May 16 and 17, 2025, Zootown Arts Commuity Center, Missoula, Montana
Beast Your Biz! is an exciting business conference happening in Missoula, Montana on May 16 and 17, 2025. The agenda for Saturday features captivating 45-minute sessions presented by various speakers, along with panel discussions, each followed by a 15-minute Q&A segment. There will also be 30-minute breaks for attendees to process the information and network with one another. Don’t miss this opportunity for education and valuable insights
Meet like-minded entrepreneurs and exchange contact information to stay in touch for future support.
1We gather experts in a wide range of local and regional fields to bring a wide range of topics to the table.
3It isn't just what you know; it's also about who you know. Connect with the best of the best.
2We create a fun, casual and interactive environment so you can feel comfortable and relaxed.
4VP of Strategic Operations at Biz to Biz Now
Tami is a dedicated wife and mother who has always strived to create a life filled with love, strength, and growth. Her journey has taken her through various roles, from business ownership to business development, strategy, and operations, where she has honed her skills in leadership and empowering others. As a John Maxwell-certified speaker, trainer, and coach, she shares her knowledge and experience to help others unlock their full potential.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Tami is also a suicide survivor and an advocate for suicide prevention. Her personal experiences have shaped her into a resilient and compassionate individual, deepening her commitment to mental health awareness and the power of hope.
As the Vice President of Strategic Operations at Biz to Biz Now, Tami is dedicated to making a positive impact on the small business community by fostering growth and inspiring others to overcome their own challenges. With a thoughtful and purpose-driven approach, she continues to influence both her professional and personal circles, creating lasting change.
Co-Owner at Skin Chic
Annelise grew up in a military family with deep roots in Montana. Although she lived in numerous places (including nine years in Germany), Missoula was always home. After receiving an Elementary Education degree at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, she moved back to Missoula to raise her family. She became a Real Estate Agent in 2013 in order to share her passion for this magical community with others, and is now a Missoula Organization of Realtors State Board Director. Being a calm, strategic partner for clients feeds her soul. She enjoys coaching buyers and sellers through each step of what is often the largest financial transaction of their lives. Along the way, she represented Ward 5 on the Missoula City Council, and learned the ins and outs of the City of Missoula. Proudly in 2025, she became Co-Owner of Skin Chic, medical spa. This allows her to fulfill her passion for aesthetics, helping people in the community feel their best, and creating an internal culture of acceptance and celebration for staff. She gives back to Missoula in numerous ways, even starting the “Feed our Frontline Workers” during the Covid-19 pandemic. She has volunteered on numerous boards including the Missoula Economic Partnership, Missoula Building Industry Association, the Missoula Organization of Realtors and more.
President of Five Valleys Restoration & Cleaning Inc.
Matthew Cavanaugh was born and raised in Sidney, MT. He moved to Missoula in 2000 to
study business management at the University of Montana. Matts career in the restoration
industry started with a company called Restorx of Montana when he was a freshman in high
school. Over the next 10 plus years he worked for multiple restoration companies in different
roles before starting Five Valleys Restoration & Cleaning in 2008, where he currently serves as
the President of the company.
Over all the years in the restoration industry, Matt has attained many different certifications and
achievements. He currently serves on the Grizzly Scholarship Association Board, The Sigma
Chi Fraternity Beta Delta Building Foundation, the Sigma Chi National Risk Management
Foundation, and is the President of the Missoula Building Industry Assoc. Over the years he
has coached in the youth hockey, baseball and football communities.
Matt is married to the beautiful Trisha (Roth) Cavanaugh and has 4 beautiful children, Adalyn
(16) Reilly (13) Sayler (4) and Maya (1).
The biggest Role Model in my life has always been my dad, he taught my brothers and I about
doing things the right way and how to treat others.
Business Development / Broker-Owner of Plum Property Management and Point 6 Real Estate
Josh Plum is a proud native of Montana, born and raised in Seeley Lake. A graduate of Hellgate High School in Missoula (Class of 1996), Josh went on to study music at the University of Montana from 1996 to 2001, where he cultivated his lifelong passion for music and the arts. His career began in restaurant management and franchise development, where he honed his exceptional customer service and leadership skills by opening and training staff at locations across the United States.
