Shipping Address:
600 1st Ave North Billings, MT 59101
Contact NBS
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1742 Billings, MT 59103
Phone #:
406-252-6661
Fax #:
406-245-9755
General Email
Taylor Brown
President
About Taylor Brown
Taylor Brown is widely known as one of the nation’s leaders in the field of agricultural broadcasting, and has played a huge role in western agriculture since he joined the Northern Ag Network as a regional farm broadcaster in 1979. Today he and his wife Shannon own the Northern Broadcasting System, and its flagship radio station KGHL (AM790 and 94.7FM) in Billings.
Born in Sheridan, Wyoming, Taylor Brown grew up on his family’s cattle ranch in eastern Montana near Sand Springs. He attended high school in Lewistown where he was active in FFA and earned his bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Montana State University in Bozeman, where he served as the Student Body President.
A past National President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Taylor served 12 years as the President of the NAFB Foundation. His many achievements in the broadcasting industry include being named America’s “Farm Broadcaster of the Year”, and receiving the prestigious “Oscar in Agriculture” award for radio, and being inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame in 2010.
Serving two terms in the Montana Senate from 2009-16, Brown was elected Majority Whip, and chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee, as well as the Senate Education Committee. Brown is known as an advocate for rural farm and ranch families, and his support of 4-H, FFA, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and the REAL Montana leadership program.
Taylor and Shannon have been married since 1980, and are active in the Huntley Project community just east of Billings. Their son Travis and his wife Mary operate the family’s LO Cattle Company ranch in Garfield County. Their son Colter Brown, daughter Courtney Kibblewhite, and her husband Jonathan lead the management team at Northern Broadcasting.
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Courtney Kibblewhite
VP / Sales Director
About Courtney Kibblewhite
Courtney Kibblewhite is the Vice President for Northern Broadcasting. She leads the sales and marketing team and enjoys working with clients to develop multimedia marketing campaigns to broaden the impact of traditional advertising programs in Montana, Wyoming and the Western Dakotas.
Prior to Northern Broadcasting, Courtney worked in human capital consulting in Chicago and in academia teaching and studying social psychology and human behavior. Courtney holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior from University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications & International Studies from Northwestern University.
Courtney currently serves as the Billings Chamber Agriculture Committee Chairman and is on the board for the Montana State Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, and working on their family ranch in Sand Springs, MT. Courtney and her husband Jonathan (from Wales) have a daughter Nia who was born in 2017.
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Jonathan Kibblewhite
Operations Manager
About Jonathan Kibblewhite
Jonathan Kibblewhite, born in Swansea, Wales, was born into a traveling fairground family. At the age of 2, Jonathan’s family moved up to North Wales where they had a non-moving fairground to enable Jonathan and his sister Rachel to have a standard education, without traveling around.
Following school, Jonathan studied Media Management at Nottingham Trent University in England, the land of Robin Hood! And soon after the family decided to up sticks and move to The Gambia, West Africa. So at the age of 21, Jonathan moved with his family to The Gambia where he imported beach goods to sell to the hotels and supermarkets. After 1 year in The Gambia, Jonathan moved to Huddersfield, England where he worked in Production Planning for Syngenta Agro-Chemicals.
Following school, Jonathan studied Media Management at Nottingham Trent University in England, the land of Robin Hood! And soon after the family decided to up sticks and move to The Gambia, West Africa. So at the age of 21, Jonathan moved with his family to The Gambia where he imported beach goods to sell to the hotels and supermarkets. After 1 year in The Gambia, Jonathan moved to Huddersfield, England where he worked in Production Planning for Syngenta Agro-Chemicals.
After 10 years at Syngenta, it was time for the next move! Jonathan decided to follow his childhood dream of becoming a scuba diver and moved to Koh Tao, Thailand to become a scuba diving instructor. Jonathan worked as a scuba diving instructor for almost 5 years on Koh Tao, where he met his wife (who was from Billings, Montana), this brought him to the Magic City!
Jonathan has been the Operations Manager at Northern Broadcasting since September 2015.
After living on 4 continents, Jonathan has settled in Montana with his wife Courtney, their 2 kids and their 2 Boston Terriers.
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Colter Brown
Ag Director
About Colter Brown
Currently the Ag Director of the Northern Ag Network, Colter Brown began his broadcast career in 2009 as a summer intern for its parent company, the Northern Broadcasting System. Raised in Huntley, Montana, Brown graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with degrees in Agricultural Business and Economics. Upon graduating from MSU, Colter was employed for Northwest Farm Credit Services as an Agricultural Loan Officer, where he spent 5 years working with producers who raised cattle, small grains, pulse crops, and sugar beets throughout Eastern Montana.
