Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 38

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11. 2009 GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE WWW.GREATFALLSTRIBUNE.COM PAGE 2, SECTION Baker Bob EBn Column: Radio station shuffle, menu changes at Wheat Montana TRIBUNE PHOTO RI0N SANDERS Wayne Dunn, chief financial officer of Benefis Health System in his office. He will retire a year from now and is training his replacement, Doug Davenport. Succession: Change can invoke fear mat, said general manager Keith Teske, adding: "Within a few weeks we will localize it with special features and personalities." Despite the format change, he stressed that the station will continue its local and state, play-byplay sports coverage. KXGF currently broadcasts Great Falls High and CM.

Russell boys' basketball games. It plans to continue broadcasting GFH Bison and Montana State University Bobcat football games next fall. Pelet Johnson Wheat Montana even healthier Wheat Montana Bakery and Deli's menu is changing to feature items that are a little healthier and a little less expensive. "With the economy they way it is, we are making these changes to help our customers and our own business too," said Rachel Savino, who manages the franchise in Great Falls at 1116 9th St. S.

Soups will be made on-site, the sandwich and breakfast items will change and in addition to chips, made-from-scratch potato salad and coleslaw will be offered. The price cuts will range from about 50 cents to $1.50. The changes will be put in place Monday. -Jo Dee Black FROM 1B space previously occupied by Precision Pilates as a group fitness room. He is recruiting for a fitness instructor.

Erin Mud'ison ESPN radio now found at 103.9 FM Great Falls fanatics looking for the latest news fix about the NFL playoffs, college bowl games and other sports need not fear. ESPN Radio did not go off the local air waves. It did transfer its station affiliation. The network switched from Fisher Radio's 1400 AM to Destiny Communications' Sports Dog 103.9 FM on Monday, Jan. 5, and was down about five hours during the transfer, said Destiny program director Hugh James.

"National networks are always looking to increase overall audience members, which a strong FM signal can do," James said. Destiny Communications, which broadcasts KTGF-TV, started broadcasting two other FM radio stations in mid December. They are the Blitz, 101.7 FM, a Top 40 popular music station on which James and Tammy Toren do a morning show, and Rock Hog 102.7, a hard rock station. Meanwhile, Fisher Radio has converted its KXGF 1400 AM station to a traditional country for and prepare. The Center has put focus on nurturing leadership from within.

The organization enhanced training for mid-level management to help them become future leaders of the organization, Gibson said. School district The Great Falls Public School District takes a similar approach. A couple of years ago, the school district saw four of its top administrator positions open up when the superintendent, two assistant superintendents and the human resources manager retired at roughly the same time. The retirements caused ripples throughout the district when a couple of school principals were fear invoking, Smith said, but rather than ignore or put off dealing with the change, she pushed the organization to face it head on. "It's something that can really sneak up on organizations," said Heidi Gibson, executive director of the Center for Mental Health.

Smith kept the turnover on the forefront of discussions and kept reminding staff that it was coming. The retirements were talked about openly in the boardroom and any planning that was done over the last two or three years always included talking about who would be there at that point. "The attempt was always to have it be a forward looking process," Smith said. Ken hired for FROM IB block of Central. Murphy agreed, saying, "Bob is a great person and extremely hard worker.

I would do anything to help facilitate a sale, if that is what Bob wants." McNamee grew up in Anaconda and learned to mix dough by hand as a teen in a small bakery. As an adult, he worked five years for Safeway before a 24-year career with Buttrey as a baker and supervisor. He moved to Great Falls in 1987 and spent another 10 years with Buttrey before fulfilling his dream by opening the Big Stack Bakery in 1997. He'd planned the Big Slack logo for years, believing Mon-tanans recognize the importance the former Anaconda mining company had in building the slate. The bakery has a series of action photos showing the company's Black Eagle stack being blown up in 1982.

McNamee also learned to announce specials on the loudspeaker as Baker Bob, while at Buttrey. "People like to know who's fixing their food," he said. Eventually he extended the bakery's name to what customers already were calling it, Baker Bob's Big Stack Bakery. He also learned customers enjoy a bakery manager with a colorful personality. "You can be loud and boisterous and call prominent people by their first names, and customers love it," he said.

The early years were especially fun, McNamee said, when his wife, Jona, helped run the restaurant after teaching. The business put all three of their children through college, he said. Katie, Ed and Jerry also put in time baking and clearing tables. McNamee has been a big supporter of efforts to draw people downtown, from Christmas Strolls in the winter to Alive(5 concerts in the summer. He said he's impressed that so many merchants have "invested their futures in the downtown," and thinks the business atmosphere is improving, especially for stores providing the right niche products.

For nearly a decade, McNamee had a cabaret license allowing him to sell beer and wine in the adjoining Back Alley Pub. He let it lapse last year when he realized he was having far more success using the back room space as a meeting room for service clubs, political and business groups and others, including summer coach travel groups who prefer homey meals. McNamee has catered a lot of meals, both to regular folks and the rich and famous. He began catering for entertainment acts at State Fair 16 years ago and later picked up Civic Center acts. "I've catered to and met everybody from Alice Cooper to Carrie Underwood," he said.

