Kalispell businessman tapped to lead state Commerce Dept.

Scott Osterman, senior director of business unit operations at Applied Materials in Kalispell, has been nominated by Gov. Greg Gianforte to lead the Montana Department of Commerce.

Originally from Northcentral Montana, Osterman has served as a senior executive in Fortune 500 companies and venture start-ups, including in the semiconductor, automobile and high-tech hardware and software industries.

“Getting our economy going again, getting Montana open for business, and getting Montanans back to work and thriving in good-paying jobs require a strong leader at the Department of Commerce,” Gianforte said in a press release Monday. “With his extensive experience in business development and management, Scott will be an outstanding leader for the department.”

Osterman’s relevant business experiences are manifold, including strategic planning, rapid growth initiatives, operations, sales, market development and turnaround execution.

“I’m honored to accept this opportunity to market, promote, and serve our great state and its people, and I look forward to responsibly and sustainably developing the tremendous potential of Montana,” Osterman said in a prepared statement. “We are at a unique inflection point to grow the Montana economy in new ways, as well as to build on our traditional industries.”

Local industry leaders lauded Osterman’s selection. Joe Unterreiner, former president and CEO of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and a member of Gianforte’s Commerce/Labor Transition Advisory Team, said “With his background as a senior executive at Applied Materials in Kalispell and several other high-tech firms, Scott Osterman brings a wealth of experience in start-ups, advanced manufacturing and business development to his position as the director for the Montana Department of Commerce. Scott is innovative and has a keen understanding for how to advance Montana’s business environment.”