Billings Business July 2016

5 MINUTES WITH KELLY EWING, KELLY COLT DESIGN

FRESH AIR

Downtown establishments, like Doc Harper’s Martini Bar, adding outdoor seating

SPECIAL REPORT

MONTANA LENTIL FARMERS ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE YEAR OF THE LENTIL

July 2016

Billings Business 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101-1242

CONTENTS July 2016

An indispensable business resource

On the Cover Doc Harper’s Martini Bar is the newest downtown establishment to offer outdoor seating. Business owners say the trend adds to downtown ambiance.

FEATURES

Fresh Air ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Special report: Agriculture .................................................................................................................................... 18 The Year of the Lentil means more exposure for Montana’s lentil farmers.

Photo by CASEY PAGE/ Gazette Staff

COLUMNS

Economic Development............................................................................................................................................... 10 Entrepreneurship.................................................................................................................................................................. 14 Bryce DeGroot — Make sure your business has a succession plan

Better Business....................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Veronica Craker — Make sure your advertising doesn’t make promises you can’t deliver

Legal Briefing

25

.........................................................................................................................................................................

Eric Nord: Be aware of new overtime rules

24 Hour Emergency Flood & Fire Restoration Services Commercial & Residential

Flood or Fire, we will restore your property from beginning to end.

BILLINGS BUSINESS EVERY MONTH

From the Editor.............................................................................................................................................................................4

Complete Reconstruction

By the numbers............................................................................................................................................................................5

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

The local economy at a glance

Big Sky Economic Development ..................................................................................................................... 10 Melanie Schwarz — Local innovator develops off-the-grid house

Business Briefs .......................................................................................................................................................................26 Success Stories......................................................................................................................................................................27 The Listings..................................................................................................................................................................................28 Kelly Ewing, owner of Kelly Colt Design, has rebranded her business

2

July 2016

Preferred by Major Insurance Companies.

406-628-0178

—24 hour contact line—

www.alphaomegapros.com

July 2016

Q3

the editor

M ONTANA ’ S HOME - GROWN HEDGE FUND IS JULY 2016 • VOLUME 22 • NUMBER 9

MAKING A SPLASH IN THE STATE Next Frontier Capital, Montana’s homegrown hedge fund, is up and running. Fund managers announced recently that the fund is closed after they had succeeded in raising $21.1 million.

Already that money is being invested in Montana companies.

“We are well positioned to execute on our mission to help build Montana companies of impact, utility and value.

The fund’s focus on investing in Montana technology and health care companies attracted more than 70 limited partners drawn from many of the world’s top technology, investment and venture capital firms,” said Will Price and Richard Harjes, general partners for Next Frontier Capital.

The fund has already invested in three Montana start-ups.

SiteOne Therapeutics of Bozeman is developing innovative treatments that can be used to treat pain without using opioids or non-steroid antiinflamatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

Submittable, a software company based in Missoula, has a cloud-based document management system used by publishers and other organizations in 23 countries.

Clearas uses algae and other microorganisms to treat water for municipalities and industrial customers.

Price said that several other Montana companies are being considered for potential investment. “The next two or three firms we invest in will be equally interesting,” he said.

Price said he’s especially pleased that the University of Montana Foundation is among the fund’s limited partners.

The UM Foundation has agreed to invest

4

July 2016

$500,000 in Next Frontier Capital, said Jamie Stanton, the foundation’s chief financial officer.

Price said Shane Giese, the foundation’s president and chief executive, and Mack Clapp, a member of the foundation’s board of directors and chairman of the investment committee, played an instrumental role in the foundation’s decision to invest in Next Frontier Capital.

“Having the foundation’s interest was a great affirmation for us,” Price said. “It’s a pretty big deal.”

You may have heard that ploughing money into a hedge fund is inherently risky. Yes, investing in start-up companies carries more risk than investing in U.S. treasury bills, for example. But that’s not like saying the foundation’s trustees have suddenly lost their minds and bought up a bunch of Powerball tickets.

Each investment is thoroughly vetted by the investment committee before a final decision is made, Stanton said.

Like most professionally managed investment funds, the UM Foundation’s $160 million endowment has a pre-determined asset allocation formula, which includes a mixture of stocks, bonds and private-equity investments, Stanton said.

Money managers often describe a portfolio as a series of buckets, each containing stocks, bonds and other types of investments. The foundation’s investment in Next Frontier Capital fits into the bucket set aside for the private equity portion of the portfolio, Stanton said.

Finding adequate capital has long been one of the biggest roadblocks to Montanans who dream of starting a new company. But things are changing, and Next Frontier Capital gives the UM Foundation an opportunity to invest in its own backyard.

mike gulledge tom howard COPY EDITOR chris jorgensen GENERAL MANAGER dave worstell PUBLISHER

EDITOR

SALES

ryan brosseau shelli scott ADVERTISING SALES curtis wallette, milt lang, arcadea scott ADVERTISING COORDINATOR spencyr schmaltz ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

SUBSCRIPTIONS Billings Business is mailed each month to area business owners, managers and decision makers.

To subscribe for $19.95 per year, please send payment, name, business name, mailing address and phone number to: Billings Business 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101 ADVERTISING For retail advertising call Curtis Wallette, 657-1427; Milt Lang, 657-1275; or Arcadea Scott, 657-1244. For classified advertising, call 657-1212.

Advertising deadline for the September 2016 issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9. You may send material to ads@billingsbusiness.com or Fax to 657-1538.

NEWS If you would like to submit a news tip, story idea, announcement about your business or press release, please email it to: editor@billingsbusiness.com website: www.billingsbusiness.com Information published herein does not reflect the opinion of Billings Business. Contents are the property of Billings Business.

Personal

By the Numbers

Business

LocaL and regionaL economic trends

real estate Member FDIC

agriculture King Ave 655-2700

Hilltop & Main 896-4800

Shiloh & Grand 655-3900

Downtown 655-2400

www.stockmanbank.com

14th & Grand 371-8100

National park visitors

BREWING UP SALES

Billings housing starts

4 4

4 3

3

3

2 2

1

2 1

0

1

0

Nov.

New single-family home building permits 60

113

120

50 40

110

0

80

30 20

40

December

January

February

December 2014 to April 2015

March

2015

Source: City of Billings

March April

Nov. 2014 to April 2015 Nov. 2015 to April 2016 Nov. 2014 to April 2015 Nov. 2015 to April 2016

Source: Montana Department of Transportation

Unemployment

Montana Beef Cattle

(per bushel)

Feb.

Nov. 2014 to April 2015 Nov. 2015 to April 2016

Source: National Park Service

Montana winter wheat

Jan.

Missoula

Dec. 2014 to May 2015 Dec. 2015 to May 2016

2016

Ag prices $8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Bozeman

Glacier National Park YTD Through April 31

December 2015 to April 2016

Dec.

May

Dec. 2014 to May 2015 Dec. 2015 to May 2016

0

April

Dec.

Billings Feb. March April

Jan.

Yellowstone National Park

10 0

5

5

In ten thousands

Source: Brewers Association

Airport boardings

5

In hundred thousands

The nation’s 4,269 craft brewers captured 12 percent of the U.S. beer market in 2015. Craft brewers produced 24.5 million barrels, a 13 percent increase from 2014, Revenues soared to $22.3 billion, a 16 percent increase.

Worden 967-3612

(per cwt.)

6%

200

5

150

4 3

100

2 50

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

November 2014 to April 2015 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

0

1 Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

November 2015 to April 2016

March

April

0

December

January

Montana

February

March

Yellowstone County

April

May

U.S.

Source: Montana Department of Labor and Industry

July 2016

5

CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff

Mary White of Special K Ranch, center, Barb Harper of Doc Harper’s and of Cris Pruitt of Cris Pruitt Construction arrange the flowers in the new temporary patio in front of Doc Harper’s Martini Bar.

AIR

FRESH

Outdoor seating adds to ambiance of downtown Billings 6

July 2016

BY TOM HOWARD Those who yearn for alfresco refreshment during long summer evenings have more options than ever in downtown Billings.

A new seasonal patio outside Doc ings City Council gave final approval for Harper’s Martini Bar, 116 N. Broadway, a special review. With its open-air seatwas up and running soon after the Bill- ing, Doc Harper’s has joined a growing

CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff

Barb Harper of Doc Harper’s Martini Bar arranges flowers in planters in front of the bar.

trend in which downtown establishments have embraced outdoor entertainment.

Bruce Harper, owner of Doc Harper’s, said the 320 square feet of open-air space will accommodate several dozen customers, increasing the bar’s capacity by about one-third.

The year-old Doc Harper’s has a big city feel, but it isn’t strictly a drinking establishment. It also offers bruschetta, shrimp cocktail and other hors

d’ouvres. The sidewalk patio makes good business sense, given that patio seating is consistently in demand at downtown establishments during the summer, Harper said.

Tables and chairs arranged on the sidewalk outside of Doc Harper’s are surrounded by a black metal fence. Pedestrians detour around the seating area via a 7-foot-wide boardwalk.

Wooden benches festooned with vining plants extend into the

street. Harper said he was required to reimburse the Billings Parking Department for three diagonal parking spots that are now occupied by the boardwalk and planters. The space will revert to parking after the sidewalk seating is taken down for the winter.

The Central Business District is one of several places within Billings where businesses that serve alcohol may have outdoor seating with city approval. As

part of the conditions placed on the permit, Doc Harper’s patio must be taken down between Oct. 31 and May 1.

The bar’s outdoor seating area represents the debut of a concept known as a “parklet,” a pedestrian-friendly place designed to entice people to slow down, relax and enjoy the scenery.

San Francisco is thought to be the first city to develop parklets.

Since then, many major cities throughout the U.S. have fol-

lowed suit.

“This isn’t a large place, but getting outside seating will be a lifesaver because we have competition across the street,” Harper said.

As downtown Billings evolves into a magnet for entertainment and dining, sidewalk seating adds to the ambience, Harper said. “It would be nice if the seating went all the way to the Alberta Bair Theater, anything to encourage people to walk July 2016

7

No BusiNess is too Big or small >> Customized POS Systems & Solutions

>> Track your Inventory and Improve your Margins

>> Financing Available

>> 24/7 Customer Support

>> Guaranteed PCI Protection >> Locally Owned, Operated, and Compliance and Serviced

Call, Email, or Visit our Website to Request a

FREE QuotE

CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff

Pedestrians walk on the sidewalk around the new temporary patio in front of Doc Harper’s Martini Bar, 116 N. Broadway.

downtown.”

Lisa Harmon, executive director of the Downtown Billings Alliance, said sidewalk seating is another feature that draws people to downtown. The DBA has received inquiries from several cities that are interested in adopting the parklet concept, she said.

“We definitely see more of these across the nation,” Harmon said. “Really, it’s about taking a space and activating it. It’s nice to be walking down the sidewalk and watch people enjoying themselves.”

Not long before Doc Harper’s received final approval for its outdoor seating, Wild Ginger, an Asian fusion and sushi restaurant at 2713 Montana Ave., opened its own outdoor seating area. A short fence separates diners from passing pedestrians.

It’s been 16 years since

“This isn’t a large place, but getting outside seating will be a lifesaver because we have competition across the street.”

Bruce Harper

owner of Doc Harper’s

the city approved outdoor seating for Montana Brewing Co. Owner Sean Graves believes that the venue, consistently full whenever the weather is pleasant, has made a lasting impression.

“Basically, it’s one of the pieces that has helped bring downtown back,” Graves said.

