Please see our 2019 Board Candidates below. Voting will take place at the 2019 Annual Member Meeting on Friday, October 4th during our Annual Conference in Billings, Montana. MNA’s annual Membership Meeting will be held from 1:00-1:45 on Friday, October 4. All attendees are invited, not just MNA members. MNA members can attend the meeting regardless of whether they are registered for the conference.
The MNA Board has approved a slate of new and returning candidates. Additional nominations may be made by any group of five or more nonprofit members of MNA by submitting the nomination(s) in writing to the Board Chair C.B. Pearson by September 27, 2019.
We have five new candidates presented and three directors nominated for a second term, for a total of eight seats. Learn about these candidates below:
Nominated for a First Term
Ken Egan, Executive Director, Humanities Montana, Missoula
Ken has served as the executive director of Humanities Montana since 2009. Born in Polson, graduating high school in Great Falls, and receiving his B.A. in English from the University of Montana, he has deep roots in the state. After completing his Ph.D. in American literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ken taught college literature and writing at Middlebury College, Rocky Mountain College, and Drury University. He also received Fulbright grants to teach American literature in Greece and Slovakia. He served on the board of the (then) Montana Committee for the Humanities from 1989-1992, and he currently serves on the board of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. He and his wife, Terry, have two sons, Devin and Brian, living in Las Vegas and Berlin respectively. His books include Montana 1889, Montana 1864, Hope and Dread in Montana Literature, and Writers Under the Rims: A Yellowstone County Anthology.
Marci McLean-Pollock, Executive Director, Western Native Voice, Billings
Marci, Amskapi Piikani, also known as Ii-stoo-wha-nii (Flies in the front), grew up on the Blackfeet Nation on a ranch north of Browning Montana. She graduated from Absarokee High School, earned an A.A. degree from MSU-COT, and her bachelors from the University Of Montana. She and her partner Angie call the Blackfeet nation home and reside in Billings with their four children. Marci enjoys being around and especially on the back of a horse; when she has the time she enjoys beading and drawing. Marci’s kids are her world, her pride and joy, so anything with them is a priority.
Marci joined Western Native Voice in 2012 doing data entry and community organizing and in 2014 she graciously accepted the position of Executive Director. Their team has led robust GOTV engagement and advocacy programs and expanded the reach and scope of Western Native Voice. Western Native Voice, based in Billings, MT, has over 10,000 members and works in all 7 tribal nations and 3 urban areas. Their purpose is to inspire Native leadership so our communities flourish through leadership development, public policy advocacy, civic engagement and community education programs. Programs are tailored to meet the unique needs and strengths of each community. Before entering into the social justice world, Marci’s career was in the healthcare and construction fields. Marci’s passion is helping others find their voice and build their leadership skills.
Marci draws her strength and guidance from her Piikuni culture, she belongs to the Brave Dogs Society, comes from the Greenwood Burner Society, is a part of Thunder Pipe and Beaver Bundles, and a member of the Piikuni Warrior Womens Society.
Jackie Muri, CFRE, MSL, CGPA, SCL Health Montana Region Sr. Director, Strategy & Business Development, Miles City
Jackie Muri has spent the last 24 years in executive leadership positions with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in the healthcare and financial services industries in Montana and the midwest. She has bachelor’s and master’s level degrees in communications and strategic leadership. She’s been with Holy Rosary Healthcare and SCL Health since 2004 and currently serves as the Regional Sr. Director of Strategy and Business Development for SCL Health. Jackie previously served as a philanthropy executive of a non-profit organization in eastern Montana for 13 years and earned Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Gift Planning (CGPA) designations. She’s been a speaker at MNA training events, served on the Montana chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals board of directors, and is very involved as a volunteer in several community-based organizations and causes. Jackie is passionate about the important role non-profit organizations play in our communities and state and the life-changing work they advance each day. She and her husband and two sons live in Miles City, enjoy the outdoors, hiking, exploring, photography and all that Montana has to offer. She values the progress MNA makes possible statewide and appreciates the opportunity to serve and contribute as an MNA board member.
Suzanne Severin, Shareholder, Anderson ZurMuehlen
Suzanne provides tax planning and compliance reporting services for nonprofits, individuals, corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts. Her service concentrations include nonprofit organizations, small businesses, trusts, professional service firms, specialty trade contractors, and individuals.
She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Montana Society of CPAs. Suzanne graduated from Eastern Montana College with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and being outdoors. Suzanne has been involved with various organizations and is currently the Treasurer of The Angel Fund, a Helena based nonprofit that helps children get the clothing and supplies they need for school.
Todd Wilson, Executive Director, Helena Indian Alliance, Helena
Todd is an enrolled member of the great Crow Nation in South Eastern Montana. He has been in the health field and Health Administration for 17 years working in various aspects of health care. He first started as the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Coordinator for Crow Tribe then as the Crow Tribal Health Director. For the past 2.5 years, he has been serving as the Executive Director for the Helena Indian Alliance (HIA) in Helena, MT. HIA is an Urban Indian Organization that also operates a clinic. In addition to looking forward to many more years in the field, Todd enjoys art, basketball, football, and attending his kids sporting events. He received his high school education at St. Labre Indian Catholic school in Ashland MT and his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise & Sports Studies (Exercise Physiology) from Guildford College in Greensboro NC. He has three kids: Kendal age 11, Aiden age 8, and Madison (Mad Madi) age 4.
Nominated for second term*:
Lawrence D. Johnson, Attorney at Law, Hamilton, MT (Chair, Resource Development Committee)
Andrea Vernon, Ed.D., Director of Civic Engagement, Montana Campus Compact and Public Administration/MPA Faculty, University of Montana, Missoula, MT (Chair, Public Policy Council)
Dr. Robert Wilmouth, President, Rocky Mountain College, Billings, MT (Member, Public Policy Council)
*MNA directors may serve two three-year consecutive terms.
