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Board of Directors

The Board of Directors serves as the leadership for the Society. Following our Guiding Principles and Core Pillars, board members discuss issues facing the profession and help ensure the Society continues to make an impact into the future. Members serve a three year term, where they attend quarterly meetings to provide staff with advice and direction.

Meet your board

Officers

Tracee Gallo
CPA

President

Sara Smith

CPA, CGMA

President-Elect

Tracee Gallo, CPA

Tracee has 20 years of collective experience in tax preparation, tax auditing, and financial accounting. Prior to moving into public accounting, Tracee was a state tax auditor and management analyst specializing in pass-through entities and multistate taxation. Her skills for research and analysis of state and federal tax laws and policy make Tracee a solid asset when tackling complex tax situations. She has been trained by both the Internal Revenue Service and the Multistate Tax Commission in the areas of income tax and multistate entity tax compliance.

Sara Smith, CPA, CGMA

Sara is the CFO of ALPS P&C Insurance Company and a UM grad. Sara loves to rides bikes and ski with her husband and dog.

Tim Kober
CPA, CMA

Treasurer

Ann Deegan

CPA

Ex-Officio

Tim Kober, CPA, CMA

Tim has been employed at the Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) for over 30 years.  He is a life-long resident of Montana. He is an alumnus of the University of Montana, earning bachelors degrees in accounting and economics, a masters degree in business administration, and a doctorate in educational leadership. Tim currently teaches courses in intermediate accounting, income tax, governmental accounting, and strategy.  His research interests are related to accounting education.

His professional certifications include; Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA), and Certified in Financial Management (CFM). Tim has been married to the former Valerie Clark for 25 years and has three sons; Michael, Alex, and Andrew.

Ann Deegan, CPA

Ann is a Tax Manager with Summers-McNea & Company in Billings MT, and has thirty plus years of accounting and tax experience working with Individuals, Small Businesses, Farms & Ranches, Trusts, and Estates.  With a passion for the profession, she has been an active member in professional organizations through out her career.  Ann Served as President of the MTCPA in 2014-2015.  She is a member of various professional organizations, serving in leadership roles,  including the Montana Society of CPAs, the Billings Chapter of CPAs; the American Institute of CPAs and the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance.  Outside of work, Ann is involved with her church finance council, her homeowner’s association board of directors, Magic City Optimists, and enjoys spending time with family & friends, music, theatre & travel.


Meet your board members

Directors

Far Back (left to right): Russ Davis [past director], Allen Lloyd [staff], Tim Kober
Middle (left to right): Becky Turner (and Alice), Eric Roberts, Chet McLean, Carrie Faulhaber, Melanie Bengtson, Ann Deegan, Connie Jacobson [staff]
Front (left to right): Erinn Donnell [staff], Megan Connors, Sara Smith, Marca Gibson [past ex-officio], Tracee Gallo, Steven Johnson [past president]

Brigitte Baake, CPA

Brigitte manages the bookkeeping and payroll department at Jordahl & Sliter in Kalispell. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting from Montana State University Billings. Brigitte has previously worked in both public and private accounting, with a focus on tax and financial statement preparation. Brigitte enjoys helping clients with their tax and bookkeeping needs, so they can focus on running their business.

Melanie Bengtson, CPA

Melanie Bengtson arrived from Germany to earn a Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Montana in 2002. After a short stint with a biotech company in Colorado, she sensed there was no opportunity for a chemist and started at an automotive shop as a lube and tire technician. She earned an Associate of Occupational Science – Automotive Technology from Westwood College and advanced to ASE certified master mechanic. She moved back to Montana and after a substantial life changing event decided to return to the University of Montana to earn a Master’s in Accountancy from the University of Montana in 2016. Melanie started as a tax season intern in January 2015 and has been in public accounting in tax practice since then. She is currently on the board of the Healthy Acres Healthy Communities Foundation.

Megan Connors, CPA

Megan has over 15 years of experience providing quality attest and consulting services to her clients as a Principal at Pinion. She specializes in financial statement audits, Single Audits, and other attest consulting primarily for clients in the healthcare industry and nonprofit organizations. Megan also holds her Certified Fraud Examiner license and enjoys working on fraud examinations. 

She was a member of the original BAR group for the MTCPA and is a past President of the Great Falls Rotary Club. She currently also serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the St. Thomas Child and Family Center.

Outside of work, Megan enjoys attending concerts, traveling, cooking, and raising her two children, Rosemary and Callen, with her husband Luke.

Carrie Faulhaber, CPA

Carrie is the CFO at Beartooth Group in Bozeman, MT. Carrie holds a Master’s of Professional Accountancy from Montana State University and has been a CPA for over 20 years. She loves hiking, biking, snowboarding, and water sports with her husband and 3 kids.

