MFPE’s staff is comprised of individuals located in our Helena headquarters office as well as field staff who work directly with local unions to build their capacity to effectively advance the interests of their members. The staff of MFPE is as diverse as our membership. Our professional and talented staff are able to leverage their collective experience in private industry, law practice, education, labor, etc. to provide an exceptional level of service and the highest quality of representation. Get to know our headquarters and field staff below.
Headquarters Office
Erik is our executive director at MFPE. He is the proud father of three amazing kids. Erik and his family live in Helena.
Email: [email protected]
Quint Nyman is the Deputy Executive Director of the Montana Federation of Public Employees which represents approximately 25,000 educators, state, university, county, city and municipal employees across Montana. Prior to the merger of MPEA and MEA-MFT and becoming the Deputy Executive Director he served as the Executive Director of the Montana Public Employees Association for twelve years.
Quint also worked for the Montana State AFL-CIO Project Challenge: Work Again worker retraining program as a Literacy Coordinator in the Missoula and Kalispell area. Quint worked his way through college as a wildland firefighter with the Montana DNRC and earned a degree in English and Secondary Education from The University of Montana. He also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1985 to 1989. Quint and his wife Jill, who is the Principal at Smith Elementary School in Helena, have three daughters; Shannon, Madison, and Isabella. A native of Anaconda, Quint is an avid sportsman and is the co-chair of the Montana Union Sportsman’s Alliance and a board member of the Anaconda Sportsman’s Club.
Quint currently serves on the Board of Personnel Appeals with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the State Employee Group Benefits Advisory Council, and is the Chairman of the Montana University System Inter Units Benefits Committee. Additionally, he is the elected Vice President of the Montana AFL-CIO.
Email: [email protected]
Donna joined the MFPE family in 2011 as a management assistant in the Helena office. We call her “No Drama Donna” for the way she handles any work crisis with calm efficiency and a smile. She previously worked at the Montana School Boards Association. Donna lives in Avon on a multi-generational family ranch with her husband Shane and their three children. Her spare time is spent watching her youngest daughter play sports.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Cathy is MFPE’s chief financial officer. She also administers our Montana Professional Teaching Foundation. She has been on the staff since 2002. Cathy graduated with honors from Montana State University with a degree in business management. Cathy then worked for a Helena law firm and as the controller of a statewide nonprofit private land trust. Cathy and her husband, Kurt, have been married for five years. She has two children and five step-children. The family spend as much time as they can at the lake enjoying camping, boating and fishing.
Email: [email protected]
Morgan Smith, aka “The Morganizer,” is MFPE’s director of organizing. He works with groups of public employees wanting to form a local union. He also helps existing MFPE locals increase their member strength and capacity for action. Morgan previously worked for AFT and AFSCME in Montana, helping build union members’ activism. Before that he worked in public relations and political consulting in Chicago. Off the job, Morgan likes to ski, mountain bike, hike, camp, and “generally be outside.” He is married to MFPE member/art teacher Lori Smith.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Becky has served MEA, MEA-MFT, and now MFPE members for 23 years. As an administrative assistant, she is known for her attention to detail and organizational skills. Becky provides logistical support for multiple projects, including the MPFE Annual Conference, Committee Weekend, board meetings, regional training, the Montana Professional Teaching Foundation (MPTF) golf scramble, and more. Previously, Becky worked with the Montana Tourism Division for 11 years. In her free time, she volunteers with St. Peter’s Hospice and the Lewis and Clark Humane Society.
Email: [email protected]
Susan is a membership and IT specialist in the Helena headquarters office who has been with MEA-MFT/MFPE for over 10 years. When not busy assisting members or troubleshooting a misbehaving computer, this Helena native enjoys adventures abroad with her wife, taking abundant pictures of their cat, Bob, or tickling funny bones with her improve comedy troupe—Cow Tipping Comedy.
Email: [email protected]
Jami is an administrative assistant for MFPE’s research, communications, public policy, retirement, and member benefits programs at MFPE’s Helena office. Jami is a Helena native and Capital High School graduate. She previously worked in the admissions office at UM-Helena College of Technology and before that as a paraprofessional at Rossiter Elementary School in Helena. Jami has five children. For fun, Jami likes to camp and spend time with her family.
