President Tim Fellows, MDT Butte

Tim Fellows of Butte, is MPEA's President and was appointed to the Board in 1992. After serving in a number of Board positions, Tim was first elected MPEA president in December 1999. Tim graduated from Butte High in 1974, and spent a couple years in the navy. Tim went to work for the Montana Department of Transportation, spending three years in the field and a decade in the department’s design division before returning to construction work in the field. Tim is now a Civil Engineering Tech and has been a big promoter of MPEA as a “personal union where staff is known by members.” Tim is married with two children.

1st Vice President Dan Dolan, DLI Butte

Dan Dolan of Butte, is MPEA’s First Vice President and was first appointed to the Board as a Regional Director in 1993. Prior to his 1993 appointment Dan was one of MPEA’s most active members serving as a Chapter Rep from his Job Service office.  Dan participated in statewide bargaining and has also served as one of the MPEA members in his department’s labor/management committee. Dan was born and reared in Butte and graduated from The University of Montana in 1975 going to work shortly thereafter for the YMCA then for Job Service where he has worked for the past 30 years. Dan has tutored third and fourth graders with reading problems and has been a long-time participant in the state’s Big Brother/Big Sister program. Dan is married and has a daughter.

2nd Vice President Bill Walters, City of Great Falls Planning Dept

Bill Walters of Great Falls is MPEA’s Second Vice President. Bill works in the city’s planning office. Bill has been on MPEA’s Board since 1989 and a MPEA member since 1975. Bill is an MSU engineering graduate and a Vietnam veteran. Bill is MPEA’s only city government representative, and, as a planner, well aware of the impacts on local government of legislative activity. Consequently, he has been able to bring his unique and knowledgeable perspective to the Board. Bill has three children and three grandchildren.

3rd Vice President Kristine Milligan, DPHHS Great Falls

Kristine Milligan of Great Falls is MPEA’s Third Vice President. Kristie has served 30 years with the Office of Public Assistance, all but three of which have been in Great Falls. Kristie was appointed to the Board in September of 2001. In the past, Kristie has participated in statewide bargaining and beginning in the late 1990s on the labor/management committee. Kristie and her husband have three children and one grandchild.

4th Vice President Steve VanTighem, DLI Great Falls     

Steve VanTighem of Great Falls is MPEA’s Fourth Vice President. Steve has represented the Great Falls area for a decade, having been first elected in 1998.  Steve was born in Great Falls, graduated from high school there and following the military and college went to work for the Department of Labor and Industry. Steve has been a member of MPEA for 31 years. Steve has participated in statewide bargaining and has also served as one of the MPEA members in his department’s labor/management committee.  Steve is married with two children and one grandchild.

Region 1 Billings - Sheryl Stinchfield, DPHHS

Sheryl Stinchfield is the Region I Director and has represented MPEA members since 1997 and works for the Office of Public Assistance.  In addition to her work on the MPEA Board, Sheryl also serves on the Board of the Employees Political Information Committee where she has worked to elect local and state politicians supportive of public employees. For her fellow public assistance workers, Sheryl has served as president of the Montana Eligibility Workers Association, and has frequently been involved in the development of that group’s annual meeting.  Sheryl currently serves as the Executive Advisor for MEWA and serves on the DPHHS OPA Labor Management Committee.

Region 2 Great Falls - Lee Anne Gills, MSU Great Falls

Lee Anne Gills is the Region II Director and was appointed to that position January 2008.  Lee Anne is a member of MPEA’s 1500 member University System Chapter and works at the College of Technology in Great Falls.  A US Army veteran, Lee Anne is chapter president, has served on the University System contract bargaining team, and is now serving on the University System’s pre-budget negotiation team. Lee Anne was among those nominated for the Morey/Bukvich Award for service to her colleagues in 2006. Lee Anne is a mother of two boys and has one grandson.

Region 3 Helena - Bob Silberling, Montana State Fund

Bob Silberling is the Region III Director for MPEA members living in the Helena area and graduated from Carroll College 1973.  Bob has been a member of the Board since 1999 and is a member of MPEA’s State Fund Chapter with 26 years of service with state government. Bob has been involved in the negotiations that has accompanied the many changes at State Fund since its evolution from the old State Workers Compensation program. His wife, Jan, works at DPHHS. They have 7 children and 19 grandchildren.

Region 4 Bozeman - Lisa Sheehan, Bozeman School District

Lisa Sheehan is the Region IV Director and has been serving on the Board since December 2005. Lisa, of Bozeman, is a member of the Association’s Bozeman Classified School District Chapter and has been an MPEA member since 1999.  Lisa has served on chapter bargaining teams, has become knowledgeable of the process and remains committed to fair treatment and better wages.  Lisa is a Montana native born and reared in Missoula, graduating from Sentinel in 1977. Lisa is the mother of six, and has four grandchildren.

Region 5 Missoula - Pam Burgess-Hayes, Missoula City/Co Health

Pam Burgess-Hayes is the Region V Director and MPEA’s only county representative. Pam has worked for the Missoula City-County Health Dept since 1984, been an MPEA member since 1986 and is serving her third consecutive year as President of her local Unit. Pam has been a member of the MPEA Board since January 2001. Pam is married and has a son.