One of Helena’s older businesses has risen to the top as the Chamber’s Business of the Year for 2005. Over its 60 years in business, Morrison-Maierle Inc. has grown from a partnership of two, to over 300 employees (of which 90 are based in the Helena office) and has offices in Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell, Missoula, Great Falls, Phoenix and Tucson, AZ; and Salt Lake City, Utah. A regional engineering firm serving the western U.S., Morrison-Maierle has worked in 19 states and 14 countries. The firm has been ranked among the Engineering News Record, “TOP 500 Design Firms” in the United States for the past 14 years and is the only Montana based engineering firm to be listed. It is the oldest and largest Montana based engineering firm.

At the first of the year, the firm completed a transition of its leadership with Bob Morrison, former Chief Engineer, becoming the 7th President/CEO in the firm’s history. Jim Maierle, the immediate past president, will continue to devote full-time efforts as Chairman of the Board.

Morrison-Maierle recently built a new office building on McHugh Drive that houses all Helena operations including the corporate headquarters, the Helena regional office, and Morrison-Maierle Systems Corporation.

The company and its communityminded employees are involved in many facets of support throughout the community including numerous recipient organizations such United Way, The Friendship Center, YMCA, Benton Avenue Cemetery, Florence Crittenton Home, and many others. They have been long-time supporters of Helena institutions such as Carroll College, St. Peters Hospital, and Shodair Hospital. Morrison-Maierle has left their indelible mark throughout the community with some of Helena’s finest developments, transportation systems, the finest airport facilities in the state, state-ofthe-art wastewater systems, and many historic and new buildings and structures such as the Carroll College PE Center, Nelson Stadium, the new Trinity Hall, the Science and Engineering building and the library.

Many employees volunteer on various Chamber committees throughout the year; congratulations to MMI for setting a high level of performance, expansion, growth, community support, design achievements, and community service. They are truly deserving of this award!