Josh launched his real estate career alongside his wife, Jennifer, with the founding of Plum Property Management in 2009. Under their leadership, Plum Property Management has become a recognized leader in the Missoula rental industry. Josh spearheaded the development of the company’s vacation and short-term rental division and continues to serve as Director of Business Development. He works closely with investors to provide expert property management and strategic guidance to help them grow and optimize their portfolios. His deep involvement in multi-family and commercial real estate gives him a unique perspective on investment properties and their specialized needs.
In addition to his work in property management, Josh is the Broker at Point 6 Real Estate, LLC, where he combines his expertise in real estate with a dedication to serving his clients and the community. His commitment to the industry extends beyond his business ventures, as he currently serves as Vice President of the Missoula Organization of Realtors for 2025.
Josh and Jennifer are proud parents to Timothy and Olivia. Josh strives to instill in his children the same work ethic and positive attitude that have defined his career. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, hunting, playing music, and embracing the natural beauty of Montana.
Josh Plum, Broker, Realtor®, ABR, SRS, PSA
Licensed Property Manager - Plum Property Management
2025 Vice President, Missoula Organization of Realtors
2017 President, Greater MT Chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM)
Owner/Digital Marketer at Missoula Social Media
A Missoula native, Shelby is passionate about connecting people and ideas—both in real life and in the digital world. With over twelve years of experience in digital marketing, Shelby has witnessed the industry evolve at an ever-increasing pace. Guided by the motto, "Let's make it easy!", she helps Missoula business owners navigate the latest trends and technology with confidence, allowing them to focus on what they do best.
Beyond digital marketing, Shelby is dedicated to uplifting the local business community. As a writer for Missoula Valley Lifestyle magazine, she has spent time with numerous business owners across desks, coffee tables, and cash registers, discovering a shared trait: a passion-driven approach to business. This passion also inspired the concept of being "So Missoula", an idea that had been brewing in her mind since before the pandemic.
In 2023, Shelby collaborated with MissoulaEvents.net on a social media campaign celebrating local businesses that endured the challenges of the pandemic. The campaign, #SoMissoula, resonated deeply with the community, reinforcing the spirit of local resilience and collaboration. This idea continued to grow, leading to a partnership with the Missoula Arts Council in 2024 to design a traffic signal box centered around the So Missoula theme, now on display at the corner of Mary Jane Blvd and West Broadway.
Looking ahead to 2025, Shelby is exploring the creation of a podcast featuring Missoula businesses and individuals whose collaborations drive diverse growth within the community.
In addition to leading various projects and running her own business, Shelby teaches digital marketing classes at The Lifelong Learning Center. Through teaching, she gains an insider's perspective on the entrepreneurial journey—particularly for solopreneurs—who often grapple with simplifying social media and crafting a digital marketing strategy that is both effective and manageable. Recognizing the constant need to adapt to evolving digital tools, Shelby takes pride in helping others clarify the digital landscape and make their work easier.
Owner - Jenn's Whole Health Coaching
Jennifer is a Board Certified Holistic Nutrition, Wellness, and Clarity Catalyst Practitioner with a deep-rooted passion for inspiring others to live their best lives. Drawing on over 15 years of experience, she has worked extensively with children, families, and individuals across various age groups, from prenatal stages through adulthood, helping clients achieve emotional balance, nutritional well-being, and mental clarity.
Her practice focuses on a whole-health approach, blending nutrition, mindfulness, and lifestyle guidance. She works with individuals, groups, businesses, and corporations of all sizes, offering workshops such as 9 Essential Ingredients to Nourishing Your Wellbeing and The Culture Catalyst Program, as well as hands-on events like her popular mocktail gatherings.
Known for her supportive and engaging style, Jennifer is committed to educating and empowering her clients to make sustainable, healthy changes. Since 2020, she has been providing personalized health coaching, mindfulness programming, and educational workshops both online and in person, guiding clients toward healthier, more balanced lives. Her work extends into writing and speaking engagements, where she shares her insights on health, wellness, and holistic living.
Co-Founder of Little Dumps & BulkDelivery PRO
Ross Peterson is a lifelong entrepreneur and problem-solver who has been building web-based solutions for over 25 years. Born and raised in Missoula, Montana—where he now lives with his entrepreneurial wife Lindsey and their two young children—his journey into tech began with a love for design and a necessity to learn to code.