President George W. Bush joined Secret Service agents for a pasty and gravy backstage at the Four Seasons Arena in early 2005 before making an early, but unsuccessful, national pitch for partially privatized Social Security. Music icon Bob Dylan placed a more elaborate order for fresh fish, zucchini, eggplant and hummus when he appeared in Great Falls later that year. "I just got a nod of approval from Dylan, but his wife was very friendly," McNamee remembered. Just as gratifying was providing a turkey and roast beef dinner for 50 Montana Air National Guard members, including his son Ed, on Christmas Eve night 2001.

The guard members had been activated to protect the airport after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and it was too snowy for most to make it back to outlying homes for Christmas. "It felt good to provide them a hot meal in a friendly environment," McNamee said. Looking back on those memories, Baker Bob said: "It's been a terrific run. If I'm still here running the bakery at the end of the year, I won't be too disappointed.

And I'll still be having fun." We do that a lot, where we provide opportunities for our current staff and many times that pays off for them and for the district. Tammy Lacey, human resources manager lor Great Falls Public Schools 11 Kleven, a longtime veteran of the Center for Mental Health, was chosen as McLaughlin's replacement in October, giving Kleven about three months to shadow open administration jobs and teachers at those schools moved up to principal positions. The district tracks where senior management is in their FROM 18 have the layers of leadership that larger businesses have, Owen said. For example, the local United Way only has two paid staff positions, so one person leaving would create a big hole in the organization. Nonprofits Nonprofits also have to worry about succession within their boards and volunteers.

The United Way sets up its board of directors so that members automatically ascend to the next level, Dunn's replacement, Doug Davenport, officially started at Benefis on Jan. 1. Dunn's last day won't be until Dec. 31, 2009. Dunn will work with Davenport through January and February to bring him up to speed.

After that, Davenport will officially take over as CFO. "It'll be an intensive couple of months," Dunn said. Dunn will spend the rest of the year working on some special projects, but still will be available to help Davenport with any issues that may arise. "The transition is going to be great," Davenport said. "It's the continuity of the passing of the baton." The Center for Mental Health, which provides mental health services to 13 counties in Central Montana, has a number of personnel transitions coming up.

The Center's director Mike McLaughlin retired Jan. after 27 years with the organization. Medical director Dr. James Day is retiring in June along with Michael Mason, adultfamily services coordinator. Administrators started planning for the turnover about three years ago.

'I knew there would be challenges' "I knew there would be challenges," said Smith, children's services coordinator at the Center for Mental Health, who helped lead the succession planning. Change can be hard and Investments that Foryour $25,000 Investment Terms Yield 12 Months 5.06 Month 5.25 Month5. career to anticipate retirements, said Tammy Lacey, the district's human resources manager. It also tries to offer its employees leadership opportunities to prepare them to fill those positions. When Lacey, who formerly was Loy Elementary School's principal, took the human resources job, she was replaced by Ryan Hart, a teacher at Loy.

He had previously filled in for another principal who was out on medical leave. That gave him a taste of and preparation for a leadership role. "We do that a lot, where we provide opportunities for our current staff and many times that pays off for them and for the district," Lacey said. Reach Tribune Staff Writer Erin Madison at 791-1466, 800-438-6600 or emadisongreatfallstribune.com. McLaughlin.

Dr. Eva LaRocque will replace Day as the medical director when he retires in June. LaRocque and Day already have started working together on the transition. The Center will start a search for Mason's position in February or March. There was some fear and unrest in the organization after McLaughlin announced his retirement, but after Kleven was named as his replacement, things calmed down, Smith said.

She thinks it would have been worse if it hadn't been talked about openly. "I think that honesty and openness is key," Smith said. "It kind of dulls that fear factor." Beyond the upcoming succession, the Center for Mental Health tries to keep an eye on Yields bused upon monthly compounding interest. Interest yields are adjusted tor early withdrawal. Other amounts, terms and rales availahlc, For a free prospectus and application, call or write ProvidentFinancial 1222 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell, MT (406)756-1000 or (800)735-6502 www.providentfinancialmt.com No commissions or fees.

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FROM 1B Wash. Since then he's worked for a number of for-profit and nonprofit hospitals, including as CFO of George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Davenport said nonprofit hospitals, such as Benefis, are the most fun. "It's all about delivering care," he said. Dunn will have held the CFO position for 29 years when he retires in December.

While staying in the same position that long has its positives, there are also downsides, Dunn said. It can limit a person's grasp of new things, so Davenport's background is something Dunn looks upon favorably. "I really do see him as a change agent for Benefis," Dunn said. Davenport's goals for Benefis include making a smooth transition from Dunn to him self and then to make sure the hospital continues on the exceptional path it's on, he said. Davenport also looks forward to becoming more involved in the community.

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Alcoholic beverage sales have varied from state to state depending on the economic conditions, said John Bodnovich, director of communications for American Beverage Licensees. He expects sales to hold up, but thinks retailers could be harmed by new or higher "sin" taxes, as ner parties at home, said Frank Pagliaro, owner of Frank's Union Wine Mart in Wilmington. He said he hasn't seen much of a change in people's buying habits in recent weeks, but he has seen a drop-off in corporate sales, as some companies canceled their holiday parties. Tom Durnan, 81, of Bear said he's always enjoyed a glass of wine before supper. He was at ABC Liquors recently, buying two 5-liter boxes of Franzia Cabernet Sauvignon.

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