Mike is originally from Chicago, but has called Montana home since 2020. He and his wife, Samantha Booth, chose to move from Washington, DC to Bozeman to be closer to her family and to start our own family in her hometown.

During his time in Washington, DC, Mike worked on Capitol Hill for Senators from Montana, Indiana, and Michigan. In fact, he met Samantha while they were both working for her home state Senator, John Walsh, from Montana. Additionally, he spent three years at a non-profit focused on consensus building. At the non-profit, Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, Mike worked on projects to reform the federal budget process and to improve relationships between Members of Congress.

Mike’s most relevant experience to the Local Government Study Commission was his nearly four years working in the City of Bozeman’s Economic Development Department. In his role for the City, Mike led the parking program and managed the City’s efforts at the State Legislature. He has experienced the day-to-day operations of our local government and would bring an unmatched understanding of how to make the City of Bozeman best serve its residents. Additionally, during his time at the University of Dayton in Ohio, Mike spent a year working for the City Manager of Dayton, Ohio.

Currently, Mike is the Director of Economic Development for Montana State University. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton in Political Science and Human Rights Studies, Mike also has a Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University. His wife, Samantha, works on federal housing policy for a rural housing non-profit and is a Bozeman High graduate. They have a toddler who insists on being outside at all times.