Whoever first said, "Good things come in small packages" must've had Robyn Erlenbush in mind. Since the petite dynamo whirled into Bozeman 27 years ago, she has enriched the community with her time, talent, enthusiasm and support.
Raised on a cattle and sheep ranch near Baker, Montana, Robyn credits her work ethic, determination and gratitude to working on the ranch. She comes from hardy stock: her 75-year-old mother later operated the 4,000-acre ranch single handedly.
Robyn's passion for the arts took her to Arizona State University, the same school her son Alex is now attending. After receiving her degree in Music, Robyn returned home to teach. Along came banker, Orville Erlenbush, and the two married.
"We were living in Sidney, and I was waiting to be certified to teach music in Montana," Robyn recalls. "I began working at a title company and watching real estate transactions. I wondered if it was something I might be interested in. "After moving to Bozeman, Robyn joined ERA. Eight years later, she bought the company.
Robyn's first community project in Bozeman was a talent show called Spring Time in the Rockies, a fundraiser sponsored by the Business and Professional Women. She helped organize it and was one of the emcees. After that, the Bozeman Symphony beckoned. "Part of my passion for charities and supporting performing arts comes from my musical background. I could have had more impact by giving my time and money to support than I could by pursuing a career in music!"
Robyn joined the Bozeman Symphony Board and served for nine years, four as President. While on the Board, the first-ever nationwide search was held for music director, resulting in the hiring of Matthew Savery. At the same time, the symphony began paying performers for their work.
"I know how difficult it is to make a living as a performer or an artist." Robyn asserts. "It's up to those in the community who can afford to support them and cause them to flourish and sustain. Bozeman is living proof that you can do that." Support from the community's performing arts is far from Robyn's only area of concern. In 1998, she took a seat on the hospital board.
"Orville and I thought about how we could best support health care in Bozeman. We established an endowment named after our family for wellness," she explains. "We wanted to help people with preventative checks and early diagnosis. Many cancers can be fully cured with early detection. In supporting the hospital, I realized that everyone is touched. Everyone in their lifetime will have to deal with health care."
"Robyn's sense of business strategy and ability to see the big picture is unique, "says John Nordwick, president and CEO of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. "She's always looking for a new and better way to do things, constantly looking to improve."
Nothing means more to Robyn that her faith and her family. As a member of the Hope Lutheran Church, Robyn lent her talents to a contemporary Christian quartet called Living Hope. She was involved in the church's fundraising campaign to build a new facility. "If I understand that the blessings I receive are not directly related to my intellect or my timing - they only prove that I've been blessed - I need to recognize that and need to help make other people's lives better."
Read the rest of the article here.
Written by Lauri Olsen for Humanity in Motion Published February 2009
Robyn Erlenbush
CRS, GRI, CRB, Broker Owner
Phone: (406) 586-1321
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