A.J. King of Three Rivers Bank joins bankers at White House event

A.J. King, president of Three Rivers Bank of Montana, joined more than 100 community bankers and the Independent Community Bankers of America earlier this month for a meeting with President Donald Trump and other top administration officials at the White House as part of the 2017 ICBA Capital Summit.

In the meeting with President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, NEC Director Gary Cohn and Small Business Administration Chief Linda McMahon, Trump said the administration is focused on addressing regulatory burdens to help community banks lend to small businesses.

As the ICBA federal delegate for Montana, King, of Kalispell, was the only Montanan among the group attending the White House meeting. Community banks are one of the biggest lenders to small businesses,” King said. “They (the Trump administration) recognize that as one of the biggest factors as far as future growth in America.”

Legislation is being drafted to roll back some of the regulations placed by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Separating regulations for the large “too big to fail” banks and community banks would make it easier for community banks to help customers without being burdened by regulations that in large measure are aimed at big banks, King said.

King spent from April 29 through May 3 in Washington, D.C. and was among the Montana delegation that met with Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester.

More than 1,000 community bankers participated in ICBA’s Capital Summit to discuss critical issues facing community banks and their communities, such as excessive regulatory burdens that affect their ability to serve their customers, make loans and create jobs.

The industry’s solution to the regulatory burden problem — ICBA’s Plan for Prosperity — is a pro-growth platform to eliminate onerous and unnecessary regulatory burdens that inhibit lending and innovation.

“Unfortunately, one-size-fits-all regulations are preventing community banks from lending and promoting prosperity at the local level,” ICBA Chairman Scott Heitkamp said.

- The Lodge at Whitefish Lake has received AAA’s Four Diamond rating for a seventh year. AAA recently unveiled a total of 2,280 establishments (1,615 hotels and 665 restaurants) throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean have received the Four Diamond Rating in the last year, qualifying them for the 2017 Four Diamond Award list. The award is granted to the top 4 percent of hotels in the U.S.

“The list represents only roughly 4 percent of the all 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated establishments,” said Denice Harris, AAA MountainWest spokesperson. “For The Lodge at Whitefish Lake to maintain the exceptional standards required year after year is an outstanding achievement. The Lodge’s attention to guest needs and consistently delivering memorable experiences is what earns them the award year after year.”

AAA offers the only rating system using comprehensive, on-site professional hotel and restaurant evaluations guided by member priorities.

- Climate Smart Glacier Country announced its Climate Smart Champions and presented the awards on Earth Day to businesses, youth and individuals who are leaders in building solutions to climate change challenges.

Climate Smart Entrepreneur of the Year: Alissa LaChance, Dirt Rich Composting of Columbia Falls. LaChance introduced a new business concept to the Flathead by collecting food waste from businesses, schools and families and converting it into rich topsoil for gardens.

Climate Smart Business Champion: ViZn Energy Systems, based in Columbia Falls, developed a utility-grade energy storage system that use stable, non-toxic batteries to balance out renewable energy production for times when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.

Climate Smart Business Champion: Glacier Guides/Montana Raft company, based in West Glacier, was honored for sustainable practices and environmental leadership in the hospitality sector.

Climate Smart Youth — Individual: Caroline Dye, a Whitefish ninth-grader, led a successful campaign to implement no-idling zones outside three Whitefish schools to keep kids safe from exhaust emissions. She also works with the Climate Smart Transportation Group to find no-idling solutions for diesel locomotives in the rail yard next to Whitefish Middle School.

Climate Smart Youth — Group: Whitefish Middle School Student Council led efforts to promote composting and recycling to reduce waste in the schools and has been active in the no-idling campaign.

Climate Smart Champion: Diane Yarus, a Kalispell businesswoman, has been a leader in local and regional programs to build clean energy systems and promote conservation. She is a Flathead Valley leader in encouraging young girls and women to enter technical fields. Yarus and her husband Bill owns Airworks, a heating and cooling service.

Climate Smart Champion, Honorable Mention: Jeff Arcel, a Whitefish businessman and owner of Aeon Renewable, is a pioneer in deploying renewable energy systems for individuals, businesses and communities in the Flathead, including solar, wind and mini-hydro. He is a member of the Whitefish Climate Action Plan Committee.

Climate Smart Champion, Honorable Mention: Richard Cohen, a Whitefish electrician, has led countless tours of his climate-smart home that utilizes passive design, renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures. He works with clients to install renewable energy systems and integrate energy-saving measures into new construction and retrofits.

Climate Smart Glacier Country is a public-private partnership formed in 2016 by local businesses, schools and individuals, Glacier National Park and the city of Whitefish. The group was formed to support local climate solutions, and it avoids political advocacy or national policies. The partnership has established six working groups led by local volunteers.

- Randall Holgate, a retired radiologic technologist, has started a new community service in the Flathead Valley called At Home Convenient Care LLC. He will provide elder-care services such as transportation to appointments, daily status checks and safety services. The service is a non-medical, self-pay approach to assist established caregivers needing a temporary break, families who are overwhelmed due to being caregivers to multiple generations, or clients who want to preserve their independence with dignity and a sense of freedom. In addition to personal care services, Holgate also can provide registered nurse consults, professional medical-bill review and services for client in-home care. He can be reached at 406-270-8244 or email randallh123@gmail.com.

- Kris Dunk with Captain’s Marine Inc. in Kalispell, recently received his certificate of completion for watercraft inspection and decontamination. He received the certification through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species and the 100th Meridian Initiative. Dunk has more than 15 years of experience working on marine vessels.

- The Flathead Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees recently elected officers for the coming one-year term. Doug Grob, District 4, was re-elected to serve as president; Duane Braaten, District 6, was re-elected vice president; and Gary Boe, District 7, was elected secretary/treasurer.

Flathead Electric includes nine districts, each with a representative on the board of trustees, which acts as the governing body of the cooperative. Member/owners of Flathead Electric operate the cooperative through these elected representatives.

- Consider It Done of Kalispell has earned accredited member status from the National Home Watch Association for the third consecutive year. The association was formed in 2009 in order to establish and maintain the highest industry standards for home watch and absentee homeowner services throughout the United States and Canada Home Watch is a service that “keeps an eye on things” at your vacation or primary home while you are not in residence. Consider It Done is owned by Matt and Alisha Linn and is the only NHWA-accredited Home Watch company in the entire state. It is a non-tenant-based property management and caretaker company serving absentee vacation homeowners serving the Flathead Valley, Kalispell, Bigfork, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and other surrounding areas. Call 406-253-0175 or email consideritdonemt@gmail.com. Learn more at www.cidmt.com.

- True North Chiropractic will hold a grand reopening of its new uptown Columbia Falls location at 430 Nucleus Ave. on Wednesday, May 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dr. Todd Schleusner took over the practice earlier this year following the retirement of Dr. Wayne Jacobsmeyer. The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a patient appreciation and open house.