Montana Brewing Co.’s patio goes dormant in the winter. But whenever the temperature rises, customers start dropping

BUSINESS IS LOOKING GOOD. TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL 406-657-1298

8

July 2016

888.710.0896 • 406.272.2000 sales@meritagepos.com meritagepos.com

hints about it. “When you catch a nice day, even in March, people start calling to see if the patio is open,” Graves said.

During major events like the Yellowstone Valley Farmers Market, all 48 outdoor seats are frequently full, Graves said.

“It’s a huge part of the culture because it adds to the vibrancy,” Graves said.

“People watching is a big thing. They like sitting out on the patio as the foot traffic goes by.”

Billings Business 401 North Broadway Billings, MT 59101

Call Today

406-652-4022 Free Onsite Quote

Keep your fleet and business equipment looking great with rebranding, remarketing, and accident management.

2475 Enterprise Ave www.maaco-billings.com

It’s more than

just a loan.

It’s lending you can trust. From a partner who really understands—because we live here too.

It’s you and

together.

firstinterstate.com

July 2016

Q9

SPONSORED BY THE BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A LOCAL INNOVATOR HAS A VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ... we realized how many amazing innovators we have living right here in Billings.

Melane Schwarz is director of marketing and member investors at Big Sky Economic Development. Contact her at 406-869-8419 or at melanie@ bigskyeda.org

10

July 2016

Our city is about to be inundated with some of the top innovators throughout the state July 13-14 as the Governor’s Main Street Montana Project brings Innovate Montana to Billings.

While preparing for this event we realized how many amazing innovators we have living right here in Billings. One of those tremendous visionaries is Randy Hafer of High Plains Architects. He, his wife, Janna, and a team of innovators have designed and built a comfortable, affordable, and low maintenance house that will be entirely self-sustaining: The Urban Frontier House.

The dream that led to the Urban Frontier House has changed many times since its fi rst conception in the early 1970s. In the fall of that year Billings native Randy Hafer left every place he had ever known for a university in the Bay Area of California to study architecture.

For a kid from Montana, that was a pretty big shock. “I went from a place that I felt I knew well, a place with friends and family, big skies, long views, and few cars to a place where I didn’t know anyone, a place with a

very different climate, and lots of cars.”

Randy saw firsthand the disruption, anxiety, and uncertainty that quickly developed in California after the first Energy Crisis In the fall of 1973.

Janna Hafer has also had a long arc toward this dream, emerging where she is today after engaging with current anthropological trends starting with a book “The Long Emergency” by James Kunstler. After a lifetime of doing her best to be a responsible steward she will readily admit that she still has a long way to go. The next step for the Hafers will be to start their new life in the Urban Frontier House.

Randy and Janna are the president and CFO, respectively, of High Plains Architects, in Billings.

Randy says: “Frankly, I love this place. Our place, the northern high plains, is one of the few large areas left on the planet that isn’t ‘done’ yet. We are a small population in a vast landscape. We can still shape our future and it can be a sustainable future. One reason is our climate. It’s tough. Within the last 80 years, recorded temperatures have ranged from -70 to 117 degrees, a 187-de-

gree temperature range: Perhaps the most extreme on the planet. In addition, most of Montana is semiarid. Water is precious. So, if we can figure out how to build and live lightly and sustainably in this place, we should be able to do it just about any place.”

Energy independence

was only a starting point for the couple, as the architecture they are creating is meant to create a scalable and replicable prototype for a healthier and longer lasting standard of residential construction. This house has no mechanical heating or cooling system, no gas utility, no city water

or sewer service, nor well or septic system, and soon no tie to the electrical grid.

You can visit the Urban Frontier House during the upcoming Innovate Montana Symposium 2016 during tours the morning of July 13. Register today for the Symposium at innovatemontana.com

Tools, Insights, Connections July 13 ­14 | Crowne Plaza Hotel

7 Reasons to Attend the Innovate Montana Symposium AMAZING SPEAKERS

SOLUTIONS LOUNGES

MAKERSPACES

Governor Steve Bullock Debbie Sterling, CEO GoldieBlox & more

Experts in marketing, planning, exporting & many more.

Expo and talks from creative spaces from around the state

ENTREPRENEURS

BUSINESS PLANS

Randy Hafer, Sarah Calhoun, Scott Brown, Turk Cobell, & more

Downtown Billings Alliance Battle of Plan Finalists

FREE EVENTS

Growing Montana's Makers: A Celebration of Innovation, Education and BREAKOUT SESSIONS Creativity at the Northern Hotel Topics ranging from Succession Planning to Company Culture

Upcoming Chamber/ CVB Functions More details and RSVP: www. billingschamber.com or call 245-4111

SPONSORED BY THE BILLINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

July Business After Hours Wednesday, July 13, Auto Trim Design, 2951 King Ave. W. 5-7 pm. Cost is $8.

August Business After Hours Wednesday, Aug. 10, Crowne Plaza, 27 N. 27th St. 5-7 pm. Cost is $8.

I T ’ S NO TIME TO REST ON THE CITY ’ S LAURELS With community success comes growth; and with growth comes challenges.

Jeff Walters is the outgoing chairman of the board of the Billings Chamber of Commerce.

As we begin our new fiscal year, my tenure as chair of the board of directors of the Billings Chamber of Commerce has come to a close. It’s been my privilege to lead such an amazingly talented group of professionals that share a common passion: making Billings the best community in America to live, raise a family and own a business.

The Billings Chamber achieved some amazing accolades, including Chamber of the Year and 5-Star Accreditation. Many of our community partner agencies, such as the Downtown Billings Alliance and Big Sky Economic Development, also achieved national certifications and recognition.

Our world-class healthcare facilities continue to be innovative regional leaders, and our higher education institutions are some of Montana’s finest. Outside Magazine recently named us the “Best Town Ever.”

But there’s work to be done. With community success comes growth; and with growth comes challenges.

We stand now at a crossroads between small town and metropolitan city. We need to continue to grow and develop a competent workforce; create a meaningful quality of life that recruits and retains young professionals; further enhance our

role as a regional business hub; and ensure that our community has adequate services and infrastructure to support growth. It’s imperative that we continue to push for alternative revenue sources as our community grows and develops. As state funding sources continue to be volatile and often inadequate, it’s up to us to locally take charge of our own financial future.

Through our strategic partnership with Big Sky EDA, our participation in BillingsWorks will continue to be a focal point. Over the past year we’ve made significant strides in creating the strategic plans and developmental programs that will enable us to recruit and retain a qualified workforce.

As our state and our community ages, we must continue to make Billings a city that is conducive and attractive to the professional development of young professionals.

The Chamber’s NextGEN group gained significant traction in the past year with membership exceeding two hundred individuals. We’ve made a genuine effort to include our next generation of leaders in the Chamber’s strategic planning and in the execution of our goals, and I’m proud to have played a small role in a fantastic program designed solely to provide opportunities for our

next leaders to be successful.

Our recent Aspirational City Visit to Oklahoma City simply reinforced to me what I already knew: The path to our future success as a community will be built on a common vision and a united community effort. All of our partner agencies, city/county government, our higher education institutions, our health care facilities and our taxpayers must unite and take control of our future.

September Business After Hours Wednesday, Sept. 14, Wyndstone, 1260 Sierra Granda Blvd. 5-7 pm.

Cost is $8.

We need to continue to plan for community amenities and take bold steps to locally produce the revenue necessary to execute our plan.

We can no longer afford to simply let time pass and live with the outcome. In the words of our own Yellowstone Kelly, it’s time for us to “briskly venture; briskly roam” toward a future that we control.

It has been my honor to serve the Billings Chamber

board and I am so proud of our accomplishments. Much of the work in achieving these great accolades happens behind the scenes, and in workgroups made up of passionate volunteers who give their time and their effort freely. The staff of the Chamber is brilliantly talented, and works tirelessly on behalf of our membership and our community. I love this community, and I’m proud to have served it.

Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Chamber of the Year

Air Service Luncheon at

the

northern

Be in the know

on the latest developments with Billings’ air service.

BillingsChamber.com

Luncheon August 24 th. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. RSVP: BillingsChamber.com.

July 2016

11

Kelly Ewing

First a reboot, and then a new idea pops up Five Minutes with Kelly Ewing

Tell us about the idea behind the pop-up store.

How did that come about?

Since I am not doing retail anymore I have a very open

BY TOM HOWARD space. My friend Bess Fredlund approached me and asked if I would be interested in opening my location for her pop-up store. It was so much fun and a way for her to get IN LATE APRIL, BESS SNYDER FREDLUND her message out.

Do you have both residential and commercial UNVEILED A POP-UP STORE THAT SHOWCASED clients? What’s the ratio?

Right now I am currently doing about 70 percent resiHER STRIKING FOLDED PAPER CREATIONS. FRED- dential and 30 percent commercial.

Deciding on colors and styles can be daunting for LUND’S BUSINESS, THE PAPER HOUSE, SPECIALmany people. What’s your approach to helping clients come up with a design they end up loving?

IZES IN PAPER DOLLS, DRESSES, DECORATIONS The needs and wants vary with every client. Understanding and respecting their living environment is very AND GREETING CARDS FROM FOLDED PIECES OF important when coming up with a plan. There is so much information online that people often think they want their FINE ITALIAN PAPER, VINTAGE MAPS AND BOOK house to look exactly like a picture. My job is to help them achieve a look they love but also make it their own.

PAGES. Have you ever had to intervene to help couples Kelly Ewing, owner of Kelly Colt Design, thought come to a compromise on design? her interior design store would be an excellent venue for Yes. The design/build process can be stressful. Getting Fredlund’s event, and it proved to be a big success. Several to know the needs and wants from both sides is important. multicolored paper dresses remained hanging in the Meeting in the middle is a must to make everyone happy. store’s window for days afterward.

Do you have a list of preferred contractors that you A pop-up store is a relatively recent retailing concept in like to use, or is that up to the client? which business owners seek to increase visibility for their The client always has the first say in who they want products by opening temporary stores for a relatively short to work with. I have made a lot of great relationships time. with people in our trade and continue to do so. Honesty, Ewing moved the interior design store, previously communication and professionalism are so important in known as Catherine Lane Interiors, from Bozeman to this business. When given the opportunity to work with Billings early in 2014. She decided to rebrand the store people that share the same values and vision it always and now concentrates more on design services and less on helps the process. furnishings.

Do you have any suggestions for people who are Ewing sat down with Billings Business recently to thinking about going into interior design as a profesdiscuss a business that’s based on creativity. sion?

Q: Congratulations on re-branding the store.  Listen, listen, listen About the name: Does it reflect a love for horses or is  Pay attention to details there some other meaning behind it?  Respect the clients’ privacy A: My middle name is Colt. I was named after Samuel  There are no rules when it comes to design....if their Colt who was on the maternal side of my family. I thought were rules I wouldn’t have a job! about using “Buchanan” but there are too many of “them”  Never say never. downtown.

12

July 2016

July 2016

Q13

Entrepreneurship

Every business owner should have an exit plan Montana’s future is bright and our businesses play a crucial role in our communities.

Bryce DeGroot is the principal of Compass Advisors, a merger and acquisition advisory firm based in Bozeman. The firm handled $35 million of business exits for Montana entrepreneurs last year. Compass Advisors recently published their 2016 Private M&A Market Report, which can be found at www. compass-advisors.com/2016-ma-report.

14

July 2016

Successful entrepreneurs are visionary leaders who are driven by ideas and execution. They are intensely devoted to building their company. It should come as no surprise that most business owners spend little time planning for the inevitable fact that they will someday exit their company.

The decision to sell a company or a share of equity can be driven by personal goals such as retirement, the need to free up time or capital for the next venture, or business strategy.

