Big Sky Futures is led by students, Big Sky Chamber, LMLC
By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
Eighteen local businesses and nonprofits tabled at the Lone Peak High School gym on April 27, sharing insights into potential career paths like construction, hospitality, firefighting, health care and wellness.
The annual fair is led by students in the Big Sky Futures Club, and is a key part of the group’s programming, in addition to monthly visits from speakers. Most recently, the club hosted Montana State University Athletics—Bobcat football players Justin Lamson and Titan Fleischmann, head football coach Brent Vigen, mascot Champ and Athletics Director Leon Costello gave a March presentation about all the jobs that go into a successful sports operation.
Every April, Big Sky Futures also hosts a job shadow day to visit three or four businesses, which included 35 to 40 students in 2026.
Lone Mountain Land Company President Matt Kidd helped former student and Big Sky Futures founder Charlee Sue Dreisbach create the program in 2023. Anna Johnson, LMLC’s director of community engagement, told EBS the company is proud to continue supporting Big Sky Futures.
“This community is full of professionals who want to support the next generation,” Johnson stated in an email to EBS. “By building these bridges between students and local professionals, we’re helping young people explore what’s possible and take real steps toward their goals—whether that’s college, a trade school, or jumping straight into the workforce.”
The Big Sky Chamber of Commerce also helps organize Big Sky Futures, and VP Megan Porter said April is the most exciting time of year, between shadow day and the career fair.
“The true impact of this program is introducing kids to jobs that they might not think of within an industry,” Porter said at the event.
For the chamber, last year’s event led one student to a summer internship. But the event is not designed for immediate job connections, so much as inspiration for students to consider future career paths.
“We’re mainly here to try and plant seeds in their mind, about what’s available to them… educate them on what’s available, and maybe push them to go in a direction they maybe hadn’t thought about ahead of time,” said Jackson Chaput, marketing coordinator for Big Sky Land Management, a local construction company that’s participated in every year of Big Sky Futures.
Chaput explained that young workers face a strong opportunity as the construction industry faces a “silver wave” with many professionals nearing retirement. He noted that many careers exist in construction, including office-type jobs, contrary to popular belief.
“There’s a lot of opportunity up here in Big Sky, especially in construction,” Chaput said.
Korbin Frederick, human resources officer with Big Sky Resort, tells students about his story, a common one: he studied a subject in college that has little to do with his current field. He hopes the message helps relieve some of the pressure that weighs on ambitious high schoolers.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a long time… It’s okay to not know what you want to do,” Frederick said.
Big Sky Fire Department Battalion Chief Dan Sheil said the career fair offers a chance for students to realize firefighting is a real career path, and a reliable industry in an increasingly automated job landscape.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize that they can do this as a job,” Sheil said, as curious students examined life-saving tools on display in the Lone Peak gym.
Firefighter Jake Czerniewski said well-rounded, hands-on workers and fast learners make strong candidates for the challenging work of firefighting. “Our goal is to reach out to the community, and hopefully, in future years, get more local firefighters,” Czerniewski said.
Paige Robison, assistant recreation director with nonprofit Eagle Mount, said the organization relies primarily on volunteers, which is a good fit for many high school students looking to log hours. In addition, Eagle Mount’s internships can be a good way for candidates to gain experience in adaptive recreation or, more generally, work with individuals with disabilities.
“I think [this fair is] a good way for people to know more about the [Eagle Mount] organization, but also for high school students to get involved and understand what we do. But then also, what other career opportunities are out there for [supporting] people with disabilities,” Robison said.
Students: ‘I think we get a lot out of it’
Sophomore Kate O’Connor, Big Sky Futures’ communications lead, is interested in an emergency medical services career. She’s done three ride-alongs with BSFD and completed a program called MedStart. She credits school counselor Janet Martinez for providing career advice, but believes Big Sky Futures can spark inspiration for those who otherwise might not visit a school counselor.
“I think the biggest takeaway is guidance,” O’Connor said, describing Big Sky Futures. “… Supporting students as much as we can, without handing them a job.”
Students from Big Sky Community School and Discovery Academy also attended the fair.
Lone Peak sophomore Violet Fischer said the fair is a good way for students to learn what types of jobs might be available for high school graduates or college students. She thinks most of her peers walk away with new knowledge and excitement.
“They are very cool companies, and it’s cool to learn about how they operate and if they have opportunities for you,” Fischer said.
Senior Elise Daugherty is president of Big Sky Futures, and said it’s been an engaging program since her freshman year, when Dreisbach got it started. Daugherty’s goal is to make Big Sky Futures more interactive, and she thinks students are getting more excited about the monthly visits from role models like the national champion Bobcats.
“[It’s] been so pivotal, and I think we’ve got a lot out of it,” Daugherty said. “Because I know a lot of people who have got jobs and internships because of it, and also just learned what they want to do when they graduate. It also shows students that there’s another path, aside from just going straight to college out of high school. Because that’s not in everybody’s game plan.”
Daugherty thanked every business that has ever given its time to support the program. She thanked LMLC’s Matt Kidd and Anna Johnson, and Megan Porter from the chamber, for their guidance. Finally, she thanked all of her classmates who give their full attention and energy at Big Sky Futures events.
“We are grateful to have such an active and service-minded community that gives its time and energy to young adults so they can better navigate their future career paths,” LPHS Principal Dr. Marlo Mitchem stated in an email to EBS.
“Big Sky Futures has proven to be a great two-way interaction with the community,” added Superintendent Dr. Dustin Shipman. “Our students get to hear, firsthand, from folks who have journeyed from high school to the present… The more we can have folks explore their futures, the clearer their own journeys become and to be able to do that with locals is even more meaningful.”
Daugherty said Big Sky Futures shows students that many paths exist, and they can do what they want to do. “They just have to put some effort in,” she said.
