Our Team

For more than 25 years, Colleen has worked across multiple industries including accounting, banking, credit unions, economic development, insurance, manufacturing, not for profit, healthcare, technology, helping business owners make strategic connections between human impact and bottom-line profitability.

As Cascadia’s chief strategist, she reviews, designs, and facilitates change-management initiatives for clients, resulting in stabilized functions, reduced expenses, leaner operations, increased human performance, and expanded revenue opportunities.

Prior to forming Cascadia Business Development, Colleen served in a wide variety of leadership roles including:

• Personal Lines Insurance Agent for Western States Insurance; fully licensed in property casualty, life and health insurance. Guided individuals, businesses owners and organizations through proper risk assessment, structuring and securing of their insurance package. Colleen was the proud recipient of Travelers Insurance Montana Personal Lines Agent of the Year.
• Director of Marketing and Business Development for JCCS, CPAs and Business Advisors; hired to create, manage and grow firm’s marketing department and statewide efforts. Personal highlight was designing and launching The Montana Profit Symposium focused on small business expansion and growth. The firm and program received a National Innovation Award in 2002.
• Executive Vice President of Retail Banking for First National Bank of Montana; unified and guided brand development and execution across seven Montana communities. Served lead roles on Board of Directors, IT, regulatory, and asset liability management committees.
• Director of Corporate and Group Solutions for Western CPE; restructured sales and servicing divisions in alignment with organization’s growth initiatives. Managed national industry, government, and private sector accounts. Served lead role on technology and operation teams during multiple system conversions to improve operational and service quality.

Colleen received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Montana and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Rocky Mountain College. She remains actively involved in at the University of Montana as a guest speaker, student mentor, and career development volunteer.

Public Speaker – Member of the NSA (Northwest Speakers Association) and frequent speaker at Industry Conferences across Montana. Colleen has graced various national stages including PDI Global, Association for Accounting Marketing, and CPAmerica International. Known for her high energy, quick thinking, and broad expertise, Colleen engages with her audiences in a unique way.

For over 15 years, Libby has worked in the education and administration fields, giving her extensive experience in creating engaging professional development, program development and management, public speaking training, personnel supervision and evaluation, branding and promoting new programs, event organization, solution oriented problem solving, and the building of efficient and effective teams.

As Cascadia’s Director of Leadership Development and Organizational Design, she serves as a key partner of Cascadia’s leadership team, advising in the strategy and execution of succession planning, leadership development, and talent management solutions to improve high potential employee readiness for increased responsibilities, as well as developing capable, confident leaders at all levels who inspire their teams and drive extraordinary performance. She is also responsible for researching, assessing, recommending, and evaluating solutions for achieving optimum employee and organizational performance, and the development of quality professional training to support the continual improvement of organizations.

Prior to joining Cascadia Business Development, Libby has served in a wide variety of leadership roles including:

• President of the Montana Forensic Educators Association
• Assistant Principal, Hellgate High School
• National Forensic League District Chairperson for the Montana District

Having spent most of her adult life in the financial service industry, Joni has a unique perspective on marketing, branding, sales and development. Her 20+ years as SVP of Marketing and Development at a local credit union give her vast knowledge of strategic marketing, strategic planning, business development, and working within a highly regulated industry. A nationally-recognized marketer, she and her team won several prestigious industry awards for branch design, logo design, community/PR event and social media campaign.

Joni earned her MBA from the University of Montana and holds a Bachelor of Science in English from Emporia State University. She is a graduate of CUNA Management School and CUES CEO Institute, graduate-level management and leadership schools for credit union executives.

At Cascadia Business Development, she helps clients create unique marketing strategies that support their specific growth goals and strategies. She assists with capacity planning, and defines sales development strategies for Cascadia clients.

Joni’s commitment to her community ranges from volunteering for local events, to helping plan fundraisers, to mentoring senior projects, to service on local and state non-profit boards. Most recently, she has served on the board for the Montana Grizzly Scholarship Association and the Sustainable Business Council and as a Delegate to the University of Montana Alumni Association. A Leadership Montana graduate, she believes strongly in the need to develop and nurture our next generation of leaders.

She and her husband Brian were recently honored with the UM Alumni Association Community Service Award. They live the Western Montana dream, enjoying hiking, camping, sapphire hunting, Montana Grizzly Football and their seven goofy dogs.