Summary:
12-part master class series covering all stages of business ownership, from startup to legacy planning
Focus on leadership development and entrepreneurial mindset to help leaders make smarter decisions and create lasting impacts
Partnership with Montana West Economic Development offers affordable access at $100 for members and $150 for non-members
Classes include practical tools like business plan templates, market validation techniques, and funding strategies
Led by Rich Turner, a former Marine with an MBA and experience generating over $80 million in business impact
Empower Your Business Journey
Everyone has the potential to make a significant impact on a business, according to Rich Turner. By expanding leadership capabilities and adopting an entrepreneur's mindset, individuals can amplify their influence and drive growth.
Through his firm, Rich in Thought Consulting, Turner is hosting a comprehensive master class series that covers every stage of business ownership. The primary goal is to help leaders navigate complexity, make smarter decisions, and create lasting impacts.
"The idea is to offer value to the entire life cycle related to business," Turner explained. "It's a way to gain exposure and education without committing to a full business program or degree."
Workshop Series Overview
This 12-part workshop series is conducted in partnership with Montana West Economic Development, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting economic diversity and business growth in Northwest Montana. Each class is held monthly and is designed and led by Turner.
Whether you're launching a new business, scaling current operations, or planning the next chapter for a legacy business, this series is tailored to support any business journey.
Categories and Key Topics
The series is divided into three main categories:
- Startups and Foundation Building (First Five Classes): Focuses on essential elements for new ventures.
- The first class covered writing a compelling business plan, including templates for a bank-ready plan, investor pitch deck, and a self-assessment rubric.
- The second class, scheduled for November 17, addresses market validation to confirm demand and reduce risk.
- Upcoming classes will cover operational foundations, financial forecasting, and funding strategies.
- Growth and Leadership (Next Four Classes): Aims to enhance leadership and strategic skills.
- Topics include refocusing strategy, reorganizing resources, regaining profitability, achieving operational excellence, and leadership development.
- Turner emphasizes, "A leader is only as good as they are willing to be introspective and work on themselves. The leader is the bottleneck; for an organization to grow, the leader must grow first."
- Legacy and Exit Strategies (Last Three Classes): Focuses on planning for business succession and increasing company value before selling.
Practical Details
Each course lasts two hours and is priced at $100 for members of Montana West Economic Development and $150 for non-members.
About Rich Turner
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Turner moved to the United States at age 17 and served 15 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he honed his commitment to team success and safety. He holds an undergraduate degree from Clearwater Christian College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder.
In 2022, Turner relocated to Kalispell to work with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, serving as a business advisor and helping 75 businesses achieve over $80 million in client-reported impact. He left in July of this year to start Rich in Thought Consulting, aiming to maximize impacts across all business sectors.
"[The extension center] was the best job I've ever had," Turner recalled. "I left to have the freedom to move beyond one sector and support a wider range of businesses."
To register for a session or learn more, visit dobusinessinmontana.com/masterclass-series/.
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