After sharing the news of accepting the Executive Director position at Prospera Business Network, the conversation with my family and friends typically included the question: "So what does Prospera do?"  For myself, I am excited to be joining a dynamic organization that is providing direct services to emerging entrepreneurs and helping businesses grow. But, I was still challenged to find an easy way to sum-up what Prospera does, and then it came to me, Prospera helps businesses and communities succeed.

With just a few weeks on the job, I now know that Prospera  is currently managing; sixteen active business loans, nine Big Sky Trust Fund community development and job creation grants, fostering 10 new businesses via the Montana Women's Business Center and has at least four pending business development projects in the works.

In practical terms, Prospera is connecting people, community leaders and businesses with the resources that they need to help grow the economy. Each client, community and business situation is different - but our mission is the same - help people succeed.

This is an exciting time to be joining Prospera and to be celebrating our 30th Anniversary in 2015. Thank you to all of our members, especially our founding members whose visionary leadership saw the need in 1985 for an organization that could directly serve the economic development needs of the communities in Gallatin and Park Counties.