Experience

Montana Legislature

• United States
• Legislative Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications & Policy Manager for the Senate Majority

  • Dec 2020 - Present



MT Commissioner of Securities and Insurance

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Director

  • Jan 2017 - Dec 2020

  •Responsible for managing communications, all media contact, public relations, branding, publications, and digital presence including state government websites, simultaneously for both the Office and Matt Rosendale in his role as Montana’s State Auditor. --Press releases, interviews, policy and initiative promotion, social media accounts, crisis communications & sensitive matters (criminal legal cases, HR), graphic design, print publications, event management, opinion writing, public… Show more •Responsible for managing communications, all media contact, public relations, branding, publications, and digital presence including state government websites, simultaneously for both the Office and Matt Rosendale in his role as Montana’s State Auditor. --Press releases, interviews, policy and initiative promotion, social media accounts, crisis communications & sensitive matters (criminal legal cases, HR), graphic design, print publications, event management, opinion writing, public speaking & presentations, designated spokesperson for both the Office and Matt Rosendale. •Help manage the 60+ employee Office as part of the senior leadership team, legislative policy efforts, and Commissioner Rosendale’s role on the State Land Board. Show less •Responsible for managing communications, all media contact, public relations, branding, publications, and digital presence including state government websites, simultaneously for both the Office and Matt Rosendale in his role as Montana’s State Auditor. --Press releases, interviews, policy and initiative promotion, social media accounts, crisis communications & sensitive matters (criminal legal cases, HR), graphic design, print publications, event management, opinion writing, public… Show more •Responsible for managing communications, all media contact, public relations, branding, publications, and digital presence including state government websites, simultaneously for both the Office and Matt Rosendale in his role as Montana’s State Auditor. --Press releases, interviews, policy and initiative promotion, social media accounts, crisis communications & sensitive matters (criminal legal cases, HR), graphic design, print publications, event management, opinion writing, public speaking & presentations, designated spokesperson for both the Office and Matt Rosendale. •Help manage the 60+ employee Office as part of the senior leadership team, legislative policy efforts, and Commissioner Rosendale’s role on the State Land Board. Show less



Senator Steve Daines

• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Northwest Field Representative

  • May 2015 - Jan 2017

  •Served as U.S. Senator Steve Daines' field representative for Northwest Montana. •Ran the field office as the sole staff covering five counties: Flathead, Lincoln, Lake, Mineral, and Sanders. •Responsible for staffing Senator Daines, helping coordinate his schedule and travel, preparing remarks, keeping tight schedules on track, assisting with media interactions, facilitating effective meetings. •Responsible for responding to constituent inquiries, maintaining regular communication… Show more •Served as U.S. Senator Steve Daines' field representative for Northwest Montana. •Ran the field office as the sole staff covering five counties: Flathead, Lincoln, Lake, Mineral, and Sanders. •Responsible for staffing Senator Daines, helping coordinate his schedule and travel, preparing remarks, keeping tight schedules on track, assisting with media interactions, facilitating effective meetings. •Responsible for responding to constituent inquiries, maintaining regular communication and input to other Daines offices including Washington, D.C., identifying and planning responses to sensitive issues. •Traveled throughout Montana meeting with constituents, industry leaders, government officials, nonprofits, trade associations, business groups, and activists to represent and speak on behalf of Senator Daines. •Maintained regular communication with chambers of commerce, local government officials (county commissioners, legislators, mayors, city councils, law enforcement and emergency responders), the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, federal agencies (Forest Service, EPA, Border Patrol, Park Service), business and nonprofit CEOs, veterans organizations, community leaders and political activists. •Served on the Community Liaison Panel providing input on the future of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) Superfund site. •Maintained communication with emergency responders and natural disaster coordinators during forest fire and flood events. •Wrote and read letters on behalf of Senator Daines at naturalization ceremonies, veterans events, groundbreaking ceremonies, community meetings, and other events. Show less •Served as U.S. Senator Steve Daines' field representative for Northwest Montana. •Ran the field office as the sole staff covering five counties: Flathead, Lincoln, Lake, Mineral, and Sanders. •Responsible for staffing Senator Daines, helping coordinate his schedule and travel, preparing remarks, keeping tight schedules on track, assisting with media interactions, facilitating effective meetings. •Responsible for responding to constituent inquiries, maintaining regular communication… Show more •Served as U.S. Senator Steve Daines' field representative for Northwest Montana. •Ran the field office as the sole staff covering five counties: Flathead, Lincoln, Lake, Mineral, and Sanders. •Responsible for staffing Senator Daines, helping coordinate his schedule and travel, preparing remarks, keeping tight schedules on track, assisting with media interactions, facilitating effective meetings. •Responsible for responding to constituent inquiries, maintaining regular communication and input to other Daines offices including Washington, D.C., identifying and planning responses to sensitive issues. •Traveled throughout Montana meeting with constituents, industry leaders, government officials, nonprofits, trade associations, business groups, and activists to represent and speak on behalf of Senator Daines. •Maintained regular communication with chambers of commerce, local government officials (county commissioners, legislators, mayors, city councils, law enforcement and emergency responders), the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, federal agencies (Forest Service, EPA, Border Patrol, Park Service), business and nonprofit CEOs, veterans organizations, community leaders and political activists. •Served on the Community Liaison Panel providing input on the future of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) Superfund site. •Maintained communication with emergency responders and natural disaster coordinators during forest fire and flood events. •Wrote and read letters on behalf of Senator Daines at naturalization ceremonies, veterans events, groundbreaking ceremonies, community meetings, and other events. Show less



Representative Daniel Zolnikov

• Helena, MT

• Constituent Services and Communications Director

  • Jan 2015 - Apr 2015

  •Developed an integrated messaging and multimedia strategy to drive nearly unprecedented interest and engagement in a sophomore Montana state legislator's work. •Achieved more than 250 press hits over the course of Montana's 90-day, biennial legislative session. •Wrote, edited, and sent press releases, coordinated press interviews, and actively engaged with reporters. •Sent regular email newsletter updates to constituents and other interested Montanans. •Shot photos, created… Show more •Developed an integrated messaging and multimedia strategy to drive nearly unprecedented interest and engagement in a sophomore Montana state legislator's work. •Achieved more than 250 press hits over the course of Montana's 90-day, biennial legislative session. •Wrote, edited, and sent press releases, coordinated press interviews, and actively engaged with reporters. •Sent regular email newsletter updates to constituents and other interested Montanans. •Shot photos, created graphics, and produced videos to highlight Zolnikov's work. •Rebuilt Zolnikov's website to better assist constituents in finding information by making the site more interactive, easier to navigate, more visually appealing, and adding more content. Show less •Developed an integrated messaging and multimedia strategy to drive nearly unprecedented interest and engagement in a sophomore Montana state legislator's work. •Achieved more than 250 press hits over the course of Montana's 90-day, biennial legislative session. •Wrote, edited, and sent press releases, coordinated press interviews, and actively engaged with reporters. •Sent regular email newsletter updates to constituents and other interested Montanans. •Shot photos, created… Show more •Developed an integrated messaging and multimedia strategy to drive nearly unprecedented interest and engagement in a sophomore Montana state legislator's work. •Achieved more than 250 press hits over the course of Montana's 90-day, biennial legislative session. •Wrote, edited, and sent press releases, coordinated press interviews, and actively engaged with reporters. •Sent regular email newsletter updates to constituents and other interested Montanans. •Shot photos, created graphics, and produced videos to highlight Zolnikov's work. •Rebuilt Zolnikov's website to better assist constituents in finding information by making the site more interactive, easier to navigate, more visually appealing, and adding more content. Show less



Steve Daines for Montana

• Bozeman, MT

• Grassroots Coordinator

  • Jan 2014 - Dec 2014

  •Helped Congressman Steve Daines win his U.S. Senate election, making him the first Republican to hold a seat occupied by Democrats for over 100 years. •Managed a statewide letter-to-the-editor program that submitted 500 LTEs to local newspapers •Assisted in managing six regional field offices with LTE program, sign placement, and grassroots networking •Gave speeches on behalf of candidate Steve Daines at over a dozen events across Montana •Helped run campaign social media… Show more •Helped Congressman Steve Daines win his U.S. Senate election, making him the first Republican to hold a seat occupied by Democrats for over 100 years. •Managed a statewide letter-to-the-editor program that submitted 500 LTEs to local newspapers •Assisted in managing six regional field offices with LTE program, sign placement, and grassroots networking •Gave speeches on behalf of candidate Steve Daines at over a dozen events across Montana •Helped run campaign social media accounts •Created graphics and videos to visually illustrate messages and events on social media •Responsible for outreach and messaging to activists, grassroots supporters, and regional GOP leaders •Worked with both the communications and political arms of the campaign to conduct targeted outreach •Drafted and edited call to action and GOTV emails to supporters and undecided voters •Facilitated event setup, staffing, and takedown •Assisted in GOTV efforts •Completed numerous other time-sensitive special projects Show less •Helped Congressman Steve Daines win his U.S. Senate election, making him the first Republican to hold a seat occupied by Democrats for over 100 years. •Managed a statewide letter-to-the-editor program that submitted 500 LTEs to local newspapers •Assisted in managing six regional field offices with LTE program, sign placement, and grassroots networking •Gave speeches on behalf of candidate Steve Daines at over a dozen events across Montana •Helped run campaign social media… Show more •Helped Congressman Steve Daines win his U.S. Senate election, making him the first Republican to hold a seat occupied by Democrats for over 100 years. •Managed a statewide letter-to-the-editor program that submitted 500 LTEs to local newspapers •Assisted in managing six regional field offices with LTE program, sign placement, and grassroots networking •Gave speeches on behalf of candidate Steve Daines at over a dozen events across Montana •Helped run campaign social media accounts •Created graphics and videos to visually illustrate messages and events on social media •Responsible for outreach and messaging to activists, grassroots supporters, and regional GOP leaders •Worked with both the communications and political arms of the campaign to conduct targeted outreach •Drafted and edited call to action and GOTV emails to supporters and undecided voters •Facilitated event setup, staffing, and takedown •Assisted in GOTV efforts •Completed numerous other time-sensitive special projects Show less



Phi Delta Theta, MT Alpha Chapter

• President

  • Apr 2013 - Feb 2014

  •Ran a nonprofit leadership organization with 40+ members •Chaired weekly meetings •Conducted all external Chapter communications •Set Chapter goals and agendas •Served on the Executive Board •Worked with the Vice President to oversee officers and set individual officer goals

• Public Relations Chairman

  • Nov 2011 - Apr 2013

  •Sent press releases, spoke on behalf of the Chapter to local media, managed social media accounts, educated members on media interactions •Developed new PR strategies such as a "Professor of the Month" faculty outreach campaign •Communicated Chapter updates to Phi Delta Theta's international headquarters •Reviewed and edited printed and digital Chapter correspondence



University of Montana

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senator

  • May 2013 - Jan 2014

  •Elected to serve on the University of Montana's student government body •Helped manage a more than $3 million annual budget and allocate over $1 million to student groups each year •Member of the Student Political Action and Interview committees •Elected to serve on the University of Montana's student government body •Helped manage a more than $3 million annual budget and allocate over $1 million to student groups each year •Member of the Student Political Action and Interview committees



Fox News Media

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 700 & Above Employee

• Intern

  • Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

  •Interned for Fox News' daily news commentary show "The Five" •Pitched stories, including several that aired in C, D, E, and F blocks •Assisted in production, including setting iNews rundown •Edited video •Researched and fact-checked stories •Attended weekly educational seminars •Gave guest tours •Interned for Fox News' daily news commentary show "The Five" •Pitched stories, including several that aired in C, D, E, and F blocks •Assisted in production, including setting iNews rundown •Edited video •Researched and fact-checked stories •Attended weekly educational seminars •Gave guest tours



U.S. Forest Service

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Timber Crew

  • Jun 2010 - Aug 2012

  •Temporary seasonal worker for multiple timber crews on the Flathead National Forest •Assisted in logging project preparations, including: layout and GPS work, boundary and prescription marking, and timber cruising •Trained in wildland firefighting and fought a few small forest fires •Temporary seasonal worker for multiple timber crews on the Flathead National Forest •Assisted in logging project preparations, including: layout and GPS work, boundary and prescription marking, and timber cruising •Trained in wildland firefighting and fought a few small forest fires



Gubernatorial campaign

• Montana

• Intern

  • Jul 2011 - Jun 2012

  •Developed and implemented a statewide letter-to-the-editor campaign •Wrote and edited press releases, spoke on behalf of candidate at events, met with local political leaders, recruited other interns •Conducted grassroots activities including lit-dropping and phone banking •Developed and implemented a statewide letter-to-the-editor campaign •Wrote and edited press releases, spoke on behalf of candidate at events, met with local political leaders, recruited other interns •Conducted grassroots activities including lit-dropping and phone banking



Montana Kaimin

• Missoula, MT

• Political Columnist

  • Aug 2011 - Dec 2011

  •Wrote biweekly political opinion columns on Montana and national politics, policy, and news. •Wrote biweekly political opinion columns on Montana and national politics, policy, and news.



Flathead Business and Industry Association

• Kalispell, MT

• Intern

  • Jun 2009 - Aug 2009