Business & Technology Advising

Advising

I am here to help you navigate your academic journey at Montana Western. You can access my Advising Course in Canvas.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to stop by my office (BTB 113) or you can set up an advising meeting by emailing me: [email protected]

Biography

I graduated from Geraldine High School in 1986 and from Montana Western in 1991 with a BS in Secondary Education with a double Major in Business Education and Math Education and a BS in Business Administration. This is my 16th year teaching in the Business and Technology Department at Montana Western.  From 1996-2009, I was the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Western. Prior to coaching at Western, I taught and coached basketball at Beaverhead County High School in Dillon from 1991-1996. My wife, Roxanne is the Director of the UMW Foundation and Alumni Engagement.  Our son Kyler is a senior at BCHS and will be attending Montana Western in the Fall on a basketball scholarship and will be majoring in Business. In the summer months, I run the Dillon Junior Golf Programs which provide golf opportunities to youth in Southwest Montana. I am a member of the Dillon Elks Lodge and serve as the Montana State Hoop Shoop Director. My hobbies include playing golf, watching sports and spending time with my family.

Brian has taught Business and Economics courses at Montana Western since 2019. Prior to transitioning to an academic career, he was a business practitioner for three decades, working for and with global healthcare suppliers and providers. He has held a broad variety of business roles across all functions and all levels and for both public and private companies, with particular focus on strategy, finance, operations, marketing/sales, and acquisitions/divestitures/integrations.

Brian obtained his PhD in Economics from the University of Utah in 2018. He obtained an MBA in Econometrics, Finance, and International Business from University of Chicago in 2000 and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Montana State University in 1990. Brian held a license (now inactive) to practice as a Certified Public Accountant and has obtained the Certified Management Accountant and LEAN Bronze professional certifications.

Christian Gilde’s teaching interests include marketing, consumer behavior, management, and operations management. His previous research translated into a book on higher education. Gilde has presented at and participated in numerous conferences such as the Academy of Management Conference, the International Conference in Higher Education Marketing and the European Marketing Academy Conference. Christian has given guest lectures at various universities including London Metropolitan University and was a guest lecturer on the Doctor of Business Administration in Higher Education Management program at the University of Bath. He serves as a reviewer for journals such as the Journal of Consumer Behavior and the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education.

Denise Holland, Ed.D, has taught at Montana Western since 2001. Before joining the UMW faculty, Denise taught public high school courses in business and marketing in Idaho and Montana and assisted elementary teachers in creating technology projects.

Her primary teaching interests include business education, technology integration, computer applications and business communications. In her classes, students are working on practical skills needed for today’s workforce such as hard skills (computer skills) and soft skills (communications and team-building).

Her research interests include business education, technology integration and computer skills. She is co-developer of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
(TPACK )Technology Integration Education (TIE) Model for understanding preservice teachers’ classroom performance. Denise also co-developed the Microsoft Office Self-Efficacy Scale.

She has published in leading educational journals such as Journal of Educational Computing Research (2014, 2016), ISTE’s Journal of Research on Technology in Education (2016), Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice (2016), Journal of Leadership Education (2016), and Business Teachers Education Journal (2017). Denise is a member of the National Business Education Association (NBEA).

I am looking forward to helping you achieve your educational goals! My role is to advise you on plans that you create, so always prepare before we meet using the campus tools available to you: Degreeworks, Dawgs, and Advising Workshops. I maintain a page in Canvas that walks you through all the details and includes the link to schedule a time to meet with me once you have a plan.

If your goal is to graduate on time, then it is up to you to be organized and present me with your plan BEFORE registration opens every semester. Classes fill up, so if you are not ready on day 1 of registration, you may encounter delays that will add semesters to your time at UMW. My calendar also fills up since I have many advisees, so the earlier you make a plan and then book a meeting with me, the better your chances of getting the classes you need in the order you need them.

I will communicate with you via email and Canvas Inbox, so please check both of those regularly. Email is the best way to reach me. I know this can sound intimidating your first few semesters, but the Advising Workshops really help and you will get better each time you register!

After many years of practical, real-world experience working as an accountant and business manager for several successful business operations, Lee Ann Jenne joined the faculty at the University of Montana Western as an instructor of business.

She is the co-owner of a family farming and livestock operation which has grown to include a separate custom farming and haying business. Her extensive small business experience brings a unique perspective to the classroom.

Throughout her career, Lee Ann’s focus has been on providing great service to the customer and she has been recognized by both customers and employers for her outstanding customer service. She brings this same emphasis on providing great customer service to her classroom by working to create a positive learning experience for her students.

Lee Ann has been a faculty member at the University of Montana Western since 2011. She received her MBA from the University of Montana.

Kurt W. Steadman, J.D., is currently an associate professor of business at the University of Montana Western. He has taught at UMW for approximately five years. Steadman teaches risk management and insurance, entrepreneurship, small business development and management. Prior to coming to Montana Western, he practiced law for several years, including business law, litigation, real estate, contracts, criminal and family law. He has also owned and managed a residential construction company for over 10 years. The company has built many custom homes, spec homes and apartments.

In his free time Kurt enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors whether it be hiking, fishing, biking, swimming in mountain lakes, hunting or camping. He enjoys competing in triathlons with his family, even though he loses to them most of the time.