Coverage Area
I'm based in Western Montana. This is where I focus my energy. Here's where I work and why local proximity matters.
Primary Coverage Area: Flathead Valley
I work directly with businesses in the heart of Flathead Valley, where I understand the market, the people, and the challenges.
Kalispell — Heart of Flathead Valley. Main Street retail and restaurants. Professional services. Growing downtown. I know these businesses.
Whitefish — Mountain town with strong tourism and local economy. Higher-end retail and dining. Seasonal swing from skiers to summer tourists. I understand the dynamics.
Columbia Falls — Growing community with industrial heritage and local businesses. Retail, restaurants, services. Close to Glacier National Park.
Bigfork — Artistic community on Flathead Lake. Tourism, seasonal operations, galleries, shops, restaurants. Beautiful and complex to operate.
Lakeside — Lakefront community with tourism and local retail. Summer and year-round residents.
Somers — Smaller community with local businesses and tourism potential.
Extended Coverage: Missoula, Polson, Ronan
I travel regularly to these communities. I understand the markets. I can work with you directly or mostly remote, depending on your preference.
Missoula — Larger market with different dynamics from Flathead. Still small enough for local relationships. I have clients there and travel monthly.
Polson — Flathead Lake community with tourism and local business. Seasonal patterns like Bigfork.
Ronan — Growing community with diverse business types. Close enough for regular visits.
Remote for Rest of Montana
Based elsewhere in Montana? We can work entirely remote. The advantage of consulting is we're not bound to geography.
Whether you're in Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, or anywhere else in Montana:
- We conduct meetings via video
- I can understand your market from conversation
- Deliverables are the same quality as in-person work
- You get the same support and attention
Why Local Matters
There are great technology consultants everywhere. Why work with someone local?
I Know the Montana Economy
I'm not making assumptions about how Western Montana businesses work. I know:
Seasonal patterns: What it means to have summer season and off-season. How that affects staffing, pricing, operations. Why your December is completely different from your July.
Geographic reality: Your customers drive distances. Your staff might be scattered. You can't rely on specialized expertise down the street. You make do with what you have locally and supplement with remote talent.
Community values: Montana businesses are about quality and relationships. You're not trying to be something you're not. You're doing good work for people you know. Technology should support that, not force you into a corporate mold.
Labor reality: You might not have technical staff. You need something simple that doesn't require an IT department.
I Understand Your Customers
Tourists vs. Locals: Summer visitors have different needs than year-round residents. Your website and systems need to speak to both.
Community relationships: People do business with you partly because they know you. Your technology should reflect your personality and values, not hide behind corporate templating.
Word of mouth: Your best marketing is your reputation. Your website and information systems should represent you well because people will check before they come in.
I Can Meet in Person
Sometimes the best work happens in conversation. If you want to meet at your business or at a local coffee shop, I can do that.
- Walnut Room Coffee, Kalispell — Good coffee, good vibe
- Montana Coffee Traders, Whitefish — Local favorite
- Your location — Happy to meet at your business
In-person conversations often happen at key moments (kicking off a project, working through a complex problem, celebrating launch). I can make that happen.
I'm Invested in the Community
I've chosen to be here. I'm not passing through or building a business in Montana while living somewhere else. I'm here, working with local businesses, part of the community.
When something works for you, it matters to me. When something doesn't work, I'm here to fix it.
How Service Works by Location
Flathead Valley (Kalispell, Whitefish, Bigfork, etc.)
Onboarding:
- Meet in person at your location or a coffee shop
- Understand your business, your challenges, your goals
- Plan the project together
- Stay connected throughout
Ongoing:
- Regular check-in calls (monthly, quarterly, or as needed)
- Email and phone support
- Happy to meet in person for strategic conversations
- Direct access to me (no support tickets, no waiting)
Timeline:
- Quick response (within 24 hours for priority issues)
- Flexible scheduling for meetings
- I know the area, so no travel surprises
Missoula, Polson, Ronan
Onboarding:
- Initial calls and video meetings to understand your situation
- Plan the project
- I travel to you for kickoff if helpful
- Regular video meetings as project progresses
Ongoing:
- Monthly or quarterly in-person visits if you want them
- Regular video calls otherwise
- Email and phone support
- Same direct access
Timeline:
- I travel to Missoula monthly, Polson and Ronan as needed for specific clients
Rest of Montana (Remote)
Onboarding:
- Video meetings to understand your business
- Phone calls for detailed discussions
- Same planning and clarity as in-person work
Ongoing:
- Video call check-ins (monthly, quarterly, or as needed)
- Email and phone support
- Direct access
- Same quality work, different delivery method
Advantage:
- No geographic limitation
- Same support quality
- Flexible scheduling across time zones (I'm in Mountain Time, work with you wherever you are)
Why I Focus on Western Montana
I could work with businesses anywhere. I chose Western Montana because:
The economy makes sense to me. Seasonal, tourism-driven, locally-oriented businesses. Communities where people know each other. This is where I want to do my work.
The problems are real. Businesses here are dealing with genuine technology challenges that matter. Not trying to optimize growth at all costs. Trying to run good businesses well.
The people are interesting. Business owners who care about quality, community, and doing things right. Willing to invest in technology that serves their business, not vice versa.
It's home. I'm here because I want to be here. That matters.
Are You Outside My Primary Area?
If you're in Western Montana but not in Flathead Valley specifically, reach out. I might work with you depending on:
- The scope of the project
- How much in-person work is needed
- My current schedule
If you're in Eastern Montana or elsewhere, remote consulting works great. I've built systems for clients across the country. Geography doesn't have to be a limitation.
Let's Work Together
Whether you're in Kalispell or Ronan or Missoula or anywhere else in Montana, if you need help with technology, let's talk.
Email: mark@beargrasstransitions.com
I'm based in Western Montana. Happy to meet at your location or at a local coffee shop.