture of these students. Everyone at Plum Creek congratulates the winning stu- dents and wishes them continued suc- cess in their future academic and per- sonal endeavors.
WAVE AQUATIC AND FITNESS CENTER COMPLETES EXPANSION
The Wave Aquatic and Fitness Cen- ter announces completed its facil- ity expansion, including the new locker and changing rooms, family changing rooms, the all new Children’s Depot expanded day care, a spectacular rear entrance complete with juice bar and a state of the art exercise room, and more.
“We couldn’t be more excited to show off the rejuvenation efforts given to our existing facility as well as the extraordi- nary addition of over 8,000 square feet to our family and fitness areas,” said Art Krueger, director of the Wave Aquatic and Fitness Center.
The Wave is also unveiled its all new “Synergy 360 Life Fitness System,” which will combine several popular to- tal body, dynamic exercises into one sys- tem that helps personal trainers to more effectively train individuals and groups. The Synergy 360 gives users fun, unlim- ited ways to exercise.
NMAR HONORS LOCAL REALTORS
The Northwest Montana Association of Realtors (NMAR) recently awarded its 2014 Realtor of the Year and Rook- ie of the Year, and presented a special award in honor of the late Jean Carter, “The Jean Carter Spirit Award.”
Katie Brown, a broker/owner of Trails West Real Estate, was chosen as the 2014 Realtor of the Year. More than a chosen profession, Katie sees her career as a passion and a role she takes seriously in serving her clients. “I cannot imagine doing my job without the guidance and learning opportunities I receive as an ac- tive member and participant in all that is offered through NMAR and NAR. I also appreciate the hard work and dedication that most Realtors have towards their clients and it is important to me that the public, and other new Realtors, are made aware and understand the hours of diligent care and time that we give.” Among the many NMAR committees Katie has served on, among which are 17 years in Professional Standards and 10 years of teaching the Code of Ethics, she has also served at the President of the NMAR-MLS Board of Directors. She currently serves as the chair of the Ori- entation and Membership Committee. As an active Realtor, Katie knows the im- portance of participating in civic activi- ties in her community and the Flathead Valley. She currently serves on the Ka- lispell Regional Medical Center Founda- tion Board and the Child Bridge Board, and volunteered at the Spartan Race for Save a Sister, Intermountain Children’s Home, the Alert annual Golf Tourna- ment, and as a First Descents “Camp Mom” for cancer survivors.
The 2014 Rookie of the Year was pre- sented to Jeanie Deetz, salesperson at ERA Lambros at Meadowlake in Colum- bia Falls. Jeanie joined ERA Lambros Real Estate in January 2013 and hit the ground running. She immediately set to work taking classes and became a certi- fied ERA International Collection spe- cialist for Distinctive Properties. Jeanie brings a unique blend of real estate ex- perience to her new sales profession, as she spent her career as a real estate paralegal. During this time as a para- legal, Jeanie attained a diverse back- ground in National and International timeshare, resort, residential, and com- mercial sales transactions along with transactions regarding property man- agement. The Rookie of the Year award recognizes a Realtor who is “new” to the business, and is based upon sales pro- duction, community involvement, and Realtor dedication.
NMAR presented the first “Jean Carter Spirit Award” to Jackie Smart, owner/broker of Wright Real Estate in Ronan, Montana. The “Jean Carter Spirit Award” is given to an NMAR Re- altor who “exemplifies the Realtor spir- it.” Jackie Smart is a person who is al-
ways there when asked, and has served tirelessly on the NMAR board of direc- tors, the Montana Association of Real- tors Board of Directors, and the NMAR MLS Board of Directors. Additionally, she has devoted herself to Realtor edu- cation, serving on the Graduate Realtor Institute steering committee for years. In her community she was the founding member of the Mission Valley animal shelter, was president more than once, and is still a board member. She was on the local planning board, she supports Big Brothers and Sisters, and she has a scholarship each year for a high school graduate attending collage. Jackie was a founding member of the housing author- ity for her community which later was named Lake County House Origination. She represents her community and her profession with honor and integrity just as the late Jean Carter did.
