Montana Arts Council Staff

Chief Financial Officer

Jenifer has a BS degree in Business Administration with an Accounting emphasis from Montana State University. She is a huge fan of the Bobcats which you can easily tell by stepping into her office. She started her State career off as an income tax auditor for the Department of Revenue and after 8 years moved on to be a Budget Analyst for the Department of Administration. A few short years later she accepted the Accountant position with the State Information Technology Services Division within DOA and was eventually promoted to the Financial Management Services Bureau Chief. A little more than 10 years later, she became the Chief Financial Officer for the Montana Arts Council.

jeniferalger@mt.gov | (406) 444-6489

Executive Director

Tatiana Gant began her career as a visual artist and has worked in schools and communities as a teaching artist. Her roles in non-profit organizations span program design, resource development, and management. Tatiana entered state government as a grant officer, leading work across state agencies to advance arts learning. Her most recent position was Executive Director of the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Tatiana has served on a variety of national committees and review panels. She joined the Montana Arts Council in 2017.

tatiana.gant@mt.gov | (406) 444-6546

Arts Education Director

Monica has a combined 27 years’ experience working in the arts as an administrator, visual artist and educator, having earned her BA in Art at the College of St. Benedict / St. John’s University and an MA in Education from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Since returning to Montana for a second time in 2001, Monica’s experiences have included the positions of Executive Director of the Bitterroot Performing Arts Council and Visual Art teacher at Hamilton High School. With deep interests in multidisciplinary arts, community development through the arts and arts integration in K-12 education, Monica is very happy to be working alongside outstanding educators, artists, and community organizations to advance arts education initiatives in Montana for students of all ages.

monica.grable@mt.gov | (406) 444-6522

Deputy Director, Grants Director and 504/ADA Accessibility Coordinator

Kristin has a degree in Biology/Pre-med from Colorado College. She is fascinated by technology, design, and living creatively. Raised on a farm on the Hi-Line, her career has included traveling the country with Warren Miller Entertainment and working as a program director/instructor for a martial arts school.

kburgoyne@mt.gov | (406) 444-6449

Communication Specialist

Eric has nearly 30 years’ experience in communications, marketing, branding, and public relations. A Helena native, he’s been a graphic designer, art director, creative director, copywriter, photographer and videographer. Eric’s work on behalf of numerous private and state efforts include promoting public health, safety, tourism, and the arts across Montana. He also pursues personal writing and photography projects centered on Montana’s history, landscape, and outdoor pursuits. When Eric’s not at work, he’s probably getting lost in Montana’s public lands or bailing water on its rivers. He shares time between Helena and Great Falls with his love Dagni and their growing horde of cats.

Eric.Heidle@mt.gov | (406) 444-6133

Program Officer

Brian has an MA in Sustainable Communities from Northern Arizona University and a BA in Sociology from Linfield College in Oregon. Born and raised in Wyoming, Brian has since lived all over the West before moving to Helena in 2018 with his wife and young daughter. Brian has worked in diverse roles in the nonprofit and education world, ranging from school garden teacher to community organizer to food safety trainer. He is excited to join the Montana Arts Council, and is especially interested in how art can help build more resilient communities and better connect people to the places they call home.

brian.moody2@mt.gov | (406) 444-4700

Business Specialist

As our Business Specialist, Ginny is responsible for managing data, office administration and general support functions for the agency. She uses h er skills to support our staff as we work together to strengthen the arts and our creative community in Montana. Ginny and her husband Bill have two children—a grown son and teenage daughter along with their beloved dog Sandy. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, camping and taking in all that the Big Sky has to offer.

Ginny holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Auburn University, Alabama. After college, she worked as a public school teacher, private preschool teacher, and as an office manager. In addition, she founded and ran a property damage restoration company with her husband for 10 years. Prior to joining MAC, Ginny worked for a national accounting firm managing processes and databases for its Helena office. And when she’s not on the job, Ginny enjoys giving back to the Helena community; she’s volunteered with Helena Food Share, Lewis and Clark Humane Society, the Friendship Center, Habitat for Humanity, Prickly Pear Land Trust and Intermountain’s Festival of Trees.

virginia.newman@mt.gov | (406) 444-6354