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Another leader he connected with was former Gov. Judy Martz. Martz was the rst and to this day only female governor for Montana. Shane Hedges, Martz’s campaign manager and chief policy advisor, experienced working with Brown rsthand.
“I think what makes Webb unique among other peo-
ple who do what he does is he values relationships,” Hedges said. “He works hard to develop strong ones. He approaches it in a way that other people don’t. He gets to know people on a very personal level. The reason he does that is when you know somebody’s heart and they know yours it makes doing business more signi cant.”
Hedges point to several examples of Brown’s commit- ment to forming strong relationships. During the weekly coffee meetings Martz had with leaders from across Montana, he said Brown helped the group thrive and brought fun to the meetings. On a Friday night, Hedges recalled having an old-fashioned movie night at the gov- ernor’s residence and not discussing business or policy.
“Judy had a special af nity for Webb and I think he with her,” Hedges said. “It was that friendship and trusting
my mentor. He was in the business a year longer than me. He was so much help because I didn’t know what a chamber was. I wouldn’t be who I am today with- out him.”
Even though Brown moved to the state chamber in 1999, throughout the years he has championed MACE and the value of local chambers.
“OVER THE YEARS, I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH WEBB ON A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO MONTANA. FROM PASSING HISTORIC TAX CUTS FOR
OUR MAIN STREET BUSINESSES TO CO-HOSTING SUMMITS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE, ENERGY AND TECH IN OUR STATE, AND SO MUCH MORE. WEBB HAS BEEN A STRONG VOICE FOR MONTANA AND WILL BE MISSED DEARLY. HIS KNOWLEDGE, WORK ETHIC, AND LOVE FOR MONTANA WILL BE HARD TO REPLACE. I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AND WISH HIM WELL IN HIS RETIREMENT.”
- SEN. STEVE DAINES
relationship that was meaningful to Judy. She valued him not just as a professional, but as a deep personal friend. She really valued that relationship. It carried over into their work and the impact that had.”
A CHAMPION FOR LOCAL CHAMBERS
Before moving into the state chamber world, Brown cut his teeth at the local level. After he helped found the Sanders County Economic Development Corporation in his home county, Brown jumped into the chamber world as the executive director of the Lewistown Area Cham- ber of Commerce. As the executive director, Brown got involved with the Montana Association of Chamber Executives (MACE), a statewide organization for local chambers of commerce.
During a MACE meeting in Great Falls, Brown met Cathy Burwell, who was then the executive director at the Bea- verhead County Chamber of Commerce in Dillon.
“We immediately became friends,” she said. “He was
MACE has two meetings every year in the spring and the fall. These conferences are open to chamber exec- utives and their staff. During the MACE gatherings, the organization brings in a speaker to present about mem- bership and other relevant topics.
December 2018 ||| Eye on Business
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@MontanaChamber
HAPPY RETIREMENT!
Retirement continued on page 18