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A bitter cold snap can turn the grid into a high-wire act, and few people understand those stakes like Mark Johnson, CEO and General Manager of Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) and the 2025 Kalispell Chamber Business Person of the Year. Mark's 25+ years at FEC brings decades of steady leadership to keeping power reliable and rates stable as the Flathead Valley grows. In this conversation, he explains the role of hydropower, the limits of transmission, and how long-term planning and a service-first mindset support affordable, dependable electricity.

Beyond the grid, Mark is deeply committed to community service, with long-standing volunteer leadership roles that reflect the cooperative model in action. He shares lessons from guiding organizations through challenging times, including Flathead Electric’s four-year rate freeze during COVID. The discussion also looks ahead to wildfire mitigation, grid modernization, and the need for meaningful local generation, offering practical insight into how thoughtful leadership and community engagement will shape the region’s energy future.

Flathead Electric Cooperative: Home - Flathead Electric Cooperative

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© Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800 | info@kalispellchamber.com

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Growth is here, and today’s choices will shape Kalispell for decades. In this episode, Kalispell mayor-elect Ryan Hunter lays out a clear, practical agenda: protect waterways, expand attainable housing, improve street safety, and apply predictable standards that support a vibrant Parkline Trail—without overbuilding or fragmentation.

Drawing on six years on City Council and a background in land conservation, Ryan focuses on near-term action. He explains the need for stronger river and wetland buffers, outlines how “missing middle” housing can fit established neighborhoods, and discusses zoning updates tied to state timelines, including SB 382. He also shares why form-based codes may offer a more flexible, neighborhood-friendly approach.

Transportation and public investment round out the discussion. Ryan supports safer, multimodal streets that balance access and mobility, and he is direct about fiscal discipline: no subsidies for private projects the market already supports. Instead, he argues for investing in public infrastructure and targeted housing solutions. We close with how he plans to stay engaged—through open communication, regular updates, and expanded community forums.

City of Kalispell: Kalispell, MT | Official Website

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© Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800 | info@kalispellchamber.com

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Join us as we meet with Miles Terry, Vice President of Terry Homes and the Kalispell Chamber’s 2025 Rising Star. As the VP of Terry Homes, a family-owned homebuilder that's been building homes in the Flathead for over 30 years, Miles discusses how a family builder can deliver attainable, high-quality homes without cutting corners—and his answer blends grit, data, and community.

Miles takes us from early job site memories and into a modernization push that rethinks homebuilding from the studs to the software. He breaks down a closed-loop purchase order system, a 400-point quality and conditions inspection platform that slashes warranty claims, and customer-facing innovations like 3D photos, a home visualizer, and self-guided tours. We talk about the gap between construction costs and local wages, and why predictable, transparent permitting is essential for builders to plan responsibly and keep prices within reach. We also dive into leadership, tech modernization and the future of housing.

If you care about attainable housing, construction tech, or how policy and industry can work together to serve real families in the Flathead Valley, this conversation offers insights from a rising star in the Flathead.

Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber, and on twitter @KalispellChambr.
© Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800 | info@kalispellchamber.com