MCDC Staff

Rosalie Sheehy Cates
Executive Director
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Rosalie joined MCDC in 1990 and has been the executive director since 1995. She serves on the Missoula Redevelopment Agency board, and is a former board member of the national Opportunity Finance Network. Rosalie has been honored as the Small Business Advocate of the Year for Region 7 of the SBA, and as a Peter F. Drucker leadership fellow.

Patty Cox
Administrative Assistant
pattyc@mtcdc.org / 728-9234 x 200
Patty joined MCDC as the Administrative Assistant in May, 2007. Patty has 20 years experience in the legal, high tech and financial services industries as an administrative manager. A penchant for organization and a cheerful attitude make Patty a logical choice for the front office. Patty provides support to the MCDC staff. She loves to cook and enjoys gardening with her husband and playing Guitar Hero with her son.

Lynn Dankowski
Marketing Assistant
lynnd@mtcdc.org / 728-9234 x 215
Lynn joined MCDC in 2008 to assist with marketing and copy writing. Lynn assists in the production of marketing and informational materials about MCDC and the people and businesses that we serve. Lynn has lived and worked in Missoula for over 20 years, graduating from the UM Law School in 1996 and working in a variety of businesses including private law practice, retail, restaurants and other service industries. In addition to raising three children she currently serves on two non-profit boards and is active in a variety of other community organizations. She is proud to play a role in the promotion of Western Montana and its businesses.

Heidi DeArment
Operations Manager
info@mtcdc.org / 728-9234 x 213
Heidi DeArment was hired as the Operations Manager in January 2007. She is responsible for management of the lending team, creating and implementing policies and procedures for MCDC’s growth, and assistance with capital procurement. She has five years of experience as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer of two national food companies and four years of teaching experience in the marketing and management department at the University of Montana’s School of Business.

John Degroot
Loan Officer
johnd@mtcdc.org / 728-9234 x 206
After being honorably discharged as a Sergeant from the U.S. Marine Corps, John moved to Montana in 2004. Before starting college at the University of Montana - Missoula, he worked at the family business, Big Sky Candy, in Hamilton. He graduated with a B.S. in Finance in 2008 and is currently a loan officer for MCDC. He enjoys the opportunity to meet with entrepreneurs and learn about their monetary needs. In his free time, John helps out at the candy store, participates in the Bitterroot Valley Detachment of the Marine Corps League, and reads. He lives in Hamilton with his wife, Jennifer.

Dave Glaser
Small Business Development Center Director
dave@mtcdc.org / 728-9234 x 211
Dave Glaser is the Small Business Development Center Director here at MCDC. Dave works directly with entrepreneurs in new and established small businesses to help them reach the next level of success. Dave's experience includes working as a Chief Operations Officer and Environmental Scientist at environmental consulting firms, and Program Manager and manager for sales and marketing at a non-profit organization. Before finishing his Masters Degree, Dave spent time working on a kibbutz in Israel, leading backcountry and river expeditions in Costa Rica, teaching kayaking and guiding raft trips in the Western US, and working on sailing yachts in the Caribbean. Now that Dave is an office guy he punctuates his somewhat less romantic lifestyle with biking, skiing and kayaking – all of which he does with less skill and stamina than he used to.

Steve Grover
Business Development Manager
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Steve is the Business Development Manager for MCDC and is responsible for the loan and consulting programs. Steve spent more than two years as the Director of MCDC's Small Business Development Center before being promoted to Business Development Manager in June 2005. Steve joined MCDC in November of 2002 and brought over twelve years of business experience including working as a CPA for Ernst & Young, a management position with Microsoft, and ownership/management of three construction companies in Western Montana.

Mica Lindsey
Loan Fund Administrator
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Mica manages all loan documentation, legal filings, loan closing and payment collection. She prepares and maintains loan and grant files for compliance with legal and funder regulations. Mica is MCDC's key liaison with borrowers once loans are made. Mica prepares quarterly reports for all funders. She has worked for MCDC since February of 1999. Mica spent three years originating and processing consumer and mortgage loans before starting at MCDC.

Nora McDougall-Collins
Internet Marketing Specialist
nora@smallwoodnews.com / 728-9234 x 207
Nora McDougall-Collins has joined the Smallwood Utilization Network at Montana Community Development Corporation as Internet Marketing Specialist. Nora is working with Craig Rawlings, Smallwood Enterprise Agent, in the development and marketing of the new SmallwoodNews.com and TimberBuySell.com web sites. She graduated from the U of M in 2001 with a degree in International Business, and since then has been with the UM Computer Science department as both a graduate student and adjunct professor. Nora will continue teaching web development at Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center.

Kaia Peterson
Loan Officer
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As lending analyst Kaia works with business owners to understand their needs and goals and underwrite loans to help their businesses succeed. Kaia comes to MCDC with an MBA from the University of Washington and experience working with small and entrepreneurial businesses and non-profit organizations. Prior to moving to Montana in the fall of 2007 she was working as a business consultant focused on positive environmental and social impacts. She has a passion for building community through business. On the weekend, Kaia and her husband have fun with hammer and nails--remodeling their first home.

Craig Rawlings
Wood Utilization and Marketing Network Agent
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Craig Rawlings is the Wood Utilization and Marketing Network Agent. The goal of the agent is to increase the utilization of small diameter timber in the form of value added products and services in order to reduce the cost of forest stewardship. Craig has 28 years experience in managing and owning small to medium size businesses and an extensive background in industrial marketing.

Stacie Stensrud
Accountant
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Stacie is responsible for internal accounting activities including working with the Executive Director on budgeting, financial administration and preparation for annual audit. Stacie started working at MCDC in August of 1999 after five years working in the University of Montana's accounting departments.