FUEL FOR THE FUTURE

This blog is your front-row seat to the big ideas, bold moves, and breakthrough moments happening through Accelerate Montana. It’s more than updates—it’s a window into the heartbeat of our work: advancing economic mobility, sparking innovation, and centering community.

TechSpark Digital Summit 2025: Empowering Tribal Communities

Reflecting on the Women in Business Storytelling Project

Why We Started The Women in Business Series was conceived to give Montana women business owners an opportunity to share their stories in...

Sep 14 min read

Leading with Heart & Strategy in a Digital Age: Shelby Humphreys Business Story

Shelby Humphreys was in digital marketing for ten years before deciding to step into the world of entrepreneurship. Now, she offers a...

Aug 302 min read

Honoring Through the Lens: Jenna Nord's Business Story

Jenna Nord first fell in love with photography in 2011 after taking community classes. Now, fourteen years later, she is using her...

Aug 283 min read

Two Sisters, One Vision: Amber and Cassie's Business Story

Amber and Cassie Coburn didn’t set out to own a restaurant. In fact, they swore they wouldn’t. But today, the sisters co-own The...

Aug 263 min read

Family and Fresh Powder: Avery's Business Story

In Central Montana, nestled between the mountains and hot springs, one family is making waves by preserving a legacy and creating new...

Aug 243 min read

Beauty and Business: Ivette Kjelsrud's Business Story

For Ivette, the founder of Ive & Co . , creating beauty isn’t a business strategy—it’s a way of life. Based in Huson, Montana, just...

Aug 223 min read

Marketing and Meaning: Keely Morrison’s Business Story

When Keely Morrison launched her social media management agency, Planina Social, she wasn’t just starting a business. She was stepping...

Aug 203 min read

Cake Pops and Confidence: Leslie Grotjohn 's Story

A Sweet Start When Leslie Grotjohn signed up for a bake sale to support her stepdaughter’s competitive cheer team, she didn’t know she...

Aug 182 min read

Mazí: Rooted in Community, Growing with Purpose: Bonnie Bishop's Story

Centering People in the Workplace Bonnie Bishop is a public health professional, trained storyteller, and founder of Mazí Health, a...

Aug 162 min read

Creativity and Community : Jessica Catron's Business Story

Jessica Catron is a professional cellist, teaching artist, and founder of Grow Music Missoula, a youth-centered music school offering...

Aug 142 min read

Painting Her Heritage: April Werle's Business Story

April Werle is a Missoula-based painter with a passion for storytelling through art. From an early interest in architecture to a...

Aug 123 min read

Exploration and Expression: Chandra Brown's Business Story

In the heart of Montana’s wilderness, Chandra Brown has built a business that bridges education, adventure, and creativity. As the...

Aug 103 min read

Cozy Creations and Community: Micayla D’Ambrosia’s Story

In the heart of Billings, Montana, Micayla D'Ambrosia is weaving more than just chunky yarn blankets—she’s weaving a story of resilience,...

Aug 83 min read

From Childhood Creations to Business Success: Emma Jacquelyn's Story

From Childhood Creations to Business Success Emma Jacquelyn is a lifelong artist with a natural entrepreneurial drive. From selling...

Aug 63 min read

Transforming Spaces and Lives: Ashli Fry's Story

Morphos Homes isn’t just a cleaning business—it’s a testament to resilience, adaptability, and community-driven entrepreneurship. Founded...

Aug 43 min read

Sustainability and Sentiment: Marijke Stob's Story

Sustainability and sentimentality are at the heart of Superbloom Gear Repair, a business born out of Marijke Stob’s vision to reduce...

Aug 23 min read

Saddles and Success: Isabel Bonilla Uribe's Story

Maria Isabel Bonilla Uribe, the spirited Colombian entrepreneur behind Blue Mare Equestrian Services in Billings, Montana, embodies the...

Jul 314 min read

Kimchi, Cabbage, and Culture: Ariel Sohn Brand's Story

Ariel Sohn Brand is a homemade kimchi maker, and she really loves cabbage (although there are many other kinds of kimchi), falling more...

Jul 293 min read