Young Alumni Board Members

Hey Bobcats! I'm Hayden Binde. I grew up in East Helena, Montana and graduated from the Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship in 2018 with a B.S. in Marketing. During my time at MSU, I worked in athletics marketing, eventually serving as Marketing Coordinator where I oversaw game-day production, managed a team of undergraduate interns, and led marketing efforts for multiple sports. After graduation, I earned my MBA from Mississippi State University in 2020 while working as a graduate assistant in their athletics marketing department, leading production for several sports and helping oversee their internship program.

I'm currently the Marketing & Sales Support Manager at BioSqueeze Inc., a biotech company in Butte, Montana, that is the world leader in commercial biomineralization. I joined as the company's first hire after seed funding and have been responsible for building the brand from the ground up: developing our marketing strategy, managing sales support, and helping expand our footprint across North America, including work with Fortune 100 companies, and the Department of Defense. I love being back in Montana and am always happy to connect with current Jabs students and fellow alumni. Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn!

Hi all! I'm James Chamberlain, and I've spent the last 7 years building out Treasury & Investment functions at high growth publicly traded companies. I graduated from MSU in 2019 after studying finance & economics, and have worked at Clearwater Analytics, Unity Software, and Rivian Automotive, primarily within the world of corporate treasury. I've been responsible for managing $9B+ investment portfolios, and have led ~$4B in capital markets transactions including convertible debt, secured debt, and common equity.

I'm primarily based in Bozeman, MT, and spend my free time hiking, camping, off-roading, snowboarding, and building a photography portfolio. Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn if you want to connect or have any questions!

Hello, my name is Madeline Clevenger (Lewis). I graduated in the fall of 2020 with a double focus in accounting and finance. While at MSU, I became involved as a mentor and team leader with Sophomore Surge. Surge was designed as a retention effort to help freshman ‘surge’ into their sophomore year. In 2020, I received the Bracken PRIDE Award. I have a trusty sidekick, a corgi named Petunia, who has been by my side everyday since she was a puppy. I think she is one of my most distinguishing features. Petunia will be taking on the role of Chief Morale Officer and is ready to get to work! 

I was a Credit Analyst at Opportunity Bank where I underwrote and analyzed financials to determine credit worthiness. I have experience with taxation, mortgage lending, and commercial construction analysis. As an army veteran, I thrive on leadership and believe strongly in the benefits of engagement, networking, and fundraising. I currently serve on three boards/committees that directly benefit our community.

I’m excited to be an inaugural board member for the Young Alumni Board (YAB) and the undergraduate engagement committee. I hope to bridge the gap between the undergraduate mindset and professional business world through mentorship, educating, and networking. 

You can reach me at: madeline@mclevengerconsulting.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelineclevenger/

Hi everyone, my name is Tori Cook. I was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana and graduated from Montana State University with a degree in finance. Growing up in Bozeman, I went to countless Bobcat football games and sporting events which fostered my connection to MSU. During my time at Montana State and since graduating, I have been working in my family business of real estate development. Our scope of work is predominately in the Gallatin Valley with additional projects around the state of Montana. Some aspects of my job I really enjoy are financial evaluation of projects and working and collaborating with architects, engineers, and project managers.  Very few days are the same which makes my job engaging and allows me to learn so much. At this time, I am also pursuing an online master’s degree through the University of Arizona that focuses on Real Estate Development. The degree is housed within the College of Architecture, Planning, & Landscape Architecture. My goal of furthering my education is to bring new ideas and ways of thinking about projects to my team. In my free time, I enjoy hunting, skiing, off-roading, baking, and of course cheering on the Bobcats!

Hello! My name is Megan Dewar. I am from Billings and graduated from MSU with my undergraduate degree in accounting in 2019 and completed the MPAc program the following year. After passing the CPA exams, I moved to Seattle and worked at BDO, a public accounting firm, as an auditor for 5+ years. I worked with a variety of clients in many industries spanning from technology to manufacturing to mining. One of the highlights of my time there was participating in a global exchange program, where I lived and worked in Australia. I also was heavily involved with campus recruiting, so have been lucky enough to come back to MSU twice a year since I graduated.
 
Recently, I made the decision to move back home to Montana to be closer to family and friends, and I couldn’t be happier to be back in Bozeman. In my free time I enjoy traveling, hiking, dirt bike riding, snowboarding, camping, and making pottery. I’m really looking forward to getting involved on campus again and giving back to MSU in any way I can. Feel free to reach out with any questions or connect with me on Linkedin!

I’m originally from Missoula, MT, and graduated from Jabs in 2020 with a concentration in Marketing. While at Jabs, I was involved with AMA and participated in the pilot DSEL program, focusing on sustainability through multidisciplinary innovation.

After graduation, I worked full-time as a freelance UI/UX designer specializing in web design in Denver, CO. This led me to lead full-funnel marketing for Garmentory, an e-commerce platform supporting independent designers. It was there that I discovered my passion for lifecycle and retention marketing, which guided me to the platform services team at Attentive, a SaaS company providing best-in-class SMS and email solutions. I currently live in Missoula, MT and work remotely at an agency as a Retention Strategist, helping clients across the country maximize the lifecycle value of their customers.

Outside of work, I’m a medium-distance runner, amateur baker, and always on the lookout for the next small designer to fall in love with.

I’m excited to be part of the YAB and to connect with current students! Feel free to reach out with questions about non-traditional career paths, retail, SaaS, or retention marketing. Here is my contact info: kacee.dewit@gmail.com, LinkedIn

Hey, I am Serena Dublois! I grew up in a small town in Southern Vermont, and moved to Montana in 2018 to enroll at MSU and Jake Jabs. Since growing up on the Northeast, I enjoyed skiing, hiking, fishing, and boating. I have since retired from skiing but hope to pick it back up in the next few years (the Ice Coast has nothing on skiing out West). I graduated with my Bachelor's in Business Marketing in May 2022 and transitioned from an intern to a full-time digital marketer with my old firm. For almost 4 years, I worked as a Digital Marketing Intern, then FT Digital Marketer, then Paid Media Specialist for a locally owned website design and development agency—JTech Communications. I stayed with that company because I received annual promotions as I became more established as a professional B2B marketer. I was eventually given the opportunity to be the Hiring Manager for our intern program and worked very closely with the school to find great candidates. I learned how to write job descriptions and outline responsibilities, build personalized internship experiences based on the individual's strengths, interests, and goals, interview, and handle HR onboarding. I managed around 7-8 interns total during my time there and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had. In late Spring, a new opportunity arose, and I decided to pivot my career entirely. I left B2B marketing and web design behind and was hired as the Marketing and Office Manager for Bozeman Real Estate Group, another locally owned small business. This role has already doubled my experience and resume! Real Estate, especially in Southwest Montana, is a fascinating industry. When I'm not at the office, you will most likely find me at a networking event through Prospera or the Chamber. I also spend time volunteering around the community and work very closely with Reach, Inc. As a summer girl, you can also see me hiking, fly fishing, camping, or at the range. I am constantly on LinkedIn, feel free to reach out and connect!

Hey Bobcats! My name is Dillon Fraley and I grew up in Bigfork, Montana before coming to MSU to play football in the fall of 2012. I graduated in 2016 with a major in finance and minor in accounting and worked in sales before returning to MSU for the MPAc program, which I completed in the spring of 2020. During both stints in Bozeman I had the pleasure of serving as a TA and I’m thrilled to be apart of this board and be in a position to work with both students and teachers again.

Upon graduating I passed the CPA exams and went to work as an audit associate for BDO, a public accounting firm, in Seattle, WA. I’m now a senior with BDO and play an active part in our campus recruiting effort, specifically here at MSU! I joined this board to be a resource to students, because I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of those who came before me. So please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions on careers in accounting, the recruiting process, or what the next phase after college looks like. You can reach me at dfraley@bdo.com or feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

I am Darren Kauffman and after interning at Goldman Sachs, I graduated from MSU with two bachelor’s degrees—one in Business, with a dual major in Finance and Accounting, and a second degree in Economics, with a minor in International Business. Thereafter joined a family office as an investment analyst where I have worked on a myriad of investments in public equities, private equity, and very occasionally in real estate. Most recently I became a CFA® charterholder and helped launch a hedge fund, opening our public equities investment strategy to external investors. My role covers the entire investment process, from ideation to purchase. As long-term, value-based investors we dive deep into the fundamentals of businesses, believing that differentiated, more extensive research will lead to outperformance. Throughout this process I read through years of company materials and transcripts, scour industry reports, create complex financial models, and ultimately synthesize all this research to decide whether to buy or sell a stock, a business, or a piece of real estate.

Hi everyone! I’m Krista Lauring (she/her), I grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and I graduated from Jabs in 2019 with a Marketing concentration and a Minor in International Business. During my time at Jabs, I was involved with Montana State’s Chapter of the American Marketing Association and served as the VP of programs my junior year and President my senior year.

After graduating, I worked at Qualtrics for two years in Salt Lake City as a marketing research coordinator, and currently, I’m getting my MBA at the University of Wisconsin specializing in Marketing Analytics & Insights. I interned with PepsiCo this past summer (2022) and will be headed back for a full-time marketing insights role based in Chicago, IL, next summer. I’m excited to be a part of the YAB and connect with current students, so if you have any questions on careers in marketing, recruiting for jobs out of state, or going to graduate school, (or anything else) please reach out to me at lauring.krista@gmail.com!

Hello everyone, my name is Olivia Moran. I grew up in Upstate New York and moved to Evergreen, Colorado right before my freshman year of high school. I chose Montana State for all of the outdoor activities Bozeman has to offer. I love to fly fish, ski, hike, run, all the typical Bozemanite things. After completing my undergraduate degree in Psychology, I decided I wasn’t ready to leave just yet and stayed for another year to earn my Master of Science in Innovation and Management (MSIM). After graduating, I was hired to manage the MSU Launchpad. This is where I discovered how much I love entrepreneurship and helping others see the opportunities available to them. Most recently, I was hired by a company in Pristina, Kosovo as an AI Analyst. I now build AI systems to improve the efficiency of different processes across a company. So far, I have learned more from this role than I could have ever imagined. From moving to Europe, to designing and building software, to navigating international business practices (and becoming very friendly with Google Translate), I’ve grown a lot and gained invaluable experience. I would love to talk with you about the options you have regarding your career, from college through post-grad opportunities. If you have any interest in starting your own business or nonprofit, I’m your girl. I’m also happy to talk about the stress of not knowing what you want to do in the future. Between my degrees and career choices so far, I’ve really “run the gamut,” as some might say, I am very familiar with not knowing what’s next. I’m very excited to chat with you and see how I can help!

Reed Powell is a Business Operations and Strategy professional with a proven track record of driving organizational transformation and delivering measurable results. A Montana State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, he currently manages operations generating $25 million in annual recurring revenue at MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, where he leads a 55-person team. Reed thrives at the intersection of people, process, and technology.  Reed’s passion for leadership development and community building is reflected in his active involvement with the Montana State Young Alumni Board and organizations like Toastmasters. Recognized with the Business Transformation 150 Award, he is dedicated to empowering teams and delivering impactful change across complex organizations.

Hello! I'm Jakim Ricketts. As a Livingston, MT native, I grew up hunting, fishing, skiing, and spending a lot of time on the basketball & tennis courts — which ultimately transported me to Hillsboro, Kansas where I graduated from Tabor College with a B.A. in Finance. Missing the mountains, I came back to Bozeman and graduated MSU with an M.S. in Innovation and Management in 2023. Since then, I've been working in real estate development as a Portfolio Associate for Providence Development - a Bozeman-based, developer, owner, and operator of more than $1B in multifamily communities, hotels, and other commercial real estate projects concentrated in the pacific northwest. As Portfolio Associate, my role is focused on the capitalization of our projects, which involves establishing and maintaining working relationships with debt & equity partners. Outside of the office, I enjoy all of the Montana activities that I was raised on — highlighted by the company of family and great friends (many of whom I met through MSU). Whether you're a prospective student, current bobcat, alum, or professional, feel free to shoot me a message on LinkedIn — I always enjoy meeting new people and connecting the dots where I can.

Rob Samson is a fifth-generation Montanan driven by his “why” of helping others through finance and by the belief that perspective is everything. A recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Montana State University Alumni Foundation in 2021, Rob began his career in Dallas, TX, as a Financial Analyst at 2M Companies LLC, a single-family office. In the fall of 2022, he returned home to join the Montana Board of Investments in Helena, MT, where he is currently a Senior Investment Analyst on the Real Estate and Real Assets team. His primary focus is sourcing, underwriting, and managing real estate and real assets investments across all four quadrants while also overseeing the investment internship program. Rob graduated from Montana State University in the spring of 2021 with a BS in Business, concentrating in Finance with a minor in Accounting, and he is an active CFA and CAIA charterholder.

Hello! I am Robert Sheehan. I graduated in fall of 2020 with a double concentration in Accounting and Finance. I went to work for a local bank here in Bozeman as a Credit Analyst a few months after graduation and worked my way to Lender in two years. After two years of that I moved to another bank as a Senior Credit Analyst, working on loan requests for larger businesses in our area. Throughout my work experience I have continued to seek out additional education I think is interesting and relevant, pursuing courses, certifications, seminars, and conferences. I am grateful every day to be working professionally in my hometown where I am raising a family of my own, and am glad to give back to the MSU community whenever and however I can.

Hey! I'm Jessica Sommer, I grew up in Laurel, Montana and graduated from MSU in Accounting. I moved to Washington to work at a National firm in public accounting in audit after graduation. After 2 years, I decided to transition my career and I became a headhunter. I’ve always been entrepreneurial, my parents are business owners, so I wanted to do something I felt like I could have more impact with.

I have been an executive headhunter for finance and accounting professionals for nearly 6 years now. I partnered with growing start ups to F500 clients, and I’ve placed CFOs, COOs, VPs of Finance / Accounting, Controllers, Accounting Managers, to name a few.

I live in Bozeman now with my husband and dog, we love hiking, snowmobiling, all of it.

Hello, I'm Ryan Williams. My journey began when I attended Montana State University from 2015 to 2019, where I graduated with a degree in Management and a minor in Finance. During my time as a Bobcat, I fell completely in love with the community and unparalleled access to the outdoors that Bozeman offers, fueling my determination to establish a life and career here after graduation.

My professional life started at a local consulting firm specializing in Salesforce. I quickly advanced over three years, progressing from Intern to Consultant, and eventually Delivery Manager. This role allowed me to work with a diverse array of clients, ranging from local non-profits to large commodities exchanges. In the past few years, I transitioned into Project Management at Rosetree Solutions, where I now manage large-scale projects and programs with annual budgets totaling a few million dollars.

Outside of work, I recently got engaged, and my fiancé and I have been building our life together here in Bozeman. We were fortunate enough to buy a home, which serves as our basecamp for enjoying the best of Montana. We are passionate about the outdoors and spend much of our time skiing, hiking, fishing, and hunting, taking full advantage of the mountains and rivers that drew me here in the first place.

Hey there, my name is Tessa Wuertz (she/her/hers). I graduated from Montana State University with majors in Marketing and Management, and minors in Entrepreneurship and Religious Studies in 2017. After graduation, I moved to Seattle where I gained experience working as a marketing director at a digital marketing agency. With a desire to be back in Bozeman, I found a job in marketing at Bridger Photonics, a Bozeman-based company that uses LiDAR technology to provide data that helps the energy industry reduce methane emissions. I love being back in Montana where I can spend lots of time outdoors hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. I'm looking forward to connecting with both students and other young alumni on through the YAB and I am excited about the opportunity to give back to a college and community I love so much.