Governor Gianforte Announces Board Appointments

• December 27 2023

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the following appointments:

9-1-1 Advisory Council

Brent Colbert, Helena: The undersheriff of the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Department, Colbert will serve his first term on the board as the representative of the Montana Sheriff’s and Peace Officers Association. His term will run through September 1, 2027.

Doug Colombik, Miles City: Currently the Miles City Police Chief for over three decades, Colombik will serve his second term on the board as the representative for the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police. His term will run through September 1, 2027.

Mike Doto, Butte: In his third term on the board, Doto will continue his service as the representative for the Montana State Volunteer Firefighters Association. His term will run through September 1, 2027.

Burke Honzel, Fort Harrison: In his second term on the board, Honzel will continue as the representative of the Department of Military Affairs, Disaster and Emergency Services Division. His term will run through September 1, 2027.

Kevin Krausz, Miles City: A commissioner in Custer County, Krausz will serve his first term on the board as the representative of the Montana Association of Counties. His term will run through September 1, 2027.

ABLE (Achieving A Better Life Experience) Program Oversight Committee

Theresa Baldry, Miles City: The project coordinator for the Montana Deaf Blind Project, Baldry will bring to the board her experience working on behalf of people with disabilities. Her term will run through September 1, 2025.

Kathleen Magone, Missoula: With over two decades of teaching and experience in trust management, Magone will serve the board for her first term. Her term will run through September 1, 2026.

Montana Arts Council

Steve Zabel, Bozeman: The founder of Montana Trails Gallery in Bozeman, Zabel will serve the board in his second term which will run through February 1, 2028.

Commission on Community Service

Clifford Kipp, Kalispell: The director of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Kipp will serve the board in his first term which will run through July 1, 2026.

Rob Lawler, Helena: The Faith and Community Based Services Coordinator for the Montana Department of Public Health and Humans Services (DPHHS), Lawler will serve in his first term on the board as the agency representative from DPHHS. His term will run through July 1, 2026.

Vicki Turner, Helena: With leadership experience in promoting service and developing collaborative partnerships, Turner will serve the board in her first term as a member of the public. Her term will run through July 1, 2026.

Board of Crime Control

Amanda Littlesun, Billings: An enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, Littlesun will serve as the tribal representative on the board. Her term will run through January 1, 2027.

Scott Twito, Billings: The County Attorney for Yellowstone County, Twito will serve the board as the representative from the Montana County Attorneys’ Association. His term will run through January 5, 2025.

State Emergency Response Commission

Peter Callahan, Helena: As a representative of the DPHHS Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems, Callahan will serve his first term on the board which will run through October 1, 2025.

Doug Dodge, Boulder: As the director for Jefferson County’s Office of Emergency Management, Dodge will serve his first term on the board which will run through October 1, 2027.

Thomas Kuntz, Red Lodge: Serving his fifth term on the board, Kuntz will continue to bring his experience with hazardous material emergency planning to the board. His term will run through October 1, 2027.

Angel Lei, Lame Deer: An enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Lei will serve her second term on the board which will run through October 1, 2029.

Brett Lloyd, Helena: A representative of Montana Disaster and Emergency Services for the Department of Military Affairs, Lloyd will serve the board in his first term which will run through October 1, 2027.

Susan McEachern, Helena: Serving in her second term, McEachern will continue as the board’s Montana Department of Transportation representative. Her term will run through October 1, 2025.

John Rasmann, Helena: Serving in his second term, Rasmann will continue as the board’s Montana Department of Environmental Quality representative. His term will run through October 1, 2025.

Colton Walter, Great Falls: A paramedic with the Great Falls Fire Department, Walter will join the board in his first term which will run through October 1, 2027.

Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

Anders Fiske, Molt: An electrical engineer with HDR Engineering in Billings, Fiske brings experience in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services to the board. His term will run through July 1, 2026.

Shane Jackola, Kalispell: A mechanical engineer with over two decades of experience, Jackola brings his background in leadership, business development, and strategic planning to the board. His term will run through July 1, 2025.

Dan Stahly, Bozeman: A professional land surveyor since 1986, Stahly joins the board for his first term which will run through July 1, 2026.

Flathead Reservation Water Management Board

Kenneth Pitt, Polson: As an attorney with decades of experience focusing on tribal contracting as well as environmental, natural resource, and arson investigation issues. Pitt will serve on the board for a second term which will run through December 31, 2027.

Geospatial Information Advisory Council

Allen Armstrong, Billings: A geographic information systems professional with the Bureau of Land Management for over five years, Armstrong will join the board in his first term which will run through July 1, 2024.

Maureen Celander, Miles City: The deputy coordinator for Custer County Disaster and Emergency Services, Celander hopes to improve the ability of the state and local communities to prepare for and respond to incidents involving hazardous substances. Her term will run through July 1, 2025.

