CEO grows up with Flathead Industries

During her junior and senior years at Flathead High School in the 1960s, Vickie Poynter volunteered to work with Kalispell’s first kindergarten class for developmentally disabled children.

“We did a lot of music therapy, a lot of range of motion, so I might crawl around with people,” Poynter said. “We clapped hands, danced, colored. It was all different.”

She had no idea that decades later she would be working with some of those same kids, as well as one of her classmates, from the FHS class of 1968.

But, that’s exactly what Poynter does as chief executive officer of Flathead Industries.

Five of those kindergarten kids are clients of Flathead Industries, an organization that serves clients with disabilities.

“Now they’re in their 40s and 50s. Just like the rest of us, they got old,” said Poynter, who is 61.

Poynter was born in Missoula and moved to Kalispell with her parents and two sisters when she was 2.

She graduated from Flathead High School, attended Eastern Montana College and studied special education, then moved to Tacoma, Wash., where she worked as a paralegal for about 10 years.

Eventually, Poynter realized the big-city life wasn’t for her and she moved back to Flathead Valley. She subbed as a paralegal for some local attorneys until she saw Flathead Industries was hiring and applied. That was in 1981.

That fall, Poynter was hired as an administrative assistant and direct care employee. She worked as a live-in staff person at one of the supported living apartments and helped people with their cooking, cleaning, shopping, medicine and transportation.

It was the perfect line of work for her. “My mother always said I would bring home any leftover stray animal or stray kid. It just stuck with me,” Poynter said.

Free rent that came with the job was pretty cool, too, she added.

“I was just in the right place at the right time ... It was the best thing I ever could have done,” Poynter said about her start with Flathead Industries, which was founded in 1973.

Over the years, Poynter rose to the top of the organization’s administrative ranks. She started working as human resource director in 1984 and became co-CEO with Peter Newman in 1988, assuming that job on her own in 2004 when he retired.

Having spent most of her working life at Flathead Industries, Poynter has no regrets. She plans to keep working for the foreseeable future, or as long her board of directors will let her.

“Would I have ever thought I would be CEO? Not a chance,” Poynter said.

During its 30 years, the organization has grown tremendously. It was started as a small recycling business to employ eight men leaving the Boulder River School and Hospital during an exodus from the institution. Today it is a $3 million outfit.

When Poynter started in 1981, Flathead Industries had 31 clients. It now has 120, ranging in age from people in their early 20s to one man who is 90.

Montana’s push to de-institutionalize care for the developmentally disabled fueled some of the organization’s growth. Community support has helped with much of the rest.

Flathead Industries runs three popular thrift stores in Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish. It has six group homes, two apartment complexes and a 30-vehicle fleet to help clients get around.

It also offers day work services and its own career connection department, helping clients train and build skills and find whatever kind of work they can manage in the community.

“We have one guy who is a guru at computers, so he does all their billing. He’s happy as a clam to sit there and input those numbers.”

Poynter said the Flathead Valley has embraced the organization and its mission to give disabled people the most productive, rewarding and independent lives possible. “Creating opportunities for people with disabilities,” she said about the mission.

But creating opportunities goes both ways. Poynter said she has grown right alongside her clients and built many lasting friendships. Framed on her office wall are photos of people who have died who were dear to her and had a big impact on her life.

“Flathead Industries raised me,” Poynter said of the last 30 years.

The same goes for many other employees, and volunteers who play a crucial role in accomplishing its mission. More volunteers are always needed.

“We would always love more volunteers,” Poynter said. “The guys love to play basketball, go fishing. Girls love to have their hair done, their nails done. Go out for coffee. All the regular fun stuff.”

One group of volunteers takes clients fishing on Flathead Lake every year. Another takes everyone camping. With the help of volunteers, Flathead Industries also stays involved with Special Olympics Montana.

This time of year the Flathead Industries team is gearing up for skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding competition at Whitefish Mountain Resort, which hosts the State Winter Games this March.

“We have a very good ski team. We have a very good snowshoeing team. They usually bring home the gold every year,” Poynter said. “I think we’re pretty awesome.”

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.