A team that has your back

Benefits of MembershipA team that has your back
MFPE Field Services

Supporting your local union and building a statewide movement: MFPE's staff is here to help!

MFPE's staff are located in our Helena headquarters and in our four field offices across Montana. Our team guides and supports local MFPE elected union leaders and members to bargain better wages, benefits, and working conditions. We connect local unions to one another by sharing best practices, spreading the news of our wins, and banding together in the face of tough fights.

Staff, our president and statewide governance, local leaders, and members everywhere work hand in hand to grow our collective voice in our workplaces and protect our union freedoms. With experience and backgrounds as diverse as MFPE's membership, staff is here to help get the job done. This team has your back. Connect with us below.

Headquarters Staff: Supporting our movement

Field Consultants: Here to help you and your local succeed

MFPE’s field consultants provide frontline assistance and training for MFPE members, leaders, and local affiliates across Montana.

Our field consultants directly assist MFPE’s hundreds of local affiliates. Their expert advice and hands-on assistance are just a phone call or e-mail away. MFPE field consultants help locals with issues related to bargaining, salary schedules, mediation, fact-finding, grievance arbitrations, local organizing, and contract enforcement.

Our field consultants offer training to local affiliates on dozens of different topics, including:

  • membership recruitment and retention
  • organizing a bargaining team
  • writing proposals and counterproposals
  • identifying a bargaining strategy
  • contract enforcement
  • grievance processing
  • organizing a local mill levy or electoral campaign

Who is My Field Consultant?

Here is a list of our field staff, where they are located, which MFPE local affiliates they serve, and how to reach them. For a list of local affiliates in each service area, please click "+" to obtain a list. Click on the locals in blue to view their collectively bargained agreement (CBA).

NORTH CENTRAL/EAST FIELD OFFICE

511 13th Ave. So.
Great Falls, MT 59405-5001
406.727.5040 or 800.398.0839
Fax: 406.727.5052

Field Office Coordinator - Amy Legg

  • Shelli Lavinder-Schwalk
  • Christine Sundly
  • Coty Filip

NC 1 Service Area:

Consultant: Shelli Lavinder-Schwalk
Shelli Lavinder-Schwalk is excited to work with members; focused on you, so you can focus on your job. Email: slavinder-schwalk@mfpe.org
Local affiliates: NC1

Belt Federation of Teachers
Browning Fed of Classified Employees
Browning Federation of Teachers

Cascade Unit of the MEA
Centerville Education Association
Chester-Joplin-Inverness Education Association
Choteau Education Association
Conrad Education Association
Cut Bank Education Association

Deputy Cascade County Attorneys Association - Local #7723
East Glacier Education Association

Federation of Heart Butte Classified Employees
Fort Benton Classified Employee Association
Fort Benton Education Association

Great Falls Association of Education Office Personnel
Great Falls Education Association
Great Falls Child Development Federation
Great Falls Technology Association

Heart Butte Education Association
MT School for the Deaf & Blind Federation - #4027

Shelby Education Association
Shelby School District Bus Drivers
Shelby School District Custodians
Sun River Valley Teachers Association
Sunburst Teachers Organization
Valier Federation of Teachers

NC 2 Service Area:

Consultant: Christine Sundly

csundly@mfpe.org

Local affiliates: NC2

Big Flat (Turner) Education Association
Big Sandy Teachers Association
Box Elder Classified Employees Association
Box Elder Education Association
Chinook Unit of the MFPE
Denton Education Association
Dodson Education Association
Harlem Classified Employees Association
Harlem Education Association
Harlowton Education Association
Havre Education Association
Havre Paraprofessionals Education Association
Hobson Teachers Association
Judith Gap Education Association
Lewistown Education Association
Little Rocky Mountain Classified Employee Association (Hays)
Little Rocky Montana Education Association (Hays)

Malta Education Association
Malta Classified Employees Association
Moore Education Unit
Rocky Boy Classified Employees Association
Rocky Boy Education Association

Stanford Education Association
Ulm Education Association

Vaughn Education Association

Vaughn Paras

White Sulphur  Springs Education Association

East Service Area:

Consultant: Coty Filip
Email Coty at cfilip@mfpe.org
Local affiliates: East

Baker Education Association
Brockton Education Association
Circle Teachers Association
Culbertson Education Association
Ekalaka Teachers Association
Fairview Education Association
Frazer Education Association
Frontier Education Association

Glasgow Education Association
Glendive Education Association
Glendive Federation of Teachers 
Jordan Education Association
Lambert Education Association
Medicine Lake Education Association
Nashua Unit of the MFPE

Opheim Teachers Organization
Plentywood Teacher's Association
Plevna Teacher's Association
Poplar Educational Support Staff Organization
Poplar Education Association

Poplar Support Personnel
Savage Education Association
Scobey Education Association
Sidney Education Association
Terry Teachers Association
Wibaux Education Association
Wolf Point Educational Support Staff Association
Wolf Point Education Association

