I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve as the next executive director of MIB. It’s a tremendous privilege and responsibility, and I’m looking forward to the new role and the opportunities it will provide.

Yes, there are big shoes to fill with Jim Brown retiring after 13 years of service, but he has passed on much insight and wisdom, and I will continue to lead the association with all that I have learned from him. On behalf of MIB, we are immensely thankful for Jim’s many years of service and the dedication he brought to the association. Jim is a natural-born leader, and we can’t thank him enough for his hard work in building up this successful association. Thank you, Jim!

My journey with MIB actually began earlier this year when I handled their legislative portfolio during the 2025 legislative session that ran from January through April 2025. Those four months were fast-paced and vigorous as we digested bills that were beneficial, harmful and a few that would bring unintended consequences to our community banks. Every step of the way was a learning opportunity, getting feedback from board members about the implications and finding the best ways to educate legislators on the importance of supporting and protecting our community banks across the state. I was very pleased to see the strong support our community banks have from legislators from both sides of the aisle. It speaks to the trust and credibility each of your banks brings to your local community. From updating Montana’s banking laws to clarify that an ITM does not qualify as a branch following the FDIC’s ruling in Q3 of 2024, and important housekeeping and efficiency changes to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, to allowing vehicle transfers without a notary — just to name a few successes — we were part of a team that brought improvements to our banks.

It was also timely that being selected to serve as the executive director would lead right into the celebration of MIB’s 58th Annual State Convention! The three-day convention brought educational and networking opportunities for our members, and for me, many introductions to new faces. When I heard this convention was the “biggest little banking convention in the West,” that was an understatement. With record attendance, everyone in that room saw the value of bringing bankers together to reconnect, engage and recognize the value and impact our community banks bring to the state. 

The speakers that attended were phenomenal. We can’t thank each of them enough for taking time out of their schedule to be at our Convention. A few notable mentions include: 

• Mike Burke, vice chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, delivered the main speech at the Gala.
• Angie Murdo, principal at Pinion, provided a Director’s Training.
• Jeffrey Michael, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, gave a 2025 Mid-Year Economic Outlook for Montana and the U.S.
• Tom Kennan, president of Keenan & Partners, discussed whole bank valuation in the current market environment.
• Robert Finch, managing director at Stifel, gave an overview of the operating environment, ecosystem and forward-looking appointees for community banks.
• Melanie Hall, commissioner of the Division of Banking and Financial Institutions for Montana, presented the latest developments in her office and provided a recap of the legislative session.

Finally, I want to provide a little more background and share my Montana story. At the end of January/early February of 2014, I drove out to Montana from the East Coast, and of course, arrived in Bozeman with a snowstorm. After getting situated, I did what any new arrival would do, I headed to Bridger Bowl and skied on real snow after years of learning how to ski (survive) on ice. It was an incredible experience, and I remember leaving the ski hill knowing that this was going to be home. That would kick off the ongoing Montana adventure I’ve been on for the last 11 years, and lead to active senior roles in political campaigns, as well as work in government affairs and public relations. Most recently, I served as the campaign manager for the successful election of Tim Sheehy to the U.S. Senate in 2024, in what was the most highly contested U.S. Senate race in the nation that election cycle — and I think we’re all glad to be done with those political ads! I was also honored to manage U.S. Senator Steve Daines’s successful re-election campaign in 2020. I reside in Bozeman with my wife and three kids, a recently turned one-year-old son, a three-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son. Needless to say, we’re in the trenches, but we’re all having a blast! And, now, I look forward to this new journey serving as the executive director of MIB.