In 1978, Montana Evergreen Company had an annual profit of only $1,700 dollars. The company was in dire straits, and many expected that it would buckle under the pressure of a weak economy and lack of market for its decidedly seasonal product. John G Harp purchased the company for the sum total of $45,000 dollars, and John G Harp promised to give reconstructing and reviving the company everything he had.

Over the course of the next year, John G Harp worked tirelessly to improve the company. John G Harp invested money to bring in new employees, advertise products, and strengthen the appeal of the company within the surrounding community of Kalispell, Montana. Developing a solid business plan allowed John G Harp to have a road map to success, which he followed as best he could for the first year of business.

At the end of 1979, one year after John G Harp's purchase of the company, Montana Evergreen Company had an annual profit of $40,000. The turnaround was underway. John G Harp described the experience, saying this about it: “It was exhilarating, but humbling at the same time. People look at the numbers and think that it was all me. In reality, we could not have made the turnaround without extensive sacrifice from everyone in the firm. People lost sleep, gave up weekends, and put their heart and soul into turning the company around.”

The corporate effort to rebuild the company continued over the next seven years, as profits increased and the company saw an increase in demand due to the new advertising programs put in place by John G Harp. By the time John G Harp sold the company in 1986, he had led a corporate turnaround that saw the value of Montana Evergreen Company skyrocket to half a million dollars, and saw the size of the company triple.

John G Harp's corporate leadership and business acumen were invaluable in this process. John G Harp's focus on teamwork and improving the work ethic of each employee allowed Montana Evergreen Company to turn into a powerhouse competitor within its field.