Season 3 · Episode 131

Montana Healthcare, Made Personal: Flex Family Health with the Whitmoyers

Jan 26, 2026

In this episode, we sit down with Cole and Katie Whitmoyer, co-founders of Flex Family Health, to discuss their vision for primary care in Montana. Starting from a desire to bring healthcare back to the “good ol’ days” where your provider was just a phone call away, easy to access, and affordable, they’ve built a practice focused on individualized, collaborative, and high-quality care.

Cole, a Montana native and Doctor of Nursing Practice, shares his approach to understanding patients, connecting with them, and helping them achieve their health goals. Katie, also a Montana native, balances her role as Practice Manager with her work in human resources, while keeping the clinic running smoothly. Together, they explain how Flex Family Health empowers patients to make informed healthcare decisions, emphasizing education, accessibility, and a personal touch.

At its core, this episode is about rethinking primary care, building relationships with patients, and creating a practice that feels like healthcare should be personal, accessible, and patient-focused.

Season 3 · Episode 130

Montana Students Making an Impact Abroad with Laira Larson

Jan 19, 2026

In this episode, we sit down with Laira Larson, a Lockwood High School graduate and freshman in college, to hear about her transformative experience as part of the Montana World Affairs Council’s “India Trek 2025.” Selected through the EconoQuest and Academic WorldQuest youth conferences, Laira and seven other Montana students traveled across India as ambassadors of their communities, Montana, and the United States.

Through formal meetings, cultural exchanges, and spontaneous interactions, Laira shares how the trip deepened her understanding of global citizenship, diplomacy, and cross-cultural communication. We explore how Montana’s global education programs prepare students to think bigger, collaborate across differences, and carry Montana values into the world skills that are essential for leadership and future careers.

This episode highlights the power of global experiences to shape young leaders and the lasting connections that can strengthen Montana’s ties abroad.

Season 3 · Episode 129

Strong Foundations: Leadership and Community with Riley Bennett

Jan 12, 2026

In this episode, we sit down with Riley Bennett of Dick Anderson Construction to talk leadership, community, and the value of showing up.

Riley shares his career path from working on renewable energy projects across the U.S. and Canada to leading major construction efforts in Montana and how those experiences shaped his leadership philosophy. He reflects on the importance of face-to-face relationships, “small-world” connections, and staying grounded in service to community.

We also talk about why community involvement matters, what drew him to serve as a board member with Big Sky Economic Development, and his vision for Billings’ future maintaining small-town values while continuing to lead as a business and economic hub. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at leadership built on trust, connection, and long-term impact.

Season 3 · Episode 128

Advancing Montana Through Research & Innovation with Dr. Alison Harmon and Mike Veselik at MSU

Jan 5, 2026

On this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alison Harmon and Mike Veselik from Montana State University’s Research and Economic Development team to explore how MSU’s land-grant mission shows up in real, tangible ways across the state.

Alison and Mike share their paths to MSU, what it means to lead and support research at a land-grant institution, and how MSU’s work extends far beyond campus. We dive into how research, innovation, and partnerships help serve communities, industries, and students across Montana connecting discovery to real-world impact.

From advancing sustainable food systems to supporting entrepreneurs, workforce development, and statewide economic growth, this conversation highlights how MSU research is designed to serve Montana today and into the future.

Season 3 · Episode 127

The Vault 2025: Conversations That Shaped Our Year

Dec 30, 2025

In this year-end episode, we look back at the conversations and themes that shaped The Vault in 2025 from hospitality and customer service, to storytelling, entrepreneurship, and the resources available for businesses across Montana.

We revisit insights from hotel leaders, boutique owners, ranch families, PR pros, media voices, manufacturers, and startup founders. We also highlight the support ecosystem that includes VBOCs, MMEC, APEX Accelerator, and more.

Plus, we share a favorite new format from this year recording The Vault on the Road at events like the Colstrip Energy Open, EconoQuest, and the MEDA Fall Conference.

A great way to end the year and look ahead to what’s next.

Season 3 · Episode 126

The Power of Hospitality: How Community Is Built with Carrie Stoner

Dec 29, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Carrie Stoner, Director of Kiln in Bozeman, to talk about her Montana roots, career journey, and the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership and community. Carrie shares how her background in hospitality informs everything she does from how people are welcomed, to how teams connect, to how spaces are intentionally built for belonging.

