Gov. Steve Bullock announced a slate of appointments to state boards and councils, including several individuals from Great Falls.

The full list of appointments is available here.

The local appointees are:

Information Technology Board

• Sean Higginbotham, Great Falls. Qualification: Member representing local government. Higginbotham is the Information Director for Cascade County.  

Montana State Workforce Innovation Board 

• Al Ekblad, Great Falls. Qualification: Workforce Representative. Ekblad is the Executive Secretary for the Montana State AFL-CIO.

Tourism Advisory Council 

• Sandra Johnson Thares, Great Falls. Qualification: Central Montana Region Representative. Johnson Thares is the General Manager and Operating Partner of Big Sky Development Enterprises, Inc. which includes the O’Haire Motor Inn and Sip ‘n Dip Lounge in Great Falls.

Underground Facility Protection Advisory Council

• Doug Hardy, Great Falls. Qualification: Member representing a rural electric cooperative operating in Montana. Hardy is the General Manager of Central Montana Electric Power Cooperative.