91ÊÓƵ

MISSOULA - Trinity Gibson attended college from 1992 to 1994, but it wasn’t the experience she had hoped for. So, she left school and began working for one of the largest jewelers in the world. There, she spent six years managing multiple stores and onboarding 25 outlet stores. In 2000, she established her own jewelry company, which she managed for 25 years while raising her kids.

“I moved to Missoula in 2015 to get out of the rat race and to rediscover who I was and what I wanted out of the next phase of my life,” said Gibson. “A few years later, I landed in the Bitterroot where I found an artist community that needed a little boost.” 

She quickly became president of the Bitterroot Arts Guild (BRAG), Montana’s third-oldest art association and the oldest in Ravalli County. Under her leadership, BRAG has experienced a vibrant resurgence—growing vendor participation, expanding public events like Art in the Park, and launching artist development initiatives that empower creators of all ages. One of her proudest accomplishments is the establishment of Junior BRAG, a youth-centered program launched two years ago to provide a supportive space where young artists can engineer, explore, and grow their creative voices from the ground up.

“In 2023, I realized I had a gap in my skill set. I knew it was finally time to finish my marketing degree to bolster my business and better support artists in the BRAG,” said Gibson. “And I found exactly what I needed at the 91ÊÓƵ College of Business.”

During her hands-on experience at the UM College of Business, Gibson competed in the John Ruffatto Start Up Challenge, attended a marketing conference, and interned with Last Best Box. On Saturday, she will graduate with a degree in Business Marketing. 

“Sarina Hamer and Dr. Emily Plant at UM were incredible supporters who pushed me to finish my degree this spring. I attribute so much of my drive in this experience to them,” said Gibson. “I’m glad I can show people that you can always go back to finish your degree. I’m so glad I did. Not only will my business benefit, but I can help artists in my community too.”

She is planning Art in the Park, which will be held Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ravalli County fairgrounds. She also offers artist workshops to teach participants how to use social media, develop business plans, and transition to online business processing platforms. 

Beyond her work with BRAG, Trinity is the force behind Puppet Pandemonium and Beadniks of Montana, a homegrown creative business specializing in handmade puppets, whimsical jewelry, and tactile play-based tools. Her puppets are more than toys; they are storytelling companions designed to support emotional development and identity building, especially for children navigating adoption or nontraditional family structures. She has her eyes set on scaling Puppet Pandemonium into national markets and elevating Montana’s artist economy.

To learn more about the BRAG, Art in the Park, and Trinity's workshops, go to .