Young Alumni Board Members

My name is James Chamberlain and I graduated from Montana State University in 2019 with a bachelors degree in Finance and a minor in Economics. Following graduation, I moved to Boise, ID, to work as a Finance Data Analyst for a FinTech / SaaS company named Clearwater Analytics. After a year in this role, I moved into a client facing role working with Strategic Institutional Asset Managers such as JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs, where I was responsible for leading a team of 3 client-facing professionals, and reconciling & reporting on $300B+ of fixed income investments, and $40B+ in derivative products. After 3 years at Clearwater, I moved to Denver, CO, and joined Unity Software's Capital Markets team, covering Investment Management, FX Hedging, and Capital Markets activities. Shortly after my direct manager left, I was promoted to her role and led a $1B PIPE convertible issuance, and a $1.5B share repurchase program. I've since moved back to Bozeman, MT, and joined the Treasury & Financial Risk team at Rivian Automotive, where I fully own the Investment Management function, and partially own Cash Management, Financial Risk, and Capital Markets activities. In my freetime, I enjoy hiking, camping, snowboarding, and hanging out with my girlfriend and our pup, Nico.

Hello, my name is Madeline Clevenger (Lewis). I graduated in the fall of 2020 with a double focus in accounting and finance. While at MSU, I became involved as a mentor and team leader with Sophomore Surge. Surge was designed as a retention effort to help freshman ‘surge’ into their sophomore year. In 2020, I received the Bracken PRIDE Award. 

I’m excited to start the next chapter of my career as the CEO of Southwest Montana Building Industry Association (SWMBIA). I have a trusty sidekick, a corgi named Petunia, who has been by my side everyday since she was a puppy. I think she is one of my most distinguishing features. Petunia will be taking on the role of Chief Morale Officer and is ready to get to work! 

Prior to SWMBIA, I was a Credit Analyst at Opportunity Bank where I underwrote and analyzed financials to determine credit worthiness. I have experience with taxation, mortgage lending, and commercial construction analysis. 

As an army veteran, I thrive on leadership and believe strongly in the benefits of engagement, networking, and fundraising. I currently serve on three boards/committees that directly benefit our community.

I’m excited to be an inaugural board member for the Young Alumni Board (YAB) and the undergraduate engagement committee. I hope to bridge the gap between the undergraduate mindset and professional business world through mentorship, educating, and networking. 

Most recently, I’ve been invited to be on the Summer Solstice Event Committee for the Museum of the Rockies. This signature event is a festive community celebration at the start of Summer.

You can reach me at: madeline@mclevengerconsulting.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelineclevenger/

My name is Tanner Edward and I graduated from MSU in May of 2019 with a degree in Accounting. During my time at MSU I was an undergraduate researcher, a Teaching Assistant in Microeconomics with Calculus, and served on the MSU Bookstore Board of Directors as the Student Representative.

Upon graduation, I went to the University of Utah where I earned my Master's of Accountancy with an emphasis in Accounting Business Analytics. After my time in Utah, I returned home to Montana and finished the CPA exam. I currently work remotely for the San Francisco office of Marcum in the Alternative Investments Group as a Senior Audit Associate, and I am on the Finance Committee for a local non-profit. I joined the board to be a resource to students with questions on the accounting profession (what's the difference between audit and tax, anyway?), looking for tips on the CPA exam, how to transition from a college student to a young professional, or anything that would be of use to current Jabs students. Please reach out to me at tanner.edward@marcumllp.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Go Cats!

Hey Bobcats! My name is Dillon Fraley and I grew up in Bigfork, Montana before coming to MSU to play football in the fall of 2012. I graduated in 2016 with a major in finance and minor in accounting and worked in sales before returning to MSU for the MPAc program, which I completed in the spring of 2020. During both stints in Bozeman I had the pleasure of serving as a TA and I’m thrilled to be apart of this board and be in a position to work with both students and teachers again.

Upon graduating I passed the CPA exams and went to work as an audit associate for BDO, a public accounting firm, in Seattle, WA. I’m now a senior with BDO and play an active part in our campus recruiting effort, specifically here at MSU! I joined this board to be a resource to students, because I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of those who came before me. So please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions on careers in accounting, the recruiting process, or what the next phase after college looks like. You can reach me at dfraley@bdo.com or feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

I am Darren Kauffman and after interning at Goldman Sachs, I graduated from MSU with two bachelor’s degrees—one in Business, with a dual major in Finance and Accounting, and a second degree in Economics, with a minor in International Business. Thereafter joined a family office as an investment analyst where I have worked on a myriad of investments in public equities, private equity, and very occasionally in real estate. Most recently I became a CFA® charterholder and helped launch a hedge fund, opening our public equities investment strategy to external investors. My role covers the entire investment process, from ideation to purchase. As long-term, value-based investors we dive deep into the fundamentals of businesses, believing that differentiated, more extensive research will lead to outperformance. Throughout this process I read through years of company materials and transcripts, scour industry reports, create complex financial models, and ultimately synthesize all this research to decide whether to buy or sell a stock, a business, or a piece of real estate.

