Jason joined Zero to Five Montana in 2022 as Senior Child Care Business Advisor after eight years in economic development as Vice President with the Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) and Regional Director of the Great Falls area Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
He coaches, counsels, advises, and trains starting, growing, expanding, and stabilizing child care businesses with the business elements of running a licensed child care program in Montana.
Between 2022-2024, Jason helped start 25 child care businesses, eight business expansions, creating over 550 licensed slots, supporting over 500 jobs in the ECE industry, and raising over $7M in capital invested in to Montana child care businesses.
During his time in economic development, he advised and trained 4,000 entrepreneurs and business professionals, helped start over 100 businesses, supported 2,800 jobs, and helped raise $75M in capital investment into area businesses.
Jason was the 2022 recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, a national award recognizing the top five presenters of the SBA’s Introduction to Entrepreneurship curriculum for active-duty military and veterans. In 2018, he was named the Montana State SBDC Star honoring the top 1% of business advisors in the U.S.
Prior to entering economic development, Jason owned two businesses and spent 16 years as a print and broadcast journalist. He is an award-winning broadcaster, native Montanan, and is a proud daughter-dad. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Political Science and a master’s degree in Communication.
