Success Story: Montana

Chad Green was inspired by the care his grandmother received when she was in an assisted living facility, and he wanted to start his own. Green went to the Billings, Montana Regional SBDC for help. This is the second in a series of videos by the Montana SBDCs, showcasing businesses that worked with their local SBDCs to jumpstart business success!

Logging and forestry work is a quintessential Vermont industry, but today’s loggers face challenges that those of yesteryear probably never imagined. The days of low-cost tools like hatchets and hand saws that required manpower instead of costly equipment are largely behind us. Today’s loggers need heavy equipment to be relevant in a highly competitive lumber market.

Few know that better than Everett Thurston, owner of Thurston Forestry in Clarendon, Vermont, which began operations last fall. The company utilizes a rubber tired cut-to-length logging machine that is highly efficient in processing timber from the woods.

“I have always wanted my own business and enjoy the logging industry and being around heavy equipment,” Thurston said. But as one might expect, obtaining an expensive piece of equipment of this size can be a challenge. (more…)

The Montana SBDCs have created a series of videos showcasing businesses that worked with their local SBDCs to achieve success. This is the first video in the series. See how the Montana SBDCs jumpstart business success!