In 2017, Colter joined the Northern Ag Network and today he leads a team of farm broadcasters that produce 15 daily radio and television programs, providing ag news and market programs for a network of over 60 Affiliated Stations in Montana, Wyoming and the western Dakotas. Colter volunteers on the board of directors for the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity – Alpha Delta Alumni Association, as well as for Montana Range Days, the state’s largest rangeland education program.
Colter, his wife Kayla and two sons Owen and Hudson live in Laurel, Montana, and stay active with their own small herd of cattle as part of his family’s cow-calf operation at Sand Springs, Montana.
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Denise Smith
News Director
About Denise Smith
Denise Smith has a mixture of life experiences and education that gives her awareness of how to assist in making her hometown of Billings a great place to live. She is the youngest of seven and worked at the Cenex Refinery during the summers to pay for her Journalism Degree from the University of Montana. After graduation, she worked for a short time at KULR 8 before making her way to KCFW in Kalispell. When it was time to start raising a family, she also ventured out with her own company, Illusion Video Productions.
When the realization that having her two teenagers and three kids under the age of 4 falling asleep on the editing room floor every night was not a healthy way to raise a family, she began her work in the Non-Profit arena by working at the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. She quickly rose through the ranks and went from part-time to Director of Operations in just 3 short years. Being recognized as a hard worker with a lot of tenacity, she was hired away from the Chamber by Senator Conrad Burns. During her time at the Senate, Denise was responsible for the issue areas of Economic Development, Telecommunications, Transportation, and the EPA. Working on behalf of the Senator, she was able to build a lot of relationships across the state. She did so by always striving to find the common ground between the constituents and the federal agencies. However, one of her proudest accomplishment during this time was being known as “Conrad’s Pitbull”, which was both a sign of respect by the agencies as well as an acknowledgment that whenever she was working on a constituent’s case, the constituent was going to be made whole.
When her time at the Senate was over, she went to work for the Flathead Business and Industry Association, an organization whose work focused on advocating on behalf of the business communities of Northwest Montana. Again, Denise focused on finding the middle ground between building economically healthy communities, working with elected officials, and maintaining a healthy environment.
For the betterment of her kids, in 2010 she came home to Billings and began her work as the Executive Director of the Home Builders Association. In 2014 she made another career change when she went from “Parade of Homes to the homeless” and began her work as Director of Public Relations for the Montana Rescue Mission. When asked what she liked the most about that position, she will tell you she is thankful to have been able to spend more time with her youngest two children and felt honored to give voice to the poorest of the poor in our community.
Earlier this year, Denise decided to dust off her Journalism Degree and put it back in use as the News Director for Northern News Network. Denise is excited about the opportunity to bring her knowledge on Statewide Issues to a broader audience, “I look forward to being able to utilize my vast number of contacts throughout this great State to provide critical information with solid journalism standards to our listeners. I will again utilize my ability to focus on what we can agree on, rather than what divides us.”
In her spare time, she serves as the President to the Montana Association For Female Executives (MAFE), the Chair of the City of Billings Human Relations Commission, and on the Board of Directors for Saint Vincent De Paul. Since moving to Billings, she has also served as the Chair of the Job Service Employers Committee (JSEC), The Chair of Ram Jam, and within her Church Community.
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Shannon Brown
Comptroller
About Shannon Brown
Shannon Brown has worked at Northern Broadcasting System since 1994. She is currently in charge of office accounting, employee materials, station affidavits plus assists with general office management.
Shannon was born in Missoula, Montana to Ferris and Anna Marie Clouse. She is the third of eight children. She graduated from Missoula Hellgate High School and Montana State University in Bozeman, receiving a degree in Elementary Education. She taught elementary school in Billings for 13 years until she resigned to be a full-time Mom. Shannon and Taylor have been married since 1980. They are blessed with three children: Travis (1984), Courtney (1986), and Colter (1989). Shannon is active in the Huntley Project community. She enjoys helping with 4-H, FFA, religious education, volunteering at school, homework and housework. She loves to sew in her free time.
