Gallatin College MSU student uses certificate to bolster his business

BOZEMAN - At 10 years old, Dan Hill's father handed him a snow shovel and told him to earn some money.

He and his two siblings roamed their Denver neighborhood, knocking on doors and clearing driveways for $5 or $10 until it was dark. It was the first of many lessons his father Zack, a commercial real estate agent from Houston, taught him about entrepreneurship and running his "own show," said Hill, who will graduate on Friday, Dec. 12, with a professional certificate in business management from Gallatin College Montana State University.

Twenty-seven years later, Hill became the owner of his own contracting business in Bozeman, where he has worked since 1999. He realized there was not one answer for how to effectively run a company and that he could gain more insight at Gallatin College MSU, where his brother completed an Associate of Arts degree. Hill, who chose to work full time after high school, thought, "I'd like to try that someday."

"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," said Hill, who enrolled at Gallatin College MSU two years ago at the age of 52. "Now I feel like I have something to work on in the next few years to really develop my business."

Hill said he started building his knowledge base with one class per semester, appreciating the college's flexibility and affordability because he didn't have the time or money to pursue a full courseload for the one-year certificate. He was balancing work and raising two daughters, who are ages 6 and 8 and live with him part time.

It was challenging, he said, but Gallatin College MSU supported him in more ways than one. When he offhandedly mentioned child care expenses to an instructor in 2024, the college helped pay about $800 per month for his youngest daughter's day care, allowing him to spend more time on classwork.

He couldn't believe it. Hill said it was meaningful to set an example for his girls about the value of education and perseverance. And his efforts that year didn't go unnoticed: He was one of 40 students campuswide to receive a Founders Day Award from MSU, which recognizes individuals for their excellence in the classroom 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."

Program Director Lisa Brown said she was impressed with Hill's dedication to attending class and completing assignments as a non-traditional student.

"He is a testament to perseverance and hard work," she said.

Hill said he also made sure to enjoy the typical college experience. He liked studying in the library, attending career fairs and taking his daughters to Bobcat football games. He appreciated learning in smaller classes alongside students on a path to self-improvement, particularly peers half his age who impressed him with their unique take on assignments.

Working in teams is central to the business management program, which Hill discovered in his applied sales class. His instructor acted as a client and approached groups of three students, holding out his hand for a shake and asking, "What do you have for me?'" Hill said teams had to be quick on their feet to pitch a product and make a positive impression on a gruff customer.

He valued feedback from his instructors, many of whom run their own businesses and incorporate industry expertise into lectures. Hill said this was particularly helpful when designing a business plan in class, where he developed marketing proposals and financial projections using his business, Hill Contracting.

"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. "And I've never done that before. It's a really useful thing to have."

It is one more tool Hill will use to grow his business, with options to rebrand and combine his real estate and contracting experience or join another company in the future. Hill is also considering pursuing another certificate or degree, such as behavioral health, history or English writing.

"Gallatin College is a great place to start," he said.