Chamber lauds top business people

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce recognized four outstanding business people during its annual banquet Thursday night.

A sell-out crowd of 450 gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn for the Chamber’s 105th celebration of community and business enterprise in Kalispell.

In addition to Great Chief Ken Siderius, the Chamber honored Businessman of the Year Brian Clark, Businesswoman of the Year Tana Rae, Member of the Year Mishelle Johnson and six people with the Transportation Committee over the years as Chairman of the Year.

n Clark is the general manager of Fun Beverage. He has served on the Chamber board of directors and is a key supporter of Chamber air shows, the Flathead Valley Community College Festival of Flavors and Flathead High School swimming.

n Rae is a lender with First Interstate Bank. As leader of the Kalispell Downtown Association she provided leadership to launch ThursdayFest last summer. She was a class officer of Leadership Flathead and volunteered for many community and charitable events.

n Johnson at Insty Prints came to the rescue for many Chamber publications. The Chamber commended her for understanding the perfect layout even before the staff articulated it.

n Transportation Committee chairmen over the past 15 years were recognized for their persistence in bringing the U.S. 93 Alternate Route to reality. Many individuals contributed to the success, but some of the most consistent were members of the Transportation Committee and its chairmen. They are Ted Luehr, Jim Lynch, Tim Larson, Marc Rold, Mark Twichell and Bill Janes.

New Chamber officers for 2010 were recognized at the annual banquet.

Chairman of the board is Terry Kramer of Kramer Enterprises, vice chairman is Tom Lund of Rocky Mountain Bank, secretary/treasurer is David Mitchell of CTA Architects and Engineers, and immediate past chairman is Bob Schneider of First Interstate Bank.

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is a federation of 700 businesses and organizations employing more than half of the work force in Flathead County.