Eight businesses will receive Family Business Day awards at the 2014 Montana State University Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship State Farm Insurance Family Business Day, set for Friday, Oct. 10, at the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn in Bozeman.

The 2014 Family Business Day award winners are:
Gruber Excavating of Clancy in the very small business category (fewer than 10 employees);
Country Foods of Polson in the small business category (10-30 employees);
NXGEN Payment Services of Whitefish in the medium business category (30-50 employees);
Gary and Leo’s of Havre in the large business category (more than 50 employees);
Weaver Cattle Co. of Big Sandy in the old business category (operating at least 50 years);
Project Meats of Billings in the new business category (operating 10 or fewer years).
Special recognition award winners are Add-A-Tudez of Great Falls and Clark’s Fork of Bozeman.

Robert NystuenRobert “Bob” Nystuen, market president of Glacier Bank based in Kalispell, will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon held prior to the award’s ceremony. Nystuen’s presentation, “Your Family Business—Is it in Your DNA?,” will focus on how his family values have molded him and his career. Nystuen will also discuss his priorities, as well as big and little things, that have created a measure of success for him, his teammates at Glacier Bank, and for their many stakeholders.

A graduate of North Dakota State University, Nystuen started his banking career in Wahpeton, N.D. as an Agricultural Loan Officer with First Bank System, now known as U.S. Bank. His 21-year banking career with First Bank System included positions in the state of Minnesota as well as Livingston, Bozeman, and Miles City, Mont. He joined Glacier Bank in 1996 as Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, and was elected President in 2004. Today, Glacier Bank has total assets of $1.2 billion in their 15 branch offices located in western Montana, and operates with 300 dedicated employees.

The Montana Family Business program is in its 21st year. The MSU JJCBE and State Farm Insurance, in honor of Robert Jaedicke, host the program. Stockman Bank underwrote the awards, with additional support for the program provided by the Montana Chamber of Commerce.

A $20 registration is required to attend the keynote luncheon. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Phyllis Johnson at 994-6796 or [email protected].