blazing trails: MT women in business summit
wed-fri, March 4- 6, 2026
ac Hotel | ELEMENT HOTEL | kimpton armory Hotel | NEW this year - the ellen theater
Mark your calendars! The 3rd Annual Blazing Trails: Montana Women in Business Summit returns March 4–6, 2026—and it’s shaping up to be our biggest and boldest gathering yet.
After two years of sold-out success and soaring momentum, this premier event for women in business continues to ignite inspiration, connection, and real-world impact. With expanded programming, dynamic keynote speakers, innovative workshops, and unmatched networking opportunities, the 2026 Summit promises to be an unforgettable experience for leaders, entrepreneurs, change-makers, and advocates across Montana and beyond. NEW for 2026 we will be moving to The Ellen Theatre on Thursday and taking a field trip in the afternoon. Details coming soon!
We’ll once again honor International Women’s Day (IWD – Sunday, March 8) during our Friday programming, joining the global celebration of women’s achievements and advancing the call to accelerate gender equity in business and beyond.
REGISTRATION is $550 per person and includes two-and-a-half powerful days where we’ll dive deep into leadership development, financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, advocacy, philanthropy, and more. Connect with trailblazers, industry leaders, and policymakers who are shaping the future of Montana.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary movement—save the date and register on September 15, 2025 so you don’t get left in the dust!
Partial proceeds from the event will go toward funding our childcare policy initiatives in the 2025 Montana Legislature and beyond.
#BlazingTrails #MTWIBSummit2026 #MTWIB2026 #MontanaWomenInBusiness #WomensEmpowerment #WomenLeadingChange #IWD26 #InternationalWomensDay
Please read the Montana Chamber’s Event Code of Conduct here.
for More information
CONTACT:
Candace Carr Strauss
Head Wrangler | VP – Marketing & Communications [email protected]
(m) 406.640.1331
2026 Summit AGENDA
2026 MT WIB SUMMIT WELCOME RECEPTION @ AC HOTEL BENCHMARK RESTAURANT & BAR (rooftop)
4:00 – 6:00 PM – REGISTRATION OPEN (AC Lobby, lower level)
5:30 – 7:30 PM – 2025 MT WIB SUMMIT WELCOME RECEPTION
5:30 PM Reception Begins for Summit Attendees, Event Speakers and Sponsors, Invited Guests, Montana Chamber Board and Staff
6:00 PM Brief remarks from the Montana Chamber & Reception Sponsor Mountain Health Co-Op
7:30 PM Event Concludes
“BLAZING TRAILS” – 2026 MT WIB SUMMIT KICKS OFF
NEW this year @ The Ellen Theatre
7:30 – 9:00 AM – REGISTRATION OPEN in the theater lobby
Breakfast on your own. Check out one of Bozeman’s charming coffee shops.
8:30 AM – The Ellen Theater Doors Open
OPENING SESSION @ THE ELLEN THEATRE
9:00 – 9:10 AM – WELCOME REMARKS from the Montana Chamber of Commerce; Sponsor Recognition
9:10 – 9:40 AM – FIRESIDE CHAT with TBD
9:45 – 10:15 AM – OPENING KEYNOTE:
10:30 – 11:15 AM – MORNING PANELS – Session 1
11:15-11:30 – BREAK
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM – MORNING PANELS – Session II
12:15 – 1:15 PM – LUNCH @ TBD
1:30 PM – AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: TBA
2:00 PM – AFTERNOON PANEL
2:30 PM – SHUTTLE TO TBA LOCATION
NETWORKING RECEPTION @ TBA
4:30 – 6:00 PM – MT WIB SUMMIT NETWORKING RECEPTION
6:00 PM – Dinner on your own in Downtown Bozeman
7:15 – 8:05 AM “Rise & Thrive: Energize Your Morning with Pilates Plus” with Sam Schmidt, PT/Certified Master Pilates Instructor, Alpine Physical Therapy Missoula
ELEMENT HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM
8:00 – 9:15 AM – BUFFET BREAKFAST @ AC HOTEL BRIDGER BALLROOM sponsored by Jackson Contracting Group – No formal program; network at your leisure
9:30 – 11:00 AM MORNING WORKSHOPS – SELECT ONE TO ATTEND
ELEMENT HOTEL CONFERENCE
ROOM
TRUE NORTH @ THE KIMPTON
AC BRIDGER BALL ROOM
2026 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY POWER LUNCH @ KIMPTON ARMORY MUSIC HALL
11:30 AM – WELCOME by Montana Chamber followed by LUNCH / NETWORKING
12:00 PM – An Update on Childcare
12:30 – 1:45 PM INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCHEON KEYNOTE
1:45 PM – DRAWINGS for Raffle Prizes / Centerpieces
2:00 PM – THANK YOU; LUNCH CONCLUDES
LODGING
Group Room Blocks
AC Hotel by Marriott Bozeman Downtown – $189/night + taxes (Addl fees will not be charged)
The AC Hotel by Marriott Bozeman Downtown would be happy to extend your stay beyond the 3/4-3/5 conference dates at the special group rate. Please call the hotel directly at (406) 602-1072 to make arrangements.
Element Bozeman – $189/night + taxes
Kimpton Armory Hotel – $204/night + taxes (Addl fees will not be charged)
Last day to book in the block: Tuesday, February 7, 2026
2026 mt wib suMMIT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Nancy Schlepp, Sandfire Resources America, Chair – MTCC Board of Directors
Courtney Kibblewhite, Northern Broadcasting System / Past Chair – MTCC Board of Directors; current Montana Chamber Foundation Board Member
Blair Fjeseth, Mountain Health CO-OP / MTCC Board Member
Joceyln Lane, First Interstate Bank / MTCC Board Member
Liz Marchi, Two Bear Capital / MTCC Board Member
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Blythe Beaubien, Bigger Fish PR & Media Relations
Marcel Bruski, Big Sky Economic Development
Julia Bryant, Riveter Creative
Nikki Geiszler, Montana World Affairs Council
Kayla Lee, MSU Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship
Margaret Madrigal, Samantha Salisbury, Becky Seal – JPMorgan Chase MT/WY
Cassie Maver, Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman
Chantelle McDuffie, Lambert Hotels
McKayla Murphy, Element Bozeman
Haley Rowland, AC Hotel Bozeman
Colee Wingo, Billings Clinic – Bozeman
RURAL & iNDIGENOUS WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
In the past, we have offered scholarships to five Rural and Indigenous Women in business who wish to attend the event. This included (2) nights lodging at the AC Hotel and the full conference registration.
CHILDCARE
Looking for childcare while in Bozeman attending the Summit? Well, look no further. Contact Jessica Dehn, Founder/Owner of Dino Drop-In Learning Center.
LOCATION: 205 N 11th on the corner of Main St. and 11th
Enter on Main across from Starbucks
Cancellation & REFUND policy
The event will take place rain, shine, or SNOW. No refunds due to inclement weather. Requests for cancellations must be made in writing to the Montana Chamber, addressed to [email protected] and received by Friday, February 13, 2026 for consideration of your refund. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after Friday, February 13, 2026, or for no-shows. Refunds may not be processed until the Summit concludes so please allow a week for processing.
Registration, Tickets & Sponsorships
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2025 Blazing Trails: Montana Women in Business Summit
March 5, 2025 - March 7, 2025
5:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Venue: Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman
Venue Phone: (406) 551-7700
Venue Website: https://www.armoryhotelbzn.com/
Address: