About Us
Starting and running a company is hard. And at the end of the day, any investment is about the people who started, founded, and manage the company. Therefore, those relationships come first. Above all, we value integrity, direct communication and fun.
Montana’s baby boomer generation has led our state in the creation of small businesses and are now at a transitional point. The business owner is 65+ years old and still working. The business needs the next generation of ownership, as many lack willing family members to take over the operation. An increasing number of these businesses struggle to transition as the acquisition price is too large for local individuals and too small for institutional buyers. The impact on local jobs across our state can be substantial especially when a community loses its only local grocery or hardware store. In some cases, the owner chooses to close the business, become disabled, or die and the family is left to manage the transition. Goodworks Ventures LLC is launching Goodworks Evergreen, which provides transition opportunities to retiring owners by acquiring their local Montana businesses, with the goal of keeping quality jobs within the community.
We are here to meet business owners that need help with their next phase, and to keep Montana “The last best place.” Meet the team:
MARY STRANAHAN
is the founder of Goodworks Ventures and the High Stakes Foundation. As a result of attending a Play Big Session about a decade ago, she made the decision to leverage her resources to support the people making a positive change in Montana. Her focus is on triple bottom line investments in the for profit arena and rural economic development, leadership development and environmental policy issues in the nonprofit arena. A passionate lover of place, she has a wicked backspin on her tennis game.
DAWN MCGEE
is the CEO of Goodworks Ventures a Montana based company investing in high social impact companies. She is also President of the High Stakes Foundation, which provides support to visionary people and organizations that are leading and implementing changes to create a sustainable future for Montana. She loves to be outside and to play music with friends.
KIAH HOCHSTETLER
is a third generation Montanan who grew up on a horse farm and is deeply rooted in this place. He is the COO for Goodworks Evergreen and works directly with its portfolio companies. Glacier National Park is his happy place, so much so he got married in the Park, outside, in -15 degree weather.
TRAVIS LINNEMAN
joined Goodworks Evergreen as an experienced Chief Financial Officer, manager and strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the retail industry. He is skilled in business planning, analytics, sales, team building, and management. Travis is a strong finance professional and graduated from The University of Montana where he serves as an Adjunct Professor.
CAT YTURRI
joined Goodworks Evergreen in 2020 as the Staff Accountant and work to support to all of the GWE businesses. Born and raised in Great Falls, Montana she knew she wanted to stay in this beautiful state. She attended the University of Montana where she earned a degree in Accounting and another in International Business with a Sustainable Business Strategies Certificate.