Kalispell Chamber recognizes top leaders with Great Chief, business awards

Longtime Kalispell community and business leaders Ray and Ladeine Thompson were presented with the Great Chief Award during the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting conducted virtually this year due to COVID-19.

The chamber's annual awards night is regarded as the largest business event of the year in Northwest Montana, but rather than hosting more than 600 businessmen and women for dinner, awards and a live auction, the event took place virtually over a 45-minute time-frame. The live video contained updates of the chamber’s work over the last year, including a robust COVID-communications series, advocacy work for infrastructure development, and tourism messaging that supported downtown businesses while encouraging visitors to consider safety first and adventure second.

Also keeping with tradition, the chamber announced this year’s highly coveted annual business awards.

The Great Chief Award is the Kalispell Chamber’s oldest and most prestigious award and is given to those who have a civic and volunteer spirit that spans a lifetime and creates a legacy for the community.

More than 40 years ago, Ray Thompson founded Semitool and watched it grow to over 1,300 employees worldwide, contributing over $2 billion to the Northwest Montana economy, the chamber said in a press release.

"He built the company here in Kalispell because of the great respect he had for the character of the people he knew growing up here, but little did he know at the time the kind of impact that he would have on this community himself," the release noted.

Semitool became a leading semiconductor equipment designer and manufacturing company, later acquired by Applied Materials in 2009.

Thompson’s passion for design and manufacturing started in partnership with another of his passions in 1962 as a draftsman for the Saturn 5 Apollo project at Douglass Aircraft. To this day, Ray Thompson remains an active pilot and staunch advocate for aviation, but is likely more known for flying more angel flights than anyone can count for local individuals in need of medical care outside the area.

“He has an amazing, generous spirit and has used his success in business to support more individuals and organizations than anyone will ever know,” said one of his many nominators. “He has supported numerous families in times of need, all at no cost during emergencies and for medical treatments.”

Ladeine Thompson, a librarian, has always been passionate about giving back to the community as well. Together, Ray and Ladeine have supported organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Montana, Big Sky Bible Camp, Bigfork Children’s Theater, Bigfork VFW, Braveheart Chaplain Ministry, CASA for Kids, ChildBridge, Flathead Valley Community College, Heritage Learning, Ray of Hope, Glacier Symphony and Chorale, University of Montana, the Hockaday Museum of Art, Stillwater Christian School, and numerous scholarships to area students.

The Thompson’s most recent venture has been the revitalization of Sykes Diner in downtown Kalispell, recognizing the valuable role the longtime community gathering place has on the neighborhood, and in Thompson Precision, a certified machining and fabrication job shop manufacturer that specializes in the aerospace industry. Together, the Thompsons still employ nearly 90 people in the Flathead.

THE BUSINESSOWMAN of the Year award was presented to Shawnna Steele of Desoto Grill

When a beer and wine license came on the market in Kalispell, Shawnna Steele, owner of Desoto Grill, was on a plane from Portland just two hours later. Having grown up in Kalispell, Steele was eager to make a move back to Montana and has since built one of the most iconic restaurants Kalispell has to offer. With her passion for classic cars, the old Forge Building on Second Street West was the perfect place to build the restaurant that is now known for its eclectic atmosphere, fantastic barbecue and community of people.

“Shawnna has been such a rock star for our community,” said one of the individuals who nominated Shawnna for the award. “Her commitment to the community from the annual Big Shindig event, to donating space and catering for numerous nonprofit organizations, to her work inspiring culinary students at Glacier High School, Shawnna does it all and really is a pillar here in Kalispell.”

GERRID GANDRUD of Kalispell Auto Group received the Businessman of the Year award.

Starting as a lot attendant and shuttle driver and working his way to salesperson in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Gandrud knows just what it’s like to work one’s way up, building a career of leadership in a way that supports an entire team.

He purchased Glacier Toyota in 2007, DePratu Ford VW in 2016, and Valley Ford in 2016, creating Kalispell Auto Group, which has since combined two Ford locations into one new building on U.S. 93 and renovated the old Valley Ford location to be occupied by Kalispell VW.

Gandrud’s commitment to his team and leadership can be seen by employing over 200 people, contributing over $9 million in annual wages and salaries, and, over the past 12 years, the three dealerships have contributed over $3 million to local organizations, causes, sponsorships, and charities.

“Gerrid is such a great guy to work for and he really embodies the team spirit,” said one of his nominators. “He’s the kind of leader that you want to work for who not only supports every single person on the team but puts the community first.”

CHAMBER MEMBER of the Year is Mike Smith of Glacier Bank.

Chosen by the staff of the Kalispell Chamber, the Member of the Year award goes to someone who has acted above and beyond as an individual to support the work of the organization.

“When Mike stepped up to chair the search committee for my replacement as President/CEO, neither of us really knew just how big of a job that would become,” retiring Kalispell Chamber President Joe Unterreiner said about Smith, who is SVP/Retail Loan Manager for Glacier Bank and was the 2019 board chair for the Kalispell Chamber.

“Mike spent countless hours not only championing chamber programs and activities but leading the charge through nearly 70 applicants for the head of the chamber role," Unterreiner said. "We’re lucky to have someone like him here in our corner, really committed to the success and growth of Kalispell.”