FUN BEVERAGE
TAKES THE LEAD IN
AIR SHOW SPONSORSHIP
With the Mountain Madness Air Show rapidly rolling toward takeoff, one company is passionate about fueling this event’s success. The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce announced today that Fun Beverage, Inc. has claimed title sponsor- ship of this year’s Mountain Madness Air Show, contributing $15,000 to the event.
Fun’s commitment to Montana is still going strong, marked by local job creation and community involvement. Fun Founder, Paul Wachholz sees the air show, and other large events like it, as an opportunity to raise awareness of Flat- head Valley nationwide among tourists and business leaders alike.
Wachholz also recognizes the spec- tacular entertainment value of an air show and with Fun’s reputation for “dis- tributing the good times,” serving as the title sponsor felt like a perfect way to give back to the local community.
“The wonderful thing about an air show is that it brings locals and visitors together to share in the same excite- ment—there are no winners or losers in this spectator sport. The only ones who lose out are the folks who don’t attend,” says Wachholz. “For Fun Beverage, the Mountain Madness Air Show is an excit- ing way to invest in the Flathead Valley and we are pleased to serve as the 2014 title sponsor.”
Fun Beverage will also leverage the sponsorship to host a company-wide summer celebration. All Fun employees will receive complimentary admission, as well as food and drink at the air show, says Wachholz.
“The air show is a chance to build community in our own organization,” continues Wachholz. “We invite our em- ployees and their families to attend on our dime. It’s a great way to show our ap- preciation and to enjoy a cold drink to- gether – it is a main reason we love this event.”
Major sponsors for the 2014 Moun- tain Madness Air Show include Glacier Bank Corp., Glacier Park Internation- al Airport, Northwest Pipe Fittings, Kramer Enterprises, Inc., Northwestern Energy, Valley Ford, Raymond James Financial Services, Eisinger Motors, Charter Communications, City Service and RE/MAX of Bigfork.
Businesses interested in sponsoring the 2014 Mountain Madness Air Show can contact Chris Parson at chris@ka- lispellchamber.com or 406-758-2802. To learn more about Fun Beverage visit www.funbeverage.com.
WELLS FARGO DONATES $10,000 TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Wells Fargo’s downtown Kalispell store manager, Adam Dameworth, pre- sented a $10,000 check to Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley in support of their 16-home Columbia Falls Afford- able housing project.
In partnership with Wells Fargo, Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley will complete the final four environmen- tally sustainable and affordable homes at its Columbia Falls project, which the families have already been chosen for. The project is scheduled for completion by March 2015.
Habitat for Humanity’s Executive Director, Erin Falcon said, “Wells Far- go’s generous donation of $10,000 each year for the past several years has been crucial to the ongoing efforts of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley. With their continued financial support as well as volunteer efforts, Wells Fargo has en- sured the sustainability of our mission to continue to provide affordable hous- ing as well as a hand up to local families for a brighter future.”
Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley was established in 1989 with the mission of eliminating substan- dard housing. Due to rapid population growth, an increase in property values and stagnant income levels, the need for affordable housing in Flathead County has increased over the last two decades.
Habitat for Humanity holds build days every Wednesday, Friday and Sat- urday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. No building experience is necessary to help out on a build site. Habitat’s professional con- struction site supervisor is on site to assign tasks and supervise all construc- tion. For those interested in volunteer- ing, additional information can be found by calling the Habitat for Humanity ad- ministrative office at (406) 257-8800.
MARK NELSON NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR 2013 PERFORMANCE
Mark S. Nelson of ERA Lambros was awarded a Circle of Achievement desig- nation by ERA Franchise Systems LLC, a global franchise leader in the residen- tial real estate industry. This designa- tion is announced at the end of January