Small Business Advocate; promoting, supporting, and advocating for Montana's startups, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

Leadership Experience

Andy was appointed in 2013 as the Small Business Advocate for Governor Bullock's Office of Economic Development. Our philosophy is to grow from within; Andy's job is to focus on helping startups, entrepreneurs, and existing Montana small businesses, to make it easier for them to start, operate, and grow in Montana.
We use the "Team Montana" approach, working with community and economic partners such as the Montana Economic Developers Association and the Montana Ambassadors, and partners from all across the state, connecting people to resources, sponsoring local TED talks and Startup Weekends, promoting groups and initiatives that foster entrepreneurship and encourage innovation.
Some projects Andy has been a part of; Governor Bullock's Main Street Montana Project planning and facilitation team, provided the direction for the Montana Business Navigator which streamlines all state permits for the first time, helped develop and direct the vision for the Choose Montana initiative to retain, grow, and attract; workforce, business and investment in/to Montana, rebrand and refocus innovateMontana as Montana's entrepreneurial website, help coordinate, design, and facilitate Small Business Roadshows aimed at helping revitalize Montana's rural communities, and is on the planning team for the 2016 innovateMontana Symposium.

How I want to participate in PowerHouse

I was there when Powerhouse was first unveiled at Governor Bullock's Equal Pay Summit in Butte; and I have been just floored by sheer number of driven and talented people that have signed up to help others, it's really inspiring.

I want to contribute and help keep the momentum going; whether that is through access, encouragement, connections, or mentoring.

 

Other Information

Andy was born in Butte, raised in Kalispell, went to the University of Montana: he was the first person in his family to graduate college.
He has lived in Billings and worked all over Montana. Outside of work, Andy likes to stay involved; he was the only male to participate in the Policy Institute Leadership Series class of 2015, recently elected to the Executive Board of the Montana Democratic Party, currently on the board of the Helena Young Professionals, and was a founding member of the Capital City Kiwanis Club of Helena.
In 2014, Andy was selected as a part of a delegation of US Scholars and Policy Experts to the Republic of China (Taiwan), in a program offered by the US State Department and the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.