Hi everyone! I’m Krista Lauring (she/her), I grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and I graduated from Jabs in 2019 with a Marketing concentration and a Minor in International Business. During my time at Jabs, I was involved with Montana State’s Chapter of the American Marketing Association and served as the VP of programs my junior year and President my senior year.

After graduating, I worked at Qualtrics for two years in Salt Lake City as a marketing research coordinator, and currently, I’m getting my MBA at the University of Wisconsin specializing in Marketing Analytics & Insights. I interned with PepsiCo this past summer (2022) and will be headed back for a full-time marketing insights role based in Chicago, IL, next summer. I’m excited to be a part of the YAB and connect with current students, so if you have any questions on careers in marketing, recruiting for jobs out of state, or going to graduate school, (or anything else) please reach out to me at lauring.krista@gmail.com!

Reed Powell is a Business Operations and Strategy professional with a proven track record of driving organizational transformation and delivering measurable results. A Montana State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, he currently manages operations generating $25 million in annual recurring revenue at MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, where he leads a 55-person team. Reed thrives at the intersection of people, process, and technology.  Reed’s passion for leadership development and community building is reflected in his active involvement with the Montana State Young Alumni Board and organizations like Toastmasters. Recognized with the Business Transformation 150 Award, he is dedicated to empowering teams and delivering impactful change across complex organizations.

Hello! I'm Jakim Ricketts. As a Livingston, MT native, I grew up hunting, fishing, skiing, and spending a lot of time on the basketball & tennis courts — which ultimately transported me to Hillsboro, Kansas where I graduated from Tabor College with a B.A. in Finance. Missing the mountains, I came back to Bozeman and graduated MSU with an M.S. in Innovation and Management in 2023. Since then, I've been working in real estate development as a Portfolio Associate for Providence Development - a Bozeman-based, developer, owner, and operator of more than $1B in multifamily communities, hotels, and other commercial real estate projects concentrated in the pacific northwest. As Portfolio Associate, my role is focused on the capitalization of our projects, which involves establishing and maintaining working relationships with debt & equity partners. Outside of the office, I enjoy all of the Montana activities that I was raised on — highlighted by the company of family and great friends (many of whom I met through MSU). Whether you're a prospective student, current bobcat, alum, or professional, feel free to shoot me a message on LinkedIn — I always enjoy meeting new people and connecting the dots where I can.

I am Robert Sheehan. As a lender, my focus lies in helping businesses of all sizes secure the capital they need to fuel growth, expand operations, and navigate complex financial landscapes. I have developed a keen understanding of various lending products, including working capital lines of credit, equipment financing, and commercial real estate loans. By working closely with business owners, I ensure they receive tailored financial solutions that align with their objectives and unique challenges. Over the years, I've built strong relationships with clients across diverse sectors, from manufacturing to technology, and have developed expertise in evaluating risk, structuring loan agreements, and facilitating the lending process efficiently and effectively. Throughout my career, I've worked with every stage, from established businesses to startups, adapting my approach to meet the specific needs of each client. I take pride in my ability to assess a company’s financial health, uncover growth opportunities, and offer strategic advice on capital management. Beyond simply providing loans, I act as a trusted advisor, guiding businesses through market fluctuations, changes in regulatory requirements, and economic cycles. With a passion for empowering entrepreneurs and business leaders, I am committed to helping them make informed, forward-thinking decisions that support their long-term success.

I am Jessica Sommer and I started my career in public accounting where I was an auditor for a national firm for 2 years. During that time I got to contribute to the firms recruitment efforts, which inspired my transition into headhunting. I’ve been a recruiter now for over 4 years, and I specialize in accounting and finance recruiting. 

Hey there, my name is Tessa Wuertz (she/her/hers). I graduated from Montana State University with majors in Marketing and Management, and minors in Entrepreneurship and Religious Studies in 2017. After graduation, I moved to Seattle where I gained experience working as a marketing director at a digital marketing agency. With a desire to be back in Bozeman, I found a job in marketing at Bridger Photonics, a Bozeman-based company that uses LiDAR technology to provide data that helps the energy industry reduce methane emissions. I love being back in Montana where I can spend lots of time outdoors hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. I'm looking forward to connecting with both students and other young alumni on through the YAB and I am excited about the opportunity to give back to a college and community I love so much.