The best exit strategy weaves together the company’s growth strategy and long-term exit planning into an outcome that maximizes value and achieves the shareholder’s personal goals.

Montana has long been known as a tremendous place to live, but with increased attention on Montana’s diverse and growing business community, it is also seeing an increase in investor interest. Let’s explore the type of investors that are acquiring Montana companies and what exit options are available. I’ll include some real examples of recent transactions that we handled for Montana companies.

Individual Entrepreneurs commonly use their

own capital or debt/equity financing to acquire a company. A common case is an industry veteran who is looking for the next venture.

An example is an entrepreneur who acquired a Montana marketing firm and then grew revenue 30 percent in the first year.

In this case, the buyer was seeking financial returns and the lifestyle of operating a Montana company.

Private equity investors are disciplined investors who make investments in established private companies with the goal of generating returns for their investors through earnings and value growth.

An example is a $1 billion private equity fund that acquired a Montana precision manufacturing company with the goal of scaling the proprietary products to national/international markets. They maintained the Montana operation and they plan to grow with new jobs and increased production.

Private equity financing can provide the opportunity to sell a stake in the company in exchange for growth capital or shareholder liquidity. Any retained equity provides the opportunity for a “stage two” exit down the road at a higher valuation.

If you’re a business owner, it makes sense to develop a succession plan.

Strategic buyers are commonly companies who are acquiring as part of their growth strategy. The buyer is often seeking new customers, products, technology or geography.

We recently handled a transaction with a public “Fortune 10” company that acquired a Montana company for strategic reasons — obtaining their proprietary products and sticky customers — while growing the workforce in Montana.

Internal successors include employees and family members. Management buyouts are an option when

there is a strong or highly integral management team.

Outside investors can support the managers to provide cash to the exiting shareholder(s), while leaving management with partial or full ownership.

Family successions are prevalent in stable mature companies with family management talent. With the right talent, a family succession can provide an enduring family legacy.

Family successions must be carefully planned, as there is a decreasing success rate with each successive generation of ownership.

Jupiterimages

In addition to the options mentioned, the array of exit options includes an IPO, an ESOP and several other transaction structures. A company’s unique value drivers and situation will determine their exit options.

Montana’s future is bright and our businesses play a crucial role in our communities. By planning ahead, shareholders can reach their financial and personal goals in a graceful exit, as well as ensure their company continues to have a positive impact on the local and state community.

Hoisting a large American flag at Bretz RV and Marine required many hands.

Courtesy photo

Large American Flag is the finishing touch for new Bretz RV store Billings Business Bretz RV and Marine moved to its new location at 2999 Old Hardin Road back in April. But company officials waited until June 9 to add a finishing touch that helps the business stand out: one of the largest American flags in the Billings area.

Gov. Steve Bullock, representatives of Montana’s congressional delegation, local dignitaries and a variety of military organizations were on hand for the flag raising ceremony. About 44 people helped hoist the flag into the air.

“The flag is something to help us express our gratitude for the reason we can have a business in Billings,” said Dustin Bretz, owner. “Twenty-five percent of our employees are veterans, and we thought this was a unique thing that we can do as a way of saying thanks to our service members.”

The flag, 30 feet tall and 60 feet wide, stands out against the Billings skyline, day and night.

“It has to be illuminated at night, so we have two LED lights to keep it lit,”

“The flag is something to help us express our gratitude for the reason we can have a business in Billings”

Dustin Bretz

owner of Breta RV and Marine Bretz said.

As summer kicks in, tourism promoters are anticipating a strong year. Yellowstone National Park, which hosted 4 million visitors last year, could eclipse that record this year. The National Park Service is celebrating its centennial this year, and low gas prices are encouraging families to hit the road.

“There’s a lot of excitement with it being the centennial of the National Park Service,” Bretz said.

July 2016

15

BETTERbusiness

Business owners, especially, must be diligent to combat scammers To make sure you aren’t being deceived it’s best to avoid accepting overpayment.

Veronica Craker is managing editor of Better Business Bureau Northwest. Contact her at veronica.craker@thebbb.org.

16

July 2016

Throughout my time with the Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest, I’ve heard a lot of stories from scam victims. I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is to get swept up in the con only to be left shaking your head wondering how could someone take advantage of a complete stranger.

I’ve had a woman beg me to call a scammer and ask them to return her money because she didn’t know what else to do. Of course, the number she provided me no longer worked so I didn’t even have the chance to make one last desperate attempt for her.

As disheartening as these real-life stories can be, I relish in the small victories when I hear from someone who was able to avoid being scammed because of what they’ve learned from BBB. I often hear from people or read on BBB Scam Tracker of someone who did their research on that government grant or “Microsoft technician” phone call, only to discover a BBB press release detailing the scam and how to avoid being cheated. These small victories can often go unnoticed because no money was lost, but here at BBB we see them every day and are

motivated by them.

Recently, the scammer situation hit close to home when my brother-in-law became the target of one.

I’ll refer to him as Mike, to keep his privacy. Mike works as an independent contractor in the Seattle area. He often advertises his services through Craigslist as he specifically works on small jobs that he can typically handle himself. A few months ago he was contacted via text message —which he informed me isn’t out of the ordinary for his line of work — about a job installing cabinets.

The “client” gave him the address for a house that he had just purchased.

They offered to pay Mike more than what was standard for that type of work. What’s more, the “client” said he would send him a check for more than the offer and have him deposit it into his private account. Then the scammer told him to send the remaining funds via money order. Fortunately, my brother-in-law decided to do his own research and discovered the house was not owned by the person contacting him. Also, the fact that he was being overpaid for such a routine service was a big red flag for him and he ceased hav-

Scams can arrive in many forms, even by text message.

ing communication with the scammer.

Running your own company can be challenging and turning down business might seem counterintuitive, but it’s important to be thorough when working with a client to ensure you’ll be paid.

To make sure you aren’t being deceived it’s best to avoid accepting overpayment. Be skeptical if your client pays you more than the asking price and asks

that you wire them the difference. Often this means their check will bounce, but not until after you’ve sent them their money via money order.

Better Business Bureau also suggests getting to know your customer.

This might seem like a no-brainer, but in this day and age it is common for business to be conducted solely over the internet or on the phone. Even so, that shouldn’t stop you from

Jupiterimages

truly knowing who you’re doing business with. Get their full name, address and telephone number.

Scammers can use Caller ID Spoofing to make it look like a call is coming locally or in the country. So don’t be afraid to call the number back to ensure you’re talking to a real person.

To keep up on the latest scams happening your area check out BBB’s Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/ scamtracker.

The best care is right here.

Billings Clinic’s membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network means Billings Clinic specialists can consult with Mayo Clinic on your care, creating another breakthrough we call home. For you that means no long-distance travel, peace of mind and access to the finest medical knowledge available. Right here at home.

To find out more, visit billingsclinic.com/mayo

July 2016

Q17

SPECIAL REPORT: AGRICULTURE TRENDS, FORECASTS & PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES

Contoured wheat and lentil fields turning green during the spring. Montana is the nation’s top producer of lentils and garbanzos.

Farmers welcome designation as

2016 Year of the Pulses

By Tom Howard 18

July 2016

Tom Brakefield

When the United Nations declared 2016 the International Year of the Pulses, perhaps no Montanan was more excited than organic farmer Dave Oien.

With its designation, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization seeks to highlight the benefits of pulse crops — which include peas, beans and lentils — which Montana farmers have been planting in abundance.

AGRICULTURE Over the past decade, Montana has become the nation’s top producer of pulse crops, with $140 million worth of sales in 2014, according to the Montana Department of Agriculture.

Oien, a member of a looseknit group of farmers frequently referred to as the Lentil Underground, is a founder of Timeless Natural Food.

Its growers have bucked national trends by avoiding artificial fertilizers, herbicides and genetically-modified crops, while practicing farming techniques that aim to produce healthful foods.

As an added benefit, the crops they raise actually improve the health of their soil, Oien said.

These renegade farmers have persevered despite drought, marketing challenges and a federal farm policy that was unfriendly toward any type of crop besides commodities such as corn, wheat and barley.

Liz Carlisle, an author, college professor and a former legislative aide to one of Montana’s best known organic farmers, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has introduced the Montana farmers’ successes to a nationwide audience. Her award-winning book, “Lentil Underground: Renegade Farmers and the Future of food in America,” has focused national attention on growers who have collectively thumbed their noses at the industrial agricultural complex founded on chemicals and fossil fuels.

Some have suggested the sustainable practices detailed in “Lentil Underground” could fundamentally transform Montana’s farm economy if they were to be put into wider use. When asked about that potential, Oien cautioned that there’s no onesize-fits-all solution.

“Lentils are potentially an important piece in a big and complex picture. But they’re not a silver bullet,” Oien said in a telephone interview. “They provide an op-

LENTIL FACTS Montana is the nation’s No. 1 lentil producer. Organic lentils, grown without irrigation, flourish on just 12” to 14” annual rainfall.

The versatile little lentil can be used to make everything from soup, sprouts, salad, and stew to pudding, cake, and cookies.

Organic lentils and other grains from Timeless Food are part of a broad selection at Good Earth Market.

portunity for farmers to diversify their crop rotation and to improve soil conditions. They can help farmers reduce their synthetic inputs, so there are environmental and economic benefits as well.”

Carlisle, a fellow at the Center for Diversified Farming Systems at the University of California at Berkeley, teaches at both the Berkeley campus and Stanford University. Her students are eager to change the world when it comes to making agriculture more sustainable, she said.

Oien says that organic products that Timeless Natural Food produces account for only a tiny portion of all pulse crops raised in Montana. However, Carlisle remains confident that sustainable systems developed by Oien and his fellow growers can be adapted to different crops and climates.

In an author’s note to “Lentil Underground,” Missoula-raised Carlisle writes that she ended up

at Oien’s home in 2011 because of her own interest in learning how farmers can manage to feed the world without destroying it.

Oien’s own agricultural career took root in 1976 after he left college and moved back to the family farm near Conrad. Double-digit inflation and skyrocketing fuel prices were among the big challenges that threatened American farmers and ranchers in the 1970s.

Using the resourcefulness for which many farmers are known, Oien erected a solar hot water system on the roof of the farm house. At one point he even built a digester designed to convert cow manure into methane that could be used for fuel.

One of his first ventures, organic beef, was probably ahead of its time. In those days, consumers didn’t see much of a need for beef that was raised without hormones or other chemicals, he said.

During the 1970s, American

Photo by Tom Howard

farmers were caught up in the “get big or get out” mantra promoted

by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz and other agricultural economists who argued that boosting production was the key to prosperity.

That strategy seemed to work for a while. In 1972, the United States exported 24 million tons of wheat to the Soviet Union, which had suffered through a terrible harvest. Butz’s edict to “plant from fence row to fence row” led to disastrous consequences just a few years later, however. Bumper crops caused prices to collapse.

Farmers were hamstrung by staggering debt burdens and commodity prices that didn’t cover the cost of production.

As the crisis accelerated, farm foreclosures reached their highest levels during 1983 than since the Great Depression. Many rural communities still haven’t fully recovered.

A lentil is a bean — its seeds grow in pods (genus: Fabaceae), a legume (a soil-building plant that converts atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer for itself and other crops), and a pulse (the edible seed of a legume).

Sources: Wikipedia, US Dried Lentil and Pea Association.

July 2016

19

Oien’s venture into raising organic beef didn’t pan out, but he kept plugging away, coming up with new strategies to reduce his farm’s use of chemicals and fossil fuels.

Oien began marketing seeds of a plant known as black medic, a native, self-seeding legume, as a method for farmers to improve soil fertility. Like its relative, alfalfa, black medic improves soil fertility by drawing nitrogen from the atmosphere and “fixing” it in the soil.