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Bernadete Jensen
Office Manager
About Bernadete Jensen
Born and raised in Billings, Bernadete has been with Northern Broadcasting as the Traffic Manager since January of 2018. As the face of the front office she has been said to have the best and most versatile position in the organization as she gets to interact with the entire NBS team, various community members and leaders and most importantly NBS’ amazing network affiliates and clients.
Upon graduation from The University of Montana with a degree in Organizational Communication in 2001, Bernadete worked for 17 years in retail leadership and development with both Dillard’s and Cabela’s. This career path brought her to several states including Arkansas, Colorado, and Nebraska which provided some memorable experiences, connections with great people and the opportunity to try some amazing food! In the fall of 2017, Bernadete took a leap of faith by leaving her career in corporate retail and moved back to Montana with her whiskey aficionado Matt Heinz and bird dog, Sidney, in tow. They currently reside in a rural community northwest of the Laurel area.
Growing up in Montana she enjoys living the outdoor lifestyle participating in activities such as ultra-marathon trail running, paddle boarding, skiing, and bird hunting. Truly believing in the advice given to her early in her career about the importance of servant leadership, her volunteer activities have guided her to reconnect with the local Billings area while continuing to make Montana her forever home. Some future goals include participating in a 100-mile ultra-marathon, hiking the El Camino de Santiago in Spain and serving on a local non-profit board.
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Leif Bakken,
Ag Broadcaster
About Leif Bakken
Leif grew up on his family’s farm and ranch north of Lemmon, South Dakota in Southwestern North Dakota. He went to school in Lemmon participating in 4-H, FFA, music, and sports. Leif was also a radio DJ at the local station, KBJM, and broadcast under the name ‘Leify Spurge.’ He attended Minot State University receiving his bachelor degree in broadcast production, minor in marketing and a concentration in sportscasting. Leif is also a June 2015 graduate of Western College of Auctioneering. While at Minot State he was the online play-by-play announcer for all the Beaver home sporting events including football, volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, softball and baseball. While announcing for the Beavers he announced a total of 322 games.
Leif was hired on to the Northern Ag Network team as an Ag Broadcaster in June 2018. In his spare time, Leif enjoys playing cards, fishing, and traveling around the country meeting producers in Northern Ag Territory.
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Andy Schwab
Ag Broadcaster
About Andy Schwab
Andy Schwab grew up in Powell, WY on a small farm that produced race horses while he was a kid. He learned to ride horses, hunt, fish and take pack trips to the backcountry at very young age and has yet to lose the passion. Through his high school years at Powell, Andy competed in sports, FFA and started his own farrow to finish hog business. He would add many hats to wear after graduation as he jumped right into the work force, often times holding two to three jobs at a time. For nearly 10 years his main vocation was working in the retail world for a local co-op and farm and ranch store.
In that time, he would also add job experiences from the Wyoming Game and Fish as an AIS Tech and the US Forest Service as a backcountry trail crew foreman, spending three seasons with each department. He also became a bar tender for a local steakhouse in Cody, WY for three summers to prevent any boredom from setting in. But probably his favorite hat he put on was that from an auction business he started on his own and continues to operate after self-teaching himself how to be an auctioneer. “It’s the one job that has taught me how to use my voice properly, and opened a lot of new doors, including the door to Northern Ag Network and sports broadcasting.”
In May of 2019, Andy joined the Northern Ag Network as an Ag Broadcaster and one of his first interviews on air was with the Governor of Wyoming, Mark Gordon, while attending a mid-year conference held by Wyoming Stock Growers Association.
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Brian Bennett
News Anchor
About Brian Bennett
Brian Bennett brings nearly 30 years of broadcast experience to the Northern News Network. As network News Director, Brian produces eight daily newscasts covering Montana’s biggest headlines and issues, with voice actualities from the newsmakers.
Brian grew up in Hazen, North Dakota, north of Bismarck. His introduction to radio was listening to WLS Chicago and KOMA Oklahoma City and this nightly ritual created a desire in him to “get into the magic of radio!” Following high school graduation he entered the Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis and landed his first on-air job in 1967 at KFYR in Bismarck.
Like many of his generation, he was drafted and joined the Marines. He spent two years in San Diego where he found a way to continue in radio by taping programs for local stations. Following his service in the Marines, he returned to Montana in 1970 where he started at KGHL in Billings. His broadcast career took him to KBUL, KBMY and then back to KGHL where he continued for twelve years. During this time he was awarded a “City of Billings Day Proclamation” by the Mayor in 1990.
