Sam Harrington
My name is Sam Harrington and I have worked with the Office of Public Assistance for almost 4 years. I graduated from the University of Montana in May 2012 with a Bachelors in Fine Arts, and Minors in Media Arts, Art History and Criticism, and Psychology. I am currently working towards my Associates in Business Management with a Focus in Labor Studies with Eastern Gateway Community College. When I am not working or doing homework, I participate in a variety of union activities. I am Chair of District 5 on the MFPE Board of Directors and have served on the board for two years. I also have had the pleasure of attending a Women and Minorities Leadership conference through our national affiliate NEA, and a Leadership Conference through our other national affiliate AFT. In addition to this, I have also participated in various organizing activities with the union, as well as recently attending the Montana AFL-CIO convention. I hope to be elected because I would love to continue to work with you all to achieve our common goals, and ultimately assist in furthering our collective voice.
Tina Hawkins
Hi, my name is Tina and I work out of the Havre office. I moved to Montana back in 2015 from Ohio, seeking adventure and something new. And boy, did I get an adventure! I enjoy traveling, art, music and spending time with my friends. I am OBSESSED with pugs and hope to have one in the near future. My work experience includes retail management, being a buyer for an online retailer and working for the local health center here in Havre.
Why do I think you should vote for me? I have a passion to create a better work atmosphere for all those in our OPA offices. I know what it feels like to not have options in the workplace and to not have an advocate to help me with my voice as an employee. I want to be that advocate for you. I will work hard to make your voice heard, to fight for our rights as employees and make sure our OPA offices thrive.
Tina Hawkins
Hi, my name is Tina and I work out of the Havre office. I moved to Montana back in 2015 from Ohio, seeking adventure and something new. And boy, did I get an adventure! I enjoy traveling, art, music and spending time with my friends. I am OBSESSED with pugs and hope to have one in the near future. My work experience includes retail management, being a buyer for an online retailer and working for the local health center here in Havre.
Why do I think you should vote for me? I have a passion to create a better work atmosphere for all those in our OPA offices. I know what it feels like to not have options in the workplace and to not have an advocate to help me with my voice as an employee. I want to be that advocate for you. I will work hard to make your voice heard, to fight for our rights as employees and make sure our OPA offices thrive.
Dawnita “Beth” Juneau
My name is Dawnita “Beth” Juneau. I am an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree tribe of Rocky Boy. I was born and raised in Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation but have lived in Great Falls and have been a part of this community for 25 years. I am the mother of a second-year college student and have 4 years of college myself. At the present time I work for the Office of Public Assistance here in Great Falls. In the past I worked for the Great Falls School District, in Indian Education and for the State’s Vocational Rehabilitation program.
During my time with the District, I advocated for our Native American students, this included working with the Administration to put programs and education into place that would improve graduation rates and success for these students. By working in environments that have allowed me to help others, I knew this was my calling. Then after attending the regional MFPE conference in Helena, I was inspired! From that moment on I knew I wanted to learn and to be a part of a working union. Thereby I have chosen to run for office in our Local Union as the position would allow for the opportunity to help my fellow workers, to be a proponent, and a supporter of all the hard work you do.
Rikki Kindler
My name is Rikki Kindler, I am a mother of four, ages 20, 18, 16 and 11. I enjoy being an active member of my community in Choteau, Montana and also love traveling around the state to cheer on my sons and their wrestling teams.
I have worked as a CSC for three and half years, three of which I have been the union representative in our office where I have helped advocate for multiple employees in various situations. I am also co-chair for our Labor Management Committee. Most recently, I had the opportunity to be a part of a team representing Montana and OPA at an AFT Leadership Conference, an intensive 18 month program set up to help further assist in our organizational and engagement efforts on the local level.
Please consider electing me, I feel I provide strong advocacy for our members and want to further our local representation and to be a part of carrying our collective voice forward.
Kristen Nickisch
My name is Kristen Nickisch and I have been with the Billings Field Office for 12 years working as a Client Service Coordinator. I have been a member of the LMC for six years and have represented the eastern side of the state in these meetings. I have done my best of asking for input on the topics people are feeling concerned with, and will continue to do so to make sure everybody’s voice is heard. I have been chosen for the position of Vice President and Secretary for the Local 7793. If I am elected to either position, I want to ensure all of my co-workers are represented in our negotiations, any union meetings they are not able to attend and to make sure we are all informed of what is going on within the Local. We have a very important job and we need to ensure we have our voices heard and attempt to make changes as a united front rather than letting decisions be made for us, and this is a good opportunity for me to do this if elected.
Dawnita “Beth” Juneau
My name is Dawnita “Beth” Juneau. I am an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree tribe of Rocky Boy. I was born and raised in Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation but have lived in Great Falls and have been a part of this community for 25 years. I am the mother of a second-year college student and have 4 years of college myself. At the present time I work for the Office of Public Assistance here in Great Falls. In the past I worked for the Great Falls School District, in Indian Education and for the State’s Vocational Rehabilitation program.
