Stefnie Redding joins Bear Paw Development as director of operations

From Bear Paw Development

Bear Paw Development Corp. recently announced it has selected Stefnie Redding of Havre to serve as the nonprofit organization's director of operations, replacing Michelle Burchard, who has been hired as executived director of Havre Day Activity Center.

"Following an extensive search that yielded several well-qualified applicants, we are very excited to announce that Stefnie Redding has joined our team of economic and community development practitioners as director of operations," said Paul Tuss, executive director of Bear Paw Development.  "She has hit the ground running and has already had a positive impact on the work we do, which includes helping entrepreneurs start or expand businesses and local governments rehabilitate their infrastructure."

Redding, a native of Kremlin and graduate of Montana State University in Bozeman, was pre

viously employed by Hill County, where she served as deputy clerk and recorder and administrative assistant to the Hill County commissioners.  Her

prior positions in the Hill County Clerk and Recorder's Office included working as accounting clerk and certificate of survey clerk. 

"Through my employment with Hill County, I knew of the good work Bear Paw Development was involved with, especially related to local government infrastructure.  I also knew they were one of the most mature, most respected economic development districts in Montana," Redding said. "This was a great professional opportunity for me to work at a regional level to help continue the tradition of making our communities stronger and more vibrant places in which to live, raise a family and grow a business."    

Tuss said that as director of operations, Redding will be responsible for many of the administrative aspects of the organization, including payroll and accounting, and other functions that serve the other seven economic development practitioners, as well as Bear Paw Development's 24-member board of directors.

Bear Paw Development is a federally recognized economic development district and state-recognized certified regional development corporation, and serves the economic and community development needs of a five-county and two-reservation area of northern Montana that includes Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau Counties and the Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian reservations.