The seed business

WE CARE. Downtown Chapel 925 S. 27th Street Billings • 245-6427

evolved into the organic food business after Oien and his fellow growers began growing lentils and other pulse crops. Oien is among four Montanans who founded Timeless Natural Food, www.timelessfood.com.

The farmer-owned company packages and distributes organic lentils, peas, garbanzos and other specialty products to numerous retailers and has done business with retailing heavyweights such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

WE LISTEN.

West Chapel

304 34th St. West Billings • 245-6427

DARNIELLE INSURANCE AGENCY

Ask Us Your Insurance Questions Online

“In many third-world areas, agricultural practices are more advanced than ours.”

Dave Oien

organic farmer, founder of Timeless Natural Food Oien and his fellow growers have persevered despite drought, the challenge of developing processing facilities and simply creating new markets for organic pulse crops.

Farmers learned thousands of years ago that ro-

WE HELP.

Smith Chapels

Laurel & Columbus 628-6858

Olcott Chapel Red Lodge 446-1121

1320 28th Street West Billings, MT 59101 call us: (406) 652-4180 visit us online: darnielle.com

tating grains with legumes in successive years benefited both crops. In the 19th century, German agronomist Hermann Hellriegel identified the process by which leguminous plants capture nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into fertilizer.

Crop rotation largely fell out of favor during the second half of the 20th century as farmers turned to herbicides and commercial fertilizers to boost yields.

Carlisle and Oien noted that the chemical-intensive monoculture cropping system that has been the norm in American agriculture over the past few decades is actually a departure from

CENTRAL DOWNTOWN BILLINGS

might be OK in the short term, but not in the long term, Carlisle said.

Oien also cautioned that boosting soil fertility by practicing organic farming methods is a long-term process, taking perhaps 20 to 30 years. “But it’s not an overnight fix. You have to keep at it year after year, with crop rotations and other practices.”

For Lease

Managing your Insurance Moves The Independent Contractor – Addressed Again??

Buying Workers’ Compensation Insurance Condominium Association Insurance Transportation Network Companies – TNC’s

Read More at darnielle.com July 2016

farming practices that had been developed over thousands of years.

“Rotation is a very common practice around the world,” Oien said. “In many third-world areas, agricultural practices are more advanced than ours.”

Scientists are learning that the maximum production model on which modern agriculture is based

2804 3rd Ave N

Travis Dimond • (406) 927-8724

By guest blogger Dennis P. Gambill, Insurance Litigation Consultant.

20

Montana grows about $140 million worth of peas and lentils each year, according to the USDA.

A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC

Travis@floberg.com

/

This student-founded startup is making an impression on campus PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER PHILADELPHIA — Melanie Weinsten, 20, has just finished her sophomore year at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is an economics major minoring in mathematics and neuroscience.

Yet what is arguably her most impressive accomplishment had nothing to do with academics.

It had to do with sales. In the spring, Weinsten sold $127,000 worth of custom-print apparel, mostly T-shirts and tank tops, the largest individual sales in a semester at Fresh Prints, a rapidly growing startup.

Based in New York but with Penn origins, Fresh Prints has “campus managers” such as Weinsten at 80 schools throughout the United States. It was founded by students not only to sell to other students, but also to give them a taste of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur.

“They’ve set up a program where I get to run my own startup, but they provide me with T-shirt tools along the way,” Weinsten said on a recent visit to Tee Vision Printing in Philadelphia. It’s one of eight printers Fresh Prints uses around

the country.

Weinsten’s sales are starting to mean some serious beer-and-pizza money. Her total for the 2015-16 school year, her first in business: $163,500, of which she got to keep $13,997.

All Fresh Prints campus managers are entitled to at least 7 percent of sales, and up to 9 percent, based on bonuses for reaching certain sales goals. With few exceptions, a manager has an entire campus to himself — or herself. In the Philadelphia area, Penn is the only campus where Fresh Prints is active.

“We’d love to have more Philly schools,” said Jolijt (Yo-light) Tamanaha, 23, a 2015 political science graduate from Washington University in St. Louis and chief marketing officer at Fresh Prints.

Penn has been consistently fertile ground for the venture since friends Sasha Sherman and Jason Israel started it there and at Washington University in 2009, seeing sales potential in all the sororities and fraternities, athletic and service clubs.

Two years later, the company, with a presence on nine campuses, was profit-

2016 is the year to MEET!

Meetings and events from 2 to 200.

Flexible space and fantastic food and beverage options.

• Complete meeting packages • Complimentary WiFi / Business Center, • Full service Audio / Visual equipment • Eight miles from Billings Logan International Airport • Group room discounts Please contact us by email bilbm-salesadm@hilton.com or call 406-655-8800.

Hilton Garden Inn Billings 2465 Grant Road, Billings, MT 59102 406-655-8800 • 1-877-STAY-HGI www.billings.hgi.com

IT’S BETTER AT THE GARDEN

©2016 HILTON WORLDWIDE

able but not big enough to support Sherman and Israel, who were graduating.

They sold Fresh Prints at an undisclosed price to two students who were interested in growing it and running a business: Jacob Goodman and Josh Arbit, students and fraternity brothers at Washington University. Goodman, a New York native, was majoring in finance; Arbit, from Teaneck, N.J., in entrepreneurship.

Goodman and Arbit spent the 2-1/2 years until they graduated expanding operations to other campuses, mostly through student referrals. Fresh Prints reported $1.9 million in revenue in the last 12 months.

Product design is primarily done through the Fresh Prints website. Customers can either do their own designs or use one available through Fresh Prints.

A campus manager’s main job is to develop and process sales. That explains why the application process is “painfully long,” Tamanaha said. “We only hire 3 percent of the people who start the application.”

But those who make it through the five rounds — written questions, behav-

ioral analysis, case studies, mock email sales pitches to Goodman, and a phone interview — have demonstrated what Tamanaha said is a trademark characteristic of a successful campus manager: persistence.

Because of the time it takes to develop skills and a market, Fresh Prints will not hire campus managers who are beyond their sophomore year.

Weinsten cited sales as the biggest learning curve, “figuring out the best way to reach people. For college kids, I text a lot.” For leads, she relies on social media, such as event announcements on Facebook, and on fliers distributed on Penn’s campus.

Though there are loads of custom-apparel vendors on the internet, Weinsten said she emphasizes her locally based service, which enables order fulfillment in as little as a day or two in a pinch (a week to 10 days is preferred), and “extremely low prices.”

“We know a lot of these kids are working on tight budgets,” she said.

Weinsten will be looking to tap more of those budgets in the fall: “My goal is to get over $200,000 in sales next year.”

Ask us About our speciAl pricing for businesses.

s r o t iDocsion Mis all damaged

air s to rep mart Phone

-S - PC’s s - Mac s let les - Tab onso C e - Gam

www.idoctormt.com

406.206.3437 HEIGHTS 406.534.2547 WEST End

serving West end 960 s. 24th st W, suite b

Heights 315 Main st, suite 200 July 2016

21

Volkswagen hopes to bounce back with electric cars “Our most important currency is trust.”

Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany — German automaker Volkswagen plans to ramp up its offerings of electric vehicles as it fights to bounce back from a scandal over diesel cars rigged to cheat on emissions tests.

The electric campaign is part of a wide-ranging review of the company’s strategy that also includes making the company’s management more open and trustworthy.

CEO Matthias Mueller said recently that the company plans to introduce more than 30 electric-powered vehicles by 2025, and to sell 2 to 3 million of them a year.

Mueller made the statement as the company made public the results of a prolonged soulsearching triggered by the scandal that erupted in September 2015. The new plan, dubbed “Together — Strategy 2025” includes a focus on digital mobility, which

Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller

Associated Press

Volkswagen unveils the e-Golf Touch electric car during a keynote address at CES International in Las Vegas.

could include things like as car- or ride-sharing apps; more open management; and stronger profitability.

In particular, the company also set as a goal increasing the profitability of the core Volkswagen brand, which is barely making money. Mueller said the company intended to increase

operating profit margins from the current 6 percent to 7-8 percent by 2025.

The company also sought to make its management more open and less convinced it knew best how to do things without consulting partners or outside advice.

“Our most important cur-

Puzzled by Cloud ComPuting?

Let Vision Net Help You Put the Pieces Together!

rency is trust,” Mueller said at a news conference at the company’s Autostadt, or Auto City, visitor center next door to its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. He acknowledged the difficulty of winning back public confidence after the scandal.

Mueller said the company would need more electric vehicles to meet increasingly tight government limits on emissions of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas blamed by scientists for global warming, and other pollutants. He said, however, that the company would keep a major focus on developing and selling internal combustion engines.

Volkswagen bet heavily on diesels to meeting emissions goals. But that strategy suffered a blow after the company was

A WARM WELCOME TO

OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS:

Whether you are looking for hosted servers, virtual desktops or backup solutions, Vision Net’s cloud-based services provide a comprehensive answer for any small to medium sized business.

Our state of the art network will provide you redundant connections to our geographically diverse data centers to assure you safe and consistent service. Then we back the whole thing up with our world class support center that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep an eye on those critical services and help you maximize your cloud experience.

Give us a call and let’s work together to drive your business to new heights!

www.vision.net 1-866-334-8638 | sales@vision.net 22

July 2016

discovered to have met emissions tests using engine control software that turned emission controls on when the car was on a test stand and turned them off in everyday driving. The company is currently working out a settlement with U.S. authorities in federal court in San Francisco to repair or replace some 500,000 cars with the problematic software. Some 11 million cars were sold with the software worldwide.

The company has set aside at least 16.2 billion euros ($18.1 billion) from last year’s earnings to cover the costs of recalls and fixes. Mueller said Thursday that he had no reason to increase that sum based on what he knows now, but that that could change after the U.S. settlement is finally agreed.

DEREK BARTEL PERSONAL BANKER | 406.256.1891 | NMLS: 7430251 Bartel specializes in personal, business, agricultural loans and new accounts. Bartel graduated with a degree in business management and communications from Rocky Mountain College and is a member of the Billings Chamber of Commerce and Home Builders Association of Billings.

ALAN VOGT COMMERCIAL LOAN OFFICER | 406.256.1891 | NMLS: 823205 Vogt specializes in business and commercial real estate loans. He holds a degree in business finance from Montana State University in Bozeman and is a member of the Billings Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association of Billings and Biz to Biz networking.

YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS BANK. YOUR OPPORTUNITY. BILLINGS – 455 S. 24TH STREET W. NMLS#412554

OPPORTUNITYBANK.COM

call the experts call the

best

your marketplace for local professionals.

Advanced Employment Services

TRUST The Water Experts!

652-8808 • www.advanced-employment.com

Check out this month’s special at

locally owned & Operated Do you need an employee for a day or forever?

www.AmericanWaterTechnologies.net

• We cover all Workers Compensation, Payroll plus Payroll taxes and Unemployment • We work with all types of companies including roofing

134 Regal st. Billings • 406.252.4161 serving the Billings area since 1941

• Uniforms • Linens • Floor Mats

Now Selling Flame-Resistant Workwear

&

Surrounding Areas s City & Servin g Businesses in Billings, Mile

& Cre reating Images Since 1906 715 Central avenue (406) 252-5172 w www.bigskylinen.com

Roofing Fascia Soffits Commercial & Residential

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Contractors Commercial – Industrial Institutional Systems Custom Metal Fabricators

2041 Harnish Blvd.

PO Box 30776 Billings, Montana

Phone: 248-1757 • Fax: 248-6320 Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association – SMACNA

MAKE YOUR HOUSE HAPPY & HEALTHY WITH CLEAN CARPETS & AIR DUCTS Air Duct cleAning SpeciAl $399 for up to 15 openingS

Licensed Bonded Insured Registered www.kirknessroofing.com

moore lane

Since 1978

Some restrictions apply. not sold with any other offers.

-Since 1963

This could be your

LUMBER CO.

roofing • siding • windows • doors

LocaLLy owned • deLiveRy avaiLabLe • M-F 7-5:30

www.zentzlumberbillings.com

2775 Roundup Rd. • 252-4810

Call Today for Air Duct & Carpet Specials!

252-6952

www.steristeam.com

business

Place your business card here

and get noticed!

Call 406.657.1200

and be in the next issue of Billings Business July 2016

Q23

STRATEGIESfor success

Lack of quality control could set you up for a disaster This challenge is one that many manufacturers have every day — quality control of the final product.

Joe Michels, PhD, P.E., C.P.I., is principal of Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC. Contact him at www.solomonbruce.com

24

July 2016

A publishing firm used a new commercial printer for their printed material.

One of the pieces of print material that was required is a quarterly publication that contains business information, advertising and stories about the local community.

The publishing firm had been using an out-ofstate printer to produce the magazine. However, with new firm ownership, the decision was made to find a local printer. The printer selected was in a HUB Zone (Historically Underutilized Business) as defined by the Small Business Administration. This is also a woman-owned, minority business that had wonderful testimonials on its website. There was no reason not to use a new firm — their bid was competitive and service appeared to be acceptable.

When the magazines were delivered to the publishing firm, they were distributed in the local area. Fifteen minutes after the first box was distributed, the calls started coming in. “We have a copy of the magazine, however, the magazine is missing pages 47-86.”

Advertisers started calling. “Where is our ad, the one that we paid a premium for?”

A step that was obviously forgotten was checking the first article to see that it met all

customer specifications.

In engineering, we call this first article testing. In printing, this is called reviewing the printed product to see that the document fulfilled all customer requirements. In any type of process where a production of many copies are made, the first article and some number of subsequent articles should be tested to ensure compliance with customer specifications. In the printing case, we would suggest that each 10th article be inspected to ensure complying with customer specifications. There are statistical charts to tell us what number of articles to inspect/test. However, because this was a new customer and the equipment may be different, it is probably worth going slow to reduce any possible errors.

The bottom line — confusion, frustration, unhappiness and rework on all parties involved. How could this happen? How could 6,500 magazines be produced and no one check to see if they were complete and correctly printed?

This challenge is one that many manufacturers have every day — quality control of the final product. In this case, it appears that not only did the printer not have a quality control program, but the binding company

Quality control is essential in printing and other businesses.

did not either. Nobody seemed to check to see if the final product met customer specifications. This is the first step that should be done whenever something new is being built, constructed, designed, engineered, and manufactured.

Rework, schedule

delays, increased costs, customer unhappiness all result when the first article is not checked to ensure that it fulfills all manufacturer specifications. We are all humans and we all make errors — that is a given. However, in this scenario, which ended up being a comedy

Hemera Technologies

of errors all around, many people were involved, but no one checked to ensure that the product was correctly produced.

Remember the old carpenter adage, “Measure twice, cut once.” Sadly, that did not happen in this instance, creating challenges all around.

LEGALbriefing

New overtime regulations will affect employers, and their workers Businesses often believe, erroneously, that if they pay an employee a salary, the employee is not eligible for overtime pay.

Eric Nord works for the Crist, Krogh & Nord Law Firm in Billings, specializing his practice in the area of business law and litigation with a special emphasis on commercial transactions, employment law, real estate, construction law, and corporate relations.

On May 18, 2016, President Barack Obama and the Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez announced the publication of the Department of Labor’s Final Rule updating the overtime regulations.

These regulations are likely to impact at least 4 million workers, especially white-collar workers who are considered “exempt” from overtime. The new rule focuses primarily on updating the salary and compensation levels needed for executive, administrative and professional workers to be considered exempt from overtime.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the change is that the standard salary level in order to qualify for exempt status will rise to $913 per week (or $47,476 per year). The effective date of the Final Rule is Dec. 1, 2016 unless either Congress acts or there is a judicial challenge.

Businesses often believe, erroneously, that if they pay an employee a salary, the employee is not eligible for overtime pay.

Yet, whether an employee receives a salary really has very little to do with whether the employee is “exempt” from overtime.

Rather, it is the amount of the salary along with the duties of the employee

which determine whether overtime is required.

For example, to qualify for the administrative exemption from overtime, the employee must not only receive a minimum amount of compensation (currently $455 per week but increasing to $913 on Dec. 1); the employee’s primary duty must be the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers; and the employee’s primary duty must include the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.

By way of example, consider Casey who is a secretary. Casey earns $500 per week and performs office or non-manual work.

While exercising some discretion and independent judgment, Casey does not do so with respect to matters of significance. As such, Casey must be paid overtime in accordance with the Department of Labor Rules and Regulations. If, however, Casey were the manager of a fast food franchise with the ability to hire and fire other employees, Casey would be exempt from overtime.

How will the new rule

Ryan McVay

New overtime rules will affect at least 4 million workers.

impact our examples? In both cases, Casey will be entitled to overtime because the minimum income threshold will not be met. Only by increasing Casey’s income to at least $913 per week with respect to the situation where

Casey manages a fast food franchise will Casey continue to be exempt from overtime.

As a result of the proposed change in the overtime regulations, employers should begin analyzing their workforce compensa-

tion levels and job duties for their employees. By being proactive in that regard, employers may avoid large overtime expenses (as well as Department of Labor fines and penalties) after the Rule goes into effect.

July 2016

25

Business Briefs Local Commerce at a Glance

WSB building Laurel branch

The Western Security Bank division of Glacier Bank has broken ground on a new branch in Laurel.

The bank will feature an expanded teller line, an internet café, five drive-up lanes, a drive-up ATM and more onsite parking. Located across First Street from the current branch, the new facility will feature 7,500 square feet of space. The branch at 20 Montana Ave. will remain open and accessible to customers during regular business hours during construction.

“Brian Thompson, the branch manager in Laurel, his staff and our valued customers have graciously endured the confined square footage of the Laurel Branch for a number of years” said Western Security Bank President, Mike Seppala. “We are very excited to open the doors to this new facility in the Spring of 2017 with double the space of the current branch. Our team looks forward to serving the customers of Laurel and the surrounding communities for many years to come.”

A&E Architects, led by project manager Eric Simonsen and architect Chad Schreiner, designed the multi-million dollar branch. Dick Anderson Construction is the general contractor, with Kevin Hintt, vice president, as the project manager and Mike Moore as the project superintendent. Project completion is estimated for March 2017.

Western Security Bank has been serving the banking needs of Montana since the early 1920s. In 2001 Western Security Bank joined the Glacier Bancorp, Inc. family of banks and is now a division of Glacier

26

July 2016

Bank, headquartered in Kalispell.

Collectively, the 13 divisions serve seven states along the inland Northwest and employs more than 2,000. Each division maintains its own name and brand in an effort to better respond to the unique needs of its specific marketplace.

Western Security Bank has seven locations in the Billings area and employs employs 167 people.

IRS warns of tax scams

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning to taxpayers about bogus phone calls from IRS impersonators demanding payment for a non-existent tax, the “Federal Student Tax.” Even though the tax deadline has come and gone, scammers continue to use varied strategies to trick people, in this case students. In this newest twist, they try to convince people to wire money immediately to the scammer. If the victim does not fall quickly enough for this fake “federal student tax,” the scammer threatens to report the student to the police.

“These scams and schemes continue to evolve nationwide, and now they’re trying to trick students,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Taxpayers should remain vigilant and not fall prey to these aggressive calls demanding immediate payment of a tax supposedly owed.”

Scam artists frequently masquerade as being from the IRS, a tax company and sometimes even a state revenue department. Many scammers use threats to intimidate and bully people into paying a tax bill. They may even threaten

to arrest, deport or revoke the driver’s license of their victim if they don’t get the money.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money and you don’t owe taxes, here’s what you should do: Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.

Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page or call 800-366-4484.

Report it to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting FTC.gov and clicking on “File a Consumer Complaint.” Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

If you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.

Lindeen announces $200k in restitution

HELENA — Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica J. Lindeen has announced the order of more than $200,000 in restitution to Montanans who were victims of a pair of major financial frauds.

The restitution, announced on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, brings the total paid by the Montana Securities Restitution Fund beyond the $1 million mark, benefiting more than 75 different Montanans. The fund was established by the Montana Legislature in 2011 at the urging of Lindeen. Further legislation in 2015 doubled the possible restitution and expanded the potential criminal penalties for financial crimes that victimize seniors or other vulnerable people.

“The Restitution Fund is a big step toward getting some money back to victims of finan-

cial fraud, but it doesn’t come close to recovering everything,” Lindeen said. “That’s why we work hard to educate seniors and their families, to give them the tools to help prevent anyone else from losing their life savings to financial criminals.”

The latest order gives restitution to victims in two different cases in Montana.

One of the scammers was John “Jack” Cross, a Lake County man now in federal prison for wire fraud. He told victims he was putting the money into real estate and other investments, when actually he was using the money for his own personal benefit.

The other scammer was Paul Schumack, a Florida man who defrauded 1,800 investors nationwide in an $80 million Ponzi scheme. Schumack, now serving a 12-year federal prison sentence, told victims they were investing in “virtual concierge” kiosks, like ATMs, to be placed in hotels, hospitals, stadiums and other public places. The machines would let people download movies, order food, and more. Schumack and others sold interest in more than 20,000 of the machines, telling people they would earn a steady income stream. But in reality, only 84 machines were ever produced.

Lindeen reminds seniors and their families to take steps to protect personal data and to be wary of any investment opportunity that promises large returns for little risk. If an offer is too good to be true, it probably is.

People should also check with the Commissioner’s office at 800-332-6148 to check whether an investment broker or financial adviser is licensed in Montana or to report suspected financial fraud.

Court backs net neutrality

A federal appeals court has upheld the government’s “net neutrality” rules, preserving regulations that force internet providers such as Comcast and AT&T to treat all online traffic — everything from Netflix and cat videos to games and downloads — equally.

The 2-1 ruling is a sweeping victory for the Obama administration and the consumer groups and internet companies that have pushed net neutrality for years. The Federal Communications Commission’s rules block internet service providers from favoring their own services and disadvantaging others; blocking other sites and apps; and creating “fast lanes” for video and other data services that pay for the privilege.

On technical grounds, the ruling upholds the FCC’s authority to regulate broadband service as a utility, much like phone service, and to forbid what it considers unreasonable practices. It applies equally to wired broadband providers like cable companies and mobile ones such as Verizon.

The net neutrality rules have been in effect since June.

The providers who filed the lawsuit say they’ll appeal.

Non-compete pacts nixed

NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain has agreed to stop including non-compete agreements in hiring packets used for low-wage workers.

Schneiderman said recently

that such agreements “bully” workers into staying under threat of being sued, and companies should stop using them for minimum-wage employees.

The sample non-compete agreements Jimmy John’s sent its franchisees prevented employees from working for any nearby business that gets at least 10 percent of its sales from sandwiches for two years after they left.

Jimmy John’s said it assured Schneiderman’s office it wouldn’t support the enforcement of a franchisee’s noncompete agreement against a worker. Franchisees in New York that used the non-compete agreements have agreed to void past agreements and stop using them, the attorney general’s office said.

According to the settlement, Jimmy John’s had told the attorney general’s office that it stopped providing franchisees with the sample agreements in late 2014. But Schneiderman’s office said it found franchisees still used the non-compete agreements, believing that they were required to do so.

Earlier this month, Illinois’ attorney general also sued Jimmy John’s for improperly forcing workers to sign agreements preventing them from seeking jobs with competitors.

Jimmy John’s said it had informed that attorney general’s office that it would not try to enforce the agreements and it no longer uses them.

Last week, Schneiderman’s office also announced a settlement with a legal news site, Law360, which agreed to stop requiring reporters and other employees to sign non-compete agreements.

Business Briefs Success Stories Recognizing People Local and Commerce Achievements at a Glance

Johnson earns national award

Dena Johnson, regional director of the Small Business Development Center in Billings, has been named the 2015 Montana State Star, a national award recognizing outstanding business advisers from American’s Small Business Development Centers. Johnson will be honored in September at the national ASBDC conference in JOHNSON Orlando, Fla. Award nomination criteria names exemplary performance, significant contributions to the program, and a strong commitment to small business as top qualifiers to win.

“Johnson is a bright star in Montana’s economic development landscape. Her exemplary career says it all. We are lucky she is consulting and leading businesses in our state”, said SBDC State Director Michael Finnerty.

Johnson, in tandem with her team of SBDC Business Advisers in Billings, provides confidential, one-on-one consulting and training for startup and existing businesses in a nine county region. Johnson joined the SBDC in 2013. In her tenure she has consulted 836 clients and secured $11.9 million in financing. Johnson’s impact extends beyond numbers, however, as she has raised standards by going beyond the requirements of a regional director.

Johnson was instrumental in procuring and initially managing the Veterans Business Outreach Center for Region VIII. She has had 2 clients win Small Business Administration Awards, and was chosen to train the first cohort of the Montana Department of Commerce’s 20 Native American Business Advisers. Johnson has also created a first-of-its-kind Billings SBDC local Advisory Board and serves at the first point of contact by the statewide network when a question arises. Ad-

pation and assisted in launching an ditionally, she is the co-author of the Tri Start Matrix, recipient of 40 Under annual food drive in Billings.

40 award, and named Yellowstone Valley Woman magazines “enterprising woman” in 2015.

CPA firm promotes Worum

First Interstate promotes 2

Ian Ullman and Tasha Straight have been promoted to mortgage loan officers at First Interstate Bank. They joined the real estate team in 2015 and Justin Worum has been promoted from accounting supervisor to manag- participated in an internship program er at Joseph Eve CPAs. In his new role, developed by bank, working with Worum focuses on managing and com- senior lenders Yvonne Kelly and Natalie Pigg as their mentors. pleting small-to-large audits, complex Ullman previously worked on the accounting service and Title 31/AML regional resolution team of a major nacompliance engagements while also tional bank, handling training and mentoring Joseph Eve a variety of escalated staff. Worum, who first joined the firm research issues from as an intern, has served as lead audiall business lines in tor on commercial and tribal gaming the company. He clients and as a contracted controller. majored in secondary He also successfully completed several education and SpanTitle 31/AML engagements and has ish at Montana State been involved in teaching continuing University Billings.

ULLMAN professional education. He currently Ullman is located at serves as contract controller for one of the Grand Avenue the firm’s longest-running accounting Branch and may be services clients. reached by calling 255-6094.

Straight has a long history at First Interstate Bank and Virginia Mermel, PhD, CNS, of was previously a STRAIGHT Billings, was honored with the Patricia marketing specialist Hennessey Leadership Award by III. She graduated the Montana Academy of Nutrition from MSUB with a business adminisand Dietetics, formerly the Montana tration degree with a finance option Dietetic Association, a state affiliate of and is active in Zonta Club. Straight is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetlocated at the downtown tower and ics, at the Food and Nutrition Summit may be reached by calling 255-5189. in Bozeman. To qualify for recognition, members must have provided leadership in the association, community, or in their jobs, and promoted optimal health and nutritional status Billie Ruff, owner of Travel Café, of Montanans. Mermel is described as has been named by Paul Gauguin a visionary leader who is committed to Cruises as a member of the company’s feeding hungry children, having been PEARLS program. The PEARLS instrumental in establishing Backpack program provides travel professionals Meals and Teen Pantry Programs for with intensive instruction in the Paul students. She also helped increase Gauguin experience. Ruff is among School Breakfast Program partici-

Mermal honored for leadership

Ruff named travel partner

a limited number of travel professionals nationwide to successfully complete the elite training program.

As a PEARLS accredited partner, Ruff will have access to exclusive sales and product training opportunities, as well as resources from Paul Gauguin Cruises.

WHEAT

FEELEY

CTA names new owners

Bradley J. Feeley, AIA, NCARB, a project architect, and Roger Wheat, PE, a senior mechanical/fire protection engineer, have recently been named as associate owners at CTA Architects Engineers.

Habitat hires Maria Reed

Maria Reed has joined Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley as a volunteer coordinator. She has a background in nonprofit work, having served in several capacities including volunteer coordinator at the March of Dimes. In her new role, she is responsible for inviting and scheduling volunteers on a weekly basis, arranging lunches for volunteers, record-keeping, volunteer recognition, as well as event planning, article writing and more.

also works at Elation, brings with her experience in recruiting and educating volunteers and interns, event planning and program management skills, as well as several years of nonprofit experience. Tomorrow Come Foundation was created to help provide a safe home, to support a healthy life, and to foster growth through education for the children in and around New Hope Center for Children and Handicapped in Guder, Ethiopia. In doing this, Tomorrow Come encourages and allows the children to fulfill the life and future God has for them.

Altana hires branch manager

Molly Kidder has joined Altana Federal Credit Union as the Red Lodge branch manager. Kidder has worked as an assistant branch manager at Granite State Credit Union in Concord, N.H. She specializes in consumer and home equity products, as well as real estate loans. Kidder is located at 821 Hauser Ave. S., in Red Lodge. She may be reached by calling 651-2339.

Minkoff earns certification

Michael Minkoff, a service manager for 360 Office Solutions, has completed and been awarded the prestige level of certification rating from Ricoh Corporation. Prestige certification is the highest level of attainment for service engineers/managers within Ricoh’s Circle of Excellence program.

Nationally, more than 2,100 technicians participated in the Prestige Certification Program, representing 184 Ricoh dealers throughout the United States. Prestige certification puts Minkoff in the top six percent of those Katie Lacy has joined Tomorrow Come Foundation as part-time admin- participants. He may be reached at istrator for the organization. Lacy, who michaelm@360-os.com or 869-0456.

Lacy joins foundation

July 2016

27

Residential Permits Addition Single/ Duplex/Garage 2405 Avalon Road, Smith, Clyde R. and Lanette K., $21,840 671 Javelin Circle, Bryan, Two Times Two Inc., $21,700 2472 32nd St. W., Alberti, James V. and Robin L., Miner Construction Inc., $3,000 1215 Ponderosa Drive, Murray, William D. and Sunny J., Mcfadden Construction, $60,000 1827 Lake Elmo Drive, Lopez, Robert J. and Loretta L., $6,600 1326 Janie St., Phillips, Sharon M., Frame To Finish, $42,740 902 North Fork Trail, Judy Ross, $2,550 1990 Morocco Drive, Gann, Lloyd R. and Michelle B., RRK Enterprises LLC, $8,400 2625 Poly Drive, Devitt, Randolph R., $14,280 3542 Poly Drive, Peterson, Laura O., Reule Builders, $3,420

Demolition 2409 Nina Clare Road, Doucette, Jeremiah, $2,000

New Garage 2158 Burnstead Drive, Langford, Aaron D., $20,160

1437 Ave. C, Munyan, Malachi and Brittney, $18,480 Res New Single Family 2711 Burlwood Drive, Classic Design Homes Inc., $244,595 1326 Janie St. Phillips, Sharon M., Frame To Finish, $20,160 4542 Lux Ave., Robert Anselmi, $28,805 5531 Elysian Road, McCall Homes, McCall Development $24,640 5535 Elysian Road, McCall Homes, McCall Development, $24,640 2146 Poly Drive, Irion Properties LLC, $16,940

New Single Family 3146 Peregrine Lane, Rims Development LLC, Trent Buscher Construction, $276,710 5317 Amherst Drive, Mountain Vertical Contractors LLC, $163,120 5252 Amherst Drive, Mountain Vertical Contractors LLC, $204,460 2218 W. Hollow Brook Drive, Design Builders Inc., $256,915 1848 Island View Drive, McCall Development, $254,445 3236 Castle Pines Drive, Wells Built Homes Inc., $317,460 1543 Tania Circle, All Design Landscaping Inc., $193,140 1553 Topanga Ave., Dawson Builders Inc., $180,610 3741 Colin Drive, Golini, Jeffrey

Access obituaries 24/7 on billingsgazette.com/obits 28

July 2016

M. and Kimberly, Shawn Nelson Construction, $280,485 2137 Sierra Vista Circle, Oakland Built Homes Inc., $179,765 2142 Sierra Vista Circle, Oakland Built Homes Inc., $179,765 1321 Twin Lakes Drive, 4 Montana Construction Inc., $174,180 2905 W. Copper Ridge Loop, Bob Pentecost $279,900 2417 21st St. W., Mick Brown and Cathy Henke, Brown Plumbing & Heating, $250,000 2917 W. Copper Ridge Loop, Charles J. Heringer III Trust, Buildwerks, $293,335 1739 E. Thunder Mountain Road, Jeff Junkert Inc., $271,460 1632 Island View Drive, McCall Development $376,165 6826 Copper Ridge Loop, New West Construction, $211,290 5623 Mountain Front Ave., Trails West Homes LLC, $182,075 Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage 1740 Tanner Lane, Noble, Randy B., Lynnrich Inc., $3,081 2705 Downer Lane, Burbach, Joy L., C’s Construction Of Billings, $3,794 2520 Glenwood Lane, Bunderson, John G., Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $15,000 4124 Stone St., Maciel, Frank and Patricia A., $1,375 541 Pinon Drive, Knutson,

Wayne S. and Barbara J., Dave’s Exteriors Inc., $3,000 2704 McCormick Lane, Trent, Joan, JMH Construction LLP, $8,500 3685 Gladiator Circle, Kelly and Karla R., Lynnrich Inc., $12,794 1439 Rimrock Road, Duffy, Richard and Kelly J., Phil’s Glass, $2,000 221 Ave. B, Douglas, Helen May, K-Designers, $10,510 808 Aurora Drive, Morris, Thomas S. and Loreen F., The Pella Window Store, $400 1742 Hollyhock St., Lambert, Nicholas D. and Jennifer, Win-Dor Industries, $1,171 1427 Howard Ave., Jackson, Diane M. Kober, Win-Dor Industries, $1,544 2211 Stillwater Drive, Tweden, Richard A., $2,700 310 Rice Lane, Watters, David E. and Lorie L., Pro-Install Inc $20,000 2825 Rehberg Lane, Landers, Travis M. and Stephanie, Classic Design Homes, $9,000 510 Alkali Creek Road, Adams, Mark W. and Kathren Kemp, Big Sky Exterior Designs Inc., $2,000 1765 Crystal Drive, Wessell, W. John and Anna E., The Pella Window Store, $3,200 141 Clark Ave., Hammond, Steve W. and Bronwyn A., Freyenhagen Construction Inc., $22,000 620 Alderson Ave., Sather, Ben

T. and Heather, One Source Construction LLC, $800 4912 Stone Ridge Circle, Yates, Ronald J. Jr. and Amy L., Ty Nelson Construction, $4,700 2702 Highwood Drive, Keenum, Robert W. and Deborah G., Les Nouveau Milieux-Bob Habeck, $2,000 2232 St. Andrews Drive, Tengberg, Kim L. and Jody L., Lynnrich Inc., $5,386 1721 Ave. E, Jeff Egan, One Source Construction LLC, $500 2238 Larchwood Lane, Donovan, C Squared Construction, $500 383 Sahara Drive, Jones, Mark M. and Carla J., Lynnrich Inc., $787 4616 Lux Ave., Gonzalez, Ruth, Lynnrich Inc., $6,872 25 Mimosa Court, Hanson, Sean L., C’s Construction Of Billings, $5,094 25 Mimosa Court, Hanson, Sean L., C’s Construction Of Billings, $5,094 3020 Marguerite Blvd., Depner, Michael E. and Barbara J., Win-Dor Industries, $3,650 3338 Windmill Circle, Gams, Charles K. and Jennifer A., Win-Dor Industries, $3,163 1429 King George St., Barriault, Sherry L. and Darern P., Reule Builders, $5,000 1717 Ave. B, Marler Debra D., A Breath Of Fresh Air Construction, $2,500 644 Terry Ave., Hendershot, Paul D. and Eileen M., Som-

merfeld Construction Inc., $7,000 420 Calypso St., Gray, David J., The Pella Window Store, $853 2911 Cactus Drive, Robert L. Milne Revocable Trust, The Pella Window Store, $798 1824 Crystal Drive, Wilson, Allen L., The Pella Window Store, $3,800 424 S. 34th St., Nationstar Mortgage LLC, MT-Forge, $5,000 2918 Silverwood St., Weiss, Arloa D., Northwest Custom Improvements, $1,500 610 30th St. W., Platt, Charles L. and Janet L., Craigo Construction, $2,000 21 Saturn Place, Dorn Property And Homes LLC, Dorn Construction LLC, $25,520 2943 St. Johns Ave., Stundahl, Darrell D. and Donna, Lynnrich Inc., $3,868 2850 Parkhill Drive, Nave, Karen Ann, Lynnrich Inc., $4,731 491 Declaration Ave., Sauter, Susan M., $500 129 Erickson Court N., Rumore, Peter and Vicki Lee, $4,199 1233 Concord Drive, Kotar, Robert M., Second To None Construction, $4,000 2109 Avalon Road, Stapler, Dale C. Jr. and Chanteal, $1,038 There were 243 Fence/Roof/ Siding residential permits issued in May.

thank you veterans To subscribe, call 406-657-1298 or visit billingsgazette.com/subscribe

for your sacrifice and service.

Montana patents Below are listed U.S. patents issued to Montana inventors April 19-May 17, 2016.

For assistance in patent filing, call Billings patent attorney Antoinette M. Tease at 406-294-9000.

Donald E. Kiely and Tyler N. Smith, both of Missoula: Hydroxypolyamide gel forming agents. 9,315,624, April 19, The University of Montana.

Harold Roy Lear of Butte: Ornamental design for a cart.

D754,414, April 19.

Paul Beard of Big Fork; Jukka Steenari of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; and John Adams of Champaign, Ill.: Dynamic stabilization system and methods for a RC vehicle.

9,320,977, April 26, Horizon Hobby LLC, Champaign.

Michael R. Cook of Grand Prairie, Texas; Steward K. Hansen of Missoula; and Robert L. Whitson of West

Bend, Wis.: Simulated log siding. 9,322,181, April 26, Concrete Log Systems Inc., Missoula.

Daniel R. Neitzling of Kalispell: Bolt carrier system.

9,322,604, April 26.

Michael S. Zhdanov and Glenn A. Wilson, both of Hollady, Utah, and Leif H. Cox of Butte: Method of real time subsurface imaging using electromagnetic data acquired form moving platforms. 9,322,910, April 26, TechnoImaging LLC, Salt Lake City.

Phillip Karls of Belgrade and Shawn Olson of Bozeman: Electrical connector assembly for neural monitoring device and method of using same. 9,325,107, April 26, Neuralynx Inc., Bozeman.

Kevin J. Negus of Philipsburg and James A. Proctor Jr. of Melbourne Beach, Fla.: Method for installing a

backhaul radio with an antenna array. 9,325,398, April 26, CBF Networks Inc., San Jose, Calif.

Michal Johns, David Yakos and Ross Walker, all of Bozeman: Ornamental design for a fishing rod holder and belt. D754,429, April 26, Michael Johns.

Everett Misner of Harlowton: Ornamental design for a griddle. D754,467, April 26, Misner Manufacturing, Harlowton.

Thomas Lee Ritzdorf of Bigfork: Training devices for domestic animals.

9,326,489, May 3.

Trent Lemke of Qualicum Beach, Calif., and Warren A. Wilcox of Missoula: Aerial fire suppression system.

9,327,149, May 3, Ascent Helicoptors Ltd., Qualicum Beach.

Michael A. Lake of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Craig R. McIntyre

of Dayton; and Philip L. Robinson of Isle of Palms, S.C.: Wood preservatives and methods for treating wood. 9,327,423, May 3, Liquide Lignin Company LLC, Easley, S.C. Lee Johnson of Absarokee and Benjamin Meager of Bozeman: Gear transmission and derailleur system.

9,327,792, May 3, Paha Designs LLC, Denver.

John Walsh of Bozeman and Robert J. Mowris of Olympic Valley, Calif.: External thermostat fan controller.

9,328,933, May 3.

Daniel J. Hansen of Missoula: Magnetic blade retainer for a broadhead. 9,329,006, May 3.

Howard David Dean of Columbus, Ohio; Krishnamoorthy Subramanyan of Palentine, Ill.; Alexandros T. Moullas of Thessaloniki, Greece; and Robert A. Ratcheson of

Hamilton: Producing a three motor. 9,337,707, May 10. dimensional model of an Ravi R. Gokarn of Omaha, implant. 9,330,206, May 3, Neb.; Olga V. Selifonova of Osteoplastics LLC, Shaker Plymouth, Minn.; Holly Jean Heights, Ohio.

Jessen of Belgrade; Steven Travis Jordan of Charlo: John Fort of Apple Valley, Insulating tank cover.

Minn.; Thorsten Selmer of 9,334,106, May 10.

Bonn, Del.; and Wolfgang Hans Peter Mueller, David Buckel of Marburg, Del.: Scott Gorham and Nicholas 3-hydroxypropionic acid Taylor, all of Denver, and and other organic compounds. 9,340,803, May 17, Richard deCourville Chapman Jr. of Butte: 9,334,109, Cargill Inc., Wayzata, Minn.

May 10, EcoVapor Recovery Aaron A. McGinty of Kalispell: Systems LLC, Denver.

Dual injection port firearm.

Toby F. Naylor, Shad G. 9,341,423, May 17, S.I. Clingingsmith and Kyle A. Defense Inc., Kalispell.

Larson, all of Belgrade, Todd Conard of Ruskin, Fla.; and Jerry L. Byrd, John E. Breanna Stachowski and Thieltges, Tyson C. Joehler, Jonathan D. Albert, both Tom W. Kleckner, and of Philadelphia; Seth Steven K. Lundberg, all of Galewyrick of Victor; and Bozeman: Conducting a side Mathieu Turpault of Pennington, N.J.: Ornamental bet in a game. 9,336,650, design for a magnifier May 10, IGT, Las Vegas. camera. D756,439, May 17, Randy J. Dixon of Billings: Freedom Scientific Inc., St. System, apparatus, and Petersburg, Fla. method for controlling a

Bankruptcies Billings area filings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, May 1-31, 2015. Addresses are in Billings unless otherwise noted.

Chapter 7 Donna Kay Creek, 5145 Hoskins Road, May 4.

Yoga Decarl Jones, Andrea Marie Hall, 502 First Ave., Laurel, May 5.

David Lynn Riddle, Mariann Sharon Riddle, 2137 Fairway Drive, May 6.

Matthew Brian Thompson, Tracy Moore Thompson, 1069 Calico Ave., May 6.

Stacey G. Hatheway, 633 Avenue E, May 7.

Coni Lee Dreyer, 2408 Brook Hollow Drive, May 9.

Teddee Ann Cuomo, 44 Prairie View Drive, May 9.

Byron Glenn Whitcomb, 4411 Blue Devil’s Way Apt. 1, May 9.

Derrick Cody Russell, 1021 Avenue C, May 12.

Dorothy A. Hartung, 712 Cook Ave., May 17.

Ernest Lavern McCants, Linda Ann McCants, 4202 Mitchell Ave., May 17.

Anthony John Dekievit, Roberta Jean Dekievit, 1831 Broadwater Ave., May 19.

Ron Steven Wilson, Toni Marie Wilson, 6613 Hackney Place, Shepherd, May 19.

Luke Laroy Mill, 2505 Alexander Road, May 19.

Arne James Salte, P.O. Box 1168, Columbus, May 19.

Julie J. Siebert, 331 Montclair Drive, May 19.

Kendra Michelle Cayton, 2304 Elm St., May 23.

Phasia Chanel Sanchez, 1924 Clubhouse Way No. 4, May 24.

Kaycee R. Neal, Brandon J. Neal, 3567 Granger Avenue W., May 24.

Julia Marie Schwartz, 2414 Meadowood St., May 25.

Rena Mae Whitney, 2015 N. Ridge Circle, May 27.

Karen A. Kansala, P.O. Box 2236, Red Lodge, May 27.

Carissa Lynn Swick, Jim Dale Swick, 1110 Victory Ave., May 28.

Chapter 13 Jay Griffin Yorgason, Barbara Lou Yorgason, 2038 Beverly Hill Boulevard, May 5.

Fredrick Peter Naylor, 2525 Terry Ave., May 17.

Toni Korell Smidt, 2285 First St. W., Ballantine, May 27.

Darrell D. Anderson, 2907 W McDonald Drive, May 31.

Jeremy Alan Andrews, 1244 Poe St., May 31.

July 2016

29

Business licenses The following business licenses were filed with the city of Billings in May of 2016.

