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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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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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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.

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In this episode, we sit down with 2025 Flathead Legacy Award recipient Bob Nystuen to trace his path from North Dakota roots to leading Glacier Bank and shaping the Flathead’s business and education landscape. He shares how capital, culture, and service align: gather deposits, make sound loans, recruit great people, and share results so everyone rows together. When COVID-19 hit, that preparation helped his team process over 2,000 PPP loans—keeping businesses afloat through closures and uncertainty.

Bob offers leadership lessons and steady guidance for today’s leaders facing AI, workforce shifts, and market change: be authentic, show gratitude, and lead with calm confidence.

We also explore his deep ties to education, from FVCC’s growth to statewide efforts advancing healthcare, manufacturing, trades, and dual-credit programs that connect students to careers. Looking ahead, Bob shares his predications for the Flathead. His call to action—invest in education, civic leadership, and innovation—offers a clear path to a resilient future.

If you care about community banking, workforce development, or Montana’s economic future, this episode delivers real-world insight and inspiration. Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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A small clamp is making a big impact in Montana manufacturing. Founder Amber Pacheco Holm of Fiber Reaper, and her husband, Jeremy, turned a simple field frustration into a breakthrough tool now used by fiber splicing crews across the country. Built and tested in the Flathead Valley, her redesigned clamp helps technicians work faster, safer, and with greater precision. Through local partnerships with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, the Montana High-Tech Business Alliance, and area suppliers, Fiber Reaper transformed an idea sketched in a Kalispell workshop into a production-ready product—100% Made in the USA and proudly built in Northwest Montana.

Today, Fiber Reaper is a growing example of how innovation thrives in the Flathead Valley’s manufacturing ecosystem. The company has shipped to all 50 states, expanded into Canada and Mexico, and secured patents in 29 countries. Each new order—tracked on a foam board map in their Kalispell workspace—shows how small-scale innovation here can ripple through industries nationwide. It’s proof that practical, Montana-made solutions can compete on a global stage while keeping their roots local. Tune in to learn more about this "Made in Montana, Made in the Flathead" story.

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Sheriff Brian Heino doesn't mince words about Flathead County's jail crisis. The 1987 facility is bursting at the seams, with failing systems, inadequate space, and mounting safety concerns. With over two decades of law enforcement experience, Sheriff Heino offers a compelling insider's perspective on why a new detention center represents not just a building project, but a fundamental community investment.

The stark reality becomes clear as he describes detention officers navigating cramped corridors, managing mental health crises without proper facilities, and watching judges make release decisions based on space constraints rather than public safety. The proposed $105 million facility, whose bond has been endorsed by the Kalispell Chamber, would address these challenges while providing dedicated mental health housing and programming space currently impossible in the outdated jail.

As you listen to this podcast, you'll learn how much the proposed facility's bond will cost homeowners (for many, about the cost of a cup of coffee per month), and the benefits that the community will realize with a new facility: restored accountability, improved safety, and investment for the future. Want to see the current conditions firsthand? Click here to sign up for a tour of the current jail facility. www.flatheadjail.com

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Kyle Waterman, downtown business owner and former city councilor, is running for Kalispell City Council Ward 3. In this conversation, he shares how his past council experience and decades of community leadership shape his vision for a growing, business-friendly Kalispell.

We talk about downtown revitalization, including how asking tough questions about city-owned property opened the door to new development opportunities. Waterman also discusses the challenge of balancing historic preservation with the needs of local businesses and residents.

Finally, he explains his approach to building a “getting to yes” culture in city government—focusing on transparency, strong public services, and a smoother process for small businesses. Tune in to hear his perspective on what it will take to keep Kalispell both unique and thriving.

Link:

Kyle4Kalispell: Kyle 4 Kalispell - Kalispell City Council Ward 3

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Meet Kisa Davison, Kalispell mayoral candidate and recipient of the Kalispell Chamber’s endorsement. She joins Drew Zagorski to share her journey from business owner and community leader to candidate for mayor.

Since moving to Kalispell in 2007, Kisa and her husband have built several businesses while raising four children. She has served on the Kalispell Chamber Board, chaired the Business Improvement District, and participated in multiple city task forces.

Kisa describes herself as a “professional problem solver,” not a career politician. Her campaign focuses on three priorities: strengthening public safety, ensuring responsible spending, and tackling housing affordability through free-market solutions. She outlines how her business experience informs these priorities and why she believes removing barriers for developers is key to addressing housing challenges.

Throughout the conversation, Kisa emphasizes urgency, accountability, and improving communication between city government and residents. Learn more by listening to this engaging podcast and by visiting www.kisa4kalispell.com.

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