Everyone has the potential to make an impact on a business, Rich Turner said. Expanding one’s leadership capabilities and channeling an entrepreneur’s mindset can help grow that impact. 

Through his firm, Rich in Thought Consulting, Turner is hosting a master class series covering every stage of business ownership. The goal, Turner said, is to help leaders navigate complexity, make smarter decisions, and create lasting impacts. 

"The idea is to offer value to the entire life cycle related to business,” Turner said last month. “It’s a way to get exposure and education without having to sign up for a whole business program or degree.” 

The 12-part workshop series, in partnership with Montana West Economic Development — a nonprofit working throughout Northwest Montana to promote economic diversity and business growth — features one class every month, designed and led by Turner.  

Whether someone is launching a new business, scaling current operations or planning the next chapter for a legacy business, the series is built to support any business journey, Turner said. 

The series is split into three categories with the first five classes focused on startups and building the foundation of a business.  

The first class covered the essentials for writing a business plan. Turner walked students through creating a compelling plan and gave a bank-ready business plan template, investor pitch deck outline and a grading rubric for self-assessment.  

The second class, which is on Nov. 17, is about market validation and how to confirm demand.  

“There’s a tremendous amount of risk if you haven’t validated the market yet,” Turner said. “You want to validate that there is truly value in this product, this service, whatever it is, before you go any further.” 

Turner plans to host other startup level classes, covering topics like operational foundations for new ventures, financial forecasting and funding strategies. 

The next four classes are focused on growth and leadership. Turner will cover topics including refocusing strategy, reorganizing resources, regaining profitability without sacrificing momentum, operational excellence and leadership development. 

“A leader is only as good as they are willing to be introspective and work on themselves,” Turner said. “I often say to leaders that the leader is the bottleneck, so if an organization wants to grow, the leader has to grow first.” 

The last three classes cover choosing the right path for legacy businesses and raising company worth before selling. 

Each course is two hours long and costs $100 for members of Montana West Economic Development. The courses cost $150 for non-members.  

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Turner moved to the United States when he was 17, living in a series of states while serving 15 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was always focused on ensuring the success and safety of his team, a commitment that still guides his work today.  

He attended Clearwater Christian College for his undergraduate degree and got his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder.    

Turner made the move to Kalispell in 2022 for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, a statewide outreach assistance center working to grow the state economy through manufacturer success. 

As the Kalispell and Northwest Montana business advisor, Turner worked alongside 75 businesses, unlocking over $80 million in client-reported impact. In July of this year, Turner left the extension center to start Rich in Thought Consulting. 

“[The extension center] was the best job I’ve ever had. I loved it; I still look back on it with really fond memories. I left to have the freedom to move beyond one sector,” Turner said.  

In his new role, Turner wants to maximize impacts for all businesses in all sectors; the master class series is one way to do so. 

To register for a session or learn more about the series, visit dobusinessinmontana.com/masterclass-series/.  

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].