Bear Paw Development announces new hires

Staff and wire report

The regional economic development agency has announced several new new employees starting there.

Bear Paw Development Corp. said in a release Wednesday it has added four new associates to the economic development organization's employee roster. 

The new employees cover areas that include small business counseling, community planning, environmental cleanup, and local government infrastructure financing. 

The new employees include Susan Brurud, director of community development; Sara Strissel, director of community planning and brownfields; Patrishia Stevenson, regional disaster economic recovery coordinator; and Riley Mortenson, Small Business Development Center COVID-19 business advisor.

Bear Paw Development Executive Director Paul Tuss said the new additions to its staff will help it continue its mission of improving regional economic conditions.

"These recent additions to our staff round-out the associates we already have who are working on economic and community development projects throughout northern Montana," Tuss said in the release. "The experience these individuals bring to our organization is varied and nicely complements our existing staff." 

  Bear Paw Development oversees the oldest federally recognized economic development district in the state, recognized by the U.S. Economic Development Administration in 1969. The private, nonprofit organization coordinates economic development planning and project implementation among its member entities in the district, assists local governments in planning public works, coordinates public and private investments and works in research, planning and advisory capacities.

As a federally-recognized economic development district and state-recognized certified regional development corporation, Bear Paw works to serve the economic and community development needs of Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau Counties, as well as the Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations, the release said.

Brurud previously worked as a prevention specialist for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, marketing Director for Tilleman Motor Co. and is the co-owner of Bright Ideas and Consulting. She earned an associate of arts degree in business management from Brigham Young University-Idaho and is enrolled in the community leadership bachelor's program at Montana State University-Northern.

Strissel previously worked as a case manager for Bullhook Community Health Center and as a family behavioral specialist with the Center for Mental Health.  She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Montana in history.

Stevenson previously worked as head bookkeeper at Independence Bank and in accounts payable at Northern Montana Hospital. She attended Western Governors University studying business management and accounting. 

Mortenson is a senior a Northern and will graduate in May of 2021 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture operations technology, a minor in small business management and an associate degree in applied agriculture. She is serving her second term as president of the Associated Students of MSUN.

  Tuss said the new additions to Bear Paw's team help with its commitment to economic development.

"As we work with both our local government and business partners to build stronger communities to emerge from the shadows of the global pandemic, Bear Paw Development is as committed as ever to continue to assure that northern Montana remains a wonderful place to live, raise a family, build a business and invest," he said.

Bear Paw and its staff members can be reached at 406-265-9226 or at http://bearpaw.org .