Send us a textMike Smith, Market President of Glacier Bank, joins the inaugural episode of Heart of the Flathead to share his journey from a blue-collar upbringing in Wisconsin to becoming a key financial leader in the Flathead Valley. Since moving to Kalispell in 2006, Mike has navigated the challenges of the Great Recession, mortgage lending, and community growth while helping shape Glacier Bank’s strong civic presence. With a commitment to supporting 75% of the nonprofits in the Great Fish Community Challenge and fostering a culture of volunteerism among employees, Mike underscores the bank’s guiding principle: “Our customers don’t care how smart we are as bankers until they know how much we care about them.”The conversation also explores Mike’s thoughtful take on balancing economic growth with the preservation of the valley’s natural beauty and character. He addresses urgent challenges like rising property taxes, digital fraud, and the fraying of community connections—calling for more collaboration and civility between long-time locals and newcomers alike. Capping off the episode with personal reflections and lessons learned, Mike shares his hope to be remembered as someone “whose actions made a difference”—a fitting message for a series devoted to the people helping shape the heart of the Flathead.Heart of the Flathead is brought to you by: Glacier Investment Management Whitefish Financial Services Heart of the Flathead, is produced by David Wigginton, in partnership with LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing. Listeners can find the podcast online at HeartoftheFlathead.com and LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing at lbrbm.com. The content for Heart of the Flathead podcasts and any show notes and transcripts are copyrighted by David Wigginton. All rights are reserved. Reproduction and rebroadcasting, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Contact David Wigginton by clicking the Send Us a Text link at the top of the episode description. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Appearance on the show does not constitute an endorsement of any goods, services, or opinions discussed. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on the content of this show.

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