Chet McLean, CPA, CGFM, CIA

Chet specializes in governmental accounting and auditing. Chet has earned a Master’s of Accountancy from the University of Montana, a CGFM from the Association of Government Accountants, and a CIA from the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Eric Roberts, CPA

Eric is a tax manager with Eide Bailly in Billings, specializing in corporate and pass-through entity taxation. He is a graduate of Montana State University and enjoys hiking and biking in his free time.

Becky Turner, CPA, CGMA

Becky provides accounting services to clients in the Southwest Montana area through her firm RDT Accounting. She previously spent 15 years in internal audit work within the financial institutions industry. Becky has been involved with the Society in various capacities since 2008, including work on the Professional Development, Industry, and Annual Conference Planning Task Forces. Outside of work and MTCPA involvement, Becky lives her best life spending time with her husband, daughter and pets, along with enjoying all things Montana has to offer.

Apply

Serving on the Board of Directors is a rewarding way to give back to the profession. Each year the Board Development Committee meets in January to review applications and recommend a slate to the Board of Directors. If you would be interested in serving click below for the application form.

Nominate

Have you worked with someone who would be a great board member? We are always looking for potential board members and would encourage you to share the names of great candidates.


Those who got us to today

Past Presidents

2020's

Steven Johnson 2023-2024
Marc Giullian 2022-2023
Russell Rice 2021-2022
Marca Gibson 2020-2021

2010's

Julie Kostelecky 2019-2020
John Steinhoff 2018-2019
Josh Herbold 2017-2018
Annette Hill 2016-2017
Brenda Byrnes 2015-2016
Ann Deegan 2014-2015
Paul Nisbet 2013-2014
Gordon Thompson 2012–2013
David Sather 2011–2012
Ron Yates 2010–2011

2000's

Kyla Stafford 2009-2010
Ryan Screnar 2008-2009
Gary Staudinger 2007-2008
Dan Vuckovich 2006-2007
Dwaine Iverson 2005-2006
James Galipeau 2004-2005
James Woy 2003-2004
Judy Paynter 2002-2003
Richard Reisig 2001-2002
Marilyn Bartlett 2000-2001

1990's

Melvin McFetridge 1999-2000
Cheri Burns 1998-1999
Walter Kero 1997-1998
Robert Chrysler 1996-1997
Patricia Douglas 1995-1996
Leonard Deppmeier 1994-1995
Gary Demaree 1993-1994
Daniel Eigeman 1992-1993
Anthony DiLello 1991-1992
Joe Shevlin 1990-1991

1980's

Ellen Solem 1989-1990
Patrick Davison 1988-1989
Ronald Taylor 1987-1988
Denis Adams 1986-1987
Timothy Sather 1985-1986
Michael Holland 1984-1985
Darrell Ehrlick 1983-1984
Gary Carlson 1982-1983
Ellen Feaver 1981-1982
Ray Curtis 1980-1981

1970's

Robert Prigge 1979-1980
Karl Sorenson 1978-1979
Robert Bragg 1977-1978
Michael Brown 1976-1977
John Wheeler 1975-1976
Jack Stevens 1974-1975
Stone Paulson 1973-1974
Richard Gunlikson 1972-1973
Todd Lindberg 1971-1972
Everit Sliter 1970-1971

1960's

George Koyl 1969-1970
Maurice (Meese) Clark 1968-1969
Jack Kempner 1967-1968
George Campanella 1966-1967
William Schmidt 1965-1966
Norm Wilson 1964-1965
Maurice Colberg 1963-1964
Max Swanson 1962-1963
Henry Jordahl 1961-1962
Clarence Misfeldt 1960-1961

1950's

George Anderson 1959-1960
Anthony Gerharz 1958-1959
R.R. Mountain 1957-1958
Howard Gaare 1956-1957
S. Clark Pyfer 1955-1956
E.R. Blinn 1954-1955
John Wallin 1953-1954
J. Roland Peterson 1952-1953
J. Rodney Renman 1951-1952
C.E. Coulston 1950-1951

1940's

Bruce Risley 1949-1950
W.K. Good 1948-1949
C.J. Bjornlie 1947-1948
R.A. Lathom 1946-1947
R.L. Watkins 1945-1946
W.F. Seel 1944-1945
W.F. Finlay, Sr. 1943-1944
B.F. Holcomb 1942-1943
H.P. Higgins 1941-1942

1930's

A.J. Rowland 1939-1940
M. Stotesbury 1938-1939
Anthony Gerharz 1937-1938
Roscoe Thomas 1936-1937
Hugh Galusha, Sr. 1935-1936