Email: [email protected]
Field Staff
Email: [email protected]
Tom is a field consultant in the MFPE Missoula field office. Previously, Tom represented all our MFPE college and university faculty bargaining units, as well as a few state employee locals. Tom is a fourth-generation Montanan who has spent more than 20 years working as a local union representative. After starting with the Montana Federation of Teachers in 1991, Tom earned his graduate degree in Labor Studies from UMASS. From 1999-2005, Tom worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield, the last three years as executive director of the Caring Foundation. When he’s not working, you can find him floating on a river or deep in the mountains.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Jeff works with MFPE’s North Central Montana members. He previously taught middle school for over 20 years and served as president of the Helena Education Association. His hobbies include golfing, skiing, and wood working. His favorite quote stems from an Ethiopian proverb: “When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.”
Email: [email protected]
Maggie was hired in 1989 by MEA and she's dedicated the last 30 years to working with union members and leaders in Eastern Montana.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Jeff is based out of MFPE’s Billings office, working as a field consultant with members in Southeastern Montana. Before becoming a field consultant in 2013, Jeff worked as a science teacher and local union officer for 27 years. He began his career in the Shepherd Public Schools, where he taught, coached football and track, and served as president of his local union. Jeff later taught at Billings Senior High, where he served through his local union ranks and eventually became president of the Billings Education Association. Jeff also served on the MEA-MFT board of directors and was later elected MEA-MFT secretary-treasurer and vice president.
Email: [email protected]
Tammy works as a field consultant out of the MFPE Southwest field office in Helena. She serves all our higher education locals, a few K-12 locals, and one state agency -- Montana Youth Challenge -- along with Tri County Head Start. Tammy previously taught grades K-5 in Helena for 17 years, then served as full-time release president of the Helena Education Association. She served as MEA-MFT vice president in 2011-2014 before joining the staff. Tammy has three children and a black lab puppy named Angus. She loves to golf and mountain bike.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Shelli Lavinder-Schwalk is a third-generation educator with 25 years of experience in the classroom. With her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and a Master of Education, Shelli taught high school science including biology, chemistry and a course in forensic science, that she developed. During the summer Shelli would often be found teaching summer school and classroom management. After her time in the classroom, she served members as the full-time release president of the Great Falls Education Association. While working with the GFEA prior to being elected president, Shelli served as a Building Representative, High School Executive Board Representative, Member at Large, Second Vice-President and member of the bargaining team and members’ rights. When Shelli isn’t working, she enjoys time with her family, time in the beauty of the Montana wilderness and time working in her yard. Shelli is excited to continue serving members; focused on you, so you can focus on your job.
Email: [email protected]
Larry serves Southwest Montana members as an MFPE field consultant in the Helena office. Larry’s locals include the Montana Department of Corrections, Historical Society, Acadia and several k-12 school districts. Before joining MFPE, Larry taught music and served as president of his local union, the Helena Education Association. He also served on the MEA-MFT board.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Mary brings her 20+ years office skills experience along with her artist creativity, optimism, and attention to detail to MFPE as one of their administrative assistants. Working with the Member Rights, Organizing, and Political Directors she handles correspondence, reporting details for the aspects of legal and political requirements, meeting setups, communication to organizers, and a plethora of other office duties including heading up office recycling. Outside of MFPE, you’ll find her engaged in her passions as an actress in film & theatre and adventuring outdoors snowboarding, biking, and hiking. She believes in making the most of time and also loves sharing it by volunteering for Food Share, trail building for hiking and biking, and of course, with family and friends!
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Kate is the administrative assistant in MFPE’s Missoula field office. A Montana native and Carroll College graduate, Kate was drawn to public service and worked in the nonprofit sector in Missoula before joining the MFPE team. When she’s not working, Kate enjoys experimenting with new vegan recipes and exploring the Montana outdoors with her husband and two pugs. Kate and her husband also like offbeat road trip adventures and traveling to neighboring states to attend concerts.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]