MEET THE BOARD

Kevin Williams - Chairman

"I am a native of Houston, TX.  I have a BA in Music Performance and a Master’s in Music History from the University of Houston.  After college I joined the Marine Corps as a field musician (1990).  I spent ten years bouncing around the Corps until a training injury forced my retirement in 2000 in Norfolk, VA.

My move to Montana came when a seemingly exciting position opened up in Helena.  To be perfectly frank, I leapt before I looked.  I was woefully unprepared for what I encountered, and left the job after six months.  Fortunately for me, it only took six months to fall in love with Montana.  I decided to remain and take my chances and moved to Great Falls at the invitation of friends here.  I took a job as an office manager with a real estate company while looking for a new career.  It took awhile, but I landed at the Great Falls Tribune in June of 2008.  I thought managing a nonprofit was exciting, but the newspaper business really gets me out of bed in the morning.  Talk about fast-paced!

I began to become involved in DGFA as part of the job description of Downtown Territory Representative with the Tribune.  Sure enough, the urban redevelopment bug bit again.   The possibilities for downtown Great Falls are exciting, and I want very much to do what I can with the talents I have been given to realize those possibilities.  Great Falls will be my permanent home, since after more than two years, I can no longer imagine living anywhere else."

Trina Knoche - Vice President

Claude Boisteau - Secretary

Derek French - Treasurer

"I am a Renaissance woman, interested in music, books, history, Native American culture, Western art, movies, travel and, of course, my current passion: wearable art, beaded jewelry, wire wrapped gems and stones, and bead embroidery.

My mission as an artist is :
- to provide quality products which are unique and stylish;
- to offer personal service based on honesty and integrity;
- to grow a consistent business based on innovative ideas and a solid business plan;
- to expand and enjoy creative personal and business contacts. "

 Sheila Rice - Board Member

Sheila Rice has been the Executive Director of NeighborWorks Great Falls (formerly Neighborhood Housing Services) and NeighborWorks Montanan (formerly the Montana HomeOwnership Network)  since 2003.  In 2005, she was selected for the NeighborWorks America Achieving Excellence Program at Kennedy School of Government at HarvardUniversity.  Because of the national recognition of NeighborWorks Great Falls, Sheila has been appointed to several national committees, including the Board of Directors of the National NeighborWorks Association and the Fannie Mae National Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining NWGF and MHN, she was  a senior officer of ENERGY WEST, a natural gas utility and energy marketing firm located in Great Falls.   Sheila is a graduate of Great FallsCentralHigh School, holds a BS in Chemistry from the University of Montana and an MBA from the University of Montana.  Sheila is a long-time volunteer with NWGF and other non-profit organizations.  She served in the Montana House of Representatives in 1991 and 1993 legislative sessions and was a member of the Montana Redistricting Commission in 2000. 

Mauri Novak - Board Member

Valaire Smelser - Board Member

Sue Ferrin - Marketing Director