FEC raffle support for food banks

Representatives of Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, West Shore, Libby and Veterans food banks gathered at the Flathead Electric Cooperative on Friday, September 9th to celebrate the results of this year’s Ribeye Raffle.

Organized by the co-op to support local food banks, the 2022 Ribeye Raffle raised $22,725 in cash and nearly 1,000 pounds of meat to be donated to seven food banks.

As part of its commitment to community members who own cooperatives, Flathead Electric purchases beef, lamb and pork at the annual 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) Market Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair . Most of the meat is sent to food banks, with the exception of Prime Steak Cuts, which are randomly selected. This year, the cooperative purchased beef from Clara Giffin and Chef Tristen. Lambs from Cadance Jones and Wyatt Bernier. Dylan Benson and Bentley Braten pigs.

The raffle winner was announced on August 23rd. Dana Brown and Susan Gudmanson, both of Columbia Falls, each received about 60 1-inch-thick premium Montana T-bone steaks and ribeye steaks at well over $500.

Co-op Community Outreach Specialist and Ribeye Raffle organizer Will Tutvedt was thrilled with the results of this year’s raffle. The pandemic shutdown forced sales to go online, but that turned out to be the best thing that Ribeye could do for his raffle. Ticket sales exceeded $10,000 in his first year online, and for the first time this year he topped $20,000. Our members have been very generous and as a cooperative we are happy to organize this effort and provide it to our community food banks in a meaningful way. ”

Over the past seven years, Ribeye Raffle has raised $52,386 in cash and donated nearly 6,000 pounds of meat to Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Bigfork, Lakeside, Libby, and Veterans food banks. Tickets are no longer on sale in 2022, but will be available for purchase online in summer 2023 at the Co-op’s Libby and Kalispell offices and at the Co-op booth at the Northwest Montana Fair.

WCU Announces Additions to Leadership Team

Whitefish Credit Union announced the following five additions to its leadership team:

• Jennifer Archer has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Lending Operations. Archer most recently served as vice president of credit management supporting the loan portfolio. She held multiple roles in the credit union before she joined Whitefish Credit Union in 2005 and oversaw lending operations. Archer serves on the board of Women Who Wine, a local nonprofit that shines light on and raises funds for other nonprofits. She graduated from Flathead High School and is currently attending CUNA Management School, the credit union’s executive her leadership program.

• Cory Coopman has been promoted to Senior Vice President of IT and Project Management. Coopman joined the credit union in 2018 as his Vice President of IT, bringing with him over 20 years of extensive experience in managing and enhancing information technology systems. Coopman graduated from Arizona State University with a business degree in Computer Information Systems. He is an active volunteer in the community by coaching youth sports.

• Cheryl Mintz recently joined Whitefish Credit Union as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. She holds an MBA and a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University and is also qualified in mediation and arbitration. Mintz is a licensed member of the Montana Bar Association and she has extensive experience across multiple industries. She privately holds her pilot’s license, her scuba license, and a black belt in judo. In her spare time, she supports many charities and she is a Soprano II member of the Glacier Symphony Chorale group.

• Matt Venturini promoted to Senior Vice President, Lending. Venturini joined Whitefish Credit Union in 2011 as a credit analyst. After his six years at Glacier Bank, he rejoined the credit union as Vice President and Manager of Real Estate Loans, before being promoted to his current role of overseeing all aspects of Whitefish Credit Union’s lending. Venturini graduated from Flathead High School and holds a degree in finance from Concordia College. He is Chairman of the Board of Habitat for Humanity in Flathead Valley.

• Josh Wilson has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing. Wilson has been with Whitefish Credit Union since 2017 and previously served as Vice President of Marketing. He has over 16 years of experience in financial services and is an Adjunct Lecturer in the University of Virginia’s Data and Digital Marketing Communications graduate programs. Josh has his master’s degree from West Virginia University.

Riley recognized for his work with H&R Block

Kalispell’s Celina M. Riley has been named one of 25 nationally recognized 2022 Henry Bloch Excellence at H&R Block’s Client Service Awards. Her Riley is bold and always working to increase her H&R Block presence in her area.

Each recipient was chosen to reflect H&R Block’s actions and purpose beyond caring for the client.

Mann Mortgage wins award for connecting buyers with down payment support

Kalispell-based Mann Mortgage received the HomeNow Top Lending Institution award from MoFi, a nonprofit organization that has been serving Montanans for over 30 years.

Mann Mortgage received this award because the company’s loan officer helped connect the most Montana homebuyers to MoFi’s HomeNow down payment assistance program in 2021. Mann Mortgage has won this award five years in a row since his 2016 when HomeNow down payment assistance was first offered.

Headquartered in Kalispell, the company also has offices in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Polson, Stevensville and Whitefish.

Mann Mortgage Kalispell branch manager Steve Paulson said: “Many of our customers throughout Montana would not have been able to realize their homeownership dreams without this program. I am proud of it.”

Buyers can access HomeNow Down Payment Assistance through participating mortgage lenders. This comes in the form of a 0% interest deferred loan. Buyers can receive up to 5% of the total loan amount and the assistance can be used for both down payment and closing costs. This program is not limited to first-time homebuyers. Since the program launched in late 2016, MoFi has helped her nearly 600 Montana residents become homeowners.