ALUMNI IN ACTION

Chad “Chip” Lippert, Class of 2009, is a former Board of Governors Member, and received the 2018 Tom Scott Award for Excellence in Leadership.

The Leadership Montana Board of Governors has named Chad Lippert as the recipient of the 2018 Tom Scott Award for Excellence in Leadership.

The Tom Scott Award, named in honor of the founder of Leadership Montana, was created as the ultimate recognition for an individual who, through their actions, has demonstrated extraordinary leadership on issues affecting Leadership Montana, and these actions have led or will lead to the enhancement or sustainability of Leadership Montana.

Tom Scott had the vision to identify a significant need for leadership development within Montana for individuals of all political affiliations, all races, all creeds, all economic sectors, and all geographic regions.

Chad Lippert, a 2009 alumnus, not only has been an outstanding contributor to Leadership Montana, but is also highly accomplished in both the professional and personal aspects of his life. He joined D.A. Davidson in 1998 and has worked his way up to the position he holds currently – as Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor in Billings. He worked previously as an intern for the firm in Bozeman after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Business-Finance from Montana State University. He also has earned two prestigious professional credentials – as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Certified Wealth Strategist® – and has tackled other professional education courses.

“Leadership Montana and the concept of Gracious Space was life changing for me,” Chad says. “The idea of seeking first to understand before trying to be understood opened up my heart and mind to others in a way I never had before. Besides the life changing leadership concepts that were presented, the relationships that grew from this experience are precious ones that will last a lifetime. I am so thankful for this program and what it means to the state of Montana and what it has meant to me.”

In 2016, Chad was honored with the Leadership Montana Alumni Service Award, in part for his strong contributions as a member of the Leadership Montana Board of Governors. He has been recognized as one of Billings’ “40 Under 40” list of young professionals.

A fourth-generation Montanan who was raised on a farm and ranch near Fort Benton, Chad has maintained a commitment to his home state that’s evident in an array of volunteer work. He serves on the MSU-Billings College of Business Advisory Board and has served on a number of local charitable boards including Billings Downtown Rotary Club. He teaches Sunday School at Faith Chapel and is a longtime youth sports coach. As a regular guest on the KTVQ Morning TV Show, he discusses financial planning topics. Chad and his wife, Chris, have four young children, Ty, Ella, Sally and Gwen. In their spare time, the family enjoys the outdoors and attending sporting events together.

“Chad spent countless hours working to improve the financial performance of Leadership Montana and was very successful in these efforts,” says Mike O’Neill, former Board of Governors chair. “In addition, Chad was not only instrumental in the formation and development of the Leadership Montana endowment, but he and his family have been leading contributors to this endowment fund which will benefit participants of this organization in perpetuity. Chad has been, and continues to be, a selfless contributor to the organization and it is time that the organization recognizes Chad for all of his contributions with the most prestigious award available to us.”

Congratulations, Chad! We are all so grateful for the contribution you made – and continue to make – for Leadership Montana and our great state.