Tuesday, April 23, 2024
6:30pm-8:30pm
Strand Union Building, Ballrooms C & D

Join us for an evening of dinner, leadership, and encouragement with our keynote speaker Jeff Kaufman, followed by mentoring circles with professionals in the Bozeman community as you think about your transition from college to career.

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Jeff Kaufman is a former Allstate Executive who has dedicated his time in retirement to encouraging and mentoring young adults. See Jeff's bio below to learn more about him.

The Bobcat Mentoring Circles are a form of career development mentoring in which professionals within the Bozeman community share their experiences and wisdom specific to career development in a small group format. It is interactive, allowing students to engage and ask questions. We highly encourage you to step into this opportunity and engage with amazing resources that are graciously offering up their time and experience to walk with you as you develop your career path. These mentors are eager to pour into you!

Please RSVP below for this event. We have limited seating and want to establish an environment in which students will receive great value in the mentorship experience:

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6:15-6:30 pm – Check in outside Ballroom B located in the Strand Union Building

6:30-6:45 pm – Welcome and introduction

6:45-7:20 pm – Keynote speaker, Jeff Kaufman

7:20-7:30 pm – Break

7:30-8:30 pm – Mentoring circles

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Jeff Kaufman is a Montana native who has enjoyed a life far beyond any of his own expectations. Having been raised in a 12’x 60’ trailer house by parents with eighth grade educations, he was the first in his extended family to obtain a college degree. After a four year stint of teaching and coaching in Montana, he joined the Allstate Insurance Corporation as an insurance agent in Butte, and began a 35 year corporate career. After 19 different job assignments and 14 relocations, he retired to the Bozeman area from the title of Group Vice President of Leadership and Performance Capacity. He left a legacy at Allstate of being able to repair failing businesses, developing people, and leadership.

Since his retirement in 2008 and in the “giving back “phase of his life, he has eagerly conducted many presentations about Personal Leadership, Goal Setting, and Choices. He also coaches and mentors developing professionals from all walks of life, is an active presenter with Leadership Bozeman, and has helped multiple local businesses and non-profits. He and his wife of 51 years are the co-founders of the Full Circle Foundation, which provides college scholarship support to the first child in a family to attend college from cities of less than 3,000 people.

Based on his own life experiences, the help he received from mentors, and the “privilege” of leading people in his career, Jeff believes strongly in the need for people to very consciously set personal mission statements about several aspects of their lives. A common phrase from him is “The world needs better leaders, better parents, better spouses, better friends, and better role models.” He aggressively coaches people to deeply think about the person they want to be and to take action to achieve their dreams.

In addition to the Full Circle Foundation, he served on the board of the American Indian College Fund for 10 years, has been an active volunteer with the Gallatin County Food Bank, serves on the Board of Directors of the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce, has served as both a deacon and an elder in his church, and is on the Advisory Board of the Hilleman Scholarship Program at MSU.

Jeren Starr

Jeren Starr grew up on the Hi-Line in Shelby, Montana where he played sports, enjoyed life in a small town and worked throughout high school to save for college. After weighing the decision of in-state colleges, he landed on Carroll because he didn't want to get lost in the masses at a larger school, nor did he want to relive high school by following too many classmates to another school. At Carroll, Jeren double majored while working close to full time to pay for college. 

Jeren spent the last 11 years of his professional life pursuing careers in banking and, more recently, real estate development. He realized early on that, even when times seem difficult or you may have an uphill battle, life doesn’t get easier without handwork and determination. The necessity of working to create an enjoyable, more comfortable life is a common thread that many people are tasked with.

Cody Clausen

Cody is a husband and proud father of a 2-year-old boy and a 4-month-old girl. He is currently the Human Resources Director and Sales Manager for Buffalo Restoration in Bozeman. He oversees two departments and focuses on Management, Leadership and Team Member Development; Employment Law; Strategic Thinking/Planning; and Data Analytics. His hope is that his small-town upbringing (MT born and raised) will allow for a connection to students and show them that they too can create a successful career path. He brings passion and energy and hopes to truly make an impact in their daily and professional lives. He is incredibly thankful and humbled for the opportunity to share his knowledge and life experiences. GO CATS!

Mandy Dredge

Though born and raised in North Dakota, Mandy spent many years in Big Sky country learning to ski and love Montana. She moved to Bozeman in 2005 after attending university in Minnesota and living in New Zealand. She has been with Riverside Country Club for the last 17 years and held a variety of positions from Pool Manager to Director of Membership and Marketing. Her strengths lie in problem solving and seeing the possibilities in the impossible as well as networking and public relations. She is happily married to her husband Mike and has 2 wonderful children: Dottie and Eddie. Her hobbies include entertaining friends and family, skiing, golfing, and spending time with the kiddos. She also loves house renovations and queso!

Mike Waterman

Raised in Colorado, Mike attended Colorado State University where he earned his undergrad degree in finance and met his wife, Lisa.  After graduation, he worked as VP at FirstBank in Colorado while earning his Master’s Degree at the University of Colorado.  In 2002, he moved to Helena, where he began his career in public school finance at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. In 2007, he moved to Lewistown, Montana, where he served as the District Business Manager. He remained there until he was offered what is now his current position as the Executive Director of Business and Operations for the Bozeman School District in 2012.  

Mike and his wife celebrated their 26th anniversary this August. He has three children: Laura (22, a senior at MSU), Daniel (20, a junior at Boise State), and their caboose, Meredith (12, at 7th grader at Sacajawea Middle School here in Bozeman).  In his free time, he used to enjoy fishing, hunting, and camping, but it now appears he prefers home improvement projects and sitting on hard plastic bleachers watching middle school volleyball.

Ember Erickson

Ember grew up in Lolo, MT and traded her Griz colors for blue & gold when she came to MSU in 2007. She graduated with a degree in Business Marketing and went on to build her career in marketing over the next decade, covering everything from tourism to media and finding her niche in SaaS marketing & sales. Ember is currently the Co-Founder & Head of Revenue for commercial real estate technology company, Biproxi, with investors that include VC veterans like Greycroft and RPM Ventures and strategic backing from The National Association of Realtors, Newmark and others. Ember lives in Bozeman with her husband Tyler - a Livingston native - and two dogs. When she's not working, she spends her time skiing, biking, golfing and generally living the Bozeman dream.

Carl Nyusten

Carl is a Montana native, born and raised throughout the state before moving to Bozeman in 2007. After completing a successful college career at Montana State University, where he earned a triple-major in business and competed for the Bobcat Cross Country and Track Team, Carl began his career as a Financial Advisor with D.A. Davidson in 2011. Today he continues his involvement in the Bozeman community through his work as a board member with the Museum of the Rockies, Jake Jabs College of Business and the Montana Chamber Foundation. Carl’s family has deep roots in the state of Montana, from Miles City to the Flathead Valley, where his family still resides. Carl and his wife Hillary can be found spending their spare time on the waters of Flathead Lake in the summer, ski slopes of Big Sky in the winter and the trails of the Gallatin Valley running and mountain biking throughout the year.

Chase Peterson

Chase Peterson is a Certified Public Accountant with Amatics CPA Group, a local accounting firm in Bozeman. Chase was born and raised in Plentywood, Montana, a town of roughly 1,500 people. Coming from a town this small, Chase understands that it can be difficult to acclimate to the booming Gallatin Valley. Chase moved to Bozeman after graduating high school and eventually graduated from MSU with a B.S. in Accounting and Master’s of Professional Accountancy. Chase lives in Bozeman with his wife and daughter. Outside of spending time with his family and friends, Chase enjoys hiking, camping, hunting, golfing, working on classic cars, and supporting Bobcat athletics.

Angie Johnson

Angie grew up in Sidney, Montana playing sports and helping her dad on the family farm. She attended Montana State University and studied Business with an emphasis in Accounting. While attending MSU, Angie began working at a community bank and has been in banking since 1997. Currently, she’s a Commercial Loan Officer and Assistant Branch Manager at Stockman Bank. Angie is married with two teenage daughters who keep her busy. When she’s not working, you can find her on a trail with her two dogs taking in the beautiful Gallatin Valley scenery. 

Chase Rose

Chase is a 5th generation Montanan who has spent his entire professional life in nonprofit fundraising. Over the past few years, Chase has worked with Bannack clients to secure nearly $100M in charitable gifts across Montana.  Formerly, Chase was a Development Officer for Montana State University Alumni Foundation, managing the east coast. He is abundantly thankful for opportunities outside the classroom while at MSU and dedicated to doing anything he can to help current students find opportunities that helps advance them. In his free time, Chase is a “total ski bum” and a private pilot since he was 17.

Kristin Hamburg

Kristin began working for HRDC in 1995, starting in housing programs. With a background in Public Relations and Marketing, Kristin eventually moved into her role with HRDC to educate the community on the mission, later focusing on donor relations and fundraising as the Development Director.

Prior to her start at HRDC, Kristin was on the Public Relations and Fundraising Team for LaRabida Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Chicago. Graduating from Winona State University in 1991, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, and Marketing.

When Kristin moved to Bozeman and learned about HRDC, she knew she had to work there. Kristin continues to be inspired by the impact HRDC has on the lives of thousands of people each year. As HRDC’s Development Director, Kristin often sees the generosity of the community, witnessing acts of kindness every day from partners, donors, Board, and volunteers.

Kristin also serves as the Chair of the CASA of Gallatin County Board of Directors. When she has a chance to volunteer, it’s always with HRDC. Her favorite volunteer assignment is serving Kids’ Summer Lunch at the MSU site.

In her spare time, Kristin likes to take advantage of the outdoor opportunities in Bozeman, especially running or walking on trails with her favorite Golden Retriever, Cash.