As Bozeman booms, one developer wrestles with growth, housing and the town's character. Montana's economy is changing fast, and a new generation of leaders is steering the shift.

Marsh has built several mixed-use projects in downtown Bozeman.

What sets it apart

He backs incentives to add affordable units to new developments. Small as it sounds, it is exactly the sort of thing that defines the experience on the ground.

Critics and allies alike see him as central to the city's future.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly Montana balance between wildness and self-reliance. Their bets on Montana may well shape the state's next chapter.