I had the pleasure of talking with Aly Eggart, the Leisure Marketing Director for Visit Billings. Aly grew up in eastern Montana before moving to Billings to earn her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Relations through Montana State University Billings. Her tourism career began in 2016 when she joined the Visit Billings team. Aly talks about the nuances of her work in bringing Billings to the world and how we can do a better job in Billings of shaping identity and vibe. Aly also shares her journey from small town America and how Billings WAS the “big city” until she started to travel and how those experiences shaped her mindset and future in leadership. She also shares what advice she would give to her younger self.

I enjoyed my conversation with Sarah Schroefel, who wears many hats. From serving on the Yellowstone Guardianship Council, the Billings Officials Association, and as a field marketer for TDS Fiber, Sarah stays active in her community as a leader and role-model for many. We discuss her journey after losing her mom to cancer right before she started high school and how that experience shaped her leadership. We also cover her love of sports, especially basketball, her journey as a basketball official, and how she navigates the world as a strong female leader.

I had the pleasure of having Steve Arveschoug (pronounced “Arveskow”), Executive Director of the Big Sky Economic Development in Billings, Montana, on the podcast to talk about his leadership journey, his struggles personally and professionally, share some leadership lessons, and what he wants his future self to be. You won’t want to miss this episode where you’ll get useful and insightful leadership nuggets from a seasoned leader in

Steve serves as the Executive Director of the Big Sky Economic Development (BSED)—a public/private partnership, leading economic development efforts in Yellowstone County (Billings) Montana. Steve has represented the community of Billings in this capacity for the 15 years, serving a 33-member Board of Directors and supporting the work of 24 team members delivering 8 unique economic and community development programs, impacting businesses and communities on a local, state, and regional basis.

Before returning to Montana in 2008 to lead BSED, Steve was the Executive Director of the HARP Authority in Pueblo, Colorado, directing a re-development authority and a non-profit foundation dedicated to the development of a downtown public riverwalk and private commercial development project. Steve also has 10 years of experience in water resources development, managing two of Colorado’s largest water conservancy districts. In his early career, Steve was elected to two terms in the Colorado Legislature as a State Representative.

Steve was a “headliner” for the 2023 TEDx Billings event, sharing a message he calls—Leaders Speak First—a calling to win the battle against anxiety and depression.

Kurt Toenjes Ph.D., is the Dean of the College of Health Professions and Science at Montana State University Billings. During the COVID-19 pandemic he played a key role in MSUB’s response, serving as the deputy incident commander for the COVID-19 response team providing a science-based perspective to the university’s decision making.

I had the pleasure of hosting Dallas Knight on my podcast. Her extraordinary journey spans from a dedicated Army combat veteran to a visionary executive in the corporate world. Transitioning seamlessly from military service, she embarked on a remarkable career as an Intelligence Analyst with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Her unparalleled dedication earned her an appointed role within the DEA, where for nearly a decade, she relentlessly dismantled criminal syndicates, disrupting intricate narcotic operations. Transitioning to the corporate sector, she emerged as a technology company executive, spearheading patented innovations to conquer industry challenges while ensuring customer satisfaction and driving overall success. Dallas Knight's unwavering commitment, from battlefield to boardroom, exemplifies an indomitable spirit dedicated to bettering the world.

Titled, “I won't be silenced - a female soldier's unveiled journey,” we spoke about why she joined the Army and her experience serving in the Armed Forces as a female, and the challenges that she faced such as sexual trauma and moral injury. She also shared her struggles transitioning to the civilian world and provides advice on how to work through the darkness and come out a winner.

I recently had the wonderful Jennifer Reiser, Chief Operating Officer of the Billings Chamber of Commerce and Owner of Jennifer Reiser Consulting on the podcast. She is a multifaceted professional with expertise in fostering growth of individuals, teams, and communities and works with people and businesses to identify challenges, develop solutions, create efficiencies, and build systems to support future growth and success. We spent the hour talking about her personal and professional leadership journey and the power of WHY. Tune in for an insightful conversation.

I was honored to have Dr. David Park on the show. We covered his leadership journey starting with immigrating to the U.S. as a small child and navigating and overcoming multiple challenges in medicine and education. We also dive deep into diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and how it pertains to building strong communities.

I was so happy to have Darla Tyler-McSherry on the podcast. She is the founder and visionary leader for Ask In Earnest, an initiative designed to bring awareness, education, and prevention strategies to the issue of suicide in the farm and ranch community.

I enjoyed having Melanie Schwarz on my podcast as a guest. She is a highly regarded authority in her field, renowned as a Best-Selling Author, Family Advocate, CEO, and Interpersonal Communications Specialist. With her exceptional expertise in marketing and PR, she possesses an unrivaled understanding of effective strategies and tactics. Melanie's dedication to empowering families, coupled with her mastery of interpersonal communication, enables her to achieve remarkable success and deliver impactful results in her endeavors. We talked about her career journey, life challenges, and everything in between.

I was honored to have Dr. Dave Graham on the Kangaroo Leadership Podcast. Dr. Graham is the author of the book From Killer to the Common Cold and is a retired infectious disease specialist. We talked about COVID-19 and his leadership throughout the pandemic, healthcare and its future, his journey after retirement, and his latest endeavor which is working as a financial wellness consultant. Tune in for an insightful episode!