Page 8 - Flathead Beacon // 9.14.16

COUNTY BEAT 14 COURT BEAT 15 Newsworthy
New CEO Takes Reins of Montana West Economic Development Jerry Meerkatz brings extensive resume in technology, management to economic development organization
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
After a 35-year career managing sev- eral large and small technology compa- nies across North America, Jerry Meer- katz returned to the Flathead Valley, where he grew up working blue-collar jobs and hoped to raise his own family.
A 1976 graduate of Flathead High School, Meerkatz developed his work ethic at automotive shops in downtown Kalispell and spent a summer working at the aluminum plant in Columbia Falls. An older mentor at the aluminum plant convinced Meerkatz to attend college, which sent the young man on the path he would eventually follow, studying engi- neering and working at tech giants such as Compaq and Hewlett-Packard over the next three decades.
Last month, Meerkatz was hired as the president and CEO of Montana West Eco- nomic Development, and his focus is now centered on stimulating business oppor- tunities and attracting employees and employers to Kalispell, Columbia Falls and the surrounding Flathead Valley, where it all started for him.
“I’m excited for everything here in the greater valley,” he said recently. “I really enjoy leadership roles and I really enjoy interacting with the community. And I want to see things happen.”
Meerkatz is stepping in as the leader of the local nonpro t economic devel- opment group that was established nearly 20 years ago. As a not-for-pro t economic development organization, MWED works to nourish a diversi ed,
Jerry Meerkatz, president and CEO of Montana West Economic Development. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
area of Kalispell, Meerkatz said helping the economy stabilize in Columbia Falls is one of his initial priorities. The town has undergone sizeable changes with the closure of the aluminum plant and the recent closures of two former Plum Creek timber mills.
“I don’t know what the opportunities are exactly going to be. The biggest thing that I need to do in this job is be com- pletely open-minded and be ready to take on anything. I’m really excited and I’m passionate about it,” Meerkatz said.
Meerkatz said he plans to spend the rst few months meeting with anyone and everyone, getting to know the val- ley and its vast opportunities. He brings an impressive resume in the tech sector, which he hopes to help establish in the Flathead. He graduated from DeVry Uni- versity in Arizona with an engineering degree. He previously worked for Compaq Computer Corporation, Hewlett Packard Company and Infowave Software, Inc.
MWED’s 2016 strategic plan lays out a few immediate goals that Meerkatz and his sta will oversee, including con- tinuing to o er gap nancing loans to local business and entrepreneurs and providing business counseling and con- nections to help businesses expand. In recent years, MWED has dished out roughly $4.4 million through a revolving loan fund, helping local businesses make improvements or expand.
“Our role here is to connect the dots and make these things happen,” Meer-
katz said.
sustainable business base through loan and grant programs, consulting, market analyses and regional marketing cam- paigns. Meerkatz replaced Kellie Daniel- son, who stepped down after seven years.
“I think he’s going to take us to a new level. Every person that’s been there in his position has done that and I’m abso- lutely con dent that Jerry will do that as well,” said Turner Askew, a board mem- ber with the Flathead County Economic Development Authority, a separate but connected entity that Meerkatz will oversee.
“He has enthusiasm and his back- ground (stands out). It’s great to be opti- mistic, but it’s even better to work on
things that will work. And he will work on things that will work. We will spend more time on what’s possible.”
Among the projects that MWED and FCEDA are spearheading is the indus- trial rail park in Kalispell, which is mov- ing along with the city’s core area rede- velopment plan. As both projects take shape over the next few years, Meerkatz hopes to help expand the opportunities for economic growth.
“Clearly the rail park program is the most exciting thing in the public eye right now,” he said. “There is no doubt that it is going to make a big di erence in this valley.”
Along with revitalization in the core
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
Glacier Park Sets Monthly Attendance Record in August Glacier Park has attracted a total of 2.25 million people so far in 2016, an 18 percent increase
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
The ood of summertime visitors set another attendance record last month in Glacier National Park.
An estimated 736,868 people visited the park in August, shattering the previ- ous record for the month of August and amounting to a 27 percent increase over last year, according to the National Park Service. It marked the fourth consecu- tive monthly visitation record this year, dating back to May.
Glacier Park has attracted a total of
2.25 million people so far in 2016, an 18 percent increase over last year. The park is on pace to break its annual attendance mark for the third year in a row. There were 2.33 million visitors in 2014 and 2.36 million last year.
August’s attendance was the second largest in the history of the park behind only July, when 818,481 people visited. The previous record for the month of August was 675,119 people in 2014.
Last month, the West Entrance saw 317,367 visitors, a 22 percent increase over last year. St. Mary’s attracted
177,799 people, a 41 percent increase. Many Glacier attracted 100,912 people, a 22 percent increase.
More than 35,000 RV campers stayed overnight in the park, a 41 percent increase. The number of tent campers jumped 24 percent to 43,352 people.
Historically, August represents the nal month of the busy tourist season. Last September saw 351,388 visitors, half as many as August.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
BUSIEST MONTHS IN GLACIER PARK’S HISTORY
VISITORS MONTH/YEAR
818,481 JULY 2016 736,868 AUGUST 2016 699,650 JULY 2014 689,489 JULY 1983 689,064 JULY 2015 675,119 AUGUST 2015 673,359 JULY 2010
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SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM