Billings Business Nov. 14

Underriner Motors

5 Minutes witH

Bernie Wahl

Budugalee Cards

Building on

celebrating 70 years

November 2014

Montana’s manufacturing sector is on the upswing

success

Special report: Residency programs help with physician recruitment

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

CONTENTS

November 2014

An indispensable business resource On the Cover GTUIT Chief Technology Officer James L. Haider talks his company’s oilfield flare gas processing unit Oct. 8.

Photo by BOB ZELLAR

FEATURES

Building on Success........................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Montana’s manufacturing sector is on the upswing

FedEx Ground unveils new $38M shipping center.............................................................................................. 11 Special Report: Residency programs help with physician recruitment.................................. 18 Celebrating 70 years.................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Underriner Motors commemorates occasion by donating to nonprofits

Cellulosic ethanol plants come on line, but industry’s future remains uncertain....... 23 Construction Zone......................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 MSU names outstanding agricultural leaders.......................................................................................................... 37 Industry advocate: Nation’s energy outlook improving................................................................................ 38 Columns

Economic Development..........................................................................................................................................................................10 FedEx Ground unveils new $38M shipping center, Page 11

Sara Hudson - Study paves way for industrial development

Sales Moves...........................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Jeffery Gitomer - Why not try ‘Return on Service’ as a measure of customer satisfaction?

Strategies for Success.............................................................................................................................................................................17 Joe Michels - These steps can help limit workplace violence

Travel & Leisure.................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Billie Ruff - With the holidays around the corner, try these gifts for business travelers

Better Business..................................................................................................................................................................................................42 Erin T. Dodge - Follow these tips when buying, selling online billings BUSINESS EVERY MONTH Residency programs help with physician recruitment, Page 18

By the numbers......................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Five Minutes with............................................................................................................................................................................................10 Bernie Wahl - Budugalee Cards

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Business Briefs..................................................................................................................................................................................................39

Billings Business 401 North Broadway Billings, MT 59101

Kate Hagenbuch - Remember to shop locally this holiday season

The Listings............................................................................................................................................................................................................43

I November 2014

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

Chamber News.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

Success Stories.................................................................................................................................................................................................41

2

Commercial & Residential

From the Editor........................................................................................................................................................................................................4 The local economy at a glance

Page 9 Bernie Wahl of Budugalee Cards.

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Billingsbusiness

November 2014

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the editor

D on ’ t expect door - to - door

November 2014 • VOLUME 21 • NUMBER 2

sales to go away anytime soon Business experts have declared the door-to-door salesman an endangered species for quite some time, and there’s good reason for the gloomy predictions regarding direct-to-consumer sales.

These days, many households feature two working adults who are rarely home during the day. Besides, consumers who have been warned of potential scams simply aren’t interested in buying something from a stranger who appears at the door.

If you’re like me, the last thing you want to do when you’ve just plopped down in front of the TV to watch the NCAA men’s basketball finals is being subjected to a sales pitch given by somebody who swears he’s working his way through college by selling vacuum cleaners.

This actually happened to me a few years ago. Snow was falling and the temperature outside had dipped into the 20s.

Kansas and Memphis had just tipped off, and the young salesman offered to demonstrate the tremendous cleaning power of this magic machine by asking some innocuous question that 99 percent of the population would respond to by saying yes.

Apparently he had received some sales training in which a “yes” response to his first question would invariably lead to an invitation inside.

I didn’t let him get to the second sentence of his pitch before I ordered him off my front steps and reminded him that a very important sporting event was taking place right that moment.

“Hey, man, I’m just trying to make a living here,” he whined after I said “Get lost!” for the third time in 10 seconds.

As intrusive as door-to-door salesmen can sometimes be, society would be a little less colorful if people suddenly stopped peddling stuff door to door. For one thing, comics would have no reason to mine a rich vein

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of American humor.

I have a friend who used to sell pharmaceuticals throughout Eastern Montana. One night, years ago, as snow fell and temperatures plummeted, he was forced to seek refuge at a remote ranch house.

After finishing a delicious meal of steak and potatoes fried up in a cast iron skillet, the bachelor rancher offered a tour of his humble abode. The rancher escorted my friend to an unheated porch at the rear of the ranch house. Suddenly the salesman’s stomach started doing somersaults. The steak he had just eaten had been carved from the loin of a horse carcass hanging in the corner.

This tale of dining on Old Dobbin may or may not be absolutely 100 percent true. But it fits in with dozens of other jokes and humorous stories that involve salesmen, barns and farmers’ daughters.

Traveling salesmen were a regular part of life while my siblings and I were growing up in rural Colorado in the ‘60s. Whenever the guy who sold spices and household cleaning products for the McNess Co. appeared, we kids knew we were about to get a two-pack of Chiclets gum tossed our way. We loved the McNess Man. The guy who sold livestock feed and supplements to my dad uttered many memorable malapropisms, such as, “It’s already been cut and fried.”

But while seeing the Fuller Brush man walking up the street may be a quaint reminder of an earlier era, it doesn’t mean that door-to-door sales have disappeared. It’s just that the sales force is getting younger.

Within the past month my doorbell has been rung by two different Boy Scouts selling popcorn, neighborhood kids selling frozen cookie dough as a school fundraiser and uniformed football players seeking financial support for their teams.

The art of direct sales hasn’t gone by the wayside.

But it’s certainly getting harder to turn away this new sales force.

mike gulledge tom howard COPY EDITOR chris jorgensen GENERAL MANAGER allyn hulteng PUBLISHER

editor

SALES

dave worstell ryan brosseau RETAIL Sales manager shelli scott ADVERTISING Sales gail ball advertising Coordinator linsay duty

Sales & Marketing Director Classified Manager/online manager

PRODUCTIOn

designer creative director

alyssa small bob tambo

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:

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Billings, MT 59101 Advertising For retail advertising call Gail Ball 657-1284. For classified advertising, call 657-1212. Advertising deadline for the December 2014 issue is 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 4. 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 e-mail 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.

Billingsbusiness

Personal

By the Numbers

Business

LocaL and regionaL economic trends

real estate Member FDIC

agriculture Shiloh & Grand 655-3900

ON THE REBOUND

Downtown 655-2400

8

New single-family home building permits

150

20

100

10

50

5 4

40

30

3

20

2

10

0

0 June

July

August September

April

May

June

July

August

Bozeman

June to September 2013 June to September 2014

Glacier National Park

YTD Through Aug. 31

September

April to September 2014

2013

June to September 2013 June to September 2014 June to September 2013 June to September 2014

Source: Montana Department of Transportation

Unemployment

Montana Beef Cattle

(per bushel)

August September

June to September 2013 June to September 2014

Source: National Park Service

Ag prices

July

Missoula

June to September 2013 June to September 2014

2014

Source: City of Billings

Montana winter wheat

June

Billings

Yellowstone National Park

0

April to September 2013

$8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

6

200

30

0

275

250

40

50

1

340

300

50

60

7

Billings housing starts 350

70

9

Source: University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research

Worden 967-3612

Airport boardings

National park visitors

Montana’s manufacturing sector added 1,100 jobs between the second quarter of 2009 and the third quarter of 2012, an increase of 6.3 percent. That’s triple the rate of growth nationwide.

60

14th & Grand 371-8100

In thousands

Hilltop & Main 896-4800

In hundred thousands

King Ave 655-2700

www.stockmanbank.com

8%

(per cwt.) $175

6

150 125

4

100 75

2

50 25 April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

April to September 2013 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Billingsbusiness

0

0 April

May

June

July

April to September 2014

Aug.

Sept.

March

April

Montana

May

June

Yellowstone County

July

August

U.S.

Source: Montana Department of Labor and Industry

November 2014

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Building on

Montana’s manufacturing sector is on the upswing

success

Photo by LARRY MAYER Bay Ltd. has been producing modules for the oil sands industry in Billings.

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Billingsbusiness

By TOM HOWARD W ood ’ s P owr G rip of L aurel has kept a firm grasp of the materials handling industry for 50 years by manufacturing innovative vacuum - assisted lifting tools that are sold throughout the world .

Company founder Howard Wood revolutionized the glass industry when he developed and refined pump-action vacuum cups used to move glass panels and other smoothsurfaced objects such as plastics, engine valves, sheet metal, laminates, stone panels and appliances. The company moved from WolfPoint to Laurel in 1990.

Equipment manufactured by Wood’s Powr Grip was even used to build a glassbottomed sky walk at the Grand Canyon.

This year Wood’s Powr Grip is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its incorporation in 1964. Hitting the half century mark is a significant milestone for any small business.

But just as significant, Wood’s Powr Grip has seen its business rebound in the wake of the recession.

“The comeback was pretty gradual the first few years after 2008 and 2009,” said Bryan Wood, the company’s chief executive and a third-generation owner. “It started as a slow uptick, but in the middle of last year, it started to accelerate, and we’ve been busy ever since. We do think that this year we’ll be back above our pre-recession levels.”

During the recent Compete Smart manufacturing conference sponsored by the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State University, Wood provided some family history and outlined the company’s keys to success.

“We’re a family business that realized early on that whenever someone comes to work for you, they become part of your extended family and are important to your success,” Wood said. “We try and emphasize

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that everybody in the organization is important, and should be treated with respect and as fairly as possible.”

There’s little doubt that the recession of 2008-09 hollowed out Montana’s manufacturing sector. Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.’s plant in Frenchtown, the state’s largest manufacturing plant at the time, was shuttered permanently at the end of 2009, throwing 417 people out of work. Likewise, the Columbia Falls aluminum plant closed in 2009, the victim of the recession and rising electricity rates.

But since then, Montana’s manufacturing sector has gradually staged a comeback.

The boom in oil and gas production has accounted for much of the growth in manufacturing jobs in Billings and other communities in Eastern Montana. In its annual survey of Montana manufacturers, the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana noted that the metal fabrication industry added 1,117 jobs between 2012 and 2013, a 54 percent increase.

GTUIT, a Billings company that specializes in capturing natural gas liquids at well sites, is taking advantage of opportunities in the Bakken oil field.

James Haider, chief technology officer for GTUIT, said regulations aimed at limiting natural gas flaring have created a robust market for the company’s equipment and services.

GTUIT manufactures the gas capturing equipment and also provides the service to help producers capture the gas.

Photo by BOB ZELLAR GTUIT Chief Technology Officer James L. Haider talks his company’s oilfield flare gas processing unit Oct. 8.

Midland West Manufacturing Owner Steve Pinnow says a number of energy-related businesses have provided work at his business in Lockwood.

Photo by BOB ZELLAR

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“Definitely, the regulations in North Dakota have helped our business,” Haider said.

“The WillistonBasin in general has continually increased its production, and that is a huge opportunity for many manufacturers,” Haider said.

GTUIT doesn’t have its own manufacturing plant. Instead, it contracts with several companies that fabricate and assemble the portable equipment that is used when oil wells begin production.

“In a nutshell, we divert gas that comes out of the ground on the way to the flare,” Haider said. “We strip out the things we can condense like propane, butane and pentane.”

Those products are stored and are eventually used, either as fuel or in industrial processes.

Without the capturing technology, those hydrocarbons would be burned in a flare, he said.

In early October, workers for Midland West Manufacturing in Lockwood were busy assembling GTUIT’s 13{sup}th{/sup} gas stripping and treatment unit. The company has received orders for dozens more.

“We’re looking to be pretty busy through 2015,” Haider said.

Steve Pinnow, owner of Midland West Manufacturing, said GTUIT is one of a number of energy-related businesses that have sent business his way.

“We’ve been fortunate,” Pinnow said.

“We’ve been manufacturing quite a few things for the Bakken, including frack tanks, and now we’re working with GTUIT.” The Bakken formation now generates about $1 billion in revenue every nine days. That represents an opportunity for manufacturing companies in the Billings area interested in capturing some of that money, Haider said.

Kevan Bryan, owner of Sprocket’s, a welding and machine shop at 5012 Laurel Road, said business has experienced a measurable increase since the recession.

However, finding qualified welders continues to be a challenge for many businesses like Sprocket’s, he said.

During an earlier era, oil exploration and

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Photo by BOB ZELLAR GTUIT production manager Joey Hope talks about a mobile methane powered generator that is part of the company’s gas capturing equipment.

production companies worked more independently. “They would try to find a pocket of oil, and if they hit it, they’d manage the well and then keep moving,” Haider said.

In the Bakken, the oil resource is widespread and well known. But recovering the oil and gas requires a lot of capital and specialized equipment. Oil companies working in the Bakken have a goal of completing wells sooner, and that requires them to work more closely with manufacturing companies, Haider said.

“That shale layer is pervasive across the basin, so it’s all about manufacturing oil,” Haider said. “Whether oil companies realize

it or not, they’re going through the same transition that Ford and Boeing went through in the late 80s and 90s,” when they had to improve their manufacturing processes in order to compete.

Montana’s manufacturing sector grew from 19,802 in 2010 to 22,100 last year. Earnings for employees involved in manufacturing exceeded $1 billion during 2012, with five Montana counties — Yellowstone, Flathead, Gallatin, Missoula and Cascade — accounting for more than $50 million in manufacturing earnings, according to the BBER. Economists classify Montana’s manufacturing sector as a basic industry because

most of the products being manufactured are sold outside the state, and sometimes out of the country, bringing dollars into the state.

About half of Montana’s manufacturing base is in industries such as wood products, petroleum refining, and machinery. Even smaller industries within the manufacturing sector, such as fabricated metal products and chemicals, include many firms that sell nationwide or even worldwide.

Manufacturing jobs also pay above average wages, about $49,300 in earnings per employee during 2012, compared to the average of $40,800 for all sectors, according to BBER.

Billingsbusiness

Bernie Wahl

She’s a card and she makes them too

By TOM HOWARD

Facebook pages and they get shared from there.

4. Are the vintage images you use on your cards downloaded from the Internet, or do they come from S narky, sarcastic and occasionally obnoxious. That’s how Bernie Wahl, other sources as well?

When I decided that stamping was not for me, I moved the brains behind B udugalee C ards , describes her sense of humor . W ahl ’ s on to vintage images. I had seen other people doing things with them and thought I should try that. My poor husband, handmade greeting cards combine vintage photos , usually hand - colored , Roy, had to hold my hand to show me how to use my graphics program. My very first source was from Etsy. Lisa’s Altered Art with humorous text . R ock C reek R oasters , a downtown B illings coffee sells digital images. I also have other sites I purchase images from. My favorite finds are the ones that I stumble on and shop , displays a box of W ahl ’ s greeting cards at the front counter , people are sharing freely. It’s important to me that I only use prompting many customers to purchase a card along with their latte . images that have a Commercial Use policy. I do have stacks of vintage photos and I’m always looking for others. One day I pronounce it for folks and tell them the story.

Wahl’s cards are also available at Postnet at 3031 Grand hope to learn how to color them on my own. The ones I really 2. Do you come up with all of the ideas for your cards, like I ask my friend, Lisa, to color for me. It’s a running joke Ave., Kim and Eddy’s, 2413 Montana Ave., Better Together, 1938 Grand Ave., the Quiet Man Bookshop in Mountainhome, or do you have some help? that I’m becoming the morgue for forgotten family photos. I’m I wish I could say, “Gosh, yes I’m just that clever all the Pa., and on the website, www.budugalee.com/cards. always looking for photos that people have lying around, but darn time.” Sadly, that would be a lie. I look up quotes and Here’s what Wahl had to say about her business. they have no clue who the people are and they don’t want to 1. For starters, can you give us a little background on phrases online. I have many friends who find things online throw them away. and tag me on Facebook and or Pintrest with things they think where this clever business name came from?

5. What’s the most memorable comment you have would make good cards. My friends are good about sharing Budugalee is pronounced Butt-Ugly. I started makreceived from somebody who has bought or received things with me and I put my own weird twist on it. ing cards as a blogging New Year’s challenge in one of your cards?

3. So far, what has been the most effective 2011. My husband and I own The Rubber My friend Jodi in California gave me one of my most way to market your cards?

Stamp Shop downtown, so I thought I memorable comments about my cards. She gushed about how would start making cards by stamping.

I would have to say by word of mouth funny they were and how much she enjoyed them. She also and just by having them out and around in told me that she has them lined up on her desk and still in the My cards looked like a drunken, blindtown and craft shows. Some folks come folded monkey made them. I soldiered sleeves and uses them as art in a way. When she does actuin to check for new cards every month. I ally let go of one to send to someone they know that they “rate on and told my husband that I needed will be at craft shows and someone will pretty well” in order to get one of the cards from her stash. a stamp to stamp the drag their friend to my table and say, back of my cards.

That makes me smile. I also love to watch folks read my cards “See, these are the funny cards I was and laugh and hand them to their friends to read.

I whined to him telling you about!” I also share that I know 6. Do you have any plans to expand into similar merthem on both my personal my cards are chandise such as kitchen magnets, T-shirts, etc? and Budugalee going to just I do hope to branch off to other items. I do have some of be “Butt-Ugly!” my images on canvas and sell those from time to time. I have My husband is very the parts to try magnets, coasters, necklaces, post it notes and clever and chuckled notepads T-shirts and totes. I have been kept so busy with the a bit and came up with cards but hope to experiment with other things. I’m hoping the name Budugalee. It’s to expand to something other than cards in the future. It was funny to watch folks try scary to jump into the world of making cards and hoping that to pronounce the name. It people would like them, the bigger items are even more scary! I gets a lot of laughs when I think in the end it will be worthwhile to branch out.

Bernie Wahl of Budugalee Cards.

Photo by CASEY PAGE Billingsbusiness

November 2014

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SPONSORED BY THE big sky economic development

S tudy paves way for industrial development Yellowstone County’s clustering of upstream and mid-stream oil and gas, manufacturing and warehousing, and transportation and logistics industries are ideal opportunities for industrial park development.

Sara Hudson Sara Hudson is a Community Development Project Manager at Big Sky Economic Development. Reach her by calling 406-869-8407 or at hudson@bigskyeda.org.

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Recently, Big Sky Economic Development commissioned a feasibility analysis to understand Yellowstone County’s market for industrial lands to better direct new business recruitment and expansion. Based on an “Industry Cluster Analysis” completed last year, BSED knew that Yellowstone County’s industry clusters could offer substantial benefits to industrialsector businesses through knowledge and technological “spillovers,” shared labor pools, shared resources and shared infrastructure that lend cost savings by reducing overall production and operating costs. In fact, Yellowstone County’s clustering of upstream and mid-stream oil and gas, manufacturing and warehousing, and transportation and logistics industries are ideal opportunities for industrial park development.

The Industry Cluster Analysis, completed by KLJ, suggests that by 2040, Yellowstone County will have added 18,000 jobs to its labor force. About 4,600 of those jobs will be in manufacturing and related industries.

Accompanying that growth will be a demand for more

than 300 acres of industrial land. Evaluating the county’s industrial lands, KLJ discovered a number of constraints thwarting growth. Vacant parcels tend to be scattered between structures.

Most cannot accommodate future expansion. Several are bound by conflicting land uses. Many have inadequate access to highways and interstates, insufficient utilities and communications infrastructure and limited access to rail siding. Few include buildings with ample floor space, ceiling height, fire suppression, or docking bays. None are certified ready.

Yet, the availability of “certified ready” or “shovel ready” sites is critical to successful business recruitment. Janet Ady, owner of site-selection firm Ady Voltedge said, “Readiness will be the basis on which communities and regions compete.” When sites are not ready, economic development efforts are stunted.

Unfortunately, the county has legitimately missed out on opportunities for this very reason — but it doesn’t have to.

One of the recommendations from the Industrial

Park Feasibility Analysis is creating and using a Targeted Economic Development District, which allows counties to utilize tax increment financing to support secondary value-added industries in areas with deficient infrastructure. TIF is a bootstrapping mechanism that seg-

regates tax revenues so they can be directed toward remedying deficiencies within a designated district. While some folks argue that it may burden taxing jurisdictions, others say that development would have never occurred if not for bootstrapping. In either case, this is what we

know: economic growth is substantially hindered when businesses shoulder the full burden of public infrastructure investments. Because these investments ultimately benefit the entire community by creating jobs, new business and an increased tax base — let’s use it.

c r e at i N g m o N ta N a buSiNeSS opportuNitieS

Business Assistance Big Sky Economic Development is Yellowstone County’s first stop for business assistance.

Whether you’re starting, struggling or surging, we have services that can help your business grow. And it starts with just a phone call or visit.

Contact Big Sky Economic Development today!

4 0 6 . 2 5 6 . 6 87 1 222 N. 32nd Street www.bigskyeconomicdevelopment.org Billingsbusiness

FedEx Ground unveils new $38M shipping center

By ERIK OLSON F ed E x G round has opened its new

W est E nd transfer hub .

The 146,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Hesper and Gabel roads will be the company’s top regional facility, handling about 10,000 packages per hour.

Company officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 15 for about 50 people.

Afterward, FedEx officials gave tours of the $38 million warehouse, where packages are sorted automatically by Zip code before being loaded onto trucks.

“This really strengthens our position as a regional trade center,” said Steve Arveschoug, director of the Big Sky Economic Development Authority.

About 120 people work at the warehouse. Part-time FedEx Ground package handlers typically earn about $11 to $12 per hour, according to Glassdoor.com, an online job site. FedEx officials said they expect to boost hiring during the busy holiday season and Billingsbusiness

Photo by JAMES WOODCOCK Mark Hammatt, senior hub manager of the Fex Ex Ground hub operations center, leads a tour through the plant Wednesday morning.

adjust employee levels according to shipping demand.

“We are a growing company, and we will need people from this community to continue this trend,” said

Pat McCoy, managing director of FedEx’s western Rockies district.

About 30 to 50 trucks will enter and leave the Billings hub daily, depending on de-

mand, McCoy said.

Also, UPS Inc. announced it is hiring more than 85 people in the Billings area. The openings are a combination of seasonal and permanent jobs,

and include part-time packtown, south to Red Lodge and age handlers, package delivery east to Forsyth. drivers and driver-helpers.

FedEx officials say they’ve Locally, the FedEx hub will doubled their package truck packages as far west as Please see FedEx, 12 Big Timber, north to LewisNovember 2014

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FedEx Continued from 11

Pat McCoy, managing director of FedEx Ground western Rockies district, said the company will need more employees as it grows.

handling over the past decade. The new Billings facility is part of a $3 billion nationwide investment by FedEx to expand its network.

In the past decade, FedEx officials said they have sped up their service by at least one day to nearly three-quarters of the country to better compete in the fast-paced package delivery industry.

Pennsylvania-based FedEx Ground is a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. Founded as Roadway Package System, the

Photo by JAMES WOODCOCK

DARNIELLE INSURANCE AGENCY

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company was bought by FedEx Corp. in 1998 to boost the parent’s groundshipping service.

The two-year development project has had some hiccups before the facility finally opened in August. The biggest was a spat with neighboring tenants at TranstechCenter business park, who were concerned the new hub would create traffic congestion and other problems.

FedEx officials agreed last year to a series of concessions, including additional landscaping and turning the hub building to face west away from the business park.

Our Business is to Improve Your Business We always do what’s best for you and your business with low cost loans, convenient checking and savings options.

Managing Your Insurance Moves

Current Articles “Managing Risk” “A Serious Gap in Homeowners Insurance Coverage” “Claims Made…..and Reported” By guest blogger Dennis P. Gambill, Insurance Litigation Consultant.

Jason Hagadone, Business Lending Manager 406-651-2315 • jhagadone@altanafcu.org

altanafcu.org 406.651.AFCU (2328)

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I November 2014

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

SPONSORED BY THE BILLINGS CHAMBER of Commerce and CVB

R emember to shop locally this holiday season As a consumer, you are a key part in helping small businesses thrive.

Kate Hagenbuch Kate Hagenbuch is event manager for the Billings Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau

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Holiday cards have started to fill mailboxes — mail we all look forward to and the only time of year we expect the old-fashioned, handwritten cards from loved ones. You might see a quaint town pictured with freshly plowed streets and shoveled sidewalks lined with wreathdecorated street lights and big red bows. In the glow of street lights are frosted windows of local small businesses with carefully decorated, welcoming windows.

You probably won’t see this business with a high-gloss flyer in the Thanksgiving newspaper, but you can see the thoughtfully decorated storefront celebrating the season. And you know that when your snowy boots walk through the door and the welcome bells chime above your head, the greeting will include a smile and a warm Happy Holiday greeting.

The Billings Chamber is based in small businesses. In fact, 88 percent of our membership base is composed of small businesses. The Billings Chamber supports all businesses through a combination of advocacy, facilitated business connections and opportunities for growth. In particular, our advocacy efforts aim to be a voice for small businesses in general, speaking out in favor of legislation, policies and movements that are pro-business, and advocating against those that will do harm to small businesses.

Small Business Saturday and our Shop Local movement are a

perfect example of these efforts.

mately, this increased revenue leads to the employment of local people and the ability to give back. Local businesses use that revenue to sponsor kids’ teams, In 2013, more than 1,400 communities joined a movement donate to non-profits, and more. and committed to shopping small during one Saturday in November, including Billings.

For small businesses, the Small Billings is filled with diverse Business Saturday campaign boutiques and restaurants. marked our community’s com- Whether it’s walking into one mitment to support our local of the brand new stores at neighborhood stores. Small Shiloh Crossing or Rimrock Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country.

Founded by American Express, this day is celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29 this year.

Shop Local

Keep Billings unique

November Business After Hours

December Business After Hours

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 Stockman Bank Shiloh & Grand, 5-7 pm. Cost is $8.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 St. Vincent Healthcare N. Shiloh Road, 5-7 pm. Cost is $8

Small Business Saturday Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 Support friends and neighbors, Shop locally

Mall, stepping on the creaky, wooden floors of an authentic downtown shop, sipping a handcrafted microbrew, or eating at a farm-to-table restaurant, Billings has so many appealing small businesses that create our unique cityscape. So this holiday season, take a moment to think about the local businesses in our community. After the holiday rush is over, they will still be here supporting community events, providing one-of-a-kind items,

employing our neighbors, and partnering with other small businesses while delivering the highest level of personal customer service. The Shop Small Movement inspires people to shop with and support these small businesses as well as give back to the places that have given their communities so much. We hope to see our community do the same by shopping small on Nov. 29, and shopping locally throughout this holiday season.

The Movement When customers shop local small businesses, the community can benefit from an influx of more than 50 percent of those sales into our local economy. As a consumer, you are a key part in helping small businesses thrive.

By shopping or dining at locally owned businesses throughout the year, you’re supporting the businesses in your neighborhood and reinvesting in the community you call home.

Thriving development

BillingsChamber.com

Shop Local at

Montana’s trailhead this holiday season, and always, support local businesses and our local economy.

Find a list of Chamber member businesses to shop with at BillingsChamber.com.

When a product is sold at a local business, the circulation of that money in our community has an immediate effect. UltiNovember 2014

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13

SALES moves

W hy not try ‘R eturn on S ervice ’

as a measure of customer satisfaction ?

The object of service is to be so amazing that one person tells another person, or one person posts to their Facebook account, or both.

Jeffrey Gitomer Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The Sales Bible and The Little Red Book of Selling.

Reach him at 704-333-1112 or email salesman@gitomer.com.

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“Return on Investment” in business is predicated on the ability of the company to deliver as promised in product, profit and its accompanying service.

It’s amazing to me that everyone measures ROI to the penny, and no one measures ROS (return on service) at all.

Most companies are too busy wasting their money on customer satisfaction surveys when they could eliminate the survey costs, and spend half of that money training people to improve service, and measure the only three things in business that matter: repeat business, profit margins, and referrals — all the rest of the “satisfaction” process is an empty waste of time and money.

Let’s get real here, when J.D. Power gives the customer satisfaction award to an airline, what could the category possibly be? Least crappy?

The object of service is to be so amazing that one person tells another person, or one person posts to their Facebook account, or both.

How’s yours?

The key to profitable repeat business and unsolicited referrals is to create genuine word-of-mouth, and word of mouse about the company, the products and services, and especially the people.

ROI REALITY: Do you want to deliver service that’s satisfactory or remarkable?

ROI REALITY: Do you want to deliver service that’s satisfactory or memorable?

Return on service can take place in any part of the business.

Here are the most prominent examples: Provide positive attitude training for everyone in the company.

Provide specific and customized empowerment service training for everyone in the company. (What is each employee allowed to do and say to a customer?)

The receptionist or telephone operator. This is the customer’s first point of contact and sets the tone for the entire transaction.

Ship an order errorfree and back order-free. Get them what they want fast and seamlessly.

The delivery and arrival of a customer shipment.

Packaging determines image, and the condition of the contents upon arrival proves their worth to the shipper and the care of the shipping department. A huge part of re-order consideration.

The accounting department people. Accounting can play a major role in customer loyalty. The way they talk to an account, the frequency of error, their accuracy of invoicing, and the common courtesy they may display when someone is late making a payment.

Damned automated attendant. No one on earth wants to hear their telephone call answered by a computer, yet every major company in the world employs these godforsaken things. There has to be a better way, and the person that creates it will make billions.

The speed, accuracy and outcome of handling a

Courtesy photo A man and woman are helped at a business. Gitomer says the object of service is to be so amazing that one person tells another person, or one person posts to their Facebook account, or both.

Return on morale.

Internal happiness creates customer happiness.

Return on leadership.

The leader sets the tone and the attitude by example.

Return on friendliness. All things being equal, people want to do business with their friends.

Return on getting the job done ahead of schedule. Real profit created by exceptional team effort.

Return on wowing the customer. Priceless. Period.

Return on accuracy.

Beyond a good feeling all the way to respect – and reorder.

Return on quality product. This is a given, but creates more word-ofmouth than any other single forum.

Return on positive Return on training. Especially for front line people. social media posts. Social complaint. Complaints go way beyond one customer.

They go all the way to social media.

You must perform remarkable or memorable service for: Following up and thanking customers for an order.

Following up and making certain that the service call went perfectly.

Making certain that everyone on the inside of the company is rewarded and thanked for a job well done.

And for those of you who still possess an ounce of skepticism about ROS after these truths, here are some additional “return” elements to consider.

Many happy returns

media is the new “satisfaction” survey or report.

Return on value messages offered to customers on a consistent basis.

Weekly value-based messages to customers create life-long desires to stay connected.

Return on using voice-of-customer in YouTube, blog, and Facebook video posts. When you say it about yourself it’s bragging.

When someone else says it about you, it’s proof. Video proof is the new proof.

Big companies hammer their entire workforce to make certain that their customer satisfaction scores are high or higher, when they could be (should be) creating an internal training program that begins with the word “wow” and progresses upward from there.

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When you’re having a heart attack, minutes matter in minimizing damage to your heart and saving your life.

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November 2014

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CVS Health expands tobacco ban to pharmacy network First, CVS Health pulled tobacco from its store shelves.

Now, it plans to make some customers think twice about filling prescriptions at other stores that sell smokes.

The nation’s secondlargest drugstore chain is developing a new tobacco-free pharmacy network that it will offer as a choice to employers and other clients of its Caremark pharmacy benefits management business. Employers, insurers and unions hire pharmacy benefits managers, or PBMs, to run their prescription drug coverage.

The new CVS network will slap an extra co-payment on patients who fill their prescriptions at stores that sell tobacco. That payment won’t apply to prescriptions filled at stores in the tobacco-free network, which would include CVS and Target or other stores that don’t sell tobacco. Target Corp. quit selling tobacco in 1996.

The network, which starts next year, comes as companies continue to seek ways to control health care costs that have been growing faster than inflation for years. They’ve added wellness programs to help workers become healthier by losing weight or quitting smoking. They’ve also trying to rein in spending by making workers pay a greater share of the cost of their care at doctor’s offices and pharmacies.

CVS spokeswoman Carolyn Castel said her company developed the new PBM network after several customers asked for it. The company’s prescription drug networks cover about 65 million people as the nation’s second-largest

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PBM, but the tobacco-free option will only be used by the PBM customers that choose it.

Castel said it’s too early to say how many PBM clients will sign up for such a plan.

“It’s not across the board,” she said, adding that the size of the extra co-payment would vary according to client.

A relatively small number of benefits providers will likely try the new option, said Adam J. Fein, president of the business research firm Pembroke Consulting.

More PBMs in recent years have started offering networks that have different co-payments depending on pharmacy costs or quality measurements. But a tobacco focus is untested and no one knows whether it will have any impact on smoking rates.

Plus, companies try to avoid being too disruptive with changes to the benefits they offer.

Even so, Fein called the network a “worthwhile experiment” because smokingrelated illnesses are at the root of a lot of health care costs.

CVS first started taking on tobacco in February, when it announced that it would remove cigarettes, cigars and other like products from its more than 7,700 drugstores nationally to help sharpen its focus on health. It completed that task in September when it also announced that it would change its name to CVS Health from CVS Caremark.

Drugstore chains, grocers and big retailers like Target have delved deeper into customer health in recent years, in part to serve the aging baby

Associated Press FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2014 file photo, an inflatable cigarette and ashtray are displayed in New York to announce the CVS Health’s decision to stop selling cigarettes at its stores.

CVS Health, the nation’s second-largest drugstore chain, is developing a new tobacco-free pharmacy network for clients of its Caremark pharmacy benefits management business.

boom generation and the millions of uninsured people who are expected to gain coverage under the federal health care overhaul. They’ve been adding walk-in clinics to their stores, expanding the care they provide, and putting more health care products on their shelves.

CVS Health rivals Wal-

green Co. and Rite Aid Corp. still sell tobacco in their drugstores. The new pharmacy benefits network, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, could steer patients away from the competition for CVS. But Fein said he doesn’t see that as an antitrust concern or anything that

creates an unfair competitive advantage.

“No one is forcing an employer to set up a plan that eliminates pharmacies that sell tobacco. It’s just an option,” said Fein, who also writes a blog on pharmaceutical economics called Drug Channels.

Shares of CVS Health climbed $1.17 to $82.65 in afternoon trading Tuesday and have advanced about 25 percent since the company initially announced its split with tobacco in February. That more than doubles the rise of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index over the same span.

Billingsbusiness

STRATEGIES for success

T hese steps can help limit workplace violence Strong internal communication is absolutely paramount — letting everyone know what is happening, both the good and the bad.

Joe Michels Joe Michels, PhD, P.E., C.P.I., is principal of Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC. Contact him at 406-672-6387 or at www. solomonbruce.com.

Billingsbusiness

In the past several weeks, our country has experienced several cases of significant workforce and personal violence. Each of these cases causes us to wonder: Could it happen here?

An employee kills two supervisors who he believed caused his dismissal from a delivery company.

A disgruntled employee who converted to a Middle Eastern religion, terminated because of his zeal for his new-found religious beliefs, stabs and beheads former co-workers. A contract employee attempting to commit suicide and burn down the facility he worked at, causing no deaths, but significant turmoil to the air traffic control system in the Upper Midwest. Graduate students shooting their major professor when their doctoral dissertation defense was denied or required additional rework in order to present quality graduate work. All are recent examples of work force violence.

Today’s world is more challenging than ever.

Our world is a tough and demanding place. Economic conditions, personal conflicts at home as well as many individuals having significant mental health challenges have caused the

workplace to become an environment fraught with worry, fear and trepidation.

Understanding the environment of your organization is the first step in ensuring that your firm does not have a workplace violence issue. Strong internal communication is absolutely paramount — letting everyone know what is happening, both the good and the bad. Being cognizant of employee challenges is also critical. Everyone — from the chief executive officer to the janitor — has challenges. Listening, really listening to what others say, is also important. The world is different today.

As leaders and managers, we must pay closer and stricter attention to our colleagues, our work force, our suppliers and our overall corporate environment.

Failure to do so may result in violence and injury to innocent individuals.

Every firm should have a plan to address workplace violence. Paying attention to each employee through active listening is the beginning step. Following the employee handbook, assuming that your firm has one, is also critical to preventing a violent situation. Active involvement by your human

Courtesy photo Every firm should have a plan to address workplace violence, Michels says.

resources department is critical to preventing workforce violence.

The following steps should be taken by you, the leader, to prevent a workforce violence situation from escalation: Be visible. Let the employees see you. Make sure that the employees know that you care — about them, their work, their lives.

Listen. Really listen to what you are being told.

If more than two employees tell you the same thing, then, there is some challenge there

that must be investigated.

Communicate. Bad news is not like wine, it does not get better with time. If some news is important, share it immediately and let the workforce know that you care.

Be mindful. Change is one of the most frightful experiences in the world today. Many people cannot adapt to any type of change.

Respect that when sharing news that may disrupt the lives of others.

Work to benefit the workers. Financial stress is

paramount in today’s world.

If a significant change has to be made that will have financial impact on individuals’ lives, work to find solutions that may be beneficial to the workers.

Take immediate action. Change door locks, computer passwords, entry control procedures whenever an employee is discharged. The costs involved are minimal when compared to the potential challenges a disgruntled employee can create.

November 2014

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SPECIAL REPORT: HEALTH CARE TRENDS, FORECASTS & PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES

Residency programs help with physician recruitment

By TOM HOWARD G rowing up on a ranch in E astern M ontana , D r . R oger B ush understood the virtues of being self sufficient .

Photo by Casey Page Billings Clinic internal medicine residents pose for a group photo with other doctors from the clinic after receiving their white coats during a ceremony July 1.

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Billingsbusiness

HEALTH CARE “It’s like my grandparents on the homestead. If you can’t buy vegetables, you grow your own. So, we’re growing our own doctors,” said Bush, director of the Billings Clinic’s Internal Medicine Residency Program.

The residency program aims to address a shortage of primary care physicians while helping improve the health of Montanans.

Billings Clinic announced the formation of its new residency program in the spring of 2013, and the first group of residents received their white coats earlier this year and have begun three years of training.

So far, the residency program has had a positive impact on physician recruitment, said Dr. Virginia Mohl, family medicine physician and medical director for physician recruitment and professional education at Billings Clinic.

“We had a really successful recruitment year in 2013, and a lot of it is about excitement around the residency program,” Mohl said.

Medical experts attribute a shortage of primary care doctors — health professionals on the front lines of medicine — to a number of factors. For one thing, many primary-care doctors are reaching retirement age. At the same time, the nation’s aging population is boosting demand for services because people require more health care as they age.

The doctor shortage is said to be especially acute in a large, sparsely populated rural state like Montana. The Montana Primary Care Office reports that 11 of Montana’s 56 counties have no physician at all, and that 27,331 Montanans live in a county that has no doctor. Meanwhile, 52 of the state’s 56 counties are designated shortage areas for primary care health professionals, which include general medicine, family medicine, pediatricians, internal medicine and obstetricians.

During an earlier era, Montana doctors living in small communities often practiced by themselves, operating under less than ideal conditions. Sometimes they

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took payment in the form of livestock or produce.

“There’s pretty much consensus that the nation needs more primary care doctors in rural areas, yet the training pipeline for doctors supports hospital based training in urban settings,” Bush said.

Today, Billings Clinic’s residency program emphasizes a team approach to providing health care.

“We want to build a medical home model of team-based care,” Bush said.

“That means nurses, behavioral medicine, palliative care, generalist physicians, subspecialists, all working together. That’s a different model of care than what most of these docs have been working in, and I think that’s part of the attraction.”

Bush said much of the nation’s health care system is oriented around conducting tests and procedures. By contrast, primary care medicine is a high-touch specialty, based on “listening to patients, understanding what gives meaning to their lives and helping them achieve their goals,” he said.

One result of the Affordable Health Act, the new federal health care law, is that people tend to use health care more after they receive health insurance. After a record 920 young doctors applied to the Montana Family Practice Residency Program at RiverStone Health last year, RiverStone officials said health care reform was a major reason behind the interest.

The Montana Family Medicine Residency began in 1995 to train and place family physicians in rural and underserved Montana communities, and the program has established a track record of keeping doctors in Montana. Since the program began, seven in 10 graduates are practicing family medicine in Montana.

So far, efforts to bolster primary care medicine seem to be paying off.

“A few years ago we had six family medicine graduates a year in Montana,” Bush said. “We’re on track to have 24 primary care graduates, between six from Billings Clinic, eight from the Family Medicine Residency and 10 from the Mis-

soula program. But that’s still not enough to replace the retiring primary care docs,” he said.

Dr. Jeffrey Zavala, chief medical officer at St. Vincent Healthcare, said replacing retired primary care doctors continues to be a challenge.

When recruiting new physicians, St. Vincent frequently touts Montana’s quality of life, its outdoor assets, and that fact that Billings features small-town friendliness with big-city amenities, Zavala said.

“A big pitch for us is the lifestyle,” Zavala said.

Another challenge is that many internal medicine doctors choose a different career track by becoming hospitalists.

Hospitalists see patients only in a hospital setting.

“Many prefer to work in a hospital, where they have more regular hours,” Zavala said.

Another challenge to recruiting physicians: whether a spouse can find a job.

“Numerous physicians end up leaving because their spouse wasn’t able to find a job,” Zavala said. “It’s important to us to have the spouse take a look around and get to know the community a little.”

Burnout is another issue that affects primary care doctors. In some urban settings, it’s not uncommon for a doctor to see up to 40 patients per day. Doctors who responded to a 2012 survey by the Urban Institute reported a lot of stress in their jobs. More than half of those 50 and older said they planned to leave their practice soon.

The team approach to practicing medicine is one way to help reduce stress and burnout, Bush said.

“You can’t recruit (new doctors) to a story that says: There’s so much need.

There’s so few of us. We work so hard,” Bush said. “Instead, we’re saying we’re got something cool going on. We’re trying to do something in a different way. We re in a group that’s committed to this group of patients, but we’re committed to our team as well.”

Doctors needed 52 of 56 counties are designated as Primary Care Health Professions Shortage Areas.

Primary care physicians include general medicine, family medicine, pediatricians, internal medicine and obstetricians.

75 percent of Montana physicians practice in the seven largest communities, yet only 35 percent of the state’s population lives in these communities.

31 percent of Montana physicians are 60 or older, the third oldest physician workforce in the nation.

Montana ranks 47th in the nation in the number of Graduate Medical Education residents per capita.

“It’s like my grandparents on the homestead. If you can’t buy vegetables, you grow your own. So, we’re growing our own doctors.”

— Dr. Roger Bush, director of the Billings Clinic’s Internal Medicine Residency Program

November 2014

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21

Celebrating 70 years Underriner Motors commemorates occasion by donating to nonprofits

By BILLINGS BUSINESS T o celebrate its 70 th birthday , U nderriner M otors has donated much needed items to B illings nonprofits .

For 70 years, the same family has owned Billings Buick, Whitaker Buick, Selover Buick and now Underriner Motors.

The dealership’s reputation for quality of service and community involvement has spanned four generations and continues to be a driving force in Billings.

The dealership is more than just selling cars, according to Bill Underriner, owner of Underriner Motors. “Four generations of the same family have carried on the tradition of offering quality service and dedication to community,” he said. “Our legacy is about service, integrity, and building lasting relationships with our customers.”

The recipients of the 70 Gifts program include Billings Food Bank, Family Service, Inc., Tumbleweed Runaway Program, Billings Public Schools Backpack Meals Program, Easter Seals, Volunteers of America, Friend-

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ship House, Billings Public High School and Middle Schools’ Angel Fund, Help for Homeless Pets, Reading Matters, Billings Head Start and Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley. Awards include 70 gift items per agency such as 70 Walmart gift cards, 70 turkeys, and 70 Met bus passes.

The legacy of quality service and dedication to the community started in 1944, when Floyd Whitaker opened Billings Buick.

The Whitaker family’s dedication to serving the community with the finest automotive products and services established a standard of excellence unmatched during its time. In 1953, the dealership became Whitaker Buick, and in 1955 Whitaker’s son-in-law, George Selover, was named general manager. In 1966, Whitaker Buick became Selover Buick. George Selover endorsed the family vision of making customers the company’s

Photo by CASEY PAGE Bill and Mary Underriner celebrate the opening of their new Hyundai, Buick and Volvo showroom and service center on Pierce Parkway off of Zoo Drive in August.

top priority. As a result, the family business grew, and expansion in Billings was built on the confidence and trust that comes with satisfying each customer... one at a time.

In 1984, Selover’s son-in-law, Bill Underriner, became sales manager of Selover Honda, and in 1994 he was named general manager. In 2001, Underriner became the dealer and owner and in 2002 Selover Buick became Underriner Motors. Like the dealership’s past

owners, Underriner continues the legacy of excellence today, combining a strong commitment to community service with shrewd business acumen.

In 2010, Underriner Motors expanded the family business with the opening of the Underriner Honda dealership on the Billings West End. The new structure earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for energy efficient

buildings. This fall, Underriner opened the Underriner Hyundai – Buick –Volvo showroom and service center next to Underriner Honda, which has also earned LEED certification.

Bill Underriner’s sons, Blake and Kyle, comprise the fourth generation of the family business.

Underriner said he and his wife, Mary, are looking forward to where this new generation will take the dealership.

Billingsbusiness

Corn husks and cobs stripped of their kernels are the raw material for a new cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The material is collected in large bales and fed into the first large commercial ethanol plant to rely on nonfood material.

Associated Press

Cellulosic ethanol plants come on line, but industry’s future remains uncertain

By McClatchey Newspapers EMMETSBURG, Iowa — The first large ethanol plants to produce biofuel from nonfood sources like corn cobs are starting operations in the Midwest as the industry worries that they might also be the last — at least in the United States.

After a decade of research and development, ethanol maker Poet Inc. and its Dutch partner Royal DSM recently produced the first cellulosic ethanol at a $275 million plant next to a cornfield in this northern Iowa town.

Two other companies are completing new cellulosic ethanol plants in Iowa and Kansas. By next year, they expect to be producing millions of gallons of the advanced biofuel.

“It was a big moment when we produced ethanol,” said the Emmetsburg plant’s general manager, Daron Wilson, who

Billingsbusiness

kept a vial from the first batch in August as a memento. “It was jubilation.”

Yet the goal of producing ethanol from nonfood sources faces a murky future. Wavering U.S. policy on renewable fuels and the North American oil boom cast a shadow over the commercial triumph.

The next big cellulosic ethanol plants are planned or being built in Brazil, not the United States. Although the U.S. government has spent more than $1 billion to develop cellulosic technology, industry executives recently wrote to President Barack Obama that other countries, including China, could “reap the economic and environmental rewards of technologies pioneered in America.”

Most ethanol is fermented from corn kernels. The fuel made at the new Emmetsburg plant is derived from inedible parts of the corn plant. Straw and grasses also can be used

because, like corn residue, they contain sugars that cellulosic technology can extract from the fibers.

Outside the Emmetsburg plant are 158,000 bales of corn cobs, husks and stalks collected from farmers’ fields. The residue is ground up, subjected to acid, water, heat and enzymes to extract hidden sugars. Then they’re fermented and distilled. The 200-proof alcohol is the same as that made from corn.

“Cellulosic is kind of like corn ethanol was in the ’80s,” said Jeff Lautt, chief executive of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Poet, the nation’s secondlargest ethanol maker operating 27 traditional production plants. “It has a lot of promise, it needs some support to allow the innovation and continuous improvement to happen, but long-term it can compete on its own just like corn ethanol.”

Lautt and other industry officials said cellulosic ethanol

can be produced today for $3 per gallon, but costs are sure to drop, making it competitive with corn ethanol, whose U.S. average rack price recently dropped below $2 per gallon.

Besides federal R&D grants, Congress has, at times, offered a $1 per gallon tax credit to promote advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol. The credit expired last year. In 2007, Congress enacted the renewable fuel standard that imposed a complex system of mandates to blend more

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ethanol into the nation’s motor fuel. The oil industry has resisted it as onerous, costly and unworkable.

Ethanol makers say that without a blending mandate, it will be difficult if not impossible to raise investment capital for more U.S. cellulosic ethanol plants. The Obama administration, which has signaled it might change the mandate, is expected soon to announce its policy.

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traditional ethanol plants have more than enough capacity to supply 10 percent of the U.S. fuel supply. Almost all gasoline is sold at that blend, E10.

Ethanol makers never planned on cutting back corn ethanol output to make way for the new cellulosic version.

At Emmetsburg, the PoetDSM cellulosic plant called “Project Liberty,” stands next to a 9-year-old corn-ethanol plant.

That leaves one choice: higher blends like E15.

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TRAVEL &leisure

W ith the holidays around the corner , try these gifts for business travelers Business travelers are always looking for something that can make their lives easier. With the holidays around the corner, here are some great gadgets and accessories every road warrior would appreciate.

acclaimed headphones help reduce unwanted noise, and advances in Bose technology make what you want to hear sound even better. Ergonomically designed for a comfortable fit. Fold-flat feature makes storage in the slim carrying case even easier. Check them out at www.bose.com.

Traveling for The Chargepod business can get multidevice charger This easy-to-use and trans- Airport lounge pass portable power dock eliminates old ... getting a the need to carry several power If you know an airline or devices while traveling, makairport that a business traveler gift that makes ing your briefcase lighter and frequents, give the gift of remore organized. Charging up to laxation with a day pass to an your job, and six devices at once, the handy airport lounge. Looking for a Chargepod is a must-have gad- more extravagant gift? You can their job easier is get for any road warrior. Learn always purchase a year-long more at amazon.com. membership or special services priceless. (like spa treatments) at select

Billie Ruff Billie Ruff is owner of Travel Cafe. Reach her at travelcafeonline.com.

The atomic watch

lounges around the world.

For the bi-coastal road warrior, an atomic watch will keep her/him on time (in the right time zone) without any watch setting — or thinking! A great shock and waterproof model is the Casio GW500A-1V G-Shock Atomic Solar Men’s Rubber Watch — find it at Cabela’s and other retailers.

Resistance bands

Bose TriPort QuietComfort 2 noise canceling headphone A true break from airplane noise allows to arrive to a business meeting more refreshed and composed. These

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Any fitness buff will appreciate being able to stash these portable bands in a suitcase for on-the road toning. Just make sure the person you’re gifting these to actually likes exercise before you buy. Here’s an option for under $20 from Amazon.com: SPRI Resistance Band - SPRI Green Xertube and 3 Xercise Bands. For a more complete kit, try the Fitkit fitness solution. This portable fitness solution combines resistance bands, handled resistance tubes, a jump rope, pedometer and more in a handy pack-

age weighing less than two pounds. Fitkit.com, $34.99.

Travel neck pillow For a real splurge in napping comfort try Tempur-Pedic’s Neck Support Pillow for Travel.

It has a unique horseshoe-shape that cradles your neck for comfort and support while allowing neck and shoulder muscles to relax completely. It typically sells for about $80, but is worth every penny, especially on those long flights.

Air tamer This compact wonder kills airborne germs and odors.

Creating a three-foot sphere

of healthy air around you, this small but mighty purifier wards off both germs and odors. When activated, it emits a steady stream of negative ions to keep viruses, bacteria, pollen and dust out of your breathing space.

Shake and Brew While I love my coffee, I can’t go without iced tea and I find tea in airports is typically less than desirable. With the Shake and Brew, you simply fill one end with bagged or loose tea, add hot water and shake back and forth to begin brewing. Then, add ice and you have iced tea where ever you travel.

Cashmere wrap Every traveling woman will appreciate having a cozy wrap along for the journey. Great as a pillow or blanket substitute in a pinch, a wrap will also add style and warmth to the business traveler’s wardrobe. An approximate $100 option right now, the Classic Cashmere Pashmina Shawl in many colors at purecollection.com.

Of course, the list goes on from electric shavers, Kindles, iPads, TSA approved laptop sleeves, travel first aid kits and more.

Traveling for business can get old ... getting a gift that makes your job, and their job easier is priceless.

Billingsbusiness

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La Quinta Inn & Suites

Ample Amenities, plush rooms And contemporAry design distinguish new Billings hotel

By Brittany Cremer

∙ Photos By Bob Zellar

The grumpy morning grimace does not exist at La Quinta Inn & Suites.

Their mission, to have guests wake up on the “bright side” of the bed every morning, is achieved by offering cozy accommodations, a dedicated and friendly staff, ample amenities and delicious breakfast.

Pillow top mattresses, oversized rooms, a fitness center and poolside fun-zone are just a few reasons why you and your crew will request another night’s stay at La Quinta, which has been open since August 14.

Located at 5720 South Frontage Road (adjacent the Cracker Barrel Restaurant), La Quinta’s location is convenient for road-weary business executives or a traveling family of five.

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Warm welcome

Painted in hues of lime, eggplant, grey and black, the entrance exudes an urban lounge vibe. Seating alcoves interspersed with attractive coffee tables invite guests to come in and relax.

Cylindrical light fixtures in varying heights add dimension and interest to the space, which is anchored by a stunning floor-toceiling photo of a white magnolia.

Salt-and-pepper colored tile work further enhances the entrance, which also features two computer stations for guest convenience.

“The design team worked incredibly hard to achieve a look that was inviting, comfortable and modern,” said general manager Gail Linnell.

Montana-inspired photographs and artwork peppered throughout the hotel also infuse the space with an element of spritely Montana welcome.

Opposite page, top: The

Rest easy

Equipped with 85 guest rooms over four floors, La Quinta continues the contemporary design and tones of slate greys and blacks—with surprising pops of color—throughout the hotel.

In the standard rooms, guests can expect two plush queen beds, a

entrance and breakfast area at La Quinta Inn & Suites features plush, comfortable seating with a contemporary, urban-inspired vibe. Inset , opposite page: The ceremonial ribbon cutting for La Quinta Inn & Suites took place October 2, 2014. Right: A black and white photo of a magnolia anchors the reception area, where guests can also enjoy the convenience of two complimentary computers.

Congratulations lA qUINTA INN

We are proud to be part of the team

2270 Grant Road, Billings, MT 59102

406-656-0629 www.langlas.com

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special advertising section desk, refrigerator, ironing nook and high-end bath accoutrements like stand-alone blow dryer and granite counters.

“All the rooms are larger than the industry standard,” Linnell said, “which is great for larger families or anyone interested in extra elbow room.”

The suites offer additional space with a living room area and couch that pulls out into a bed. The An AquAtic suites also feature a quaint wet bar and TV that can be repositioned to just about any viewing angle in fun-lAnd, the the room.

For guests wanting to indulge in even more pool deck At lA relaxation, the hotel also offers a handful of spa tub quintA offers suites—private and perfect for relaxing haggard, stressed muscles. something for

Pool play

An aquatic fun-land, the pool deck at La Quinta offers something for everyone. A wading pool for tiny tots—complete with giant octopus sprayer and adorable bullfrog slide—gently flows into a deeper area for teens and adults.

Awash in natural light, the pool also features a two-story slide, ample lounge chair seating and spacious hot tub.

A quick rinse at one of the on-site showers makes guests “pool-ready” and varying pool depths means aquatic fun for everyone.

“The pool is definitely one of the hotel’s best amenities,” Linnell said.

Rise and shine

everyone. A wAding pool for tiny tots— complete with giAnt octopus sprAyer And AdorAble bullfrog slide— gently flows into A deeper AreA for

Anxious about missing your morning jog? teens And Adults.

The fitness room at La Quinta has you covered. Offering treadmills, elipticals, free weights and other machines, your heart rate will climb in no time—all while watching your favorite program on the large flat screen TV appointed in the corner.

After exercise, feast guilt-free at the hotel’s breakfast bar, which offers waffles, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, pastries, toast and a variety of other good morning goodies.

“Guests can also enjoy coffee around the clock,” Linnell noted.

Hotel guests attending seminars or luncheons in La Quinta’s state-of-the-art

Congratulations La Quinta Inn!

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Above: A bullfrog slide and octopus sprayer create waves of fun for the little ones. Right: Ellipticals, treadmills, free weights and more make nailing your morning workout routine a cinch. Next page top: The rooms at La Quinta Inn & Suites were specially designed to be oversized— larger than the industry standard for added comfort.

Next page bottom: La Quinta offers a state-ofthe-art meeting room with comfortable seating, white board and projection screen.

Billingsbusiness

special advertising section meeting room will enjoy ample elbow-room and comfortable seating.

And, for travelers who forgot their razor or toothbrush—don’t fret.

La Quinta’s convenient mini market is stocked with all the necessaries you may have forgotten at home.

Nuts and bolts

Although the finished product turned out beautifully, construction challenges arose early on due to inclement weather last winter.

“We lost three weeks due to the unavailability of the building permit,” said John Flanagan, senior project manager with Langlas & Associates—the general contractor for the job. “The process of approval just took longer than anticipated. There were many times during the ‘Great Winter’ that we wished we had those three weeks back.”

Ultimately, the building permit was ready October 8, 2013, and the foundation excavation started immediately the next day, Flanagan said.

The foundation was poured on November 29 and “just in the nick of time,” Flanagan added.

Framing proved challenging through the wet, cold climes of the winter, but the hotel was near completion by July and open for business August 14.

Flanagan credits job superintendent Ken Voegele with managing the tight turnaround and successfully troubleshooting roadblocks.

“He (Voegele) did an amazing job of turning over every aspect of the project into brand-new, ready-to-use, shiny, clean condition,” Flanagan said.

Since opening its doors in August, Linnell said she and her team are still fine-tuning some of the fine points, but said she is very pleased with how the project turned out.

“I want to extend my thanks to staff members who’ve been with us from the beginning, helping us finesse the details,” Linnell said. “Your support and dedication to service are what makes La Quinta a great place to work and stay.”

CONGRATulATiONS & wElCOME TO BilliNGS! lA QuiNTA iNN windows & Doors Showroom 2520 Grand Ave., Billings

r Award 2 014 rgy Sta Ene PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Billingsbusiness

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Viewed To Be The Best

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Mountain Supply Co.

With a beautiful neW shoWroom and fully interactive displays, the experts at mountain supply co. can help take your next bath or kitchen project to an exciting neW level.

By Allyn Hulteng

∙ Photos By Bob Zellar

You spent months poring through remodeling magazines, tearing out photo after photo of spa-like master bathrooms. As you sift through the images, a vision for your new en suite begins to take shape. Working with a contractor, you draw up plans and then set off to shop for fixtures.

But one step inside the first showroom and you stop dead in your tracks.

Hundreds of faucets, shower heads, sinks, tubs and toilets converge in an overwhelming mass of water works displays.

“Where do I start?” you think.

That’s where the talented team at Mountain Supply Co. steps in.

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“Water is our Business”

Family-owned and in business since 1960, Mountain Supply Co. is the “go-to” store for everything relating to water. With five distinct divisions, the company specializes in irrigation systems (sprinklers), hydronic heating (boilers), all types of plumbing materials and supplies, excavation (septic tanks, pumps and wells) and kitchen and bath fixtures.

“Basically, we can get water from your pump through every fixture in the house out to the septic tank and everything in between,” said Abraham Hawkins, branch manager in Billings.

The desire to build upon the company’s excellent reputation and give customers a better showroom experience led to the decision to construct a new, state-of-the-art store.

Geared toward kitchens and baths, the impressive showroom is the only one in Montana with fully working, interactive displays.

“You wouldn’t purchase a vehicle without driving it. Similarly, we want customers to experience all kinds of fixtures,” said Hawkins.

“When customers come in to look at

A “wow” experience

At Mountain Supply Co., trying out different fixtures doesn’t just mean turning faucets and shower heads on and off. If a lot of questions about customer wants to try out a whirlpool-style hoW things Work. our tub, he or she can bring a swimsuit, fill one of the two working tubs with warm water shoWroom alloWs and climb in to experience first-hand the marvelous way a jetted tub can erase stress them to turn things and tension. on and off, use the There is also a working shower with a variety of different heads and rain heads touch screens and that customers can try, plus a steam shower with a touch-control panel and integrated experience stereo system. the differences “When customers come in to look at fixtures, they have a lot of questions about first-hand.” how things work. Our showroom allows them to turn things on and off, use the — abraham haWkins, touch screens and experience the differences first-hand,” noted Hawkins. branch manager, In addition to faucets, tubs and showers, mountain supply co. the store has six working bathroom sinks, five working kitchens and eight flushing toilets.

“A customer may ask if a particular toilet has a loud flush. I won’t understand exactly what he means by ‘loud flush,’ but he can flush the toilet and hear for himself,” said Hawkins.

That kind of interactive experience didn’t just happen. fixtures, they have a

Opposite Page Top: Mountain Supply Co.’s new store located at 534 S. Billings Blvd. features the only fully interactive bath and kitchen showroom in Montana. Inset: Bright and beautiful, the impressive showroom gives customers the chance to experience faucets and fixtures first-hand. Top right: Mountain Supply Co. features a distinguished list of brands including Moen, Toto, Graff, California, Dande, Aquatic Bathware, Jacuzzi, Native Trails and Ronbow.

Congratulations

Mountain Supply!

536 Moore Lane Billings, MT 59101

406.252.8990 Billingsbusiness

Commercial Glazing Contractor Aluminum Storefront & Doors Horton Automatic Doors AAADM Certified Steel Doors & Frames Marvin Windows Therma Tru Doors Glass & Glazing November 2014

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special advertising section

Congratulations MouNtaiN Supply oN your

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Beautiful New BuildiNg!

thank you for letting us help with your ceramic tile & carpet needs.

Heath Myers • Mike Jones • Cade Myers • Karmen Banks

Serving our surrounding area for over 30 years 213 WEST MAIN • LAUREL, MT 59044 • PHONE: 406-628-6330 • FAX: 406-628-2206 32

I November 2014

At the drawing board, the design team and management tried to think of everything a customer could want to experience. That effort led to the idea of creating an experiential showroom supported by highly-trained experts who work with customers to find exactly what they want.

“We call it ‘giving our customers a ‘wow’ experience,’” said Hawkins. “That commitment is at the core of everything Above: Customers can bring a swimsuit, fill one of the two working we do.”

Contractor connection

Open to the public, the new Mountain Supply Co. store is also a wholesale supplier for plumbers and

whirlpool tubs with warm water and climb in to experience first-hand the marvelous way a jetted tub can erase stress and tension.

Billingsbusiness

special advertising section

contractors.

“We work directly with our wholesale customers to provide a large selection of professional grade products at competitive prices,” Hawkins said.

For homeowners who want a new kitchen or bath, Hawkins suggests they talk to their contractor and then come to the showroom.

“We do not offer installation, so it benefits the customer to buy through a professional installer in order to get the product warranty,” noted Hawkins.

Plumbers and contractors will also find a large selection of plumbing tools, plumbing repair supplies and irrigation pumps. The store also has Rheem brand water heaters and tankless water heaters

by Navien, Rheem and Rinnai.

“Temperature swings in the spring and fall tend to cause older water heaters to fail, so now is a good time to consider Top, center, bottom: Customers can find ultra-modern to installing a new unit,” Montana rustic and everything in between in the expansive Hawkins said. showroom.

Behind the large selection of products is a distinguish list of brands including Moen, Toto, Graff, California, Dande, Aquatic Bathware, Jacuzzi, Native Trails and Ronbow. The extensive array of suppliers ensures customers can find exactly the style to fit their vision.

“We have ultra-modern to Montana rustic and everything in between,” said Hawkins. “It’s really fun to work with people and be a resource to help them create their dream look.”

Billingsbusiness

Mountain Supply Co. 534 S. Billings Blvd.

Billings, MT 59101 Hours: Mon – Fri 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sat 8 a.m. – Noon Also open by appointment, please call 259-2909 to schedule. abeh@mountainsupply.com

s n o i t a l u t gr a

Con

Mountain Supply!

We are proud to be involved with this project!

Specializing in commercial projects Licensed. Bonded. Insured.

2915 Hannon Rd. • 406-245-6100

Outstanding Showroom!!

We want to thank Mountain Supply for giving us the opportunity to work with you.

5819 Kennison Pl. (Off Mullowney)

406-656-6660

November 2014

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Swing Away!

New iNdoor facility exteNds seasoN for golfers plus softball aNd baseball players

By Brenda Maas Photos by Bob Zellar and Hannah Potes

Winter in Billings just got a little bit shorter.

It is a balmy 68-74 degrees, year-round, inside The Swing Lab at Yegen Golf Club on Billings’ West End. Newly opened on October 6, 2014,The Swing Lab is exactly that—a space for golfers, softball players and baseball players to “experiment” with their swings.

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Randy Northrop, general manager and co-owner of Yegen Golf Club (YGC), knows the intricate business of swinging a golf club or bat. YGC does the bulk of its business from May to September, and while Billings loves the greens and the ball field, the long winter season doesn’t always cooperate.

Northrop began augmenting his business model for those brisk, and commercially-slow, winter months.

“As a business, we are always looking for winter income,” he said.

Northrop, who moonlights as a Little League baseball coach and spent 19 years as Rocky Mountain College’s golf coach, looked at bigger cities like Denver and Chicago, knowing that indoor facilities are key components.

Extra-base hit

While battings cages and simulators might meet a seasonal need, The Swing Lab offers something a bit extra.

“We feel we have good instructors in each area—golf, baseball and softball—but we are different because we add video analysis with the instruction component,” Northrop noted.

He went on to explain that during an individual Top opposite page: Parents and coaches can lesson, one of four qualified instructors will work with easily observe batters and golfers from the nearby the individual; the individual is also video-recorded. The observation area. Inset, Opposite page: The Swing Lab instructor voices instruction over the video and the student at Yegen Golf Club, located at 1390 Zimmerman Trail, opened in October. The new facility provides golfers, can then log on to review the lesson. baseball players and softball players a warm, dry “This process catches things we cannot see with the location for instruction in swinging, hitting, pitching and fielding. Three overhead doors, each 15-feet naked eye, the breakdown is amazing,” Northrop said. “The wide by 10-feet tall, face north, toward the Yegen kids improve dramatically in just a few lessons.”

Golf Club’s driving range. On windy, cold or wet days, golfers can tee-up just inside the doors, remaining out of the elements while practicing. Above right: Randy Northrop, general manager and co-owner, demonstrates the true-life aspect of The Swing Lab’s interior tees. Right: The Swing Lab can easily handle an entire team for batting, pitching and infield practice. Photo by Hannah Potes.

Rain or shine

Northrop anticipates that about 75 percent of the business will come from baseball and softball players from November through May; he expects a flip-flop during

Congratulations!

Swing Lab at Yegen goLf CLub On the Opening of Your New Facility Partnering with Billings businesses is what we are all about!

Todd Hanna of Stockman Bank with Randy Northrop.

© 2014 Stockman Bank Billingsbusiness

| Member FDIC

www.stockmanbank.com November 2014

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the summer months, making The Swing Lab a true all-season center.

In addition to cages for swinging clubs or bats, the facility has three overhead doors where customers can tee-up and drive the ball out the doors. It is a unique set-up—the golfer stands inside, away from wind, rain and snow, but drives the ball directly out to the range.

The Swing Lab also offers pitching and infield lessons in addition to hitting leagues and rental for team practices.

Teamwork

Congratulations Peter Yegen golf Club! the new golf Swing lab Is a great Addition to our Community

Congratulations!

thanks for choosing S-bar-S as your general contractor! www.s-bar-s.com I November 2014

36

Building the West: Serving Billings & Surrounding Area Visit our 20,000 sq. ft. store at 2032 Old Hardin Rd.

The Yegen Golf Club owners had previously worked with S Bar S Supply Company to construct a golf cart shack.

“The decision to work with them again was an easy one,” said Northrop.

Pole buildings, such as the one that houses The Swing Lab, are quick and economical to construct, especially when a facility is basic with “no-frills.”

Ryan Stichman, vice-president of building sales at S Bar S, noted that while conventional construction requires a concrete foundation, the poles of a pole building are embedded in concrete; it is the depth of the poles that work as the foundation of the building and the framing is based on those poles.

In less than two months, the project went from site preparation to completion.

Stichman noted that finding labor during the busy construction season was a mild concern. In addition, the physical location, directly in the midst of the driving range made for a somewhat challenging work site.

“Staging the project on the driving range while using as little space as possible and not impacting the customers was a bit tricky,” he said, “and it was a sometimes funny, too, when we heard a “ping” of the side of the building.”

While the pole buildings of old may have been “tinny” and cold, The Swing Lab is just the opposite. The walls have two-by-six construction with R-19 value insulation while the roof is R-42; the entire facility is heated or air-conditioned seasonally.

“We added an interior white steel liner panel on the walls and ceiling,” said Stichman, “that makes it warm and bright, it has a nice feeling.”

The padded, stadium flooring is specially-designed for the corresponding sports while the office is large enough for two desks. The Hitter’s Club, a long-time Billings instructional group, and Billings Clinic Sports Specific Training (SST) rent space from The Swing Lab for a mutual fit.

The end resulted in a Counterclockwise from top left: Both baseball and 7,500-square-foot building that softball pitching machines are integral tools for the houses multi-purpose sports training batting cages. The numbers on the net give the batter an indication of the “quality” of their hit, equaling the areas, one simple office, a waiting/ likelihood of a base hit versus a fielded ball. The highobservation area, three overhead tech video system allows instructors to break down each doors for the golf driving range, up to swing and provide voice-over instruction to the student.

Randy Northrop notes that kids love logging on to their three cages plus an additional space private account and watching their swing over and over. for pitching or infield instruction and Softball and baseball pitchers practice on the east end of practice. the building, working on location with a “batter.”

Good-bye Old Man Winter— it’s time to play ball!

Billingsbusiness

MSU names outstanding Make the connection agricultural leaders

By Billings Business

impacted many with their accomplishments, have a lifetime The Montana State Univer- of achievement in agriculture, sity College of Agriculture will are industry leaders or innovapresent its annual outstandtive producers and are actively ing agricultural leader awards involved in the agricultural during the annual Celebrate community in Montana.

Agriculture event Nov. 7-8 at Anderson and Switzer Montana State University. operate the Hayhook Ranch in Sky Anderson and Monica Shields Valley north of LivingsSwitzer of the Hayhook Ranch ton and are known as advocates in the Shields Valley north of for Montana agriculture and Livingston have been named ranching and cattle producoutstanding agricultural leaders tion at national levels. Both for 2014. The public is invited are members of the Montana to a noon luncheon in their Stockgrowers Association and honor Nov. 7 in MSU’s Strand have been strong voices for isUnion Building ballrooms. sues impacting Montana’s farm The Outstanding Agand ranch community. ricultural Leader Award is Anderson has served as a statewide award given to president of the Park County individuals or couples who Farm Bureau and on the Monare well-respected in the tana Farm Bureau board. He agricultural community, have has also been involved in issues

involving bison and brucellosis.

Switzer has served as chair of the Montana Farm Bureau State Health and Safety Committee and was instrumental in organizing and implementing a farm safety program in Montana, the ABCs of Farm Safety. She also served on the fundraising committee for the MSU Animal Bioscience Building and helped raise funds for the building’s technology transfer room.

Both Anderson and Switzer advocate for farm and ranch safety and all-terrain vehicle safety through a variety of volunteer and service organizations. Additional leadership roles include work with FFA and WorkSafeMT. Don Burnham of Helena was also named as an honoree.

connect to the world while you save time, travel, and money.

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EQUAL HOUSING LENDER

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Industry advocate: Nation’s energy outlook improving

By TOM HOWARD

T he nation ’ s energy future is much more secure and even the manufacturing sector is showing signs of a rebound , thanks to technological innovations that have boosted

A merica ’ s oil and gas production , says an

industry advocate .

Rayola Dougher, senior economic adviser at the American Petroleum Institute, said oil and gas production from unconventional sources such as the prolific Bakken formation in North Dakota and Montana is steering the United States on a path toward meeting its energy needs without having to deal with OPEC.

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“We have the opportunity to be fairly self-sufficient for energy, with what we produce and what Canada produces, within a few years, even though it’s a global market,” Dougher said.

Domestic oil and gas production reached 7.5 million barrels per day in 2013 and is expected to eclipse 8 million barrels per day this year. Production from unconventional sources such as the Bakken is largely responsible for the increase.

While technological innovations have played a significant role in the surge in production from the Bakken shale, state and national policy also play an important role in the nation’s energy picture, Dougher said.

“Our challenge now is to make sure elected and appointed government officials understand the opportunity and work with us to see it through. Policy matters,” Dougher said in a recent interview. She was in Billings to speak to the Montana Association of Professional Landmen.

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline is still awaiting approval from President Obama. The project would deliver crude from Canada’s oil sands to the Gulf Coast.

the Bureau of Business and One benefit of building Economic Research at the the pipeline would be University of Montana. to improve the nation’s Likewise, cheaper natural balance of payments, gas prices benefit energyDougher said. intensive industries such as “When we spend a electrical generation and steel dollar in Canada, they manufacturing, he wrote in a spend 90 cents in the U.S. recent report. for goods and services,” Other signs of a rebound Dougher said. By contrast, in manufacturing are being when the United States traced to the oil boom. buys crude oil from OPEC In October officials in countries, they end up North Dakota announced spending only about 33 Dougher plans to develop a $4 billion cents in the United States. manufacturing plant.

Dougher said most Badlands NGL’s LLC and two partners new oil and gas production is taking place are developing the facility, which would on private lands, while energy production convert ethane into polyethylene, a material from federal lands has dwindled. that’s used to make a wide variety of plastics Last July the Obama Administration for consumers and industry. agreed to reopen the Eastern Seaboard to The plant will produce 3.3 billion pounds offshore oil exploration by approving seismic studies that can locate energy deposits of polyethylene annually and employ 500 people, company CEO Bill Gilliam said. He deep below the ocean floor. said the partners hope to be cranking out Environmentalists have criticized the the finished product — little white plastic move, worrying that the seismic activity could harm marine wildlife. But oil industry beads — by the end of 2017.

Gilliam said more than two sites are officials say opening up offshore areas to energy development could yield billions of being considered in North Dakota but he wouldn’t say where, except that they aren’t barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of in active oil drilling locations in western natural gas.

North Dakota. The plant is expected to cost Despite the administration’s steps $4 billion to $4.2 billion and will require a to ease restrictions on offshore drilling, “substantial footprint” of more than 1,000 87 percent of the nation’s offshore area remains closed to oil and gas development, acres, he said.

One of the project partners, Madrid, Dougher said.

The manufacturing sector is enjoying a Spain-based Tecnicas Reunidas, a major rebound thanks in part to the energy boom. contractor for petrochemical plants, is Companies that specialize in manufac- doing a preliminary engineering analysis turing equipment used in oil exploration are that is scheduled for completion this year directly benefiting from increased activity, and will include a final site selection for the facility. notes Paul Polzin, director emeritus of

Matthew

315 N. 15th St, Billings, MT 406-259-6328 www.bigskycol.com

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Business Briefs Local Commerce at a Glance

Soil health seminars set

Nov. 5, at the Elk’s Club at 304 Main St. RSVP to 406-4875366, ext. 3. Speakers are Scott Agricultural producers and Ravenkamp and Jay Fuhrer. soil health experts will discuss Miles City: Thursday different facets of soil health Nov. 6, at the Country Club during workshops sponsored at Fourth and Eagle. RSVP by the USDA Natural Reto 406-232-7905, ext. 115. sources Conservation Service Speakers are Keith Berns, Ken and the Montana chapter of Miller and Josh Dukart. the Soil and Water ConservaPrivate applicator recertifition Society. All workshops are cation credits and Continuing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Education Units for Certified $15 admission includes lunch. Crop Advisors will be awarded Workshops in Eastern for attending. Sign up for Montana include: credits at the door when arrivBillings: Wednesday, ing at the workshop.

Nov. 5, at the Big Horn Resort For more information and at 1801 Majestic Lane. RSVP speaker biographies, visit the to 406-665-3442, ext. 110.

Montana NRCS website at Speakers are Josh Dukart, mt.nrcs.usda.gov and click on Keith Burns and Ken Miller. the “Unlock the Secrets in the Wolf Point: Wednesday, Soil” icon.

NRCS provides reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities to participate in NRCS programs and activities. If you require special accommodations, call Mary Ann Quinn 406-5876859 prior to the workshops.

Big Sky adds runs

BIG SKY — Big Sky Resort has expanded its skiable terrain to 5,800 acres. The work, known as glading, will bring new runs and more fun for intermediates to experts this winter season.

The expanded terrain will be included on the new trail map design revealing a different aspect of Big Sky’s terrain and the new runs.

The Southern Comfort chair lift, off Andesite Mountain, saw the most improvement through glading with two new intermediate runs.

The new Lizette run is located between the runs Deep South and Sacajawea and the new Pomp run is located between Sacajawea and El Dorado runs.

Both runs are named after Sacajawea’s children. A section of the Ponderosa was also widened.

Another new intermediate gladed run, named Lois Lane, can be found between the runs, Lower Morning Star and

Mr. K. A new black diamond run named Soul Hole can be discovered between Lobo and Calamity Jane runs. Both of these new runs are accessed via Swift Current chair lift on Lone Mountain.

The operations crew upgraded the tree run, Tango Trees, below the Lone Peak Triple lift through selected thinning and removal of standing dead trees in the previously gladed area. On the southern exposure of Lone Peak, the crew did careful thinning of select trees on the Dakota Gully run. It will

now be regularly groomed, changing its designation to “intermediate” allowing more skiers/riders to enjoy the Dakota chair lift.

“Another goal beyond improving the tree skiing experience was to continue to promote healthy forest and improve wildlife habitat,” said Mike Unruh, mountain operations director at Big Sky Resort.

In addition to the four new ski runs and expanded skiable terrain, a new trail map will Please see Briefs, 40

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Billingsbusiness

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Briefs

dition to its cereal line and is Non-GMO Project Verified and USDA certified organic.

Continued from 39 KAMUT is an ancient, be revealed this winter season organic, non-GMO grain that rendering majority of Big Sky contains a high percentage of Resort’s terrain on a single lipids. KAMUT wheat is also a side of the trial map with two good source of protein and is additional insets of Lone Peak. rich in antioxidants, containThe insets will focus on the ing minerals such as selenium southern face of the Shedand zinc. These nutritional horn/Dakota area and the components combined with eastern face the more techni- the ancient grain’s rich nutty, cal and advance runs. buttery flavor makes KAMUT brand khorasan wheat an ideal ingredient for this cereal.

Kamut featured “We’re very excited that in new cereal Kashi has chosen to include Kamut International of KAMUT wheat in this new Missoula announces that granola and that this will also Kamut brand khorasan be part of Target’s expanded wheat has been selected as range of organic products. a key ingredient in the new This will greatly benefit conKashi Cocoa Coconut with sumers by increasing accesKamut Wheat Granola that sibility and awareness about will launch as part of Target’s the health and nutritional “Made To Matter” initiative benefits of organic products this fall. and ancient grains such as Made with cocoa, coconut KAMUT brand wheat,” said and Kamut brand khorasan Trevor Blyth, chief executive wheat, is Kashi’s latest adof Kamut International.

The Kashi Cocoa Coconut with Kamut Wheat Granola is available at Target stores.

CTA honored for design

The Montana chapter of the American Institute of Architects presented a 2014 Merit Award to CTA Architects Engineers for its design work on “Skyhouse,” a private residence near Lakeside. David Koel, a CTA principal, was the project’s lead architect.

NAPA honored by charity

Center.

The NAPA Distribution Center has actively supported Special Olympics Montana for many years and employs several SOMT athletes and coaches. The NAPA Distribution Center also had the honor of leading the World’s Largest Truck Convoy, a celebration of the trucking industry to benefit Special Olympics, as it traveled from Park City to Billings in 2014.

Farm Bureau will meet

The Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention on Nov. Special Olympics Montana 9-12 at the Billings Hotel has recognized NAPA Auto and Convention Center will Parts Billings Distribution feature keynote speakers, Center for “2014 Best Support workshops, county Farm Buby a Business.” The Distinreau awards and the Resoluguished Service Award recipi- tion Session. ents were honored during the Notable speakers include 2014 Leadership Conference. Montana Gov. Steve BullGeneral Manager Steve Postel ock during the luncheon accepted the award on behalf hosted by the Young Farmer of the NAPA Distribution and Rancher Committee on

Monday; motivational speaker Lois Olmstead on Monday morning, and Farm Mom of the Year April Hemmes for the Women’s Leadership Committee luncheon on Tuesday.

Hemmes farms solo and has experience working with women farmers in Uganda, Brazil and China.

Rep. Steve Daines, R-Mont., has been invited to speak during Monday morning’s breakfast for MFBF Century Club members.

For a complete schedule of workshops and events and to register, visit mfbf.org or call 406-587-3153.

WSE wins recognition

Western Sustainability Exchange in Livingston has won two prestigious national awards — the SHIFT Sustainability Award and the Quivira Coalition’s 2014 Clarence Burch Award — for its groundbreaking work.

WSE was chosen as one of 50 community heroes for the SHIFT award from a pool of more than 600 organizations for being among the most effective and innovative in North America.

The Quivira Coalition, a collaborative of ranchers and conservationists based in Santa Fe, N.M., selected WSE for the Clarence Burch Award for leading by example in promoting and accomplishing outstanding stewardship of the land.

Both the SHIFT and Quivira Coalition awards endorse the leadership role WSE plays in promoting sustainable agricultural practices by farmers and ranchers throughout the Northern Rockies and rewarding outstanding stewardship with connections to new and lucrative markets. More information is available at WSE’s website at westernsustainabilityexchange.org.

It’s more than a

small business loan.

It’s knowing you’ll have the tools to get the job done right, and the momentum to move forward into the future.

It’s you and together.

© 2014, Forbes Media LLC. Used with permission.

firstinterstate.com 40

I November 2014

Billingsbusiness

Business Success StoriesBriefs Recognizing People and Local Achievements Commerce at a Glance

RiverStone hires two

Chamber adds, promotes staff

in Bozeman before graduating from Montana State University Billings. Her Yasmin Odowa and The Billings Chamber of professional career focused Brandi Stevenson joined Commerce has announced on philanthropy-driven RiverStone Health in Octhe promotion of one longevent management in the tober as Public Health Astime staff member and the health care and nonprofit sociates through the Centers addition of three new staff sectors of Billings, workfor Disease Control and members. ing both for local health Prevention. The two-year René Beyl takes on the CDC program allows the role of business engagement advocacy nonprofits and the Billings Clinic Foundation. associates to work in various specialist, a position to public health programswhile work directly with chamber Hagenbuch may be reached at kate@billingschamber. they are mentored by public member businesses and health professionals. connect them to the Cham- com or 406-869-3721.

Morgan Jestes spent the Odowa graduated from ber in a way that best fits summer with Visit Billings the Unitheir needs. Beyl has been (managed by the Billings versity of with the Chamber since Chamber of Commerce) as a Minnesota 2007 as the receptionist guide for visitors and a leadTwin Cities and membership assistant. er for the volunteers in the with a degree Reach her at rene@billingsVisitor Information Center. in biology, chamber.com or 406-869She is a Montana State society and 3738.

University Billings graduate. environment Kevin Cremer began as ODOWA As the member and visitor and a minor the business development services assistant, Jestes in public health. She will manager in early Septemspend her first year working ber. Cremer is a graduate of acts as the new “director of first impressions” and in Community Health SerMontana State University will greet callers or visitors vices at RiverStone Health. Billings. He has worked at Stevenson graduated Q Business Source and, to the office. Reach her at from Northeastern State most recently, Rimrock morgan@billingschamber.

University in Mall. He brings a diverse com or 406-869-3722.

Tahlequah, and successful background Okla., in sales and development AZ announces and has a and is well-suited to work promotions master’s in with businesses interested Anderson ZurMuehlen wellness in joining the Chamber or announces the promotion managethose member businesses of Kelsey Crampton, CPA, STEVENSON looking for additional expoment-health to supervisor.

She has acstudies from the Universure. Reach him at kevin@ counting experience related sity of Central Oklahoma billingschamber.com or to financial statements, in Edmond. She will spend 406-869-3724. audits, and tax return her first year at RiverStone Kate Hagenbuch is the preparation for individuals Health working in Environ- Chamber’s event manand businesses. Crampton mental Health Services. ager. Hagenbuch attended has a Master of Accountancy Montana State University

Billingsbusiness

and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Rocky Mountain College and has been with the firm since 2010.

Ryan Duffy, CPA, was promoted to supervisor. His area of expertise includes tax return preparation for individuals and businesses.

Duffy has a Master of Professional Accountancy and a bachelor’s degree in business and accounting from MontanaStateUniversity. He has been with the firm since 2011.

Josh Hale, CPA, CGMA, was promoted to supervisor. His area of expertise includes tax return preparation for individuals and businesses. Hale has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Wichita State University and has been with the firm since 2011.

Mara Hoskins, CPA, has been promoted to senior.

She has experience with financial statement and compliance audits for nonprofits and local governments, ERISA audits, and tax return preparation for individuals and businesses. Hoskins has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Westminster College and has been with firm since 2011.

David Model, was recently promoted to senior.

He has experience with

financial statements, audits and tax preparation for individuals and businesses.

Model has a master of professional accountancy and a bachelor’s degree business administration with an accounting option from Montana State University and has been with the firm since 2012.

Callie Steiger was promoted to staff 2. Her area of expertise includes tax return preparation for individuals and businesses. Steiger has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Montana State UniversityBillings and has been with the firm since 2014.

Webgrain Inc. hires Dimock

Stephen Dimock has joined Webgrain, Inc. as project manager and developer.

A Montana resident for the past 10 years, Dimock graduated from Rocky Mountain College in 2008.

He has been involved in e-commerce design and development, as well as online marketing and strategic planning for several businesses in and around Montana and Wyoming.

Dimock is skilled with PHP, HTML5, CSS3, Javascript/Jquery/Ajax, and MySQL. In addition, he has extensive experience

with UI/UX design including both raster and vector graphic creation, utilizing the Adobe Creative Suite.

Based in Billings and Bozeman, Webgrain is an interactive development firm offering a full range of services in web design, database and app development, search engine optimization, and secure hosting solutions.

Darnielle agents honored

Kaye Duncan and Cindy Johnson, agents of Darnielle Insurance Agency in Billings, have been recognized

by Safeco Insurance with the Personal Lines Achievement Award.

Safeco Insurance is a national company that offers a wide range of personal insurance products and this designation acknowledges the daily diligence, integrity, passion for excellence, and hard work of Duncan and Johnson.

Only a small, select group of employees at local independent insurance agencies across Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska are given this honor by Safeco Insurance.

Darnielle Insurance is located at 1320 28th St. W. in Billings, and can be reached at 406-652-4180 or visit www.Darnielle.com.

November 2014

I

41

BETTER business

F ollow these tips when buying , selling online

... it is important to understand how your chosen (online) marketplace functions, the protections offered to buyers and sellers, and the common scams.

Erin T. Dodge Erin T. Dodge, is an editor for the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho and Montana in Spokane.

Contact the bureau at spokane.bbb.org.

42

I November 2014

claim that the overpayment is for shipping fees in order to use a special shipping service where you should wire the extra payment. In either case, the scam is that the money order or check is fraudulent or the credit card is stolen. The result is that if you’ve shipped the item before the money clears and wired the excessive payment, you have now had both your item and money stolen.

Two red flags that you are being scammed emerge from this scenario: overpayment and if someone asks you to wire money.

Another scam that buyers will attempt is to ask you to conduct a sale away from the online marketplace, usually to make a quick sale. EBay and other online marketplaces will offer protection to both the buyer and seller so long as transactions occur completely within the marketplace and follow the terms of service. By circumventing that protection,etsy buyers can claim that the promised goods are defective and could blackmail you with threats of getting you banned from the marketplace.

The lesson is to resist promises of quick payment elsewhere and stick to the marketplace and its protections.

Another scam occurs once Online marketplaces the buyer receives the goods. The and auction sites buyer claims that the goods are On online marketplaces such defective, damaged or different as eBay, Etsy, Tradesy and Ruby than the online description you gave. Shipping damage can ocLane that include mechanisms for buyers to reach out directly to cur, but many times when buyers the seller are the most likely to be use this tactic they are counting on the buyer protection of the targeted by scams. marketplace as a way to get free The overpayment scam items. You can safeguard against occurs when a buyer sends a payment by check, money order shipping damage by requiring buyers to purchase shipping or even credit card for more insurance. than the sale price of the goods Also, when buyers make a and then claims that they made claim of damage, defective or a mistake and would like the incorrect goods, marketplace excess payment wired back to best practices recommend that them. In some cases they will Online marketplaces, auction sites and classified advertisement sites make it easier than ever to sell goods online. Occasional sellers can sell items they no longer need, especially useful after spring cleaning.

For items of value, selling online may bring a higher return than selling at a yard sale. Others may have handmade or unique goods and want to start an online business. Brick and mortar retail shops may choose to sell goods online in order to reach a larger audience.

However, selling and buying goods through online sites isn’t without risk. Nearly all of us have heard a story of someone paying for a camera, shoes or even concert tickets only to be sent a low-quality or fake item, or worse, no item at all. These “buyer beware” stories are common.

Possibly less familiar are stories of online sellers being targeted and scammed. In order to avoid getting caught up in a scheme targeted to steal your goods and even money, it is important to understand how your chosen marketplace functions, the protections offered to buyers and sellers, and the common scams.

to screen affiliates carefully. You can also set up commission payments to post 60 to 90 days after sales to try to catch any problems before paying commissions.

Online classifieds Sellers need to be especially careful when using online classified advertisement sites such as Craigslist and Oodle. These sites are meant to connect local sellers and buyers and can be great for selling items that are heavy or large, making them expensive or cumbersome to ship long distances. When a non-local buyer Courtesy photo asks you to ship the item and A woman uses her credit card on the Internet. While online retail is a popular way to use a special shipper, it is likely reach a wider audience, selling and buying goods through online sites isn’t without risk. a scam involving a fake money order or check and possibly the request to wire money to a thirdyou require the return of the item the destination abroad. Before party like a shipping company or agreeing to ship internationally, escrow service. before issuing a refund. If the buyer refuses to return the item, check the tracking services ofFor transactions that start work with marketplace support fered by your shipper. as a classified ad, be sure to only to get the situation resolved. sell to people you can meet in In some cases the buyer will PayPal and merchant person, never accept checks or “return” an item that is not the money orders, and never use a accounts one you sold them. If you have third-party that “guarantees” carefully documented your items the transaction. It is also imporUsing PayPal or merchant with pictures and by recording tant to realize that Craigslist and account as your payment serial numbers and other unique processor can also offer you other online classified sites never identifiers, then you can usually protection from unscrupulous offer purchase protection plans. prove the buyer’s deceit. Another buyers. PayPal in particular has One more serious consideralternative is to only offer goods protections tied directly to the ation to using online classifieds with a no refund policy, if the seller’s ability to track and prove is in-person robbery. Many online marketplace allows it. sellers have shared the advice to that an item was shipped to the Several additional scams never have a buyer meet you in buyer so long as the transacrevolve around shipping. Buyers tional address is used. your home because they could may ask you to use their prepaid be looking to rob you on the spot If you use a PayPal or shipping label because they get or at a later date. A well-lit, highmerchant account, be cautious a better rate. The problem is that about giving employees access traffic public location is usually you have no control over where it to the account, which could in- the best place to meet. This can is delivered and may not be able crease the likelihood of employee be difficult for large or heavy to prove that delivery occurred if theft. goods like furniture. In that case the buyer claims the item never you may wish to have colleagues, If you decide to use affiliate arrived. Online marketplaces friends or family present to marketers to increase online usually require proof of delivery sales, watch for spikes in credit discourage robbery. in order to protect the seller.

Whether you are looking to card chargebacks or complaints Another shipping scam sell a few items in the short term of purchases with stolen cards. occurs when international ship- Fraudulent affiliates will use or start an online retail business, ping is involved. Some shipping stolen cards and stolen identities understanding the risks as well services will only track items to as the rewards is important to to boost sales thereby increasU.S. customs ports and not to success. ing their commissions. Be sure Billingsbusiness

Bankruptcies Billings area bankruptcy filings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Sept. 1-30, 2014. Addresses are in Billings unless otherwise noted.

Chapter 7 Anthony Christopher Difederico, 6527 Pryor Road, Sept. 2.

Dianna Rose Jones, 7409 Lewis Ave., Sept. 2.

Bruce E. Opie, Marjorie A. Opie, P.O. Box 50999, Sept. 2.

Shawna Nichole Charbonneau, 2646 ½ Rimrock Road, Sept. 3.

Traci A. Hocker, 255 Westchester Square W., Sept. 4.

Kayce M. Leary, 1500 Buffalo Trail Road, Molt, Sept. 4.

Anna Christine Reed, P.O. Box 462, Reed Point, Sept. 8.

Justice William Graham, 2437 Riveroaks Drive, Sept. 8.

Cory Alan Tollefson, P.O. Box 1228, Columbus, Sept. 9.

Elizabeth Ann Turek, P.O. Box 1228, Columbus, Sept. 9.

Dennis Edward Sitzler, Barbara Jane Sitzler, 3905 Vista View Circle, Sept. 10.

Amy D. Stovall, 2209 Monad Road No. 1, Sept. 10.

Danielle Vancleave, 2224 Hwy 87 E., Sept. 12.

Jamie Rae Ramirez, Jaye Lynn Ramirez, 4235 Arden Ave., Sept. 17.

June Wittman, 35 Miners Place No. 3, Sept. 18.

Amanda Lee Spring, 2619 Lackawanna Lane, Sept. 22.

Donald M. Hanser, Kimberly A. Hanser, 433 Goose Neck Road,

Broadview, Sept. 25.

Douglas Gene Mckinnon, Jodi Lynn Mckinnon, P.O. Box 50644, Sept. 26.

Ridon Jones, 529 Calhoun Lane, Sept. 26.

Jessica Christine Brey, 30 Gatewood Drive, Sept. 26.

Summer Leann Montez, 508 Cook Ave., Sept. 29.

Diana L. Andren, 1526 Lake

Elmo Drive Apt. 9, Sept. 30.

Terri Ann Dorendorf, 2904 Georgina Drive, Sept. 3.

Brian Lee Roh, 710 Garnet Ave., Sept. 6.

Mary T. Murray, 519 Third Ave. S.W., Park City, Sept. 22.

John Robert Haigh, P.O. Box 80261, Sept. 30.

8,821,421. Sept. 2. JJ Acquisition, LLC of San Francisco, Calif.

Kuo-Ching Liu of Fremont, Calif.; Pei Hsien Fang of Los Altos Hills, Calif.; Daniel J. Dere of Palo Alto, Calif.; Jenn Liu of Fremont, Calif.; Jih-Chuang Huang of Santa Clara, Calif.; Antonio Lucero of Fresno, Calif.; Scott Pinkham of Bozeman; Steven Oltrogge of Belgrade and Duane Middlebusher of San Jose, Calif.: Scribing sapphire substrates with a solid state UV laser with edge detection. 8,822,882. Sept. 2. New Wave Research of Fremont, Calif.

Matthew B. Jore of Ronan;

James David Duford of Polson; Michael Kvam of Polson; Lincoln M. Jore of Ronan; David Samsel of Missoula, and James D. Jore of Polson: Segmented stator for an axial field device. 8,823,241.

Sept. 2. Boulder Wind Power Inc. of Louisville, Colo.

Kristian D. Merkel, Colton Richard Stiffler, Alex Woidtke, Aaron Traxinger, Randy W. Equall, Zeb Barber, Calvin Harrington, Krishna Mohan Rupavatharam, Charles W. Thiel and Rufus Cone, all of Bozeman: Techniques for spatial spectral holography. 8,829,471. Sept. 9.

Montana State University and S2 Corporation, both in Bozeman.

Nathan Modderman and Steven Modderman, both of Bigfork: Ornamental design for a lighted tree ornament. D712,782.

Sept. 9. LMD Investments LLC of Bigfork.

Derek Campbell of Portland, Ore., and Christopher H. Pearson of Billings: Double-strap carrying system and base stand for golf bags and other shoulder-borne articles. 8,833,622. Sept. 16. Nike Inc. of Beaverton, Ore. Chad Edward Miller of Florence; Sarah Parsons of

London, Ohio; James E. Haylett of Pataskala, Ohio, and Stephen Mikes of Granville, Ohio: Lightweight syntactic foams for blast mitigation in thermal/acoustic flooring. 8,834,996. Sept. 16. CVG Management Corporation of New Albany, Ohio.

Stuart Jennings of Bozeman: Low-concentration phytotoxic micronutrient compounds for selective control of invasive plant species. 8,835,355. Sept. 16.

Duane Lloyd of Glasgow and Douglas E. Ott of Macon, Ga.: Hydration alert. 8,836,521.

Sept. 16. Lexion Medical LLC of

St. Paul, Minn.

Michael J. Ellig of Bozeman: Archery quiver. 8,839,773. Sept.

23.

Charles Richardson, Robert F. Bargatze, Joel Haynes and Bryan Steadman, all of Bozeman: Virus-like particles comprising composite capsid amino acid sequences for enhanced cross reactivity. 8,841,120. Sept. 23.

Takeda Vaccines Inc. of Bozeman.

Christopher Allen Rager of Belgrade: Ornamental design for an arrowhead. D713,919. Sept.

23. Flying Arrow Archery LLC of Belgrade.

— 4219 Palisades Park Drive, Kane Family Revocable Trust, Platinum Home Innovations Inc., $90,000 2508 Silver Blvd., Eli and Lindsey Johnson, Plan/Builder Construction Inc., $35,000 1203 19th St. W., Marston Nathan Robert, $2,500 1122 N. 25th St., Cooley, Jeffrey S., $16,800

2204 Myrtle Drive, Hill, Larry D. and Juanita M., Edwards Construction, $3,570 1184 Governors Blvd., Contreras, Fernando, $75,200 4165 June Drive, Wallis Lamont W., $11,040

David and Barbara, $21,840

Construction, $226,370 3143 Harrier Lane, Aviara Inc., Buscher Construction Ltd., $245,045 2305 Stone Creek Trail, Dan Fleury Construction Co., Dan Fleury Construction Inc., $330,175 1771 Heritage Walk, Heritage Walk Inc., P & R Construction, $190,329 5312 Sundance Mountain

Circle, Jeff Junkert Const., Jeff Junkert Construction Inc., $211,685 1250 Benjamin Blvd., High Sierra II Inc., R J Mac Homes, $195,120 1419 Watson Peak Road, Twin Oaks Corporation, Twin Oaks Corp., $145,680 1415 Watson Peak Road, Twin Oaks Corporation, Twin Oaks Corp., $144,981

Chapter 13

Montana patents Below are listed U.S. patents issued to Montana inventors Aug. 26 through Sept. 23, 2014. For assistance in patent filing, call Billings patent attorney Antoinette M. Tease at 406-294-9000.

Jonathan Y. Walther and Jeffery M. Hollenback, both of Missoula: Traffic management system. 8,819,313. Aug. 26.

Superior Traffic Systems, LLC of Missoula.

Ethan F. Imboden, Yves Behar and Josh Morenstein, all of San Francisco, Calif., and Jeff Wyatt of Bozeman: Message device with flexible substructure.

Residential Permits Demolition Permit Residential — 2216 George St., Allene Thomas Revocable Trust, Big Sky Maintenance Inc., $35,400

Addition Single/ Duplex/Garage Billingsbusiness

New Garage — 431 Sioux Lane, Coons,

New Single Family — 6139 Canyonwoods Drive, Classic Design Homes , Classic Design Homes, $278,300 3066 Western Bluffs Blvd., Zanto, Charles T., $215,520 4117 Ashford Place, Miller, Gregory Z. and Tambra J., Krueger

November 2014

I

43

Residential Permits, continued 5337 Sundance Mountain Circle, Jeff Junkert Const., Jeff Junkert Construction Inc., $209,630 5820 Horseshoe Trail, Trails West Homes LLC, Trails West Homes LLC, $189,870 5728 Mountain Front Ave., Trails West Homes LLC, Trails West Homes LLC, $217,195 1642 Songbird Drive, McCall Development Inc., McCall Development, $393,355 4037 Pathfinder Court, NA, Classic Design Homes, $203,405 1401 Granite Ave., Kraske Mary Ann, Ban Construction Corp, $299,430 1805 Lone Pine Drive, McCall Development Inc, McCall Development, $183,230 17 Saturn Place, Scheetz Laura, $194,775 2225 Pine Creek Trail, Helgeson Homes, Helgeson S. D., $330,340 3135 Harrier Lane, Murray Barks, Mac Leffler Construction, $250,035 1833 Iris Lane, Brosovich, Carol, Yellowstone Basin Construction, $414,260 4101 Headwater Lane, Wild, Doug, $341,640 1611 Hidden Cove Lane, McCall Development Inc., McCall Development, $171,770 32 Clark Ave., Douglas, Sheldon & Annie, $78,640 1749 Lone Pine Drive, McCall Development Inc., McCall Development, $174,540 6300 Ridge Stone Drive S.,

Kelly, C’s Construction Of Billings, $7,212 1537 Colton Blvd., HammerNew Two Family quist, Randall P. and Teres, $5,000 407 S. 37th St., Tretin, Ana M., Rocking JR Services LLC, $5,200 — 4055 Orrel Drive, Com2504 Riveroaks Drive, Oloughmunity Leadership Development, lin, Brian and Mary Beth, $4,500 Koinonia Housing Construction, 86 W. Antelope Trail, Hodge, $159,000 David, District 7 HRDC, $1,000 4057 Orrel Drive, Community 1443 Shade Tree Circle, Olson, Leadership Development, Koinonia Casey R. & Kerra B., C’s ConstrucHousing Construction, $175,400 tion Of Billings, $9,026 4053 Orrel Drive, Community 1219 Frost St., Marchant, Leadership Development, Koinonia Teresa L., Improvements & ConHousing Construction, $140,000 struction, $800 1762 38th St. W., Cochrane, Remodel Single/ Kathleen F., Cedar Valley Exteriors Duplex/Garage Inc., $390 1204 Ave. F, Peterson, Robert — 535 Poppy Place, Bennett, B., Billings Window and Siding Kara L., Castro Construction, Spec., $8,000 $55,000 1330 Ave. F, Landis, Thomas W., 3015 E. MacDonald Drive, American Exteriors LLC, $2,980 Honaker, James W., Pasini Designs, 2223 Lewis Ave., Amlot, $6,000 Gajewski Lillia M., J D Construction, 4447 Murphy Ave., Haas, Jerrod $3,000 D., Lynnrich Inc., $1,456 3922 Heritage Drive, James 3337 Rimrock Road, Swanz, And Ray Jackson Living Trust, FreyDavid and Paul, Lynnrich Inc., enhagen Construction Inc., $6,000 $1,688 3037 Jonathon Court, Howard, 1841 Janie St., Louk, Tomisue Charles R. and Loretta R., Helgeson and Thomas E., Lynnrich Inc., $425 Richard Inc., $7,000 1233 Gardenia Drive, Largess, 2202 Locust St., Weinheimer, Thomas S. and Mary H., Lynnrich Michael J., American Craftsman Inc., $4,126 Workshop, $5,000 2621 Terry Ave., Reeves, 109 12th St. W., Kenney, Rodney and Pamela, Highsmith Charlotte M., Cedar Valley Exteriors Construction, $3,500 Inc., $400 2208 E. Skokie Drive, Billings 432 Custer Ave., Rudzickm, MT 59105, L20-049-005, O’donnell, Howard, $1,800 Stonegate, At Ironwood LLC, Picard Development, $370,000

1219 Frost St., Marchant Teresa L ., Improvements & Construction, $700 2511 Emerson Place, Griffin, Robert C., Les Nouveau, MilieuxBob Habeck, $1,000 1211 Main St., RPR Properties LLC, Dutton Construction, $30,000 1916 Chickadee Circle, Stumpf Joseph C., $30,000 18 Prickett Lane, Milton LLC, $5,500 5420 Burlington Ave., Dorn Property and Homes LLC, Dorn Construction LLC, $5,380 5314 N. Castle Stone Square, J & S Development Co., Jeff Junkert Construction Inc., $38,290 625 Broadwater Ave., Johnson, James L., $17,020 2448 Keel Drive, Thomson, Kory and Thonda, Second To None Construction And Remodeling, $2,500 1909 Country Manor Blvd., Richards, Jacob, Complete Construction, $2,000 2811 Gregory Drive S., Indreland, Terry J. and Jane H., Pella Window Store, $1,200 111 N. 19th St., Daly, Troy P., One Source Construction LLC, $909 1810 Venus Circle, Wolcott, Matthew and Jennifer E., $500 1188 Matador Ave., Losoya, Jeremy, Big Sky Maintenance Inc., $13,400 2216 George St., Allene Thomas Revocable Trust, Big Sky Maintenance Inc., $72,000 213 N. 28 St., Har Fri LLC, C & F Resources, $23,000

1090 El Rancho Drive, Schaub, Terry A. and Amy S., Rocking JR Services LLC, $1,700 3211 Reimers Park Drive, Taylor Stephanie Ann, Pella Window Store, $350 2602 Clark Ave., Gilman Elaine E., Pella Window Store, $500 4188 Waterford Drive, Thibeault Terence J. & Emily A., Pella Window Store, $450 1442 Mading Drive, Valenzuela Matthew B., Cedar Valley Exteriors Inc., $500 811 N 23 St., Gutierrez Andrew V., Barrett Concrete Cutting, $500 3718 Corbin Drive, Martin Jeff W. and Tricia B., Win-Dor Industries, $1,246 2204 Dallas Drive, Burtchett Steve P, Win-Dor Industries, $9,535 2324 Avalon Road, Bowman, Mark T. and Robin Harper, Win-Dor Industries, $2,729 63 W Antelope Trail, Henry, Andre M., Win-Dor Industries, $4,563 817 Agate Ave., Lueck, Gloria, Win-Dor Industries, $3,123 620 Alderson Ave., Sather Ben T. and Heather, Win-Dor Industries, $1,472 5425 Billy Casper Drive, Ballard, David W. and Lynda M., Freyenhagen Construction Inc., $14,000 1935 Alderson Ave., Erickson George D. and Dolores M., Wyomont Exterior Design, $3,950 1939 Alderson Ave., Erickson, George D. and Dolores M., Wyomont Exterior Design, $3,950 2531 Magnolia Place, Mark And

Magic City Bombshells, 620 Howard Ave., 876-1652.

Solo Graphics, 212 N. 13th St., 245-5363.

Nwestco LLC, 455 Moore Lane, Exam Works Inc., 670 King Park 896-1099.

Drive, 503-290-1431.

Frank’s Diesel & Automotive, Stu McCannel Painting, 2830 1175 Maggie Lane, 850-5559.

Zimmerman Trail, 245-8609.

Christine Randak Livi, Lynnrich Inc., $25,115 3825 Avenue F, Pohle, Gregory and Kimberlee, Lynnrich Inc., $5,010 1405 Cheryl St., Buck, Clinton L. Aka Clint L., Lynnrich Inc., $1,567 2401 Avalon Road, Armstrong Jon Scott and Donna C., Lynnrich Inc., $16,892 1595 Tiburon Lane, Kahler Robert, Lynnrich Inc., $900 3139 St. Johns Ave., Johns Terry R. and Christy J., Pella Window Store, $12,000 1638 St. Johns Ave., Thornton, Michael and Brenda, Lynnrich Inc., $856 393 Cherry Hills Road, Begger Gerald M. and Connie R., Lynnrich Inc., $1,944 724 Miles Ave., Lindstrand, Lael Jr. and Aura, Lynnrich Inc., $1,715 1923 Wyoming Ave., Kolpin, Kathryn M., Anderson Sales Inc., $4,800 1247 Harvard Ave., Weber, Matt C., $8,500 3305 Driftwood Lane, Tehle, Diane J. & Robert M., Alpine Plumbing & Heating, $6,000 1517 Maurine St., Letasky, Dwight L. and Linda L., $600 504 Glen Drive, Odegaard, Paul G. and Kay J., Construction By Design Inc., $5,100 2117 Columbine Drive, Sandbak, Dennis J., $8,795 There were 1,731 permits issued for residential fences/ roofs/siding.

Business licenses The following business licenses were issued during September 2014. The information is collected by the city of Billings.

44

I November 2014

Nikki’s Reiki, 710 Grand Ave., 696-4545.

JK Vapez LLC, 739 Broadwater Ave. 927-2377.

Big Sky Cabinet Shop LLC, 105 W. Hilltop Road, 850-2179.

Billings Coupon Clippers, 1714 E. Castle Stone Square, 860-5216.

Billingsbusiness

Business licenses, continued Billings Alternative Wellness, 111 N. 30th St., 672-3172.

Magic City Detailing, 110 Fifth St. W., 208-9486.

L & D Concrete, 1030 McKenney Road, 861-2244.

Wyntech, Shepherd, 860-2546.

King Constructors LLC, 81 Aster Circle, 698-8237.

B & F Painting, 2807 Manhattan Drive, 670-3831.

Commons 1882, 404 N. 30th St., 254-1882.

Jon E. Stanek Construction, 1700 60th St. W., 690-9866.

Vintage Wheels, 2323 Belknap Ave., 694-7218.

Fix It Right Construction, 3409 Rimrock Road, 371-3400.

Miller Construction, 3145 Canyon Drive, 647-2240.

Dr. Fix-It, 638 Lambrecht Lane, 861-6453.

Avenue Salon, 2708 Second Ave. N., 697-0316.

Rorvik Drywall, 4531 Phillip St., 208-6988.

Lanter Construction, Roundup, 690-1734.

Aesthetic Agony Tattoo & Production LLC, 2910 Second Ave. N., 671-1263.

David Crockett Photography, 710 N. 30th St., 694-1484.

Montana Vapor Outlet, 1911 King Ave. W., Suite 1, 435-7709559.

Stadel Construction, Columbus, 322-5260.

Foreverbeautybox.com, 4718 Cave Road.

Rocky Mountain Pressure Wash, 4710 David Mark Trail, 570-3492.

Energy Plus Contracting, 819 Lake Elmo Drive, 850-5570.

Feneis Enterprises, 5220 Mill Stone Circle, 661-3949.

Rambur Co., 2045 Alderson Ave., 890-0270.

Anything PC, 428 14th St. W., 545-3445.

Northwest Geoscience LLC, 132 Clark Ave., 671-7360.

T.M.G. Cleaning Service, 204 Monarch St., 816-824-8715.

Grant Allen Jones, 2930 S. 51st St. W., 208-8128.

Flooring Elite, 4952 Danford Drive, 890-0277.

Legend Construction Inc., 5413 Lone Star Lane, 245-4527.

Stone Contracting Sales LLC, 204 24th St. W., 794-9462.

Mascarena Industries, 4150 Huntington Hills Road, 694-6319.

Tax Time, 1625 Old Hardin Road.

Ryan Keeland Excavation LLC, Laurel, 839-3745.

Debz Things, 500 Josephine Drive, 927-6199.

Run 4 You, 3018 First Ave. N., 670-7420.

Murphy Business & Financial MW LLC, 1643 Lewis Ave., Suite 200, 256-7470.

Ali’s Best Chores Service, 5408 Corner Stone Ave., 696-7359.

River Rock Construction, 3497 Stone Mountain Circle, 671-8272.

Paws & Paracord, 130 Avenue E, 208-1273.

Splitface Kennels, 670 King Park Drive, 694-4360.

Cassnik Contracting LLC, McMurray, Pa., 724-941-2055.

Dollar Tree No. 5792, 2545 Central Ave., 757-321-5369.

Scott Siding & Windows, 2108 Yellowstone Ave., 816-344-0224.

In Through the Outdoor, LLC, 1432 Teton Ave., 850-0461.

All Site Building Contractors LLC, Blacklick, Ohio, 614-5061780.

Lamb Roofing, Bozeman, 548-1622.

Roset and Associates, Bozeman, 581-5634.

MDJ Construction LLC, 2003 La Brea St., 839-6261.

MJB Construction, 2324 Rehberg Lane, 696-7562.

Massage Envy, 1595 Grand Ave., Suite 214, 256-9000.

Koenigsber Construction, 304 Glenhaven Drive, 702-4401.

Sue’s Country Cottage LLC, 1027 Shiloh Crossing Blvd., 6963436.

Liberty Tax Service, 1313 Grand Ave., 690-9692.

Simply Mac No. 405, 316 S. 24th St. Roofing & Restoration Services of America LLC, Waxahachie, Texas, 972-937-3010.

Lisa Matovich Counseling, 1925 Grand Ave., Suite 123, 672-7904.

Mya LLC, 2522 Irving Place, 545-2500.

Good Old Boy Painting/Maintenance, 629 Terry Ave., 281-2053.

Lehman Construction Inc., 7190 Lakeshore Drive, 671-3911.

National Auction & Sales Management, 24 S. 29th St., 259-4730.

Two Sisters Home Consignment LLC, 1411 Main St., Suite D. Outdoor Equipment Guru, 2111 Grand Ave., 200-1259.

17th Street Electric, 509 17th St. W., 672-5560.

NB Builders LLC, 667 Aries Ave., 697-1455.

C.E.I. Construction, 1240 Lake Elmo Drive, 208-7574.

D & H Construction, 2225 Toledo St., 590-0482.

Industrial Industries LLC, Big Timber, 220-1596.

Lucky Lil’s of Billings, 1340 15th St. W. Bimbo Bakeries USA, 1327 Holiday Circle, 360-4271.

D and T Electric Heating and Cooling Inc., Clifton, Idaho, 208339-1269.

Robinson Family Nursery LLC, 2104 S. 48th St. W., 855-5399.

Elite Investigations, 224 Grand Ave., 214-1536.

Salon 360, 520 Wicks Lane, 969-6616.

Decorative Concrete Professionals, 1031 Wyoming Ave., 591-0311.

Big Sky Renovations & Remodeling LLC, Hardin, 672-8187.

Bottles & Shots, 247 Main St., 655-3393.

Lovely Ladies Cleaning Service, 1545 Governors Blvd., 679-5673.

Fergysons Construction, 16 MacArthur Ave., 861-8020.

Cody Handyman, Cody, Wyo., 307-899-4166.

Johnston Trades, 1441 Sourdough Lane, 927-7668.

Water heating with natural gas – it’s the right choice.

Paint the Town, Park City, 321-2564.

B & L Construction, 1210 Hawthorne Lane, 855-7858.

Oldenburg Construction and Design, Lewistown, 435-5222.

Alternative Health Care Solutions, 3021 Sixth Ave. N., 697-2740.

Stantec Consulting Services Inc., Spokane, Wash., 509-3401712.

America’s Choice Inc., Great Falls, 245-1061.

Siers Construction, 748-1/2 Cook Ave., 647-1250.

By the Root, 620 S. 31st St., 647-8711.

M & M Cleaning Service, 286 Aristocrat Drive, 671-5539.

RWE Construction LLC, 301 Terry Ave., 979-479-1487.

Stonebraker Made, 1102 Kenneth St., 690-6398.

Salt City Candles, 1743 Broadview Drive, 690-2718.

Van Leggalo Photography

by Robb Vann, 324 12th St. W., 697-4572.

Arizona Wrangler Con., Phoenix, Ariz., 602-768-3834.

Rock Griffin, 1005 Main St., 801-651-5575.

Miller Montana Painting, 316 S. 37th St., 350-1852.

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

clean • abundant • affordable • efficient • reliable • safe • domestic • environmentally friendly

Billings Commercial Building Permits for September 2014 Fence/Roof/Siding

1690 Rimrock Road

Roset Gayle A.

Donahue Roofing LLC

fence/Roof/Siding

3900 Victory Circle

Olympic Village (Mt)

Bradford Roof Management Inc.

$25,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

3900 Victory Circle

Olympic Village (Mt)

Bradford Roof Management Inc.

$25,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

3900 Victory Circle

Olympic Village (Mt)

Bradford Roof Management Inc.

$10,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1540 Lake Elmo Drive

Lake Elmo Professional Center

Infinity Roofing & Siding Inc.

$34,771

Fence/Roof/Siding

3 Broadwater Ave.

Roman Catholic Bishop Of Great Falls

Empire Roofing Inc.

$68,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

109 S. 28 St.

Southern Foods Group LP

Empire Roofing Inc.

$9,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

401 Custer Ave.

First Evangelical Free Church

Commercial Roof Wtr Proof

$30,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

321 Cape Cod Drive

Miller Melton A. & Karen P.

Kohlman Construction

$12,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

River Point Cottages LLC

Bedrock Construction LLC

Billingsbusiness

$111,000

$9,000

November 2014

I

45

Billings Commercial Building Permits for September 2014, continued Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

River Point Cottages LLC

Bedrock Construction LLC

$9,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

Blankenship Jeffery S. & Yong

Bedrock Construction LLC

$9,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

Blankenship Jeffery S & Yong

Bedrock Construction LLC

$9,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

River Point Cottages LLC

Bedrock Construction LLC

$9,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

River Point Cottages LLC

Bedrock Construction LLC

$9,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

Young Donna M.

Bedrock Construction LLC

$11,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1525 Bench Blvd.

Young Donna M.

Bedrock Construction LLC

$12,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

2 Campus Way

Bartsch Jeff D. & Mary K.

Built Wright Homes & Roofing Inc.

$20,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1650 Inverness Drive

Burns Jerry C.

Infinity Roofing & Siding Inc.

$112,115

Fence/Roof/Siding

208 N. 23rd St.

RGP Partnership

Brock Barney Construction Inc.

$21,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

744 S. 18th St. W.

Keystone Inc.

Broken Arrow Construction Inc.

$13,700

Fence/Roof/Siding

2601 Overlook Drive

City Of Billings (Airport)

Larsen G. A. Inc.

$25,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1221 28th St. W.

Grand Park LLC

Lynnrich Inc.

$66,928

Fence/Roof/Siding

910 Poly Drive

Pines Condominium

Brothers Roofing

$50,000

Com New Warehouse/Storage

5548 Holiday Ave.

Rush Bruce

Larsen G. A. Inc.

$355,980

Remodel

2502 First Ave. N.

American Exchange Corp.

Fence/Roof/Siding

1929 Clubhouse Way

Hudson Melody L.

Fence/Roof/Siding

1004 Division St.

1015 Broadwater LLC

Fence/Roof/Siding

3483 Scout Trail

Farrar Debra S.

Infinity Roofing & Siding Inc.

$21,913

Fence/Roof/Siding

3490 Scout Trail

Rowen Julie A.

Infinity Roofing & Siding Inc.

$14,442

Fence/Roof/Siding

323 Westchester Square S.

NA

Norse Builders

$10,250

$5,000 V.W.C. Inc.

$26,000 $55,400

Fence/Roof/Siding

1603 St. Andrews Drive

Our Savior Evangelical

Aspen Contracting Inc.

$51,948

Fence/Roof/Siding

1800 Sixth Ave. N.

First Interstate Bank

Empire Htg. & Cooling

$426,064

Fence/Roof/Siding

2045 Overland Ave.

Cowles Montana Media Company

Bradford Roof Management Inc.

$174,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

495 Main St.

Glacier Bank

Sprague Construction Roofing Division

$40,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

241 Westchester Square S.

Karen And Lawrence LLC

Art Work Builders

$30,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

251 Westchester Square S.

Karen And Lawrence LLC

Art Work Builders

$30,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1215 24 St. W.

Amend Equity Partners LLC

K Simon Construction LLC

$49,524

Fence/Roof/Siding

2350 Avenue C

Rose Park Plaza Partners Ltd.

A-1 American Made Inc.

$10,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

2330 Avenue C

Rose Park Plaza Partners Ltd.

A-1 American Made Inc.

$9,900

Fence/Roof/Siding

2310 Avenue C

Rose Park Plaza Partners Ltd.

A-1 American Made Inc.

$9,725

Fence/Roof/Siding

2411 Village Lane

Dialysis Clinic Inc.

Kris Barger

Fence/Roof/Siding

3290 Granger Ave. E.

SFC Harvest-Granger Investors

Infinity Roofing & Siding Inc.

Fence/Roof/Siding

1501 Country Manor Blvd.

RJB Inc.

Finishing Touch Paint

$32,400

Fence/Roof/Siding

1501 Country Manor Blvd.

RJB Inc.

Finishing Touch Paint

$27,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

2290 Avenue C

Rose Park Plaza Partners Ltd.

A-1 American Made Inc.

$10,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

2261 Avenue C

Rose Park Plaza Partners Ltd.

A-1 American Made Inc.

$10,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

2291 Avenue C

Rose Park Plaza Partners Ltd.

A-1 American Made Inc.

New Store/Strip Center

1601 Grand Ave.

West Park Shopping Center LLC

Remodel

681 Alkali Creek Road

School District No. 2

Precision Plbg. & Htg. Inc.

$80,000

Remodel

749 S. 20 St. W.

Big Sky Holdings LLC

Cucancic Construction Inc.

$4,000

Remodel

993 S. 24 St. W.

Mike Matovich

Stadel Construction

Addition

2620 Overland Ave.

McGovern Brian C.

Fence/Roof/Siding

510 Killarney St.

Beley James R. & Beckie J.

46

I November 2014

$30,428 $233,762

$10,000 $563,301

$26,500 $250,000

Donahue Roofing LLC

$132,363

Billingsbusiness

Billings Commercial Building Permits for September 2014, continued Fence/Roof/Siding

717 18 St. W.

Roman Catholic Bishop Of Great Falls

Bradford Roof Management Inc.

Fence/Roof/Siding

341 Westchester Square S.

Anders Susanna L.

Norse Builders

$10,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

14 S. 27 St.

Michael Lee Investments

CIG Construction LLC

$70,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

920 Parkhill Drive

South Central Montana Regional

Donahue Roofing LLC

$11,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

946 Ave. C

Miller Mutchler Properties LLC

Cornerstone Siding Company

$33,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

369 Aristocrat Drive

Ireland Norma J. & Ian D.

Built Wright Homes & Roofing Inc.

Fence/Roof/Siding

2043 Lakehills Drive

Armer Wendy

Rambur Construction

$15,009

Fence/Roof/Siding

2033 Lakehills Drive

Jurist John M.

Rambur Construction

$15,009

Fence/Roof/Siding

2023 Lakehills Drive

Allred Vicki A.

Rambur Construction

$15,009

Fence/Roof/Siding

1105 1 Ave. N.

Rookhuizen Edward J. & Dianna

DLV Roofing Inc.

Fence/Roof/Siding

1145 Nutter Blvd.

Trinity Baptist Church Of Billings

Rambur Construction

$59,776

Remodel

1027 Shiloh Crossing Blvd.

Shiloh Crossing LLC

Langlas & Assoc. Inc.

$121,754

Remodel

1025 Shiloh Crossing Blvd.

Shiloh Crossing LLC

Langlas & Assoc. Inc.

$80,000

Remodel

465 Moore Lane

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

Hulteng Inc.

$40,000

Remodel

3289 Gabel Road

Bottrell Family Investments Inc.

Treco Constructors Inc.

$575,000

Remodel

2413 Montana Ave.

Nelson Andy & Bert

Ostlund’s Fire Protection

$20,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

4808 Underpass Ave.

MTSU LLC

$1,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

4808 Underpass Ave.

MTUS LLC

$1,500

Fence/Roof/Siding

1223 Mullowney Lane

BHCC II Inc.

Donahue Roofing LLC

$18,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

1848 St. Andrews Drive

Lake Hills Golf LLC

Specialized Construction

$10,000

Fence/Roof/Siding

80 25 St. W.

McNea Summers LLP

Rambur Construction

$40,166

Fence/Roof/Siding

1601 Virginia Lane

Bohrer Harold G. & Lila Trustee

Good Roofing

$20,970

New 5 Or More Family

4407 Gators Way

CK Land LLC

Sunset Construction LLC

$478,171

New Other

2474 Enterprise Ave.

True Patriots LLC

Eggart Engineering & Construct

$939,000

New Parking Lot/Non-Building Structure

4567 Grand Ave.

Cornerstone Community Church

Hardrives Construction Inc.

$43,000

New Restaurant/Casino/Bar

750 Southgate Drive

Popelka Enterprises LLC

Laughlin Construction Inc.

$300,000

Remodel

2922 Millennium Circle

Stock Michael D.

Stock Construction Company

$183,000

Remodel

236 Main St.

CHS Inc.

Remodel

2906 Grand Ave.

McGregor Family Trust

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