Chamber honors Severson for lifetime achievement

The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce held its 110th annual awards banquet on February 20 in Hamilton. Awards were handed out in front of a packed house at the Bitterroot River Inn. In fact, according to Al Mitchell, Executive Director, it was one of the most well-attended banquets in years. Under Mitchell’s leadership, the Chamber has been on an upswing of late, with a recent growth spurt in memberships following a few rocky years. At the banquet, eleven individuals and organizations were recognized for their accomplishments.
Dan Severson, owner of Valley Drug & Variety in Stevensville, was honored with a special Lifetime Achievement Award.
Severson has been a business and community leader for over 30 years. A graduate of the University of Montana School of Pharmacy, Dan started Family Pharmacy in 1983. He purchased Valley Drug in 1991 and later sold Family Pharmacy to Chad and Tracey Smith. The Smiths recently purchased Valley Drug from Severson, who will be retiring later this spring.
As owner of Valley Drug & Variety, Severson has provided an anchor business for Stevensville’s downtown, continually creating partnerships and connections to make sure the downtown remains vital. He is a founding member of the Stevensville Main Street Association and on behalf of that group he was instrumental in making sure that the Post Office remained located in downtown Stevensville. He actively worked to make sure Community Medical Clinic settled in downtown Stevensville, as well as Montana Driver Services and the Highway Patrol.
A graduate of the University of Montana School of Pharmacy, he has served as a pharmacist mentor. He has been active in many organizations over the years, including the Bitterroot Land Trust, various agriculture groups, Stevensville Main Street Association, Stevensville Civic Club, Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce and many others. He is a major supporter of the Stevensville Playhouse.
He has been a huge supporter of the local business community, the schools, Ravalli County 4-H and FFA. Dan is a leader in the agricultural world and he owns and operates the Flying E Ranch with his son Lee, producing award winning club calves and naturally raised beef. He has dressed in a pink tutu to support the fight for breast cancer and dressed as a bandit packing a gun to enforce the importance of membership in the Downtown Association.
Severson has previously been named Stevensville Citizen of the Year and under his ownership Valley Drug has been voted Stevensville Business of the Year more than once. He was honored as Chamber Business Person of the Year in 1992 and 2004 and Valley Drug was named Chamber Business of the Year in 2008. Other past honors include: Bowl of Hygia Award, Montana Pharmacy Association 1994; Preceptor of the Year, University of Montana Pharmacy School 1998; Leadership Award, McKesson HBOC 1998-2000; Appreciation of Service – Pharmacy Program, University of Montana 2010; Steve Powell Legacy Award 2013.
Severson has a long history of civic engagement. Over the years he has been active in his community, school system, church, business groups, pharmacy industry, agricultural, water rights, land stewardship and preservation of open space. As a business owner, he has provided jobs, education and training, and mentorship, putting into practice his belief that when people work together as a team, everybody benefits. He applauds achievement at every level.
“The Lifetime Achievement Award is very appropriate for Dan,” said Mitchell, “though in typical Dan fashion, he will tell you there are folks more deserving than he… He may be retiring soon, but his impact on the community will be felt for a long time to come.”
Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital was named Business of the Year. Daly Hospital, a rural critical access hospital, employs over 500 people. At a time when healthcare is changing dramatically, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital stays true to its mission of “providing quality, accessible, personalized healthcare to all.” Over the past year, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital delivered care for over 50,000 outpatient visits, nearly 50,000 medical clinic visits and tended to over 10,000 emergency visits. In addition, the number of ambulance runs have more than doubled since the hospital resumed ownership of the service in 2007. The hospital’s comprehensive medical, surgical, clinic, and emergency care services, coupled with the support departments, provides Ravalli County an economic infusion of $28 million in salaries alone. And the hospital buys locally when possible.
In addition to the services and economic value provided to Ravalli County, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital continues to enhance its facilities, grow the medical staff and meet the government-mandated requirements. Over the past year, the hospital added a new state-of-the-art five-bed ICU, a family friendly birthing center and new cardiology clinic that includes cardiac rehabilitation. The medical staff continues to be expanded annually. This year Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital added a full-time cardiologist, an orthopedic surgeon, gynecologist and primary care provider. In addition to expanding the facilities and medical staff, the hospital continues to upgrade its technology. This past year the hospital upgraded the surgery suites with surgery, endoscopy and cataract HD Digital Capture Device Cameras and Information Management System towers. This purchase gave the surgeons the most current technology and enhances patient safety and outcomes. Another one of the many valuable purchases was the most advanced mammography technology available. Now, patients have access to complete breast health services available close to home.
In addition the hospital has had a nearly non-existing surgical site infection rate for the past few years. This is a not easy and takes a commitment from staff, investment in current technologies, and dedication to sterilization processes.
Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital concluded the year with being recognized nationally and regionally for their quality of care. The hospital received the Ivantage and Mountain Pacific Quality Awards confirming their consistent delivery of quality care. Hospitals have to report their “quality measures” and the hospital was recognized for overall excellence in quality, reflecting in the top quartile performance among all acute care hospitals in the nation.
