For nearly eleven years I have had the privilege of leading or working for community development organizations like the Billings Chamber of Commerce. A great sense of pride comes with a job whose mission is to make your home a better place to live, work and raise a family. I am blessed to have a wonderful wife and four fantastic children that make my job that much more meaningful.

A Miles City native, I am an Eastern Montana kid through and through. From Glendive to Bozeman, Broadus to Spokane and Pensacola, Florida to Oakland, California, I have had the privilege of living in special places across the country. But the lure of Billings and family has brought me home each time.

Speaking of family, the kids are sports crazy. My wife and I enjoy watching them in action on the soccer field, in the hockey rink, on the basketball court and smashing “grand salami’s” (homeruns) out of the backyard (my apologies to our neighbors).

Just prior to returning to Billings in 2005, I was the President & CEO of the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. In Washington, I lead a team that developed statewide legislation implementing a tourism promotion assessment to grow tourism funding in communities throughout Washington. I was also fortunate to be a part of the leadership team that successfully developed and secured resources to expand Spokane’s convention facilities by $96 million.

Before moving to Spokane, I was the Director of the Billings Area Chamber of Commerce Visitors Council, and also worked in advertising, marketing and public relations for Custer Country Tourism, Missouri River Country Tourism, Old West Trail Country and Custer’s Last Stand Re-Enactment. John holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida.