Board and Committees

In accordance with WIOA, members of the SWIB are appointed by the Governor.

No less than fifty one percent (51%) of the membership of the SWIB shall represent business.  The membership must include private sector/business representation from all areas of the state including Native American Reservations.

SWIB Members

Full Board

The members appointed by the Governor to the State Workforce Innovation Board are appointed to serve staggered 3-year terms beginning 2022.

  • Greg Gianforte 

    Governor
    Designee: Dylan Klapmeier

    Governor

    Montana Office of the Governor
    PO Box 200801; Helena, MT 59620-0801

    		 Term Expires: 
    January 2, 2025

     

     

    		  

    Paul Hopfauf
    Chair

    Business Representative

    Director of Strategic Planning & Growth

    Montana-Dakota Utilities
    318 Sunset Avenue; Glendive, MT 59330

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

    Dean Bentley
    Vice-Chair

    Business Representative

    HR Generalist and Labor Relations Analyst

    Northwestern Energy
    40 East Broadway Street; Butte, MT 59701

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

    Kerri Seekins-Crowe

    Legislative Representative

    State Representative

    Montana House of Representatives
    480 Pinon Drive; Billings, MT 59105-2742

    		 Term Expires:
    January 1, 2025

    Mark Noland

    Legislative Representative

    State Senator

    Montana Senate
    PO Box 1852; Big Fork, MT 59911-1852

    Term Expires:
    January 2, 2027

    Elsie Arntzen

    Core Partner

    Superintendent

    Montana Office of Public Instruction
    PO Box 202501; Helena, MT 59620

    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2025

    Sarah Swanson

    Core Partner

    Commissioner

    Montana Department of Labor & Industry
    PO Box 1728; Helena, MT 59624-1728

    		 Term Expires: 
    January 2, 2025

    Chanda Hermanson

    Core Partner

    Disability Employment & Transitions Division Administrator

    Department of Public Health & Human Services
    PO Box 4210; Helena, MT 59604

    		 Term Expires: 
    January 2, 2025

    Mary Armstrong

    Local Elected Official

    County Commissioner

    Valley County, Montana
    501 Court Square #1; Glasgow, MT 59230

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

    Mike McGinley

    Local Elected Officer

    County Commissioner

    Beaverhead County, Montana
    2 South Pacific Street, Suite #4; Dillon, MT 59725

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

    Amber Terry

    Business Representative

    Owner

    Central Machine and Ag Repair, LLC
    29 Macnamara Street; Big Sandy, MT 59520

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

    Adam Gilbertson

    Business Representative

    Vice President

    RDO Equipment Company
    5221 Midland Road; Billings, MT 59101

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

    Shane Etzwiler

    Business Representative

    President / CEO

    Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
    100 1st Avenue North; Great Falls, MT 59401

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

    Jason Palin

    Business Representative

    Vice President

    Sibanye-Stillwater
    1600 E 1st Avenue South; Columbus, MT 59019

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

    Deborah Poteet

    Business Representative

    Owner

    Poteet Construction
    104 Apple House Lane; Missoula, MT 59802

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

    Paddy Fleming

    Business Representative

    Executive Director

    Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
    2310 University Way
    Building 2, Suite 1; Bozeman, MT 59717

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

    Heather O'Hara

    Business Representative

    Vice President

    Montana Hospital Association
    2625 Winne Avenue; Helena, MT 59601

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024 

    David Smith

    Business Representative

    Executive Director

    Montana Contractors' Association
    1717 11th Avenue; Helena, MT 59601

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024 

    Bo Bruinsma

    Workforce Member

    Career Outreach Director

    Billings Public Schools
    501 Custer Avenue; Billings, MT 59101

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024 

    Dale Carpenter

    Workforce Member

    Training Director

    Montana Sheet Metal Workers State JATC
    104 Technology Way; Butte, MT 59701

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

    Quinton Queer

    Workforce Member

    President

    Plumbers, Local 41
    45 E Silver Street; Butte, MT 59701

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024  

    Jim Wonnacott

    Workforce Member

    President/Apprenticeship & Training Coordinator

    Ironworkers Local 732
    2 Oak Avenue; East Helena, MT 59635

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024  

Apprenticeship Advisory Council

Established under ARM 24.21.205 as required by 29 CFR part 29

The purpose of the advisory council is to advise and provide guidance to the Commissioner about the State of Montana's Registered Apprenticeship program and to make recommendations to improve and grow the program. The advisory council will gather information, advise, and make recommendations about Montana's apprenticeship program in order to increase apprenticeship opportunities throughout Montana and to ensure there is a population of skilled workers to meet workforce needs throughout Montana.

Executive Committee

Required per SWIB Bylaws Section 401.21

The Executive Committee is comprised of the officers and no more than ten at-large representatives, and is composed of a majority of business members. The at-large representatives of the Executive Committee shall be members of the SWIB and are appointed by the chair.
  • Paul Hopfauf
    Chair: SWIB Chair

    Montana-Dakota Utilities
    318 Sunset Avenue; Glendive, MT 59330

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

    Governor Greg Gianforte

    Governor
    Designee: Dylan Klapmeier

    		 Montana Office of the Governor
    PO Box 200801; Helena, MT 59620-0801    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2025
    Commissioner Sarah Swanson

    		 Montana Department of Labor & Industry
    PO Box 1728; Helena, MT 59624 – 1728    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2025
    Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Montana Office of Public Instruction
    PO Box 202501 Helena, MT 59620    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2025
    Chanda Hermanson
    Administrator of Disability Employment & Transitions Division    		 Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
    PO Box 4210 Helena, MT 59604    		 Term Expires: 
    January 2, 2025
    Adam Gilbertson
    Chair: Education, Training, and Upskill Committee

    RDO Equipment Company
    5221 Midland Road; Billings, MT 59101

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Commissioner Mike McGinley
    Chair: WIOA Committee

    Beaverhead County, Montana
    2 South Pacific Street, Suite #4; Dillon, MT 59725

    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

    David Smith
    Chair: Business Development Committee

    		 Montana Contractors' Association
    1717 11th Avenue; Helena, MT 59601    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Dean Bentley
    SWIB Vice-Chair    		 Northwestern Energy
    40 East Broadway Street; Butte, MT 59701    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024

WIOA Committee

Required per SWIB Bylaws Section 401.31

The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Committee is responsible for understanding and making decisions on WIOA rules and regulations; administering the state’s One-Stop Certification process; and coordinating and implementing the state plan.

  • Commissioner Mike McGinley
    Chair

    		 Beaverhead County
    2 South Pacific Street, Suite #4 Dillon, MT 59725    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

    Commissioner Sarah Swanson

    		 Montana Department of Labor & Industry
    PO Box 1728; Helena, MT 59624 – 1728    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2025
    Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Montana Office of Public Instruction
    PO Box 202501 Helena, MT 59620    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2025
    Chanda Hermanson
    Administrator of Disability Employment & Transitions Division    		 Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
    PO Box 4210 Helena, MT 59604    		 Term Expires: 
    January 2, 2025
    Paul Hopfauf

    		 Montana-Dakota Utilities
    318 Sunset Avenue; Glendive, MT 59330    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Jason Palin

    		 Sibanye-Stillwater
    1600 E 1st Avenue South; Columbus, MT 59019    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Dean Bentley Northwestern Energy
    40 East Broadway Street; Butte, MT 59701    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Amber Terry Central Machine and Ag Repair, LLC
    29 Macnamara Street; Big Sandy, MT 59520    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025
    Shane Etzwiler Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
    100 1st Avenue North; Great Falls, MT 59401    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025

Business Development Committee

The Business Development Committee is tasked with providing industry specific, workforce solution expertise when new and existing organizations would like to expand operations in Montana. It will advise various stakeholders on sound workforce proposals and opportunities that can positively impact business development in the state; in coordination with state, federal, and private partners.

  • David Smith
    Chair

    		 Montana Contractors' Association
    1717 11th Avenue; Helena, MT 59601    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Heather O'Hara Montana Hospital Association
    2625 Winne Avenue; Helena, MT 59601    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Paddy Fleming Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
    2310 University Way
    Building 2, Suite 1; Bozeman, MT 59717    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Senator Mark Noland

    		 Montana Senate
    PO Box 1852; Big Fork, MT 59911-1852    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2027
    Representative Kerri Seekins-Crowe Montana House of Representatives
    480 Pinon Drive; Billings, MT 59105-2742    		 Term Expires:
    January 1, 2025
    Shane Etzwiler Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
    100 1st Avenue North; Great Falls, MT 59401    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025
    Dale Carpenter Montana Sheet Metal Workers State JATC
    104 Technology Way; Butte, MT 59701    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2025
    Scott Osterman Montana Department of Commerce
    301 S. Park Avenue; Helena, MT 59620-0501    		 Term Expires: January 2, 2025
    Todd O'Hair Montana Chamber of Commerce
    616 Helena Avenue, Suite. 300; Helena, MT 59624    		 Term Expires: January 2, 2025

Education, Training, and Upskill Committee

The Education, Training, and Upskill Committee strategize for the development and maintenance of a workforce that meets the needs of the state. The committee will perform outreach and partner with education and industry to create employer specific workforce pipelines.

  • Adam Gilbertson
    Chair

    		 RDO Equipment Company
    5221 Midland Road; Billings, MT 59101    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Montana Office of Public Instruction
    PO Box 202501; Helena, MT 59620    		 Term Expires:
    January 2, 2025
    Bo Bruinsma Billings Public Schools
    501 Custer Avenue; Billings, MT 59101    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Quinton Queer

    		 Plumbers, Local 41
    45 E Silver Street; Butte, MT 59701    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Deborah Poteet Poteet Construction
    104 Apple House Lane; Missoula, MT 59802    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2022
    Commissioner Mary Armstrong Valley County, Montana
    501 Court Square #1; Glasgow, MT 59230    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Jim Wonnacott Ironworkers Local 732
    2 Oak Avenue; East Helena, MT 59635    		 Term Expires:
    June 30, 2024
    Jacque Treaster

    Montana University System
    560 North Park Avenue; Helena, MT 59620-3201

    		 Term Expires: June 30, 2025
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