Michael Strotheide to Succeed Liz Marchi as President of Montana West Economic Development
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| May 10, 2007 |  View for printing |
Marchi passes torch after growing, strengthening organization and working to improve area economy
Mike Strotheide, current CEO of Claremore Industries & Economic Development Authority, Claremore, OK, will take on the position of President and CEO at Montana West Economic Development (MWED) http://www.dobusinessinmontana.com/ in Kalispell. Strotheide will replace Liz Marchi who resigns from her post after over seven years at the organization.
Strotheide comes to Montana West with a strong background in economic development. He has been a successful economic development leader for city, state, and regional organizations since 1988. He has a B.A. in Psychology from Minot State University in North Dakota and was selected by Southern Business and Development Magazine as one of the top economic developers in the Southern United States.
Liz Marchi’s tenure as President and CEO of MWED has been marked by exponential growth of the organization and significant improvement in the Flathead economy. She grew the former “Jobs Now, Inc.” from a one-person ‘bootstrapping’ operation to the four-person economic development organization it is today. Marchi has brought a fresh, progressive perspective to economic development in the Flathead, focusing on fostering entrepreneurship, private capital, marketing of the region and growth of high tech, low-impact industry. She is the fund coordinator for the Frontier Angel Fund, LLC, Montana’s first angel fund. Total Label USA, TeleTech and many small companies relocated to the Flathead during Marchi’s tenure. Marchi also oversaw the acquisition and growth of a $4 million loan portfolio that provides gap financing to area businesses.
Marchi is a founding member of the Montana Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs (MADE), a group that teaches, supports and recognizes distinguished entrepreneurship through the University of Montana School of Business. She serves as a judge, coach and emcee for the John Raffato Business Plan Competition.
Marchi serves on the Governor’s Advisory Board for Economic Development, Boards of the Montana Women’s Fund, the Montana Economic Developers Association, the Advisory Board for the Montana Meth Project, the Alpine Theatre Project and the Advisory Board for the new Flathead Beacon, a weekly publication out of Kalispell. She is former President of the Montana Ambassadors, a statewide organization of business leaders appointed by the Governor, which supports business and education. She was the recipient of the 2006 Desiree Taggart Award for Individual Workforce Development Achievement.
Strotheide commences work at the organization on June 1, 2007.
Montana West Economic Development is a privately funded economic development organization in Northwest Montana focused on fostering high value job opportunity. Marketing, recruiting, private capital, networking and education are part of MWED’s program of work. In addition, Montana West supports E2 (Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur) a monthly gathering that inspires, mentors and educates through experience. MWED runs the Flathead County Port Authority and MWED Financial.
Reader Comments:
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Liz Marchi has set a pretty high bar for Strotheide to jump over. Folks with her vision and perspective are rare in the economic development community. She's going to be a very tough act to follow. --Lou Fontana
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Mike Strotheide New to Montana and already suggesting changes in area he knows nothing about. Montana is NOT OK, we have unique Economic circumstances and NEW HOTELS that wipe out local business is not the answer. www.EurekaMontanaNews.com |
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