Mardi Milligan

Friday, October 14, 2005

(Press Review and testimonials below)

Mardi Milligan might be the most out-of-the-box business consultants in America. That’s because the Missoula woman specializes in giving corporate seminars on improving customer service – seminars in which she sings and plays guitar.

As schticks go, it’s certainly one that raises eyebrows. But judging from the success of her business –punningly called Fine Tuning Solutions – it’s clear that behind the schtick there’s an important message. Past clients include plenty of local and regional heavyweights, including D.A.Davidson, Lambros Real Estate, Blackfoot Communications and First Security Bank.

What does music have to do with customer service? Well, it mostly just has to do with Mardi Milligan’s divergent interests. A couple of decades ago, Milligan was making her way as a musician when she decided it was time for a life change. She was living in San Diego at the time, and a number of events converged to propel her back to her former home in Montana.

“I had a series of huge wakeup calls which motivated me to come back, go to school and get my Masters of Business Administration degree,” explains Milligan. “Since then, I’ve just tried to integrate music into everything I’ve done.”

There was a time when Milligan was better known around Montana for her music than for her business consulting. Before she moved to San Diego, she was a regular fixture at the Heidelhaus, where she and a group known as the Munich Three performed and led spirited sing-alongs that were popular with University of Montana students. She was also a member of Smile, a six-piece touring band based out of Kalispell.

It’s been 21 years since Mardi Milligan last performed a purely musical concert. She’s continued to play and write music, and even runs a company called Special Moments Music, which offers personalized songs for special occasions.

But after running into two former peers – Nina Russell and Jean Wrobel – at a Missoula Children’s production a while back, Milligan realized that she missed the opportunity to play the music that means the most to her on a personal level. “I decided it was time to step back up and do some music,” say Milligan.

Milligan culled through the 140 songs she has written, and ended up recording fourteen of them for a new CD. That album, titled “Choices,” demonstrates Milligan’s penchant for upbeat country songs and sentimental ballads. They’re the kind of songs that eschew the jaded, often cynical sentiments of modern pop music in favor of comforting, positive messages. Take, for example, her ode to her father, titled “Your Love for Me:”

“Your love for me is a lot like God’s love, it’s always there no matter what I do / Your love for me is a lot like God’s love, it’s always there to help and see me through / I remember when I was small, the whole world then seemed so tall, you used to hold me in your lap and read / Your arms were around me, your love did surround me, the lessons that you taught me were your seed.”

“My intention was to just create some nice music that is pleasant and sticks to the simple stuff,” explains Milligan. “I’ve always liked a variety of music, but I think a lot of the older listeners today don’t have a place to go. I like the oldies, but I think there’s a big hole out there somewhere.”

Despite – or perhaps because of – her intimate knowledge of the business world, Milligan isn’t aiming toward a full rejuvenation of her music career. She just wants to play some concerts, share her music, hopefully touch some souls.

“It’s not like I want to set the world on fire; I just think it’ll be fun,” she says.

OTHER TESTIMONIALS:

“Mardi, I really want to tell you how proud I am of you. Your unique voice in writing and performing personify what makes Montana great. We love you and your music sings to our hearts. You are a Montana treasure!”
--Dona Stebbins, Mayor, Great Falls

"I think your CD "Choices" is just fabulous! I'm listening to it every morning!"
--Donna Hartley, International Speaker, Hartley International, Tahoe City, NV

“Mardi, I've been up and down the trail a time or two and your music was as refreshing as dip a in a cold mountain stream after a hot and dusty ride."
--Jay Barber "The Whistleberry Cowboy," Missoula

“This is the first time I’ve seen you perform before a crowd in concert. I knew you’d be a class act and you did not disappoint me! I also knew your CD release party would be a success, and it was. Best of luck, and keep singing and writing hit songs.”
--Larry Curtis, Missouri River Music, Missoula

“Mardi, your concert was fantastic! Everything was a class act and you didn't miss a thing. I loved Where Do Angels Go, Catch and Release and all the cowboy songs!”
--Bernadette Hunter, Par Excellance, Missoula

“I took your CD, Choices, to my ballroom dance class here in Seattle and we all danced to your Montana Cowboy! Way to go, Mardi!"
--Jane Ballard, Epidemiologist, Seattle

"Where Do Angels Go, Mosaic Heart, Sacred Place, Loving Thoughts and Montana Memories are my favorites! Thanks for sharing your insights, wisdom, journey and gifts with all of us!"
--Kaycee Schilke, UM, Missoula

“Mardi, you put together a great mix of all-time traditional favorites with your own songs to create a delightful evening of entertainment. Those in the know around Western Montana think we are lucky to have someone so talented among us. Maybe you’re not world famous (yet) but you are something better – you are ‘world fabulous’!“
--Dan Norman, Serendipity Ventures, Missoula

“I enjoyed your CD release party at the Crystal Theater. We all carried home a piece of your heart.“
--Howard Horton, Builder, Missoula

- Missoulian, Writer Joe Nickell