Great Chief Award goes to Foys to Blacktail Trail leaders
Jim Watson and Carol Bibler were awarded the 48th Great Chief Award, the Kalispell Chamber’s oldest and most prestigious honor. Watson and Bibler have been lead players and the main movers of the Foys to Blacktail trail effort.
John King, chief executive officer and board chair of Three Rivers Bank, was named Businessman of the Year by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.
Maggie Doherty, co-owner of Kalispell Brewing Co., was named Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Businesswoman of the Year.
Two civic leaders who have been instrumental in the development of the Foys to Blacktail Trail system have received the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s top award.
Jim Watson and Carol Bibler were presented with the 48th Great Chief Award, the Chamber’s oldest and most prestigious honor, at the Chamber’s annual awards banquet Thursday.
“For many years, Jim and Carol have worked steadfastly to preserve and protect land for people’s real use: recreation, ranching, timber production, experiencing the natural world,” one of the nomination letters noted. “Their interest is real land — parks, pastures and trails — used by real people — children, families, farmers, hikers, dog walkers, horse riders, hunters and anglers.”
The many nomination letters noted their “inclusiveness of all people and all agencies” in the trail development.
“They are tireless in enlisting others, working and playing side-by-side with people of all ages and all walks of life, infusing co-enthusiasts with energy for the long haul.”
Watson and Bibler’s involvement in the community has reached beyond the local trail systems, to include work with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Hockaday Museum of Art, Flathead County Parks Board, Montana Conservation Corps, Kalispell PEO, Glacier Park Conservancy and more.
Also recognized during the Chamber’s program this year were Maggie Doherty, co-owner of Kalispell Brewing Co., who was named Businesswoman of the Year; and John King, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Three Rivers Bank as the Businessman of the Year.
Doherty saw a vision for a 100-year-old building on Kalispell’s Main Street, which is now the vibrant, bustling Kalispell Brewing Co. where locals and visitors gather.
“Maggie has helped to create a vibrant economy and exciting downtown, being the first to bring craft brewing to Kalispell, and together with live music, events, and community nights, [the brewery] has become a major business of community engagement,” said one nomination letter.
Doherty also dedicates her time to the Kalispell Business Improvement District, Gov. Bullock’s Main Street Montana Board, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation Board, and more.
Over the past 35 years, King has worked to build a successful banking career with resilience, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit. He has held five different positions, climbing within the organization. After he became chairman and CEO, the financial institution opened a second location and changed the name to Three Rivers Bank – named after the Flathead, Stillwater, and Whitefish rivers, which join just a mile away from the bank’s original Idaho Street location.
According to one of his nominators, “John truly embodies being a small-town businessman. He is continually rooting for the success of all that make up this valley and is known not only for his financial background and professional accomplishments, but for his kind demeanor and giving attitude.”
King lends a hand to numerous community organizations, such as the Family Forestry Expo, Kalispell Farmers Market, Kalispell Ski Club, Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Board, Northwest Montana Fair Market Livestock Sale, Kalispell Regional Healthcare Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County, and numerous others.
The Chamber also recognized Mary McClarty from Merrill Lynch with the Member of the Year Award, and Ted Luehr with Advanced Water Conditioning Inc. as the Ambassador of the Year, recognizing his 30 years of service as an ambassador.
The Kalispell Chamber hosted the largest crowd in the organization’s history for dinner, awards, and a fundraiser at the Hilton Garden Inn. Over 550 of Northwest Montana’s top business leaders heard the Chamber’s announcement of its new education and workforce programs, which will roll out at the start of the new year.
The Chamber pledged the proceeds of this year’s event to fund, in-part, new programs that will provide clear pathways for students to understand and be prepared to succeed in future careers in Northwest Montana, particularly in the manufacturing, biotechnology, and tourism.
Parts of the plan include working to better align school curriculum with the needs of businesses and partnering with industry experts to expanding experiential learning opportunities for teachers and counselors.