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Montana Talent – Senior Manager

Objective

To contribute my business skills and experience by collaborating with a business in order to enhance their organizations success.

Richard Krott

P.O. Box 129

Jefferson City, MT 59638

[email protected]

Experience

General Manager, Silver State Helicopters, October 2004 thru November 2007. Silver State Helicopters is the largest helicopter flight training business in the U.S.

• Set up a flight training academy in Butte and in Helena with a staff of 11 employees.

• Managed all aspects of flight training for 90 students and promoted commercial helicopter operations with a $3 million annual budget.

Self-employed Business Owner, July 1976 through September 2004. The following is a list of businesses I started and owned or sold during this period of time.

Owner, RK Trade Consultants, 1995 – 2005

• Contracted services for three years with the Canadian Embassy in Ottawa through the Canadian Consul General’s office in Minneapolis. Writing reports based on my research of economic and political issues which was used to promote trade for Canadian companies.

• Contracted marketing services to various businesses doing international trade in Mexico and Canada and the U.S.

• Warehouse and distribute educational books for a Canadian company to schools and teachers throughout the U.S.

Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Trade Corridor (RMTC), March 1997 – October 2004

The Rocky Mountain Trade Corridor was a member based non-profit organization governed by a board of directors from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. The mission of the RMTC was to provide members with the opportunity to expand markets in and outside of the region. The focus was mainly on small and medium sized firms, providing information and assistance with networking opportunities, conferences, promotions, and some technical assistance. It provides cross cultural guidance and information that facilitates business transactions.

• Expanded membership from 30 to 150 members.

• Organized and marketed annual international business “Matchmaking” conferences, held in all three countries, with hundreds attending each event.

• As an independent neutral third party, facilitated addressing various contentious cross border issues, especially between Canada and the U.S.

• Twice a year organized and promoted Customs and Immigration documentation seminars in Canada and the U.S. with assistance from both U.S. and Canadian Customs and Immigration agencies. More than 500 businesses attended during my tenure.

RK Design & Publications, 1993 – 1998

• Contracted with various businesses for design and publication of their newsletters and other promotional materials.

• Sold advertising for several magazines and newsletters such as, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Nurse’s Association.

• Purchased book rights and republished a book of stories on Montana history.

Co-owner with my wife, Tizer Botanic Garden’s and Arboretum, (TBGA) 2000 – Present

• Established a certified Botanic Garden and Arboretum on a seven acre property. Built a collection of over 1500 varieties of perennials, shrubs and trees, many of which are not native to the region. About 12,000 people visit the Garden’s annually.

• TBGA is a certified display garden for the Denver Botanic Gardens and the University of Colorado.

Co-owner with my wife, Tizer Lake Distributors, (TLD) January 2001 – Present

• TLD is an import wholesale and retail company which distributes a fencing material.

• TLD owns the nationally trade marked name DEER-D-FENCE™

President, CEO, Stonehouse Food Corporation, 1989 to 2005, I sold the business in December 2005.

• Manufactured and wholesaled specialty food products to major grocery chains.

• Developed and exported products under a bilingual label throughout Canada.

• The Stonehouse was the first Montana food business to go live on the QVC television show.

President, CEO, co-owner, Stonehouse Corporation, 1989 to 1993. The business consisted of an historic block of buildings in downtown Helena, which has become a major tourist attraction. It is known as “Reeder’s Alley”. My partner and I purchased the property from a developer that was about to go into bankruptcy. One of the reasons for purchasing the property was to continue to preserve the historic value for the community. We sold the property to someone who donated it to the State of Montana Historic Parks Division.

• The ownership included a fine dining restaurant (The Stonehouse Restaurant) and catering business, eight leased retail office and gift shop buildings, all of which we operated during our ownership.

Sole owner, Ink Spot, 1983 – 1989. It was a retail store specializing in art, graphic and engineering supplies. It also had a full-time picture framing operation. I closed this business after purchasing Reeder’s Alley and the Stonehouse Restaurant.

• Sold various art and graphic and engineering supplies such as blueprint machines, surveying equipment.

• Ranked in the top three in equipment sales in the U.S.

Sole owner, Made in Montana Store, 1986 – 1989. I sold this business when I purchased Reeder’s Alley and the Stonehouse Restaurant.

• Started the first “Made In Montana Store” in the state which specialized in only made in Montana products.

Self-employed Civil Engineering Technician, 1977 to1989.

• Designed residential houses and small commercial buildings.

• Cartography for various private and government agencies.

• Performed aerial infrared photo interpretation on vegetation and soils for various mapping projects.

• Prepared Reclamation plans for oil, gas and mining companies in Montana and Wyoming.

Civil Engineering Technician, 1967 to1977, Morrison Maierle Engineering, Helena, MT.

Civil Engineering Technician, 1964 – 1967, Gilbert Associates, Reading, PA.

Education

• High school graduate

• Engineering Technician Training, three years, Gilbert Associates

• ICS Structural Engineering Technician Program, one year.

• Various Manufactures Sales Training programs.

Military

• U.S. Army Combat Engineers, Heavy Equipment Operator, 1965 – 1971

Richard Krott

P.O. Box 129

Jefferson City, MT 59638

[email protected]

Awards:

Nominee for the United States Small Business Administration’s "Small Business Person of the Year” award in Montana.

Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award as Montana’s “Export Advocate of the Year” under Governor Marc Racicot.

Jefferson Local Development Corporation “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award for 2004. This was awarded to both Belva and Richard for their business Tizer Botanic Gardens and Arboretum.

Montana Federation of Garden Club, 2007 “Gardener of the Year” Award to both Richard and Belva.

Volunteer Board Positions During My Business Career

Sole board member from Montana for three years representing the state’s economic development organizations on the “Pacific Northwest Economic Development Council.” (PNEDC) The PNEDC region covers Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The mission of the PNEDC is to educate and foster economic development within the region.

Member of the Montana Governor’s Tourism Advisor Council appointed by two Montana governors over three years. Our council approved the states $13 million tourism promotion budget.

Montana / Alberta Bilateral Advisory Council under Governor Judy Martz and Alberta Premier Ralph Kline for four years. Our council advised the Governor and Premier on various cross-border issues affecting business, agriculture, natural resources and various political issues.

U.S. Department of Commerce appointment as a Board Member on the Montana District Export Council. Served in this position for three years.

Jefferson County Local Development Corporation, Heavy Industries Committee.

Butte Chamber of Commerce, Convention Visitors Bureau and Tourism Committee

Others include: Downtown Helena Business District, American Cancer Society of Montana, Gold West Tourism Region covering all of southwest Montana, and Hometown Helena Organization. Butte Chamber of Commerce, Helena Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Area Chamber of Commerce, Helena Arts Council.

Hobbies:

Teaching my twin grandkids, Casey and Derek, the art of fly fishing in pristine Montana trout streams.

Hunting, fishing, gardening and hiking Montana’s backcountry photographing wildlife. Building rustic furniture from unique trees found in the forest.

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