The people behind the Billings Chamber of Commerce/CVB had a vision to honor the wonderful residents, organizations and businesses that make Billings such a great place to live, work and play. In order to give well-deserved recognition, the Roche Jaune Awards for Business Excellence event was created in 2007. The Roche Jaune Awards offers an opportunity for the community to highlight the professional and personal excellence of residents of Billings: Montana‘s Trailhead.
Roche Jaune, pronounced Row-sh Shwan, originated with the Minnetaree Indians. It means Yellow Rock River. They used Roche Jaune as reference to the Yellowstone River. When French Trappers and the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition came into contact with this tribe in 1805, they too began calling the Yellowstone River by that name. The first committee to organize the Billings Chamber/CVB business awards decided Roche Jaune would be the perfect official name.
Billings Chamber/CVB 2009 Employer of the Year
This category will be awarded to a Billings’ area business that has consistently provided a positive work environment for its employees, helping make Billings an even better place to do business.
In the fall of 2009, the Billings Chamber/CVB Roche Jaune Awards committee, comprised of ten business members and community leaders, announced that Whitewood Transport was the official recipient of the Billings Chamber/CVB Roche Jaune Awards for Business Excellence Employer of the Year.
The following was published by the Billings Gazette in partnership with the Billings Chamber/CVB, to full city circulation in November 2009, honoring Whitewood Transport’s Mike Wilson:
One of the most rewarding moments as a business owner might be when you learn you’ve been nominated for the community’s Employer of the Year award. What could be better? Finding out you won! Whitewood’s staff holds Mike in high regard as both businessman and a superior. Mike works to offer his employees well-paying jobs, opportunities to expand their horizons and chances to give back to the community they call home. Whitewood Transport staff play roles in numerous trucking and carriers associations, but they might tell you the most important organizations they rally around are the local, non-profit entities they support as a team like Eagle Mount and Special K Ranch. It is with the leadership of Mike that this business, management and staff stand out in the Billings business community.
