ALUMNI IN ACTION

Lisa Koski, Glasgow, Class of 2019

Interviewed by Craig Pozega, Helena, Class of 2021

Lisa Koski has served as executive director of the Chamber of Commerce in Glasgow since 2009, where she originally started as their bookkeeper.

She is an accounting/finance graduate from the University of Montana and worked in an accounting business for five years before ultimately deciding that she did not just want to just crunch numbers.

In addition to being the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Lisa has a small tax and accounting business and also co-owns Scottie Express Wash with her husband Paul. Lisa has one son, Connor, who is a very active sixteen-year-old, and is a stepmom to four ranging in age from twenty-one to thirty-six years old. Lisa enjoys chasing football, hockey and golf. Lisa and her family live in Glasgow, one block from the home where she was raised, and her mom still lives “around the corner.”

The biggest event sponsored by the Chamber is the Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament, in its 35th anniversary year. The tournament brings over 400 fishermen and their families to Northeast Montana to fish the beautiful Fort Peck Reservoir. The event has the single largest economic impact to Glasgow and Fort Peck, which is estimated to bring in $500,000 to the these communities.

Lisa is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Montana’s Flagship program. Her favorite part of the program was an exercise that helped to show the diversity among the class. This exercise has been very impactful on how she relates to others. Lisa has formed lifelong friendships with classmates and regularly has conversations with them on both personal and business levels. She still enjoys pulling out the cards from her treasure box when she needs a be uplifted.

Leadership Montana has impacted Lisa by providing her the skills necessary to “invite the stranger.”  Lisa’s willingness and ability to include others diverse perspective have ultimately led to better outcomes, simply by listening and coming to better solutions. The networking provided by being an alumna of Leadership Montana has been invaluable to Lisa with her job at the Chamber. Personally, Lisa has friendships she never would have had made if she had not been a part of Leadership Montana.

Lisa loves the wide-open spaces around her home in Glasgow, which have been especially appreciated during this time of COVID. She believes people in Montana are genuine and welcoming and loves living and raising her family here. She truly believes that there is not a better place to call home.

Lisa feels the role of Leadership Montana in our state is bringing diverse people together for civil conversations that create successful and meaningful outcomes.