Montana Business

Eve, a Great Falls native, set out to gain a national reputation by excelling in the tribal government specialty niche of accounting.

"One of the primary reasons people don’t enjoy riding their bikes is the seats are uncomfortable," said Cara Seekell, marketing director for Philipsburg-based New Concepts Development, MoonSaddle’s parent company. "This was designed to take that problem away."

Aero Tec is owned by the Montana Aerospace Development Association and managed by the Montana Economic Revitalization and Development Institute and MSE, a local engineering firm.

"The office has been crazy, standing room only."

"Once I get the stores open in Biloxi, Tucson and Boise, that will add some credibility."

The tables are turned. There has, perhaps, never been a time in which entry-level workers have been so sought after and possess so much control over their employers.

Their success and meteoric growth were honored this year when they made Entrepreneur magazine’s Hot 500, a list of the fastest growing small businesses in the nation.

Resorts like Paws Up that expand on the dude ranch concept are reporting increased bookings, another signal that luxury travel remains one of the strongest and fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry.

In fact, it’s likely some agents are making as much as Blue Cross’ top executives, who last year earned anywhere from $200,000 to $480,000 in salary, bonuses and other compensation.

"People think of minor league baseball as a little enterprise, but we’re a good-sized business, and growing."