The Business Masterclass in Kalispell

Partner Montana West Economic Development underwrites every seat, and funded a second season after the first.

Host Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell.

Press As covered in the Daily Inter Lake, Nov. 16, 2025.

Class schedule

This class meets the first Tuesday of each month.

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Business Valuation and Exit

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About this class

Want an email when registration opens?

Owners and leaders meet once per month in Kalispell.

Who attends

Attendees include breweries, builders, timber outfits, credit unions, radio stations, snowboard shops, log home builders, construction contractors, realtors, mortgage lenders, retailers, and more. They drive up from Missoula, down from Eureka, and in from Libby, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, and Polebridge. The room stays small enough that every owner in it gets floor time.

Story of the month

Can you relate?

Rick builds precision bolt-action rifles in Montana with a crew of 20 to 25. Three rifles came back with bolt lift tension out of spec. Three machinists had built them three different ways, and every one of those machinists was certain his way was the standard.

The standard lived in one place: Rick's head. Nobody had ever written it down.

Rick had corrected the tension before. He had corrected it every time it came back, which is the tell. A fix an owner keeps repeating is a system nobody has built yet, and the owner builds it the day he writes the standard down.

Rich Turner writes a new story for every session, drawn from real engagements, with every party protected.

Rich in Thought

Rich Turner

Gallup-Certified Development Coach and Business Strategist

Rich Turner spent his first career as a Marine Corps officer, leading complex operations in both aviation and infantry units around the world. He has spent his second career inside Montana businesses, mentoring, coaching, and consulting, with a heartfelt mission to provoke thought and inspire growth.

He builds each class to help owners gain clarity, achieve focus, and master execution.

Our impact across Montana

100+

Montana businesses served

20+

Years leading and advising

$100M+

Total reported client impact

Every class

Class Takeaway

One decision made before you leave
A worksheet built for the session's subject
The standard the session taught, on one page
A network of growth-minded leaders like yourself

Claim your seat

Is this relevant for my size of business?

Solopreneurs sit next to others leading over 40 or even 400 employees.

What does the registration cost?

Montana West Economic Development has already covered your seat for this class.

Selling your business after 25 or 30 years?

Come learn and share your experience with the room.

Do I need to attend all twelve?

No. Each class stands on its own, and each one builds on the others, so the subjects reinforce one another across the year.

Is this a lecture?

No. Rich Turner covers new material every month, then owners break into small groups to work through the worksheets together. They share the challenges they are facing, frame the problem, and brainstorm solutions against what was just taught.

Do I need to bring anything?

Bring one question, decision, or challenge you have wrestled with. The discussion gets better when owners put real problems on the table.

First name

Last name

Email

Mobile Rich Turner texts you the day before, and nobody else uses this number.

Business

Town

People on payroll

If you could fix one thing, what would you fix?

By claiming a seat you agree to receive class reminders from Rich in Thought by email and text.

Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center 715 Grandview Drive, Kalispell