Newsmakers

- Kellie danielson is the new director of Loyal Care, a premier boutique in-home care business. She previously served as president of Montana West Economic Development and chief executive officer of Flathead County Economic Development Authority, and has returned to the Flathead Valley after two years of living out-of-state to assist her parents.

“Kellie has a proven background in managing and growing MWED and she now brings her business experience to Loyal Care,” said Kristen Heck, founder of Loyal Care and owner of the employment service, LC Staffing.

Heck started the Loyal Care in 2010 to meet the demand for passionate home caregiving after employing caregivers for her one of her family members.

Loyal Care is dedicated to hiring exceptional caregivers to provide compassionate care. “There comes a time in life when either yourself, or a loved one, will need assistance at home.” Danielson stated. “When it comes to taking care of people, Loyal Care understands the importance of quality, reliability and heart.

- Levi Coughlin and Sam Strickler of Waatti Engineering in Kalispell have successfully passed the national Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, and now are licensed as a professional engineer in the state of Montana. Both Coughlin and Strickler are senior structural engineers at Waatti Engineering.

- Capt. Dan McClure has been promoted to tribal conservation program manager, according to Tom McDonald, manager of the Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation. McClure’s promotion as the chief warden will allow for the continued responsiveness and expanded organizational capacity of the conservation program, McDonald. McClure has extensive supervisory experience with the Conservation Program, the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Law and Order Department, and also with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

- Chase Averill is the new general manager of Flathead Lake Lodge, a family-owned and -operated guest ranch on the shores of Flathead Lake in Bigfork. He is the third generation of the Averill family to manage the operations of the ranch since 1945. Averill brings diverse experience in outdoor recreation and hospitality, as well as first-hand knowledge from growing up on the property, to the ranch. After earning a degree in business administration, entrepreneurial and small business operations from Pacific Lutheran University, he worked as the marketing manager for Restaurants Unlimited in Seattle and later was the general manager for The Cakebread Ranch in Wyoming before returning to the Flathead to work as a project manager for Saddlehorn and gain hands-on training at Flathead Lake Lodge.