Katherine is an educator and workforce developer with 5+ years of experience working in the postsecondary education and training spaces. She is passionate about connecting individuals with the training that they need to achieve their career goals and believes that skills in the trades can transform individuals, families, and Montana communities. She holds an M.A. student affairs administration from Michigan State University and is currently completing a doctorate in education leadership from the University of Montana. When she isn't working or studying, you can find her reading, gardening, and chasing after her spunky pup.
Alex has dedicated over two decades to the education and construction sectors in Montana. Born and raised in Kalispell, he began his career straight out of high school, initially operating a shovel for a local excavation company. This experience led to summers spent in Glacier National Park, engaging in road construction. Since then, Alex has immersed himself in every facet of homebuilding, from groundwork to roofing and everything in between.
A graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in English Education, Alex has imparted knowledge both locally in western Montana and internationally, including teaching stints as far away as Berlin, Germany. He is deeply passionate about learning and teaching, eager to nurture the next generation of Montana's trades workers.
With a firm conviction that the construction industry is inclusive and offers rewarding, varied career paths, Alex advocates for its accessibility to all Montanans. In his leisure time, he enjoys hunting, hiking, watching and playing rugby and camping with his wife and daughter.
John Freer
Founder, Job Site Ready
Director of Trades Education, Missoula College
John Freer, the founder of the Job Site Ready (JSR) training program, serves as the Director of Trades Education at Missoula College, and continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of JSR, trades education, and construction workforce readiness across Montana. In 2020, John started JSR at Missoula College in response to industry partners needs to hire and quickly prepare entry-level construction employees, and assure that they were safe, confident, and had the basic skills to be successful. Since, he has leveraged his extensive experience, deep industry connections, and passion for trades to help grow JSR into the statewide program it is today.
Throughout John's career, spanning over three decades, he has been deeply involved in the construction industry. Starting as a carpenter, he progressed to roles as a home builder and developer, business owner, earned a Master’s Degree in Building Science from the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, and has become a nationally recognized subject matter expert in green building and construction business management. As a staunch advocate for the industry, John is committed to providing education and training that seamlessly integrates academic learning with real-world industry requirements.
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