Diane Smith (A tech entrepreneur, lawyer, author, and investor with extensive background in start-ups and technology) was the co-founder and CEO of a high growth technology company in Northwest Montana.

After a career spent in Washington DC as a corporate executive in the fast growing tech and wireless industries, Diane moved to Montana and discovered that the most interesting people live and work beyond the Beltway. She authored TheNewRural.Com where she examined the role technology plays in rural and small town economic development.

She also continues to serve on boards and consult in various tech industry sectors across the country.

Ruth Ann Wisener (Vice President, Investor Relations at Bunge Limited) has spent 15 years with Fortune 100 companies advancing the transformation of businesses and functions by identifying the essential activities and deliverables required to produce exceptional results. Wisener must dissect complex issues and processes into addressable components and quickly stand up solutions. She enthusiastically engages organization at all levels and applies outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills to pinpoint opportunities.

Kari Pricher is an Emmy-winning editorial producer for CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. For 20 years, she has traveled to communities coping with enormous loss to report the stories of victims and survivors. She has also won a GLAAD award for Outstanding TV Journalism for the documentary, “The Pulse of Orlando: Terror at the Nightclub.”

Kari was a 2013 Ochberg Fellow with The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University, an experience that deepened her resolve to report on the emotional impact of traumatic events as well as to work with other journalists on best practices for crisis reporting.

Her assignments have included covering the terrorist attacks in Paris, France, Typhoon Hayain in Tacloban City, Philippines, the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and the bombings at the Boston Marathon. 

Nikki moved to Whitefish with her husband and two boys in 2009. She has a love for interior design and fashion. In her spare time, she competes in the equestrian sport of Dressage. In 2017, Nikki started and currently owns a high-end women’s boutique in downtown Whitefish.

One of Nikki’s primary passions is giving back to the community. She is highly involved with the local schools, as well as teaching many entrepreneur classes for Junior Achievement. She is currently leading the Family Involvement Team and the Whitefish Education Foundation for the Whitefish Middle School.

She spends much of her time fundraising for the schools through the Boosterthon programs. Nikki has also collaborated with other local businesses, hosting several fundraising galas for Make A Wish Montana.

Jenanne Solberg is a graduate of the University of Montana (B.M. ’76, M.M. ’78 in Piano Performance) with continued studies and endorsements in string pedagogy, choral conducting and music education. She has served as Principal Viola with the Casper, Billings and Bozeman Symphonies and is currently Principal Viola with the Glacier Symphony.  Her performance experience also includes many years with the Missoula, Great Falls and Helena Symphonies, as well as the String Orchestra of the Rockies and the Yellowstone Chamber Players.

During her 23 years in Billings, MT, Ms. Solberg maintained a private piano and violin/viola studio of over 50 students, served as music director and organist for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and was a founding member and director of the Montana Music Institute.  She established the orchestra program in the Billings Catholic Schools where she taught for 13 years, also directing the band and choir programs during that time.

In 2002, Ms. Solberg was offered a position in the Whitefish School District teaching middle school choir and 5th and 6th grade general music classes, and began instruction at the North Valley Music School.  The arts environment in the community and the school district was rich with support; Ms. Solberg saw an opportunity, seized on it, and began an orchestra program in the middle school with a grant from the Whitefish Credit Union for the purchase of 30 violins.  The rest, as they say (hopefully!) is history!  The orchestra program blossomed, moving into the high school in 2004, and students have gone on to study, teach and share their music in college and beyond.

Ms. Solberg was recognized by Yale University as one of 50 Distinguished Music Educators in the United States, and in 2021 was recognized by the National Federation of High Schools as Montana’s Outstanding Music Educator.  Her commissioned compositions for chamber ensembles, solo piano, and elementary school orchestras have been performed nationwide – with more to come!

Ms. Solberg serves now as organist at All Saints Episcopal Church and is the founder of and Artistic Director of Camp Festival Amadeus, and performs still with the Glacier Symphony – all while happily retired. Two sons and their families, two grandchildren and two parents are all nearby…and life is very good indeed!