Michael Hebert is 38 years old, an Army Veteran, a patriot, and an avid outdoors man.
Mike owns and operates a small insurance agency in Kalispell, MT.
He has lived in the Flathead Valley for most of his adult life, working in forestry, construction and insurance. He has traveled throughout the US, Central America, Europe and the Middle East as a soldier and a traveler, with the Flathead Valley being his chosen place to live and make his home over 15 years ago.
He is married to Marlene who now works with Mike as a licensed insurance agent. Mike and Marlene are both Christians, and are members of Easthaven Baptist Church.
Mike is a former student and graduate of FVCC and continues his education with the school. He encourages everyone to be more involved and pro-active, either in continuing their own education or to make sure that it is available for all citizens, regardless of age or circumstance.
“My abilities to connect with people and to value their concerns have helped me greatly in business and life. I will become an essential voice for the people of the Flathead if they elect me on the Board of Trustees.”
The best spent dollars are those that improve one’s options in education, business and life. A well educated citizenry is extremely important for democracy. Right now voters are uninformed on the real issues and are caught in the flux of media hit pieces and propaganda. The truth: We are in trouble as a nation, state and community speaking economically. As well as our values and beliefs . Our college, FVCC, is in similar shape. The last board tax-levied and spent their way to a gigantic debt and burden on the tax payers with only small improvements to the education.
We as a nation and a community are falling far behind in the STEM subjects, science, technology, engineering and math. Our industry is dying nation wide and in the Flathead. We are greatly declining as a nation and state. If we fall much further we will not be able to provide money and resources towards education like we need to. That to me is unacceptable.
What can we do? Stop the old tired paradigm that now exists. Our nation and FVCC needs to invest in the future, that means not in buildings but in programs that prepare students for a future in the STEM subjects and Software. By continuing to grow those programs like health care that are so successful through expansion we should also have programs that teach how to project manage, software develop and how to build Apps for the social net work revolution.
FVCC can dramatically increase relationships with leaders in technology and industry, in a partnership that mutually benefits the business sector of our state and community as well as preparing students for star roles in those vocations. We must keep our minds open to these opportunity’s and we must make commitments to utilize every resource available to keep the doors open without raising tuition, taking on more debt or raising taxes. How?
By vision!
My vision is to see this college put Kalispell on the map as a model of excellence in education, entrepreneurship, accreditation, certification, career enhancement and STEM subjects. Instead of students moving away to find a unique educational opportunity, students will move here. FVCC can be a major component in a stronger Flathead economy through strong alliances in cutting edge, tech driven industries. FVCC can be the beachhead with local, state and national business that are looking for well educated, highly trained and value strong employees. No more wasted money, no more dead in projects. Only a vision for the future.
As a trustee I promise to make our money work for “WE THE PEOPLE” through smart policy decisions. New thinking, old values and smart choices is what we need.
Mike says,
“What I love most about the Flathead is the uniquely free spirit of the people, rugged individualism and strong conservative values which I have not found anywhere else in the world. This spirit inspires me to be all I can be, and that is why I am running.”
“I know the school, the administration, the faculty, the students and the names of many of the people who make the school function and operate by first name. I know best amongst my fellow candidates how to motivate and make policy for FVCC. I have built a bond of trust in this community that compels me to be that voice of reason during these difficult economic times. We uniquely sit on a literal “gold mine” in Montana and I see a very good future for us in our special corner of the world if we apply ourselves, and it starts with opportunity.
“Opportunity does not come by chance but by hard work, an open mind and open doors. We must be able to open those doors for our fellow citizens and the college is a perfect vehicle for that. Americans, and especially my fellow Montanans, are hard working people who only need opportunity. I believe we can get through these hard times by perfecting those same values that the first pioneers came here with. It is not just about money, it is about smart choices with what we have. The spirit of freedom, the willingness to sacrifice, with hard work and the blessings of abundant resources made opportunity a reality for them, and still do for us.”
My mission is to be that voice for the people, to see the college prosper and continue to provide the same opportunities for others that it has had for me.
With innovation, practical advice, asymmetric thinking, conservative economics and dedication I will propel those opportunities for you, me and our children.
This college started over 40 years ago with a community desire to provide greater opportunity and we must never lose that vision.
Mike says, “I remember in Airborne school my instructor said to us that your mind is like a parachute, it only works when it’s open.”
Remember “WE THE PEOPLE” on May 3rd and Vote, Michael Hebert for FVCC Board of Trustees, you can count on me!
Anybody wanting to discuss their great ideas and a willingness to help me in my campaign for a seat on the Board, please contact me. I would appreciate it.
