Montana Family Businesses of the Year
200l award winners announced

by MSU-Bozeman News Service

8/29/01  

            Bozeman -- Seven Montana family-owned businesses have received distinction as winners of the 2001 Montana Family Business Awards, according to officials of the Montana State University-Bozeman College of Business Family Business Program.

              The winners are:

            Bob’s Pickup and Delivery  of  Sidney.

            Brown’s Auto Service of  Billings, a complete auto care service, including transmission rebuilding and repair.

            Eugene’s Pizza of Glasgow, a full-service pizza restaurant.

            Fraser’s Oil of  Inverness, a bulk fuel and tire dealer.

            Dahl Funeral Chapel,  Simkins-Hallin Lumber and  Van’s IGA, all based in Bozeman . Dahl Funeral Chapel also has businesses in Billings and Red Lodge.

Van’s IGA has locations in Helena, Great Falls, Billings and Teeple’s IGA in Browning.

              The  annual competition is sponsored by the College of  Business at MSU with support from MassMutual.

              Winners will receive their awards at a seminar/luncheon  to be held Friday, Sept 14  at the Gallatin Gateway Inn near Bozeman. Richard Semenik, Dean of the College of Business will speak on “Family and the College of Business: A Strategic Partnership whose Time has Come.”  Dan Moshavi, professor of the College of Business, will speak on “Managing for Peak performance.”

              The annual Family Business awards call attention to the many positive contributions made by  family businesses to Montana’s overall economy, according to Karen Vinton, professor emeritus of business in the College of Business at  MSU  and founder of the Montana Family Business awards program.         

              "The average age of this year's winners is 46  years, demonstrating that these family businesses have been surviving and thriving during some dramatic economic changes in our state," Vinton said.  "The seven winning businesses also make a significant contributions to the state's workforce and economy, employing over 600 employees and generating millions of dollars of sales.

          "These are businesses which have remained vital over the years   through innovative business practices, superior customer service, fiscal responsibility and strong work ethic," she said.    "Businesses such as these  help Montana's economy  thrive."

            The 2001 Montana Family Business of the Year winners will represent the state in the national Family Business contest.  Winners from the Montana contest often have been successful in the national contest.  Most recently   Lake Seed, Inc. of  Ronan and the Western Livestock Reporter, Billings, were two of the top three winners in the 1996 National Family Business of the Year competition sponsored by MassMutual. Markles Inc. of Glasgow, a diversified company that sells hardware, implements, fuel and oil, furniture and appliances, was a national winner in 1995. Bradford Roofing and Insulation Co. of Billings was a national contest winner in 1994.

      Cost of the luncheon/workshop is $25. Reservations may be made by calling the MSU-Bozeman College of Business Family Business Program: (406) 994-6796.

              The Montana Family Business Awards are made possible by MSU College of Business, Mass Mutual, First Interstate BancSystem, Kasting, Combs & Kauffman, Maierle Insurance Consultants and Hanson & McLeod Financial Group. 

Send questions or comments to Carol Schmidt: cschmidt@montana.edu. Or you can send letters to Carol Schmidt, MSU Communications Services, 416 Culbertson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717.

You are the 10690th person to access this page.