Brian’s career moved him next to work for Reier Broadcasting’s KOHZ (now KBBB) until moving to Bozeman, Montana where he worked for Reier’s KBOZ. He remained there until 2006 when his broadcast adventure brought him to Northern Broadcasting System’s Northern News Network. Today as the News Director of Montana’s largest state news network, his experience and passion brings news into the homes and offices across Montana!
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Tom Schultz
Voices of Montana Host
About Tom Schultz
Tom Schultz is a long-time Montana broadcaster and public relations specialist and now serves as the host of Northern News Networks Voices of Montana. The popular program has been airing Monday through Friday on radio stations across Montana since 1998.
Born in Plentywood, Tom began his radio career as a senior in high school at Voices of Montana affiliate KXGN, in Glendive. He attended college at Dawson Community College, in Glendive, and the University of Montana, in Missoula.
He has worked as a disc jockey, radio journalist, talk-show host, and sportscaster for radio stations in Glendive, Scobey, Missoula, Kalispell, and Bozeman. He is widely known as a sportscaster, hosting and producing the award-winning University of Montana Grizzly football pregame radio show for more than 15 seasons. Most recently, he served as the interim play-by-play broadcaster for Montana State University men’s basketball for the 2019 conference season.
In 2001, Tom was hired to serve as U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg’s Press Secretary, and through the next decade handled congressional media relations and public events for the six-term Montana congressman. In 2017, Tom returned to public service as the Montana Press Secretary for U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte. He also has experience working in construction, oil-extraction, and sign-marketing, and was the public address announcer for the Missoula Osprey minor league baseball team.
“From Montana-For Montana”, Tom hosts a program that represents the thoughtful and caring people of our state. He takes a common-sense approach to examining the issues and hearing from all sides. He feels that public discourse doesn’t need to be divisive and that we can certainly speak our minds. But he wants to make sure that the audience is able to draw conclusions based on the truth. As he says on the show, “it’s important to measure our words.” That’s the kind of Montana he grew up in, and the kind he wants to pass along.”
Schultz and his wife, Lloie, have been married for 36 years, have two adult children and 1 grandchild, and live in Billings.
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Augie Aga
Director of National Marketing
About Augie Aga
As a Director of National Sales, Augie Aga brings more than 30 years experience in radio and television advertising sales to the Northern Broadcasting System team. His focus is on national sales for the Northern Ag Network, Northern News Network, Northern Sports Networks and their web portals.
Augie received his bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. He is also certified as a Manager of Radio Marketing and a Certified Digital Marketing Consultant.
Having grown up in Minnesota, Augie wandered west to Montana in 1984 to be a ski bum, working in a Billings ski shop. After five years in the ski biz he figured he better put his college degree to work and joined the sales department at KBLG-AM and KRKX-FM. Growing from two stations, to a cluster of six stations, Augie has worn just about every hat in the stations sales department… Account Executive, Local Sales Manager, National Sales Manager, General Sales Manager and even General Manager. Augie’s vast advertising, marketing and management experience, he knows that every client is different. He believes in helping his clients succeed in today’s fast changing business environment by building customized marketing solutions utilizing both traditional and new media platforms.
Augie lives at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains in Red Lodge, Montana. He enjoys spending his free time in the mountains, skiing, camping, fishing, and hiking. Augie is still a ski bum, having skied at least one day every month, for more than 24 years (296 months in a row at last count). Augie’s perfect day is skiing in the morning, golfing in the afternoon and fly-fishing in the evening.
Augie received his bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. He is also certified as a Manager of Radio Marketing and a Certified Digital Marketing Consultant.
Having grown up in Minnesota, Augie wandered west to Montana in 1984 to be a ski bum, working in a Billings ski shop. After five years in the ski biz he figured he better put his college degree to work and joined the sales department at KBLG-AM and KRKX-FM. Growing from two stations, to a cluster of six stations, Augie has worn just about every hat in the stations sales department… Account Executive, Local Sales Manager, National Sales Manager, General Sales Manager and even General Manager. Augie’s vast advertising, marketing and management experience, he knows that every client is different. He believes in helping his clients succeed in today’s fast changing business environment by building customized marketing solutions utilizing both traditional and new media platforms.
Augie lives at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains in Red Lodge, Montana. He enjoys spending his free time in the mountains, skiing, camping, fishing, and hiking. Augie is still a ski bum, having skied at least one day every month, for more than 24 years (296 months in a row at last count). Augie’s perfect day is skiing in the morning, golfing in the afternoon and fly-fishing in the evening.
