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KALISPELL- A Flathead business that employs over 100 people is in the process of moving its headquarters to a different state, but the move is actually good news for local residents in the market for a new job.

Stellar Recovery Incorporated was nothing more than a start up collections agency with a few dozen employees just three years ago, but C.E.O. John Schanck had big plans for the small company.

"I've been doing this for 35 years, and it's my third start up company. It was somewhat of a no-brainer to come in and take this over and start vamping it up from there financially," he explained.

Schanck invested more than $1 million of his own money into the Kalispell based company, a seemingly risky move in such a shaky economy.

"I've worked with [John] him in my previous careers and previous employers. And it doesn't matter where we are, we're successful," Stellar Recovery Operations Manager James Curtis pointed out.

The investment paid off for the long-time businessman, just as his employees predicted it would.

"Our business last year grew over 300%. We went from $4.5 million in top-line revenues to over 18 million, and we expect to double that again this year," Schanck said.

Stellar Recovery is in the process of moving its headquarters to Jacksonville, Florida, but its Kalispell base is still growing. The company plans to expand into this space and double in size by the end of this year.

"We do business with major clients on the east coast and on Wall Street and it's really difficult for them to get to Montana," Schanck explained.

The move is part of a plan to expand, not downsize according to the C.E.O.

"We want to be here for the employees. And the way we're structuring this by moving corporate headquarters there, it allows us to be able to keep Kalispell, and be able to grow it from an hourly wage standpoint."

Schanck says his Kalispell employee base is continuing to increase, and expects to hire between 50 and 100 additional employees in less than a year's time

He added that his company's use of technological resources and its excellent customer service are among the top reasons why his business continues to thrive in the current economy.