Governor Schweitzer and Montana Ambassadors Announce Award Winners

The Montana Ambassadors http://www.montanaambassadors.com/ is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization of leaders in business, education, and local and state government with a common dedication of doing business in Montana, and furthering the best interests of the state.

Each year, the Montana Ambassadors recognize outstanding leaders within the organization, as well as in business and education. Governor Schweitzer and the Montana Ambassadors are pleased to announce the 2010 Award Winners:

For outstanding service to the organization, Montana Ambassador of the Year is Lisa Perry, Community Affairs Manager with PPL Montana http://www.pplmontana.com/ . Ms. Perry serves on the Board of Directors and exemplifies what it means to be a Montana Ambassador through her service to the organization and the state of Montana.

The Montana Ambassador Entrepreneur of the Year is Mike Yinger, creator or TicketPrinting.com http://www.ticketprinting.com/ . Mr. Yinger is committed to ensuring Montana’s quality of life and has demonstrated a sense of leadership, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the economic development of the State of Montana.

Montana Ambassadors’ Business of the Year is D.A. Davidson and Company http://www.davidsoncompanies.com/ for demonstrating extraordinary innovation and success in their field of business for the past 75 years.

Montana Ambassadors Mike Malone Educator of the Year award is given to recently retired Chancellor Frank Gilmore http://www.mtech.edu/about/gilmore_welcome.html , of Butte. Chancellor Gilmore demonstrated outstanding accomplishment, excellence and leadership in the field of education throughout his tenure and at Montana Tech.

Outreach Montana Ambassador of the Year is awarded to Kirk Van Alstyne, President of the Pacific Northwest Chapter based in Seattle, for his leadership in building and supporting the first out-of-state Chapter of Montana Ambassadors. The Pacific Northwest Chapter has been successful in bringing at least two businesses to Montana.

Award winners will speak during the Montana Ambassador Annual Meeting and Conference to be held February 24th and 25th in Helena. An Awards Dinner will be held the evening of February 24th to honor each of the winners. Registration will be up later this week for the Annual Meeting and Conference.