Bozeman Regional Small Business Development Center
Counties Served: Gallatin, Park
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Staff:
Kristi Gee, Regional Director
406.587.3113 | kgee@prosperamt.org
Born and raised in the Gallatin Valley, Kristi has seen the changes and growth this community has gone through and is proud to have been a part of it. Kristi spent 5 years as the CEO of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and has helped guide businesses through a variety of transitions. Her passion is helping people, especially making their dreams come true.
Kristi enjoys non-profit work and sees the benefit of non-profit organizations. While at the Chamber of Commerce, she made sure that businesses had a seat at the table and always looked out for business interests.
As a Regional Director, Kristi advises and provides technical assistance to new and existing businesses with business planning, market research, financial assistance and loan packaging.
Jason Nitschke, Zero to Five Senior Child Care Business Advisor
406.402.2455 | JasonN@ZerotoFive.org
Jason joins Zero to Five Montana as a Senior Child Care Business Advisor after eight years in economic development as Vice President with the Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) and Regional Director of the Great Falls area Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He will be delivering educational opportunities and one-on-one consultation support to entrepreneurs and communities starting, growing, and expanding childcare and early education solutions.
Since 2014, he has advised and trained nearly 4000 entrepreneurs and business professionals, helped start over 100 businesses, supported 2800 jobs, and helped in attracting nearly $75M in capital investment into area businesses. He was the 2022 recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, a national award recognizing the top five presenters of the SBA’s Introduction to Entrepreneurship curriculum for active-duty military and veterans. In 2018, he was named the Montana State SBDC Star honoring the top 1% of business advisors in the U.S.
Prior to joining the economic development community, Jason owned two businesses and spent 16 years as a print and broadcast journalist. He is an award-winning broadcaster, native Montanan, and is a proud daughter-dad. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in Communication from Hawaii Pacific University-Honolulu.
He is a certified business advisor, Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), and certified Profit Mastery and PeerSpectives facilitator.
