Butte-Silver Bow, Montana Resources, and the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation celebrated the completion of the Stodden Park improvement project on August 31, 2022. The community now has a world-class asset that will serve southwestern Montana for generations.

“This truly is the greatest park in Montana,” Butte-Silver Bow parks director Bob Lazzari said.

Stodden Park now features a plaza area, picnic pavilion, a new entrance arch, a second vehicle entrance, new sports courts, more parking, a destination playground, a new clubhouse and irrigation system and other major upgrades to the golf course, a paved walking and biking trail, and enhancements to the Vietnam and Korean War memorials.

The Montana Folk Festival received a surprise $600,000 grant commitment during its 2022 grand opening.

Montana Resources Vice President of Human Resources Mike McGivern announced the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, in conjunction with Montana Resources, will be extending funding for the festival for an additional three years.

“This news is absolutely fantastic and clearly illustrates the Foundation’s strong support for the high-quality performers we bring to Butte and that they join with us in believing that the festival’s economic impact on the entire region and Montana is significant and growing each year,” Montana Folk Festival director George Everett said. “Having the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation as the anchor sponsor brings additional credibility to the event and provides the catalyst necessary to raise the funds necessary to host a world-class event.”

Foundation funding for the Montana Folk Festival will continue at a $200,000 annual level. $100,000 of that is an outright grant, while up to $100,000 in additional funds are available as a matching grant to encourage other Montana businesses to step up and support the festival.

“Montana Resources is proud to carry on the Butte mining tradition, demonstrating to the community and Montana that mining can be done safely and sustainably. With the ‘can do’ spirit of Butte America, the Montana Folk Festival has established itself as the can’t miss event of Montana’s summer. As an ongoing commitment to the Mining City and Montana, we are thrilled that the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation will continue to support the Montana Folk Festival for three more years,” Montana Resources President Jack Standa said.

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Montana Resources have been a major supporter of the Montana celebration of world-class music, dance, arts, and cuisine from its inception.

“From the very beginning in 2008, we saw how the Montana Folk Festival introduced a wide array of cultural opportunities to not just Montanans but also the region and the nation while at the same time helping to build a large repeat tourism base for Montana,” Foundation Executive Director Mike Halligan said.

For more information about The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, visit dpwfoundation.org.

For more information about Montana Resources, visit montanaresources.com.

For more information about the Montana Folk Festival, including the performers and upcoming schedules of performances, visit montanafolkfestival.com.

It is with mixed emotions that Montana Resources announces Rolin Erickson’s retirement at the end of 2020. Rolin joined Montana Resources in the fall of 2004 and established himself as a proven leader at the mine, the Washington Companies, and in the community. For over 16 years under Rolin’s leadership, the operation has consistently performed as one of the safest, most efficient mines in the world. Dennis Washington commented that, “After decades of successful operations in Butte, Rolin had some big shoes to fill. He not only continued the legacy of excellent, low cost operations, but he is a first-rate example of the Washington Companies leadership quality.”

Phillipsburg native and Montana Tech alumnus Jack Standa will start as President on October 12th and begin a well thought out transition plan. Jack’s international experience shares similarities with Rolin’s early career path. Most recently, Jack was the Senior General Manager at Westmoreland Rosebud Mining in Colstrip, Montana. He and his wife, Nia, will be moving from Colstrip to Butte.

Jack began his career with Peter Kiewit Construction and eventually held progressively more responsible positions within BHP Minerals in the United States, Canada, Australia, and eventually Indonesia. His roles included Director of Operations, Senior Vice President of Operations and Development, and President. He has a Mining Engineering degree from Montana Tech, a Masters of Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago where his son, Jacob, is currently attending.

We extend congratulations and a warm welcome to Jack as he joins Montana Resources and the Washington Companies.

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Montana Resources and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation won the 2019 Harold McGrath Award at the Butte Chamber of Commerce dinner.

The Harold McGrath Award is annually presented by the Butte Chamber of Commerce to an individual, business or nonprofit that has “enhanced or contributed significantly” to the community’s quality of life.

Bill McGladdery, who nominated MR and the Foundation, cited the foundation’s many significant investments in community amenities, including $1 million toward the construction of Three Legends Stadium and Miners Field, and two grants totaling $10 million for the transformation of Stodden Park.

McGladdery’s nomination also focused on Montana Resources’ commitment to the safety of its employees.

“Today Montana Resources employs nearly 365 of our Butte neighbors,” McGladdery said. “The safety of their team members is a core value of the company. … Montana Resources has gone 10 years, two months, one week and four days without a lost time accident.”

Montana Resources has been honored by the Butte Chamber of Commerce before. Montana Resources and its employees were selected as the 2005 Business of the Year by the Butte Chamber of Commerce and Montana Resources employees received the 2008 Harold McGrath Award.

Governor Steve Bullock and the Montana District Export Council today announced the winner of the 2016 Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award, Montana Resources, LLC.

“Montana Resources is a leader among exporters in Montana and a great example of a business contributing to the success of our state,” Bullock said. “I appreciate the opportunity to highlight and thank Montana’s thriving manufacturing industry and export economy.”

Montana Resources operates an open pit copper-molybdenum mine in Butte, as well as crushers and a concentrator facility where raw ores are processed into high-quality copper and molybdenum concentrates.

Operating in Butte since 1986, the company employs over 350 full-time personnel. The company’s international sales accounted for almost half of its total revenue in 2016, making it one of Montana’s leading international exporters.

The Exporter of the Year Award was presented by Governor Bullock today at the Manufacturing and International Trade Day luncheon at the Montana State Capitol. Governor Bullock also presented the Manufacturer of the Year Award to WestPaw Design in Bozeman. WestPaw Design has been instrumental in encouraging manufacturing and business growth in the Gallatin Valley.

Closely affiliated with the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export Assistance Centers and the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, the Montana District Export Council (DEC) is one of 59 nationally working to strengthen American exports. More information on the Montana DEC is available at http://marketmt.com/Export/MontanaDEC.

Montana business leaders who are interested in participating in the Montana District Export Council should contact Jenni West, associate director of Montana State University’s Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, at [email protected] or Angelyn DeYoung, international trade manager at the Montana Department of Commerce, at [email protected], or Carey Hester, director, Montana U.S. Export Assistance Center, at [email protected]