Seven Montana Family Businesses to be Honored on October 23

Seven businesses will receive Family Business Day awards at the 2015 Montana State University Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship State Farm Insurance Family Business Day, set for Friday, Oct. 23, at the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn in Bozeman.

The 2015 Family Business Day award winners are: Cove Deli and Pizza of Polson in the very small business category (fewer than 10 employees); Mountain Valley Foods of Kalispell in the small business category (10-30 employees); George’s Distributing of Helena in the large business category (more than 50 employees); Helle Rambouillet and Associated Enterprises (Duckworth) of Dillon in the old business category (operating at least 50 years); Parker’s Hangover Tonic of Ulm/Billings and Triple Dog Brewery of Havre in the new business category (operating 10 or fewer years). The Special recognition award winner is Williams Companies of Bozeman. 

This year’s keynote luncheon speaker will be Ike Kauffman, a 1996 Family Business Award winner and the past president of Kaufmans Menswear Centre, based in Great Falls, Montana. Kaufman’s presentation “Riverboats and Relationships” will focus on lessons learned from his family’s 121-year-old multigenerational business. He will also discuss the “Three Circles of Family Business” and key relationship-building principles that have remained in the family since their initial Missouri River voyage.

Kaufman served as the third generation President of Kaufmans Menswear Centre from 1963-1994 before retiring into an active advisory role for the company. During that time and after, he continued to be very engaged in the Great Falls community. He served as the President, Director, and was on the Executive Committee of the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce for numerous years. Kaufman was also on the Business Improvement District Board of Directors from 1997-2008, serving as Board Chairman for two of the years. He has also been very involved in the Jaycees, Great Falls Quarterback Club, City County Planning Board, Great Falls Youth Hockey Association, Downtown Business Council, and numerous other organizations in the area with a current focus on the Optimist Club of Uptown Great Falls.

Kaufman graduated with a B.A. in Business from the University of Montana, served in the Montana Air National Guard and was on the MSU-College of Technology Advisory Board from 1997-2006.

The public is invited to this educational event. RSVPs are requested by October 16. A $20 registration is required to attend the keynote luncheon and awards ceremony, with check-in at 11:00am. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Anna Reardon at 994-6195 or familybusiness@montana.edu.

This event can also be found on the MSU Calendar here: https://www.montana.edu/calendar/events/16160.