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Amelia Siroky
Marketing Specialist
About Amelia Siroky
Amelia was raised near Red Lodge, MT and was actively involved in many extra-curricular programs. She got the most joy out of 4-H and FFA, holding offices in both organizations and representing Montana at multiple national conventions. During her time in FFA she was highly awarded in extemporaneous speaking and competed at National FFA in meat judging. Amelia earned an associate’s degree in agricultural business in 2014 from Sheridan College. During her time at Sheridan College, Amelia was actively involved in PAS (National Post-Secondary Agricultural Student Organization) and in 2014 she won the national Impromptu speaking title.
Amelia joined the Northern Broadcasting team early in 2017. Before joining Northern Broadcasting, Amelia worked as a Service Manager for Wells Fargo in Gillette, WY. Her past work also includes range management, sales and property management just to name a few.
Amelia lives with her husband, Chad Siroky and their blue-heeler, Rosie near Park City, MT. They enjoy fishing, cooking, traveling, snowmobiling and visiting his parents at the Padlock Ranch in Ranchester, WY. Amelia is a 6th generation Montanan and spent many weekends growing up at her grandparents’ ranch jokingly named the Woofagator Ranch at Forest Grove (population 10…maybe). Amelia also owns Prairie Smoke Beadwork where she makes custom loom-beaded pieces such as belts and hatbands.
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Montana News Headlines
First National FFA Director From Montana Mamie Hertel From Moore Was On Voices Of Montana Today
The Future Farmers of America recently named Mamie Hertel of Moore Montana the Central Region President the first national director from Montana. She was on Voices of Montana today. “To listen to the full Voices of Montana Podcast Click Here”FLSA Raises Minimum Salary Level Jan. 1st But Leandra Lipson Says Not All Nonprofits Are Subject To It
A new overtime rule raises the minimum salary level required to qualify under the Fair Labor Standards Act effective Jan. 1st but are all Montana non-profits subject to it? Leandra Lipson from the Montana Nonprofit Association.Senator Jon Tester Asks President Of Modular Homes To Build A Plant In Indian Country
Senator Jon Tester at a recent banking hearing talked with Mark Yost President of Champion Home Builders in Canton Missouri after hearing about the lower cost of modular homes versus stick build homes on the same land.Chief Deputy Attorney General Jon Bennion On Voices Of Montana Talks About Drugs And Law Enforcement
Law enforcement says 80 to 90 percent of crimes they deal with are related to drugs. Some insight from Chief Deputy Attorney General Jon Bennion who was on Voices of Montana today. “To listen to the full Voices of Montana Podcast Click Here”Montana Veteran Anson Nygaard Advocates For Public Lands Saying Civic Engagement Such As Speaking To Lawmakers Is Important
Montana veteran Anson Nygaard is a public advocate for public lands and joined the Montana Wilderness Association to advocate for them. He says civic engagement such as speaking to lawmakers is important.
On Voices of Montana
Jon Bennion – Candidate for Montana Attorney General
(24 minutes) Montana native Jon Bennion was a visitor to Voices on Tuesday. He has been serving as the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the state of Montana since 2013. A University of Montana law school graduate, Jon is making his first statewide race for political office in running for …What is REAL Montana Leadership?
(42 minutes) What does it take to be a REAL Montana leader — boldness, passion, connection? Listen to the podcast as Voices of Montana was on location as part of the REAL Montana leadership program, which seeks to build informed and engaged leaders advancing the agriculture and resources industries in …New Ranch Management Program at MSU Combines Scientific and Financial Expertise
(25 minutes) Ranching today is a complicated and demanding business. It’s one that requires both scientific and financial expertise. Recognizing the on-going challenge of managing a profitable and sustainable ranch, Montana State University has launched a new and unique four-year bachelor’s degree program for young ranchers that combines the disciplines …Walter Schweitzer Takes Over the Reigns at Montana Farmers Union
(40 minutes) Does the USMCA trade agreement really offer any new benefits to Montana? Did Montana ag producers irredeemably lose market share because the U.S. stepped back from TPP in favor of new unilateral trade agreements, such as was recently negotiated with Japan and South Korea? What direction will Walter …Iraq War Veteran T.J. Smith on His Service in Theater and Out
(36 minutes) Injured in an IED attack, Montana Purple Heart Recipient T.J. Smith shared his experience in Iraq on Voices today. T.J. also works as the Housing Retention Coordinator with Volunteers of America and passed along some valuable advice for veterans.