Dan Hill, a longtime Bozeman resident and business owner, is set to graduate with a professional certificate in business management from Gallatin College Montana State University on December 12. Hill’s journey into entrepreneurship began at age 10 when his father encouraged him to earn money by shoveling snow in their Denver neighborhood.
Hill has operated his own contracting business in Bozeman since 1999. He said that after years of practical experience, he sought out formal education at Gallatin College MSU to strengthen his understanding of running a company. “I thought I should learn all the nuts and bolts of the business world and have that knowledge base I can tap into, even though I knew a lot of it,” Hill said. He enrolled at Gallatin College two years ago at age 52.
Due to work commitments and raising two young daughters part time, Hill completed one class per semester for the one-year certificate program. He noted that the college’s flexibility and affordability made this possible. In 2024, after mentioning child care expenses to an instructor, the college provided assistance with about $800 per month for his youngest daughter’s day care costs. This support allowed him more time for coursework.
Hill also received recognition for his efforts when he was named one of 40 students campuswide to receive a Founders Day Award from MSU, which honors excellence in academics and community service. “I was motivated to finish what I started,” Hill said. “I think there might have been times where I was like, ‘Maybe I should skip a semester,’ but I didn’t. I just kept enrolling.”
Lisa Brown, director of the business management program, praised Hill’s commitment as a non-traditional student: “He is a testament to perseverance and hard work,” she said.
Hill described enjoying various aspects of campus life, such as studying in the library, attending career fairs, and bringing his daughters to Bobcat football games. He appreciated working with younger classmates who offered different perspectives during assignments.
The business management curriculum emphasizes teamwork and real-world scenarios. In an applied sales class, students practiced pitching products to instructors role-playing as clients. Feedback from instructors with industry backgrounds helped Hill develop marketing proposals and financial projections for his own company.
“You can walk up to a lender and say, ‘Here you go, this is me, this is what I have, and this is what I want to do,’” he said regarding skills learned while designing a business plan in class.
Looking ahead, Hill plans to use these new skills for potential growth or rebranding of his contracting business or possibly combining it with real estate expertise. He is also considering pursuing additional education in fields such as behavioral health or writing.
“Gallatin College is a great place to start,” he said.