The Springs at Grand Park, 1221 28th St. W., 652-6989 Candi’s Art & Party Studio, 2010 Grand Ave., No. 5, 294-4278 Fieldturf USA Inc., Calhoun, Ga., 514-375-2570 Ken Lloyd, Joliet, 425-3381 Dream Build Inc., Laurel, 2002236 Paul Davis Restoration of Bozeman, 240-832-3960 Mister Shinge, Garland, Texas, 317-446-2126 Treasure State Corals LLC, 1595 Grand Ave., No. 250, 672-5859 Knockerballs MT Inc., Laurel, 672-1561 SRA Roofing & Siding, 917 Custer Ave., 591-4482 Wild Fire Gun Works, 2228 Poly Drive, 672-2065 Alex M. Contracting, 546-1/2 Broadwater Ave., 694-1326 Vision Connect Media, 2003 La Brea St., 839-6261 Broken Arrow Communications Inc., Middlebury, Ind., 574825-7879 J&R Plumbing, Ririe, Idaho, 208-313-4901 Iseman Homes of Montana Inc., 750 Parkway Lane, 256-0240 MT Cleaning, 409 Byrd St.,

PRINT

30

July 2016

812-0327 Cartee Detailing, 3141 S. 65th St. W., 860-3931 Doody Brigade, 4142 Waterford Drive, 702-0082 Rollinger Companies Inc., 4142 Waterford Drive, 860-9786 Nacho Mama’s Lunch Wagon LLC, Columbus, 321-2463 Kottke Drywall, 704 Hillview Lane, 954-644-9568 Melissa’s Cleaning Service, 1621 Ninth St. W., 598-1995 Four Seasons Landscape and Construction LLC, 1820 Clark Ave., 460-0249 Green Earth Landscape and Construction LLC, Shepherd, 694-2562 S And J Handy man, 1235 St. Johns Ave., 698-7181 Brazos Contractors & Development, Houston, 713-9479700 Dan Wegner Construction, 124 Lantana Drive, 860-8073 Granit Mountain Group LLC, Huntley, 208-9900 S&S Carpet & Vinyl, 302 Jackson St., No. 15, 861-7942 Quality Time Construction Inc., 1687 Norwood Lane, 309-2291 Café Brazil LLC, 312 N. 33rd St., 390-0290 Ascended Books, 2260 St. Johns Ave., 815-507-6208 Tim Kirby, 18 Hartland St. N., 249-6900

ONLINE

L&L Finish & Flooring, 3737 Marathon Drive, 478-0971 Harris’s Home Hand Car Wash & Power Wash Services, 1931 Lake Elmo Drive, 5984507 Yellowstone Painting LLC, Sidney, 480-3322 Caring Transitions of Yellowstone Valley, 1742 Prescott Drive, 545-2500 House Cleaning Maid EZ, 2246 Monad Road, No. 2, 2814505 First Impressions Résumé Design, 2204 Ave. B, 208-0174 KN Repair And Fabrication, 131 Brickyard Lane, 930-1373 On Sixth Ave LLC, 1415 Sixth Ave. N., 534-2882 What Daddy Won’t Do LLC, 10 Attika St. N. 426-8118 Live Well Natural Health, 1001 S. 24th St. W., 850-1009 Brazos Contractors And Development Inc., Houston, 713-947-9700 Eastern Empire, Worden, 8552005 Starter Alternator Specialists, 3302 First Ave. N., 248-4335 2 T’s Insulation, 1026 Ave. D, 855-3852 Coopers Construction, 1312 Rosebud Lane, 200-0001 True North Homes LLC, 5305 Burlington Ave., 591-7145 Sharp Montana Realty, 2158 Burnstead Drive, 672-9995

MOBILE

K&K Landscape & Deck Works, 7416 Monad Road, 8608048 M.O.M.S. Wellness Emporium 2918 Grand Ave., 252-6667 Palmer’s Elite Custom Construction, 3418 Flagstone Drive, 850-4060 CP Construction & Property Maintenance, 134 Yellowstone Ave., 702-0738 Fox Valley Construction Group Inc., Batavia, Ill., 630-7611122 2 Sisters Design, 3423 Timberline Drive, 697-9482 VSC International Group, Henderson, Nev., 702-303-5945 Johnson Lane Materials, 3530 Coulson Road, 896-1904 Blitz Leather, 1606 Elaine Street, 200-2520 MT-Forge, Fishtail, 696-0511 Royal Rosaries, 366 Cape Cod Drive, 794-9404 Sunderman Contracting, 420 Broadwater Ave., 605-9410841 Above The Curb, 3455 Old Hardin Road, No. 6, 598-0720 C And B Cleaning, 1148 Ave. D, 598-0788 Pinnacle Construction Inc. Of Iowa, Glenwood, Iowa, 1148 Ave. D, 598-0788 Bob’s Plumbing & Heating, 4224 Rosewood Lane, 5348277 Bancroft Law Firm P.C., 1607

TABLET

APPS

Ave. E, No. 1, 307-431-4298 Superior Home Inspections & Energy Audits, 1335 Benjamin Blvd., 281-3688 Tot Homes LLC, 744 Parkway Lane, 256-4663 Magic City V.I.P., 10 S. 30th St., 671-0866 IVOVI Presents, 23 Yellowstone Ave., Apt. 10, 647-6228 IVOVI, 23 Yellowstone Ave., Apt. 10, 647-6228 Forevergreen Cleaning Services, 3 Attika St. N., 530-4650 Yellowstone Log Beds, 254 Prospectors Lane, 672-2583 TLA Professional Service, 221 Ave. E, 619-994-5492 All Carpet, 2 Vandalay St., 702575-1683 Brown’s Siding & Construction 2620 Jimbo St., 545-9464 Expresso Brake, 3308 Lloyd Mangrum Lane, 839-4678 J&M Construction Cleanup, Laurel, 694-7241 First Federal Bank & Trust, 1605 Shiloh Road, 307-6754014 The Nail Institute, 2680 Overland Ave. E, 281-8270 Landscaping By Allen, 312 S. 31st St., 861-5365 Cwalla Building Materials Co. LLC, 1327 Holiday Circle, 248-2600 Log Cabin Bakery, 2401 Second Ave. N., 245-0389 Electric City Roofing Inc., Great

Falls, 454-3526 Ink’d Screenprinting, C’oeur d’Alene, Idaho, 208-6916697 C.S. Siding, 7916 Lewis Ave., 281-4808 Big Sky Disaster Restoration Service, 1616 Fourth Ave. N., 259-4460 Strecker Electric Inc., 2909 Parkhill Drive, 839-6976 Simple Treasures, 2702 Montana Ave., Suite 201B, 399-0960 Brilliance LLC, 4407 Rimrock Road, 697-7553 Lady Painter, Red Lodge, 6906296 Clean Cut Lawn Care, 2303 12th Ave. N., 702-5318 Emerald Lawn And Sprinkler, 933 Edgehill Vista Road, 861-9021 Constructable Designs, 417 Everett Drive, 861-2572 A Brighter View Window Cleaning, 1904 Yellowstone Ave., 579-9596 Abrams Construction, 9300 Elk River Circle, 696-6181 C&K Maintenance, Huntley, 218-474-1253 Black Dagger Tattoo, 2914 First Ave., N., 860-6355 LWB Handyman and Repair Service, 842 Caroline St., 591-3898 All Seasons Roofing, Park City, 256-5657

Online Account Services Manage your account and pay your bill online ... at your convenience.

To enroll, visit www.montana-dakota.com

1-800-638-3278 Montana-Dakota.com In the Community to Serve®

Commercial building permits 3625 Olympic Blvd., Ostwalt, Peggy C., All Weather Exteriors, $33,817 4047 Montana Ave., Donovan G. 5101 King Ave. E., The City Of Kelly Revocable Trust, QualBillings, $24,900 ity Time Construction Inc., 5001 Southgate Drive, Moun$5,200 tain States Leasing Billings, Com Fence/Roof/Siding TLC Construction Inc., 1403 Main St., CNJ Distribut$1,800 ing Corp., MW Construction, $28,000 Demolition 401 Main St., Archland Property LLC, B&K Roofing, $25,000 1916 Fourth Ave. N., Braun357 S. 24th St. W., Keller, Shirley Ayers Properties LLC, J&T Kay, Energisystems LLC, Roofing, $39,000 $8,000 3637 Olympic Blvd., Taylor Marilyn A., All Weather Exteriors, New Other $45,543 3653 Olympic Blvd., Black, Jennifer Anne, All Weather 261 E. Airport Road, Town Exteriors, $43,230 Pump, Cucancic Construction 3603 Olympic Blvd., MichalInc., $862,615 ies, Robert E., All Weather 2311 Monad Road, Lawler, Exteriors, $31,578 Edward T. and Faye, Adele, 3609 Olympic Blvd., Salveson, Sprague Construction, Burdette J., All Weather $46,000 Exteriors, $45,860 2217 Grand Ave, Prociv, Scott C., Empire Roofing Inc., $40,000

Addition

2217 Grand Ave. Prociv Scott C., Empire Roofing Inc., $40,000 745 Grand Ave., Rocky Mountain Oil Inc., Roset And Associates Inc., $20,000 1125 Monad Road, J&L LLP, J&L’s Plaster & Paint, $11,000 1419 Main St., Hobs Partnership, Reule Builders, $18,000 220 S. 27th St., Northern Plains Resource Council, Onsite Energy Inc., $80,100

New Restaurant/ Casino/Bar 2010 Henesta Drive, McCall Development, $630,345

New Warehouse/ Storage 104 Nall Ave., Nelson Family Enterprises LLC, $1,318,662

LLC, Jones Construction Inc. $21,000 1005 24th St. S., West 24th St. 1411 Fourth Ave. N., Calmont Investors, $1,000 Limited Liability Co., R&T 2010 Henesta Drive, Casey and Custom Furniture & Cabin Victor Marcial, $60,000 Racks, $10,000 1236 Cordova St., Sherwin 2345 King Ave. W., McCall DeWilliams, Fisher Construction velopement Inc., $31,366 Inc., $15,100 1860 Songbird Drive, McCall 5531 Elysian Road, McCall Developement Inc., $31,366 Development, $94,035 1860 Songbird Drive, McCall 5531 Elysian Road, McCall Developement Inc., $31,366 Development, $129,015 1860 Songbird Drive, McCall 5531 Elysian Road, McCall Developement Inc., $31,366 Development, $113,870 1860 Songbird Drive, McCall 5531 Elysian Road, McCall Developement Inc., $31,366 Development, $94,035 1860 Songbird Drive, McCall 603 Main St., Rebel River, Developement Inc., $31,366 Hulteng Inc., $2,500 1860 Songbird Drive, McCall 239 E. Airport Road, Lamplighter Lounge Inc., Ken Lloyd, Developement Inc., $31,366 $31,000 1860 Songbird Drive, McCall 2100 Ave. C, The City Of BillDevelopement Inc., $31,366 ings, $500 765 S. 20th St. W., Stenberg Properties LLC, Branch Build- 1445 41st St. W., Tired Man ing Group LLC, $125,000 LLC, Harvest Solar MT LLC, 300 S. 24th St. W., Rimrock $119,000 Owner LP, DL Morse And As- 300 S. 24th St. W., Starwood sociates Inc., $70,000 Tetail Partners, $476,000 2701 Gabel Road, Out West 4120 King Ave. W., Montana

Remodel

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Name

Only $1995 for a Year of

Address

News-Packed Issues

Sapphire LLC, Matt Caudill Construction LLC, $10,000 2647 King Ave. W., Lowe’s Home Center, $10,000 1005 Shiloh Crossing Blvd., Silver Screen Partners, $40,000 239 E. Airport Road. Szillat Properties LLc, $40,000 2100 Ave. C, The City Of Billings, $500 2134 Fairview Place, Emerson, Patricia A., Win-Dor Industries, $13,682 2251 Belknap Ave., The City Of Billings, Cop Construction LLC, $677,000 2251 Belknap Ave., The City Of Billings, Cop Construction LLC, $105,000 2251 Belknap Ave., The City Of Billings, Cop Construction LLC, $83,000 2251 Belknap Ave., The City Of Billings, Cop Construction LLC, $31,000 2251 Belknap Ave., The City Of Billings, Cop Construction LLC, $8,000

Business Name

Zip Email Phone

Payment:

An Indispensable Business Resource.

r Check enclosed r Bill me

r r r r Expiration Card #

July 2016

31

Wayne Nelson

Tim Ludewig

Darrin Maas

Pam Doherty

Andy Gott

Spencer Frederic Frederick

Billings Market President

King Ave Branch Manager

Heights Branch Manager

Shiloh Branch Manager

Downtown Branch Manager

Grand Ave Branch Manager

Helping Our Billings Community PROSPER AND GROW BUSINESS CHECKING | BUSINESS LOANS LINES OF CREDIT | CASH MANAGEMENT ONLINE & MOBILE BANKING SBA Preferred Lender

King Ave 655-2700

Hilltop & Main 896-4800

© 2016 Stockman Bank | Member FDIC

Q32

July 2016

Shiloh & Grand 655-3900

Downtown 655-2400

14th & Grand 371-8100

WWW.STOCKMANBANK.COM