Other award winners were:
J.C. McDowell, Darby’s new mayor and owner of Bandit Brewing Company, was the recipient of the Economic Development Award. McDowell moved his family to the Bitterroot 3-1/2 years ago. He has been a lifelong entrepreneur in business ranging from custom craft furniture, real estate development, food service, children’s entertainment, and now beer with the addition of Bandit Brewing Company in Darby. As one door leads to another, his experience opening the brewery in Darby led to his successful campaign for mayor. While a reluctant politician, McDowell can envision tremendous economic growth in Darby and the entire south valley and it is his vision to create a pathway for success.
The Community Asset Award went to another Darby resident, Cal Ruark.
Ruark, retired from the U.S. Forest Service, has worked tirelessly to bring the economy of the south valley back from the brink after the collapse of the logging industry. He founded the Darby Elite Bull Connection and is the front man for the Darby Rodeo Association, a dynamic group that continues to expand and improve opportunities for rodeo events that have resulted in a huge financial investment in the Darby community. Ruark is a man of few words, but when it comes to Darby, he’s passionate about the future. His mantra is “Let’s make it happen!” and he does!
Russ Lawrence was honored with the Unsung Hero Award. This award recognizes the steadfastness and selflessness of those who give of their time and energy without a thought of reward. Lawrence, who formerly owned Chapter One Bookstore with his late wife Jean, has served as Hamilton Downtown Association coordinator, freelance journalist, travel guide and cross-country ski instructor. He and Jean were Peace Corps volunteers. He has been active in Tuesday at Twelve, Bitterrooters for Planning, Emma’s House, Hamilton Players, Building Active Communities Initiative, Bike/Walk Bitterroot and many more non-profit community groups.
John Trangmoe was named Volunteer of the Year. Trangmoe was a teacher for 34 years and served as a member of the Glendive City Council for 17 years. John was CEO of the Glendive Chamber of Commerce and had an extra responsibility that very few other chamber directors ever experience. He was a caviar salesman of the paddlefish roe that is processed and sold by the Glendive Chamber. During his tenure he sold in excess of $100,000. His volunteering began as a teenager and he has put in around 10,000 hours of various volunteering duties. He volunteers at the Bitterroot Chamber office, Marcus Daly Hospice, his church, ball tournaments, home tours, zoning boards of the City of Hamilton and as a Sons of Norway member. John says, “Volunteering beats being a couch potato any day.”
Dr. Lucas Persteiner received the Spark Plug Award. For 14 years, Pernsteiner has been the owner/CEO of Bitterroot Chiropractic with offices in Hamilton and Florence. Dr. Pernsteiner has served as health care provider to thousands of chiropractic patients, as ringside physician to hundreds of boxers, as an elder at his church to dozens of local church members, and as the Chairman to members of the Chamber Ambassadors Committee. Dr. Pernsteiner enjoys being a ski instructor at Lost Trail and training at Bitterroot CrossFit in pursuit of a Spartan Race trifecta. He has enthusiastically joined the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce board and looks forward to serving as the President in 2017.
Foxwood Boutique, owned by Andi Evans, received the New Business Award.
Evans graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1995 with a Marketing Degree in Fashion Merchandising. After working on the management team of a trendy fashion staple in Dallas, building a family and a successful career in corporate America, in 2008 she and her husband David and family had an opportunity to move to the Bitterroot Valley and purchase Evans Ace Hardware from David’s father. As Andi worked side by side with her husband, it rekindled her passion for retail. In the summer of 2014 a lifetime of dreaming fell into place and Andi open her first boutique in Hamilton. She named it “Foxwood” in honor of her grandparents’ Thoroughbred racehorse farm in Louisiana. Within a year, the store tripled in size and moved to Main Street. With the help of her staff, Andi has created “a place where women of all sizes can come and feel beautiful regardless of their budgets.”
Paul Beck of Beck Builders was named Business Person of the Year. This award goes to a business person who constantly works to achieve professionalism in everything they do. Paul Beck says he shares his love of building with a famous Jewish carpenter who is his greatest friend, advisor and savior, Jesus Christ. Paul received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Minnesota State University. After graduation he moved to Hamilton where he met his wife, Stephanie. Paul worked as a tradesman and in 1996 built their first home in Hamilton. Paul enjoyed the building experience so much that he soon became a project manager for a local contractor, and in 2005 founded Beck Builders, Inc. Paul was honored to receive the “2015 Builder of the Year” award presented by the Bitterroot Building Industry Association. He credits the success of the company to his amazing “Dream Team” who bring innovation, quality and customer satisfaction to every project. The Beck Builders team endeavors to live by their motto: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
The Bitterroot Public Library is the recipient of the Community Service Award. The library is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The dedicated staff and volunteers, led by Director Mark Wetherington, support the library’s mission of providing community residents from all walks of life with access to quality library services, programming and activities to support lifelong learning and encourage the pleasure of reading and the freedom of information.
The Chamber Advocate Award was presented to Mayor Jerry Steele and the City of Hamilton. The award recognizes individuals and/or organizations whose leadership efforts have been notably effective in advancing the community. The City of Hamilton is being recognized for its support of the Chamber’s tourism and relocation efforts, and as a summer festival sponsor, also for its contribution towards tournaments, which the Chamber sponsors in conjunction with Hamilton High School and the Hamilton Booster Club.