We dive into what it means to launch Montana’s first Kiln location and how coworking can be more than just desks and offices it can be a true hub for collaboration, creativity, and connection. Carrie also reflects on her career across hospitality, tech, and sales, the importance of showing up for community, and why creating spaces where people feel seen and supported matters now more than ever.

Grounded, energetic, and deeply community-minded, Carrie brings a people-first lens to building places where work and relationships thrive.

Listen in for a special offer from Carrie and the Kiln team as we enter 2026!

Season 3 · Episode 125

Connecting Montana and the World: Insights from EconoQuest

Dec 22, 2025

In this special on-the-road episode of The Vault, we recorded live at EconoQuest, a program designed to introduce Montana students to global economics and career pathways by the Montana World Affairs Council. We sat down with educators, industry experts, and international leaders including Mike Veselik (Montana State University), Eil Steinberg & Lukac Khomenko (Sentinel High School), Ryan Cooney (Project for Alternative Learning), Bill Woolf (Space Force Association), Jillien Streit (Department of Agriculture), Sean Clark & David Smith (Government of Canada, Trade Commissioner Service), and Steven Eror & Cynthia Ekberg Tsai.

Together, these conversations highlight Montana’s global connections, the role of economics in career exploration, and why international awareness matters for today’s students. This episode captures a mix of perspectives giving listeners a closer look at the conversations shaping the next generation of Montana’s workforce and global understanding.

Season 3 · Episode 124

Empowering Montana Students Through Global Learning with Nikki Geiszler

Dec 15, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Nikki Geiszler from the Montana World Affairs Council to dive into her story, her background in anthropology, and the path that brought her to Montana. Nikki talks about her work expanding the Council beyond Missoula and building partnerships with teachers and schools across the entire state ensuring students in every corner of Montana have access to global programming and real-world learning opportunities.

She shares her passion for bringing the world to Montana students, her approach to collaboration, raising resources, and why global education matters no matter where a student grows up. We explore the impact of signature programs like Academic WorldQuest and EconoQuest, and how these experiences give students a chance to engage with international experts, economic conversations, and future career pathways.

Energetic, driven, and constantly moving forward, Nikki makes the case for why “Montana’s potential is unstoppable” and why global opportunity should reach every classroom in the state.

Connect with the MTWAC HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 123

Veteran Business Opportunities: Rick Brown on the VR&E Self-Employment Track

Dec 8, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Rick Brown, Director of the Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC), to explore the VR&E Self-Employment Track—a program offered by the SBA and VA through a memorandum of understanding. This track leverages counselors from SBA resource partners, including VBOCs, SBDCs, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE, to help service members and veterans with a service-connected disability turn their skills and ideas into a business.

Rick explains how the nationwide network of SBA resource partners supports veterans through the self-employment track. We dive into who’s eligible, how veterans can use the program, what to expect along the way, and how experienced advisors help turn business ideas into viable employment opportunities.

Rick also highlights how veterans have successfully used this track to launch their own businesses, with guidance from advisors who understand the veteran experience.

Connect with Rick HERE.

Learn more about Rick in these past episodes:

• Forging Community Bonds: Rick Brown’s Legacy of Service and Leadership
• Veteran Business Support Services with the Veteran Business Outreach Center

Season 3 · Episode 122

Built to Last: Jim Markel and the Red Oxx Way

Dec 1, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Jim Markel, CEO of Red Oxx, to talk about building things that last, products, places, and relationships.

Jim shares how growing up in a military family, serving as a parachute rigger, and watching his dad start Red Oxx out of a Billings basement with surplus webbing shaped the company’s DNA: rugged, bootstrapped, and built with intention. We dive into Red Oxx’s evolution from fitness gear to American-made travel and gear bags, their early leap into e-commerce in the ’90s, and why keeping production in Billings and in the US still matters.

We also get into Factory #8, the 406 Event Lawn, and Jim’s philosophy on growth: “We are a blend of old and new, we try to always move forward but not so fast we are leaving our roots behind which is making high quality products and good customer relationships.” At its core, this episode is about hard work, craftsmanship, and honoring your roots while building what’s next.

Learn more about Red Oxx HERE.