NC Field Office Coordinator

Amy Legg
alegg@mfpe.org

NORTHWEST FIELD OFFICE

1001 S.W. Higgins, Suite 101
Missoula, MT 59803-1340
406.721.2928 or 800.398.0836
Fax: 406.721.2947

Field Office Coordinator - Kate Treib

  • Alex Bulmahn
  • Melanie Charlson
  • Becca Manska
  • Tom Burgess

NW 1 Service Area:

Consultant: Alex Bulmahn

Email: abulmahn@mfpe.org

Local affiliates: NW1

Arlee Federation of Teachers
Dayton Education Association
Eureka Public Schools Classified Employees Assn.
Evergreen Classified Employees
Evergreen Education Association
Federation of Missoula County Employees
Flathead City/County Health Employees
Fortine Teachers Association
Frenchtown Education Association
FVCC Adjuncts
FVCC Classified Employees
FVCC Education Association (Faculty)
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula Unit (HMFMU)
Missoula Airport Authority - Building and Field Employees
Missoula County Registered Nurses
Missoula County Health Unit #1 Employees
Missoula Public Library Employees Association
Polson Classified Employees Association
Polson Education Association
Ronan-Pablo Education Association
Smith Valley Teachers Association
St. Ignatius Federation of Teachers
St. Regis Education Association
Superior Classified Staff
Superior Education Association
Tobacco Valley Unified Education Association

NW 3 Service Area:

Consultant: Melanie Charlson
Email: mcharlson@mfpe.org
Local affiliates: NW3

Alberton Education Association
Bitteroot Co-op Employee Bargaining Unit
Bonner Education Association

Corvallis Faculty Group
Corvallis Classified Education Association
Darby Federation of Support Staff
Darby Federation of Teachers
Hellgate Elementary Education Association

Kalispell Education Association

Kalispell Federation of Classified Personnel

Maintenance Engineers Association
Lolo Classified Association
Lolo School Education Association
Missoula Education Association
Merged Missoula Classified Employees Organization
Missoula Area Special Education Co-op
Potomac Association of Classified Employees

Potomac Education Association

Target Range Education Association

Target Range School Dist 23 Classified Employees

The Clinton Education Association

Victor Federation of Teachers

NW 4 Service Area:

Consultant: Becca Manska
Email: rmanska@mfpe.org
Local affiliates: NW4

DeSmet Education Association
Dixon Teachers' Association
Florence-Carlton Classified Personnel Association
Florence-Carlton Education Association
Hamilton Classified Employees Union
Hamilton Unified Teachers
Hot Springs Education Association
Libby Classified Association
Libby Education Association
Lone Rock School District Classified Staff
Lone Rock Unit of the MFPE
Lower Flathead Education Association
Noxon Unit of the MFPE
Plains Classified Employees Association
Plains Teachers Organization
Seeley Lake Organization of Teachers
Stevensville Support Staff
Stevensville Teachers Association
Thompson Falls Classified Employees Association
Thompson Falls Education Association
Trout Creek Teachers Association
Troy Education Association

NW Field Office Coordinator

Kate Treib
Email: ktreib@mfpe.org

NW 2 Service Area:

Consultant: Tom Burgess

tburgess@mfpe.org

Local affiliates: NW2

Bigfork Area Education Association
Bigfork Unified Classified Employees
Cayuse Prairie Teachers Association
Columbia Falls Classified Employees Association
Columbia Falls Teachers Union
Creston Education Association
Deer Park Education Association
Fair-Mont-Egan Teachers Association
Greater Missoula Area Federation of Early Childhood Educators and Related Personnel Headstart
Helena Flats Education Association
Kila Education Association
Marion Education Organization
MFPE Whitefish Police Protective Association

Missoula City Building Inspectors

Missoula City Planners Union
Missoula City Wastewater Chemists
Missoula Parking Commission
Missoula Parks and Recreation Employees
Missoula treatment plant operators & mechanics
Public Works Engineering Employee Association
Somers Classified Employees Association
Somers Education Association
West Glacier Education Association
West Valley Teachers Association
Whitefish Classified Employees Association
Whitefish Education Association

Field Office Coordinator

Mary Riitano
Email: mriitano@mfpe.org

SOUTH CENTRAL FIELD OFFICE

510 No. 29th St.
Billings, MT 59101-1190
406.248.9820 or 800.398.0829
Fax: 406.248.2946

Field Office Coordinator - Shauna Reichelt

  • Jeff Greenfield
  • Rachel Schillreff
  • Joe Dompier

SC 1 Service Area:

Consultant: Jeff Greenfield

Jeff is based out of MFPE’s Billings office, working as a field consultant with members in Southeastern Montana.

jgreenfield@mfpe.org

Local affiliates: SC1

Belfry Education Association

Billings Classified Employees Association
Billings School District Custodians and Maintenance

Blue Creek Education Association
Canyon Creek Education Association
Columbus Classified Employee Association
Columbus Education Association
Elder Grove Education Association

Gardner Teachers Group

Huntley Project School District Classified Staff
Huntley Project Education Association
Independent Education Association
Joliet Education Association
Laurel Unified Education Association

Laurel Classified – Laurel Unified Education Association

Livingston Education Association

Livingston Classified Association
Lockwood Montana Education Association
Lockwood Paraprofessionals Association
Park City Affiliated Staff
Pioneer Education Association
Red Lodge Education Association
Shepherd Education Association
Special Services Education Association
Sweet Grass County High School Education Association
Yellowstone Education Association
Yellowstone Paras – Yellowstone Education Association

SC 2 Service Area:

Consultant: Rachel Schillreff

rschillreff@mfpe.org

Local affiliates: SC2

Ashland Education Association
Big Horn (Hardin) Education Association
Billings Education Association
Bridger Education Association
Broadus Education Association
Broadview Education Association

Colstrip City Employees - Local #7776
Colstrip Classified Association
Colstrip Faculty Association
Forsyth Education Association
Fromberg Education Association
Hardin Classified Employees Association
Lame Deer Education Association
Lodge Grass Classified Employees Association
Lodge Grass Teacher Association
Pryor Classified Employees Association
Pryor Education Association
Rosebud Teachers Association
Roundup Education Association
Roundup School Employee Association
Treasure County Education Association (Hysham)
Wyola Classified Employees Association
Wyola Education Association

SC Field Office Coordinator

Shauna Reichelt
Email: sreichelt@mfpe.org

SOUTHWEST FIELD OFFICE

1232 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
406.442.2123 or 800.423.2803

Field Office Coordinator - Jenny Fuller

  • Tammy Harris
  • Sam Harrington
  • Justin Hawkaluk

Field Office Coordinator - Mary Riitano

  • Jeff Cowee
  • Jenny Weigand
  • Jeff Howe

SW 2 Service Area:

Consultant: Tammy Harris

Tammy works as a field consultant out of the MFPE Southwest field office in Helena.

Email: tharris@mfpe.org
tharris@mfpe.org

Local affiliates: SW2

Anaconda Teachers Union

Associated Faculty of Montana State University
Butte Secretaries & Clerical
Butte Teachers Union

Clancy Education Association

Federation of Classified University Staff - FOCUS - Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena College, MSU Billings, MT Tech, U of M, UM Western

Graduate Employee Organization of MSU
Helena Teachers Union
Missoula College Faculty Association of UM
Montana Tech Faculty Association
MSU-Billings Faculty Association
MSU-Northern Federation of Teachers
Montana Two Year College Faculty Association - Highland College, City College, Great Falls

University Faculty Association

University of Montana Grads
University of Montana -Western Faculty Association

SW 3 Service Area

Consultant: Sam Harrington

Sam works with Southwest Montana members as an MFPE field consultant in the Helena office.
sharrington@mfpe.org

Local affiliates: SW3

Boulder Association of Classified Employees
Boulder Association of Teachers
Deer Lodge (Elementary) Education Association

Dept. of Labor & Industry Employees - Local #7781
Drummond Teachers Organization

Harrison Education Association
Helena Education & Para's Association

Helena School Secretaries

Lincoln Education Association

Montana City Classified Association
Montana City Education Association
Montana Federation of Historical Society Workers - Local #4367

Powell County High School Teachers Association

Prickly Pear Specialists Association

Ramsay Federation of Teachers

Townsend Classified Association

Townsend Education Association

United Teachers Association of Philipsburg
Whitehall Federation of Teachers

SW 5 Service Area

Consultant: Jeff Cowee
Email: jcowee@mfpe.org
Local affiliates: SW5

Association of Belgrade Classified

Beaverhead Classified Employees Association

Beaverhead Education Association

Beaverhead Federation of Teachers
Belgrade Education Association

Belgrade School District Custodians

Bozeman Education Association

Bozeman School District Classified Employees

City of Dillon Employees - Local #7774

Dillon City Police Officers - Local #7785

Dillon Elementary Custodians

Anderson
Monforton
Big Sky
Gallatin Gateway

Lima Teachers Association

Madison Valley Unit (Ennis) of the MEA

Manhattan Education Association

Montana Youth Challenge Academy Employees Union - Local #7722
Sheridan Federation of Teachers

Shields Valley Teachers Organization (Clyde Park)

The Policy & Risk Management Employees Federation - Local #5455

Three Forks Teachers Organization
Twin Bridges Federation of Teachers

West Yellowstone Education Association

Willow Creek Federation of Teachers

SW Field Office Coordinator

Jenny Fuller
Email: jfuller@mfpe.org
Mary Riitano
Email: mriitano@mfpe.org