During my time with the District, I advocated for our Native American students, this included working with the Administration to put programs and education into place that would improve graduation rates and success for these students. By working in environments that have allowed me to help others, I knew this was my calling. Then after attending the regional MFPE conference in Helena, I was inspired! From that moment on I knew I wanted to learn and to be a part of a working union. Thereby I have chosen to run for office in our Local Union as the position would allow for the opportunity to help my fellow workers, to be a proponent, and a supporter of all the hard work you do.
Kristen Nickisch
My name is Kristen Nickisch and I have been with the Billings Field Office for 12 years working as a Client Service Coordinator. I have been a member of the LMC for six years and have represented the eastern side of the state in these meetings. I have done my best of asking for input on the topics people are feeling concerned with, and will continue to do so to make sure everybody’s voice is heard. I have been chosen for the position of Vice President and Secretary for the Local 7793. If I am elected to either position, I want to ensure all of my co-workers are represented in our negotiations, any union meetings they are not able to attend and to make sure we are all informed of what is going on within the Local. We have a very important job and we need to ensure we have our voices heard and attempt to make changes as a united front rather than letting decisions be made for us, and this is a good opportunity for me to do this if elected.
Gina Teza
I have been with the State of Montana eligibility since 2015. Prior to coming to Montana in 2015, I worked for Placer County in California also doing eligibility. In addition to being a lead worker, I spent 6 terms (2 years each) on our unions Board of Directors serving as Secretary (Operating Engineers Local 39). I have participated in contract negotiations and coordinated sub-committees.
I would be honored to serve in the Secretary/Treasurer position for the State of Montana.
Kristen VanderMeyden
Kristen began her career as an Eligibility Assistant in the Kalispell Field Office in 2004 and has been a case worker there since 2005. She was selected as a representative for the Policy Input and Error Reduction (PIER) team in 2007 helping to shape policy and create efficiencies for field staff. She was recruited to participate in User Acceptance Testing for the CHIMES Medicaid system and to act as a peer advisor in the implementation of that system in 2008 and in 2011 was selected to participate in Design and Development, User Acceptance Testing and to act as site support and trainer for the CHIMES EA system. In 2009 Kristen was a member of the Kalispell Field Office team that received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Performance for their success in managing the increased need for benefits in their community following the financial crisis. Since 2017 she has been a representative on the Labor Management Committee. Throughout her time in the OPA, Kristen has strived to expand her knowledge and foster relationships in an effort to help herself and her fellow co-workers better understand the programs and navigate the many, and often complex changes they face on a continuing basis. Having been a representative for her peers and co-workers, Kristen understands the responsibility and gravity of working for fairness and equality and making sure their voices are heard.
Betsy Jo Ryan
Hello, my name is Betsy Jo Ryan. I have worked for the OPA as a Client Service Coordinator since May of 2014. I started at Eastern Processing Center and now am working for the maintenance unit at the Yellowstone County Office. Before coming to the State of Montana, I worked at Billings Clinic and St Vincent Healthcare in the Billing/Coding office for a total of 12 years. I also managed a pediatric gastroenterologists office for two years and worked as a customer service representative for Lincare.
I have been nominated as ‘member at large’ for our Union and am looking forward to the opportunity to be an advocate for every one of you. I want us all to have great working conditions and am willing to fight for our rights to enjoy that benefit.
Micheal Creger
Hi my name is Micheal Creger. I have worked for the Office of Public Assistance-Health and Human Services for three years. I graduated from Montana State University in 2012 with a degree in Health and Human Services. In my free time I enjoy outdoor recreation and spending time with my husband and two labs, Bodie and Zoe. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending an AFT Leadership conference, giving me some experience and insight into the world of leadership and our Union. I hope to be elected to the position for Member at Large because I would like to be an active participant in our union, and work towards unifying us all under our common goals.
Rikki Kindler
My name is Rikki Kindler, I am a mother of four, ages 20, 18, 16 and 11. I enjoy being an active member of my community in Choteau, Montana and also love traveling around the state to cheer on my sons and their wrestling teams.
I have worked as a CSC for three and half years, three of which I have been the union representative in our office where I have helped advocate for multiple employees in various situations. I am also co-chair for our Labor Management Committee. Most recently, I had the opportunity to be a part of a team representing Montana and OPA at an AFT Leadership Conference, an intensive 18 month program set up to help further assist in our organizational and engagement efforts on the local level.
Please consider electing me, I feel I provide strong advocacy for our members and want to further our local representation and to be a part of carrying our collective voice forward.
Roberta Smerker
I have lived in Montana since I was a child, love this great state. I have worked for OPA for almost 4 years, I would like to see more participation and communication in our offices. I have gone to numerous union meeting including the MFPE annual conference, and love the excitement and comradery these create! I would love to represent the district in future meetings and communicate with all the union members on what we are doing and how the union is going to move forward!