Brian Collins, Missoula: Serving his second term, Collins will continue as the board’s representative from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. His term will run through July 1, 2024.

Brian DeMarco, Cut Bank: The general manager of Siyeh Communications in Browning, DeMarco will serve his first term on the board which will run through July 1, 2025.

Valentijn Hoff, Missoula: Serving in his fourth term, Hoff will continue as the board’s Montana University System representative. His term will run through July 1, 2024.

Lee Macholz, Missoula: With over two decades of professional experience in the field of geographic information systems, Macholz will join the board for his first term which will run through July 1, 2026.

Eric Spangenberg, Helena: Serving in his second term, Spangenberg will continue as the board’s representative of the Montana Association of GIS Professionals. His term will run through July 1, 2025.

Dan Stahly, Bozeman: Serving in his third term, Stahly will continue to represent the interests of the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors on the board. His term will run through July 1, 2026.

Hard Rock Mining Impact Board

Jay Baum, Columbus: As a District 1 Impact Area elected school district trustee, Baume will join the board for his first term which will run through January 1, 2027.

Brent Teske, Libby: A commissioner in Lincoln County, Teske will serve his first term on the board which will run through January 1, 2025.

Motorcycle Safety Advisory Committee

Benjamin Freudenberg, Missoula: Owner and operator at Vintage Valhalla, an automotive and motorcycle restoration and maintenance company, Freudenberg will serve the board for his first term which will run through July 1, 2027.

Aerial Loewen, Great Falls: A motorcycle safety instructor and current member of Tenacious Dames, a women’s riding club, Loewen will serve in her first term on the board which will run through July 1, 2027.

George Svoboda, Frenchtown: As a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, Svoboda will serve in his second term on the board. His term will run through July 1, 2027.

Board of Pardons and Parole

Joseph McElroy, Deer Lodge: The current chief of staff to the board, McElroy will serve in his first term on the board which will run through January 1, 2025.

Private Land Public Wildlife Advisory Council (PLPW)

Ed Beall, Helena: As the president of Capital Sports in Helena, Beall will serve in his fifth term on the board which will run through August 1, 2027.

Col. Cynthia Cohan, Butte: A retired colonel in the United States Air Force, Col. Cohan will serve in her fifth term on the board which will run through August 1, 2027.

Lee Cornwell, Glasgow: As the owner of Cornwell Ranch in northeastern Montana, Cornwell will serve in his fifth term on the board which will run through August 1, 2027.

Paul Ellis, Bozeman: The founder of Sunday Creek Outfitters, Ellis will serve in his second term on the board which will run through August 1, 2027.

Donna McDonald, Alder: An entrepreneur with more than four decades of experience in the outdoor recreation industry, McDonald will serve on the board for her second term which will run through August 1, 2027.

Stephanie Prater, Lewistown: An avid hunter and fourth generation Montanan, Prater will serve in her first term on the board which will run through August 1, 2027.

Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council (POST)

Meghan Mulcahy, Butte: Currently serving on the Board of Crime Control, Mulcahy will serve her first term for this board which will run through January 1, 2027.

Teachers’ Retirement Board (TRS)

Elliott Crump, Shelby: The superintendent of Shelby Public School District #14, Crump brings his teaching and administrative experience to the board. His term will run through July 1, 2028.

Brian Youngren, Ronan: A Tech/CLS Lab teacher in Ronan School District 30, Youngren will serve in his first term on the board which will run through July 1, 2026.

Committee on Telecommunications Access Services for Persons With Disabilities

Lisa Cannon, Great Falls: As a licensed audiologist, Cannon will serve her third term on the board which will run through July 1, 2026.

Dana Kjersem, Havre: A vocational rehabilitation counselor, Kjersem will serve as the board’s representative from Montana DPHHS. Her term will run through July 1, 2024.

Ashlee Logan, Columbia Falls: An active user of the services provided by the Montana Telecommunications Access Program, Logan will serve in her first term on the board which will run through July 1, 2026.

Cam Tulloch, Bozeman: A representative of the deaf community, Tulloch will serve in his third term on the board which will run through July 1, 2026.

Barbara Varnum, Polson: A native Montanan, Varnum worked for the State of Montana for 27 years in the disability field. She will serve the board in her second term which will run through July 1, 2026.

Tourism Advisory Council (TAC)

Matthew Gebo, Whitefish: As a member of the Board of Directors for the Whitefish Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Gebo will serve in his first term on the board which will run through July 1, 2025.

Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE)

Maryrose Beasley, Roundup: A veterinarian committed to helping Montana vet students return to Montana, Beasley will serve in her first term on the board which will run through July 1, 2026.

Llew Jones, Conrad: Representing House District 18 in the Montana House of Representative, Jones will represent the state legislature on the board. His term will run through July 1, 2026.

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