Building Work Skills, Fostering Life Skills
AJAY MT Founding Team Members
Action Team
Justice Patricia Cotter, MT Supreme Court (ret) – Co-Chair, Helena
Duane Ankney, State Senator (R) Colstrip
Karen Miller, Director, BillingsWorks
Colleen Brady, Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena
Zach Brown, MT House Representative (D), Project Director, One Montana
Todd Buchanan, Buchanan Capital, MT Board of Regents, 2007-14, Billings
Tim Burton, National League of Cities Board Member, Exec. Director, MT League of Cities and Towns
Dave Byerly, Lewistown City Commission
Mary Caferro, State Senator (D), Helena
John Cech, President, Carroll College
Kaetlyn Cordingley, Ed. M. Assistant Dean, Davidson Honors College, University of Montana
Lisa Cordingley, Executive Director, Helena Education Foundation
Kelly Cresswell, Executive Director, Reach Higher Montana
Sheila V. Devins MEd, NBCT, Head Start MT Teacher of the Year, 2007, Seeley Lake
John Doran, Vice President, External Affairs, BCBS
Dan Edelman, Chancellor, MSU Billings
Rick Edwards, Director of Community Connections, Northwestern Energy, Butte
Al Ekblad, Executive Secretary, MT AFL-CIO
Eric Feaver, President, MFPE
Rodger Foster, Morrison-Maierle Engineering, (ret), Helena
Carrie Gilbertson, CEO, THRIVE, Bozeman
Rick Hays, President, Qwest-Montana (ret)
Brian Kahn, Host, “Home Ground”, AJAY-USA Coordinator
Kathleen Healy, Philanthropy Associate, First Interstate Foundation, Billings
Chris King, King Ranch, Winnett
Kirk Lacy, University of Montana
Tim Love, Seeley Lake District Ranger, U.S. Forest Service (ret.)
Heather Margolis, Montana Education Partnership, Bozeman
Michael McCormick, Livingston Food Resources Center
Lynda Moss, State Senator (D), (2004-2012) Billings
Linda Owens, Project Director, Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, Ennis
Richard Opper, Director, DPHHS 2013-16, Director, DEQ 2005-13
Major General “Gene” Prendergast (ret)
Lee Robison, Indian Health Care Service, Retired, McAllister
Bill Simmons, Founder, MasterLube, Billings
Greg Upham, Superintendent, Billings Public Schools
Tressie White, Senior Program Officer (Indian Healthcare), Montana Healthcare Foundation, Bozeman
Gavin J. Woltjer, Library Director, Billings Public Library
Jobs Team
Duane Ankney, State Senator (R) Colstrip
Ed Beall, Owner, Capital Sports, Helena
Dale Bosworth, Chief, U.S, Forest Service (ret), Missoula
Dave Byerly, Lewistown City Commission
John Doran, Vice President for External Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana
Rick Edwards, Director of Community Connections, Northwestern Energy, Butte
Al Ekblad, Executive Secretary, MT AFL-CIO
Diane Fladmo, Director of Research, MFPE
Rodger Foster, Morrison Maerle Engineering (ret)
Terry Gauthier, McDonalds Franchisee, State Senator (R)
Kirk Lacy, University of Montana
Jackie and Craig Mathews, Founders, Blue Ribbon Flies, West Yellowstone
Jeff Meide, Billings
Loren Rose, CFO, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Seeley Lake
Bill Simmons, Founder, MasterLube, Billings
Erica Swanson, State Director, Jobs for MT Graduates, Department of Labor and industry
Advisory Team
Dale Bosworth, Chief, U.S, Forest Service (ret), Missoula
Alison Munson, United Way of Helena
Bob Russell, Chapter Chair, SCORE (business/entrepreneur mentoring)
Information Team
Dorothy Bradley, Bozeman
Taylor Brown, Northern Ag Broadcasting Network, Billings
Dr. Waded Cruzado, PhD. President, MT State University, Bozeman
Ron Davis, President, Butte Broadcasting Company
Katherine Dayton, Owner/Director Visions Adventures, Bozeman
Ron DeYong, Director, Montana Department of Agriculture (ret)
Darrell Ehrlich, Editor, Billings Gazette
Ray Ekness, Director, Broadcast Media Center, Missoula
Brent Everson, former instructor, JATC, current member, IBEW
John Gatchell, MT Wilderness Association
Matt Gibson, Editor, The Missoulian
Jim Hagenbarth, Rancher, co-founder, Big Hole Watershed Committee, Dillon
Jono McKinney, CEO MT Conservation Corps, Bozeman
Loren Rose, CFO, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Seeley Lake
Jim Weber, Machining/Welding Instructor, Capitol High School, Helena