CoBuild Summit

October 20-22, 2026

UC Center, University of Montana, Missoula

CoBuild Center, Downtown Missoula

GET TICKETS

Across three days, you’ll engage with educators, investors, founders, cooperative leaders and community builders — people doing the work of building a stronger, more self-reliant Montana. Whether you come with a plan, a question, or simply the drive to be part of something bigger, there’s a place for you here.

PREVIEW THE PROGRAM

Featured Keynote: Elizabeth MacBride

Journalist Elizabeth MacBride, co-author of Capital Evolution: The New American Economy, opens the evening with a keynote on how capital is moving beyond a few coastal hubs. She describes a more distributed economy where communities like ours can build, own, and keep value close to home.

She then joins Montana leaders for a public panel on who owns our state's future: Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis; Montana State Senator Ellie Boldman; Nolan Michel, Executive Director of the Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority; and Dawn McGee, CEO of Goodworks Evergreen & Goodworks Ventures, moderated by Justin Angle, host of A New Angle on Montana Public Radio and Professor at the University of Montana.

Tuesday, Oct. 20 · 7:00–8:30 PM · UC Theater, University of Montana, Missoula. Free and open to the public, so bring a neighbor who cares where Montana goes next.

Who You’ll Hear from

  • Andrea Davis

    Mayor of Missoula, Day 1: Evening Keynote Panelist; Day 3: Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening Celebration at the CoBuild Center

  • Ellie Boldman

    Montana State Senator, Day 1: Evening Keynote Panelist

  • Nolan Michel

    Executive Director, Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority, Day 1: Evening Keynote Panelist

  • Dawn McGee

    CEO at Goodworks Evergreen and Goodworks Ventures, Missoula. Day 1 Evening Keynote Panelist

  • Justin Angle

    Host: A New Angle Podcast on Montana Public Radio | Professor, Department of Management & Marketing, University of Montana, Day 1: Moderator - Evening Keynote

  • Josh Slotnick

    Missoula County Commissioner, District 3, Day 3: The Path Ahead at the CoBuild Center Downtown

  • Paul Lukacs

    Interim Vice President for Research at University of Montana, Day 1: Opening Plenary - The Montana We’re Building

  • Kaetlyn Cordingley, PhD

    Associate Dean & Director of Career Development, Community Partnerships, and Scholarships, Davidson Honors College, University of Montana, Day 1: Opening Plenary - The Montana We’re Building

  • Erik Guzik, PhD

    Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Montana I Co-Founder, CoBuild Montana I Founder, VBX. Day 1 Opening Plenary - The Montana We’re Building and The Skills that Win in an AI World. Day 2: Startup World Cup USA Regional; Day 3 - The Path Ahead and the Launch of CoBuild Montana

  • Kirstin Miller

    Executive Director, Ecocity Builders & Co-Founder, CoBuild Montana, Day 1 Opening Plenary - The Montana We’re Building and Day 3 - The Path Ahead and the Launch of CoBuild Montana

  • Taylor Lennox

    Cooperative Development Director, Mission West CDP, a Community & Economic Development Nonprofit (CDFI). Day 1: How Purpose Takes Shape Through Ownership and Where Capital Meets Community

  • Cole Mannix

    Founder & President, Old Salt Co-op, a Multi Member LLC/Producer Cooperative and Regenerative Marketplace for American Meat. Day 1: How Purpose Takes Shape Through Ownership

  • Bailey Durnell

    Co-Founder, Missoula Makers Collective, a Multi Member LLC. Day 1: How Purpose Takes Shape Through Ownership

  • Jim Myers

    Head Brewer, Ronan Cooperative Brewery, a Consumer Cooperative. Day 1: How Purpose Takes Shape Through Ownership

  • Coy Theobalt

    Western Montana Musicians Co-op, a Member Governed Nonprofit. Day 1: How Purpose Takes Shape Through Ownership

  • Jackson Crawford

    Co-Founder & Director of Community Partnerships, CoBuild Montana I Clean Energy Business Development | Solar, Electrification, and Climate Tech | Partnerships, Community Energy, and Sustainability Finance. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Energy Track; Day 3 - The Path Ahead and the Launch of CoBuild Montana

  • Jana Richter

    Community Engagement Specialist at Front Step Community Land Trust. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Affordable Housing Track; Day 3 :Affordable Housing Tour

  • Brittany Palmer

    Executive Director, Front Step Community Land Trust. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Affordable Housing Track

  • Hannah Kosel

    Stewardship Program Manager, Front Step Community Land Trust. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Affordable Housing Track; Day 3: Affordable Housing Tour

  • Tracy L Campbell

    Superintendent for the City of Missoula Stormwater Utility, Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Biocarbon Track

  • Jan Tusick

    Executive Director and Food Center Director, Mission West Community Development Partners, Ronan, Day 1: Deep Dive, Food Systems Track

  • Karl Sutton

    REAP Specialist & Brownfields Program Manager, Mission West Community Development Partners. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Energy Track

  • Beau Milton

    Geospatial Systems Fellow | CoBuild Montana, GIS Intern | HDR, CoFounder | Orion Farmstead, BS Geoscience (Hydrology), GIS Cert | University of Montana. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Biocarbon Track

  • David Atkins

    MT Wood Products Roundtable; MT Forest Owners Association; Citizens Climate Lobby. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Biocarbon Track

  • Tracy D. McIntyre

    Executive Director, Montana Cooperative Development Center. Day 2: Deep Dives, Biocarbon Track

  • Svein Newman

    Climate Action Program Manager at Missoula County, Montana. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Energy Track

  • Colin Borgen

    AmeriCorps Member, Public Stormwater Team, City of Missoula Stormwater Utility. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Biocarbon Track; Day 3: Missoula Public Library Green Roof Tour

  • Gregory Morse

    Managing Member. Blackfoot Crossing LLC. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives Affordable Housing Track

  • Jeremy Flesch

    Clean Energy Program Coordinator, Clearwater Credit Union. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives Energy Track

  • Makenna Sellers

    Executive Director, Montana Renewable Energy Association. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Energy Track

  • Elizabeth Costello

    Owner, Trust Land Farm. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Food Systems Track

  • Bonnie Buckingham

    Executive Director at Farm Connect Montana. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Food Systems Track

  • Neva Hassanein

    Neva Hassanein, Manager, Corner Farm Village LLC, and Professor Emerita, Environmental Studies, University of Montana. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Food Systems Track

  • Bud Gillin

    SQK Quality Meats. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Food Systems Track

  • Amy Rose

    Managing Director, Western Montana Growers Cooperative. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Food Systems Track

  • Carissa McNamara

    Ambassador. Montana Farmers Union I Founder. Wild Horse Lavender, LLC. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Food Systems Track; Day 2: The Missing Middle Meets the Silver Tsunami

  • David Lewis

    Founder, The Spred I CoBuild MT - Montana Meals. Day 1 & 2: Deep Dives, Food Systems Track

  • Adrea Lawrence

    Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of Montana, Day 1: The Skills The Win in an AI World

  • Soazig Le Bihan

    Interim Associate Dean, Director of the Prelaw Program, Interim Director of Humanities Institute, and Philosophy Professor, University of Montana, Day 1: The Skills the Win in an AI World

  • Caitlin Byers

    Director of the Frontier Learning Lab at Montana Digital Academy. Day 1: The Skills That Win in an AI World

  • Jeremy Jeffay

    Founder, indelible. Day 1: The Skills That Win in an AI World

  • Grant Kier

    President and Chief Executive Officer at Missoula Economic Partnership, Day 1: Where Capital Meets Community

  • Krystal Guilhemotonia

    Montana Women’s Finance Co-op I CEO, Aqua Creek Products I 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year - Montana Ambassadors. Day 1, Where Capital Meets Community

  • Jon Aliri

    Chief Finance and Operations Officer, Headwaters Foundation. Day 1: Where Capital Meets Community

  • Matt Venturini

    Chief Lending Officer at Whitefish Credit Union. Day 1: Where Capital Meets Community

  • Christy Johnson

    Founder & CEO, Artemis Connection II Adjunct Faculty at the University of Washington I Botha Chan Innovation Program at Stanford University. Day 2: The Missing Middle Meets the Silver Tsunami

  • Christina Henderson

    Executive Director, Montana High Tech Business Alliance. Day 2: The Missing Middle Meets the Silver Tsunami

  • Andy Anderson

    Associate Professor of Strategy at University of Montana. Day 2: The Missing Middle Meets the Silver Tsunami

  • Nicole Borner

    Co-Owner, Trillium Cooperative; Trust MT. Day 2: The Missing Middle Meets the Silver Tsunami

  • Matthew Fete, PhD

    Dean at University of Montana College of Health, Day 2: Building Montana’s Community Health

  • Lily Apedaile

    Director, Office of Health Research & Partnership, University of Montana. Day 2: Building Montana’s Community Health

  • Mary Ellen Doty

    Author of Medicine At 50 Below | Founder & Chief Medical Officer at Wilderness Medical Staffing. Day 2: Building Montana’s Community Health

  • Sara McClure Cox

    UM Program Lead, RESOLVE: A Rural Health Collaborative. Day 1 & 2 Deep Dives, Rural Health Track. Day 2: Building Montana’s Community Healtjh

  • Cara Harrop

    Owner at pureHealth DPC, Polson MT. Day 1 & 2 Deep Dives, Rural Health Track. Day 2: Building Montana’s Community Health

  • Jasper Alviar

    Hellgate High School student, CoBuild member promoting greater youth awareness and engagement. Day 2: The Next Gen Takes the Mic

  • Sasha Cowie

    Hellgate High School Senior, Director of Community Outreach for S.A.V.E. club (Students Against Violating the Earth). Day 2: The Next Gen Takes the Mic

  • Petra Serban

    Hellgate High School Student and Key Club President; advocating for youth awareness and active engagement with environmental issues. Day 2: The Next Gen Takes the Mic

  • Alexandria Sobin

    English teacher, Hellgate High School. Day 2: The Next Gen Takes the Mic

  • Simon Hill

    Science teacher, Hellgate High School. Day 2: The Next Gen Takes the Mic

  • Harmen Steele, PhD

    Practicing Free-Range Organic Technology Transfer | Connecting UM research with licensees, investors, and startup partners. Day 2: Building the Builders

  • Monica Serban

    Professor & Department Chair at University of Montana, Director at Montana Biotechnology Center. Day 2 Building the Builders

  • Eric Harry

    Founding Director, Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Flathead Valley Community College. Day 2: Building the Builders

  • Graham Conran

    Frontier Angels | Managing Partner, BizBuyAngels & Jumpstart Loan Fund I | GP, Headwaters Seed Stage Fund. Day 2: Building the Builders

  • Ryan Nong

    Community Development Officer, Whitefish Credit Union. Day 2: Host, Startup World Cup USA Regional

  • Dani Brown

    Public Historian, Historical Consultant I Missoula Downtown. Day 3: Historic Downtown Missoula at the CoBuild Center Downtown

Signature Themes and Topics

Values-Based Economy — how employee-owned businesses, nonprofits, co-ops, and other models can support long-term community value.

Community Ventures & Partnerships — sessions connecting ventures to capital and partners, anchored by the Startup World Cup USA Regional.

CoBuild Themes — Affordable housing, Montana-grown food, energy, rural health, and biocarbon for soil and land resilience.

Indigenous Economy — building bridges with and supporting Indigenous and Tribal businesses.

Conversations Shaping Montana's Future

Healthcare & Rural Care — locally rooted clinics, shared-service models, and creative partnerships that bring reliable care closer to home.

Student-Led Session — organized by Montana high school students.

Creative Problem-Solving Workshop — hands-on, inventive ways to tackle real challenges.

AI & Education — why ethical reasoning, interdisciplinary thinking, and human judgment may become the most valuable skills in the next economy.

When you Reach the Summit

Every participant walks away with more than a conference badge:

  • New partnerships across sectors and communities

  • Practical tools and values-led models ready to apply

  • Named next steps for ventures, partnerships and funding conversations

GET TICKETS

CoBuild Summit is Brought To You By

Exhibitors

CoBuild Summit Hotel Partner
Hotel Info & Special Rates

Proudly Sponsored and Supported By

Sponsorship Information 
About CoBuild Montana

CoBuild Montana is building a new era of values-based businesses, community-driven ventures, and collaborative initiatives, while creating real-world learning experiences for our state’s next generation of leaders.

Together, we’re keeping wealth, jobs, and decision-making rooted right here in our communities.

Connect With Us

Ready to learn more, partner with us, or request a sponsor or investor briefing? We’d love to hear from you.

Kirstin Miller, AICP: kirstin@cobuildmontana.com Erik Guzik, PhD: erik@cobuildmontana.com Jackson Crawford: jackson@cobuildmontana.com