With a fine arts degree from the University of Montana, Ross has combined creativity with technology to build and scale multiple businesses. He has successfully exited from a web design and hosting company, a WordPress plugin, and a home tour web application.
Since 2018, he has focused on growing Little Dumps, a Western Montana home service brand offering 24/7 online ordering of bulk landscape materials. With three locations in the Missoula, Bitterroot, and Flathead Valleys, Little Dumps continues to expand, thanks in part to BulkDelivery PRO (BDP)—a software platform that Ross co-founded to streamline bulk material logistics.
Passionate about solving problems and building businesses around innovative ideas, Ross is excited to share insights from his entrepreneurial journey—the successes, the challenges, and everything in between.
Owner & Patent Attorney at Rhoades Intellectual Property Law, PLLC
Sarah J. Rhoades is a registered patent attorney practicing in Missoula, Montana. Now entering her 23rd year of intellectual property (IP) law practice in Montana, Sarah assists clients in securing and enforcing their intellectual property rights in the U.S. and international jurisdictions. Sarah counsels clients on developing strategies for protecting their IP assets and then represents them in patent, copyright, trademark, trade dress, trade secret, and related business matters. She also provides IP-related contract preparation and licensing services. Sarah is admitted to practice in the State Courts of Montana, the Federal Courts for the District of Montana, and United States Tax Court. Sarah has served as counsel in trials and hearings in State and Federal Courts around the state, particularly serving as co-counsel with Michael Sherwood on many jury trials.
Sarah serves as Adjunct IP Professor at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana and has presented a number of continuing legal education seminars over the years. Sarah is the co-founder and co-organizer of each of the installments of IP Day in Montana. She is a founding member and inaugural chair of the IPL Section of the State Bar of Montana. As part of her ongoing efforts and initiatives as past-chair, Sarah founded the Explorations Series featuring educational and professional development opportunities for Montana IP attorneys. When Sarah is not working, she is outside skiing or exploring new trails with her husband and their border collie-lab mix.
Founder and CEO of Ahead by 11
Based in Missoula, MT, Jill Alban is Founder and CEO of Ahead by 11, a paid ads marketing studio helping value-driven brands increase revenue with Google Ads and Meta campaigns.
Jill has a 15+ year career in marketing, brand development, and digital growth strategies with extensive experience in outdoor apparel as well as health and wellness. Her current clients are based in Montana and across the Rocky Mountain West and include Bedrock Sandals, Alpacka Raft, Youer, Skhoop, The Cashmere Fund, Zoo Town Surfers, and more. Prior to starting her own business, Jill served as VP of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer for a NY-based management consulting firm with 65+ employees and $10M in annual revenue. Ahead by 11 currently manages over 500K annually in paid advertising spend for its clients in the outdoor gear, apparel, fitness, and wellness sectors.
Originally from Virginia, Jill received her B.A. in English from The University of Virginia in 2000. She moved to Missoula in 2004 where she earned her M.A. in Literature and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The University of Montana in 2006. Jill is also a certified executive coach and endurance athlete.
Owner/Creative Director of Kiln Media
Corey Dostal is the founder and owner of Kiln Media a media agency based in Missoula, Montana, specializing in high-quality visual marketing for real estate and businesses. With a strong background in media production, Corey has built a reputation for delivering top-tier photography, videography, and digital content that helps clients showcase their properties and brands effectively.
Under Corey’s leadership, the company has expanded and rebranded to offer a broader range of services, now helping business owners elevate their brands through strategic, relationship-driven content. Beyond media production, Corey provides coaching for professionals looking to improve their on-camera presence, empowering them to confidently connect with their audience and establish trust in their industry.
Committed to excellence and efficiency, Corey is focused on developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline operations and ensure consistent, high-quality service. Continuously seeking new ways to leverage technology and creativity, Corey is dedicated to helping businesses grow through compelling storytelling, innovative marketing strategies, and authentic brand-building.
Owner - Marketplace Events
Megan, a proud alumna of Hellgate High School and the University of Montana with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Human and Family Development, embodies a fervent commitment to community engagement and social causes. Her altruistic journey began during her college years when she volunteered in the Dominican Republic, fostering learning through English instruction and building homes with Habitat for Humanity. She further orchestrated Missoula’s Rock Against Racism, a program that caught the attention of MTV and earned her the prestigious Rising Star award from the YWCA in 2007.
Throughout her career, Megan has actively contributed to various organizations and initiatives, showcasing exceptional leadership qualities. She served as the Chairperson for Relay For Life before assuming the role of the President at the Missoula Businesswomen’s Network in 2022/23, receiving the Fly High award from the Missoula Businesswomen’s Association in 2019.
Since 2006, Megan has excelled as a Partner at Marketplace Events, utilizing her skills in event production. Alongside her professional pursuits, Megan, and her husband Matt, are nurturing two vibrant daughters, Bailie and Charlie, known for their enthusiasm as all-star cheerleaders. Megan’s dedication to networking and fostering community connections drives her passion to expand engaging events across Montana.
FIND THE SOLUtIONS YOU NEED
Learn new things and connect with new people! Learn from the best Missoula has to offer! Ranging from multiple generation business owners, retail and restaurant owners, highly regarded non-profit leaders and more!
Beast Your Biz! is an engaging business conference designed to empower entrepreneurs, business owners, and teams with essential knowledge and networking opportunities. Attendees will participate in dynamic 45-minute sessions featuring expert speakers and panel discussions, allowing for in-depth exploration of relevant topics. Each session will include a Q&A period, enabling participants to gain insights directly from industry leaders. Additionally, strategically placed networking breaks will facilitate meaningful connections among attendees, creating a collaborative atmosphere for learning and the exchange of innovative ideas. This event promises to be both educational and inspiring, making it an unmissable opportunity for anyone looking to enhance their business acumen.
An informal time to meet with speakers, panelists and fellow attendees to build professional relationships and create relevant contacts that can help you achieve your long-term professional goals. Light appetizers and a no-host bar will be available.
Check-in at the door begins. You can also purchase tickets at the door (if available). Please be seated before 9:30am. Morning refreshments will be available.
Unlock the secrets of intellectual property (IP) and discover how to protect your brand in this engaging and informative session. Dive into the fundamentals of IP, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights, and gain a clear understanding of what sets them apart. With a special focus on trademarks, this session will break down trademark rights and limitations, giving you the knowledge you need to safeguard your business. Plus, get an insider’s look at the federal application process, so you can confidently take the next steps in securing your brand’s identity. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a business owner, or just curious about IP, this session will provide the insights you need to navigate the world of intellectual property with confidence!
Sarah Rhoades
Step into the world of entrepreneurship with this dynamic panel discussion featuring local business leaders and innovators who have navigated the challenges and triumphs of building their own businesses. From turning ideas into reality to overcoming obstacles and achieving success, our panelists will share their personal journeys, hard-earned lessons, and strategies for staying resilient in a competitive marketplace.
This interactive session is perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone looking to gain insights and inspiration from those who have been in the trenches. Bring your questions, and leave with actionable advice and fresh perspectives to take your entrepreneurial aspirations to the next level.
Key Takeaways:
Whether you're just starting or looking to grow your business, this session is packed with value to help you on your path to success!
Matthew Cavanaugh
Jennifer Shepard
Ross Peterson
Corey Dostal
Lunch catered by Biga Pizza
Running a business often feels like a constant balancing act in a world of urgent demands and shifting expectations. This session will uncover how to stay grounded, adaptable, and humble while navigating high-stakes challenges. Discover how to turn pressure into opportunity, prioritize effectively, and lead with resilience in even the most unpredictable circumstances.
Annelise Hedahl
Effective marketing is more than just getting your message out—it’s about creating connections that matter. This panel discussion dives into the principles of successful marketing, offering practical advice for building your brand, telling your story, and growing your business. Whether you’re navigating the digital landscape, developing creative campaigns, or strengthening community ties, this session will provide the inspiration and tools to make an impact.
Shelby Humphreys
Jill Alban
Megan Pfaff
This session dives deep into actionable strategies for turning ideas into successful business ventures. Learn how to identify market opportunities, build systems that scale, and establish a development roadmap that supports long-term growth. The discussion will center on practical approaches to evaluating business opportunities, creating value, and positioning your business for success in a competitive market.
Josh Plum
