The Montana Chamber of Commerce is proud to share a Come Home Montana story with the addition of Sheridan Johnson, Government Relations Specialist to the organization beginning November 28, 2022. Johnson joins Charles Robison, Director of Government Relations, to assist with the Chamber’s advocacy work with the opening of the 68th Montana Legislature on January 2, 2023. During the 2021 Legislature, the Montana Chamber succeeded in getting four tort reform bills signed into law—all of which improve Montana’s business climate. This work with legislators is vital as the Chamber looks to introduce a handful of priority bills in the upcoming 2023 session that if passed, will make doing business in the Treasure State even more attractive.
Since January 2022, Johnson has been working as a Public Policy Assistant for the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C. She is a recent graduate of Montana State University (MSU) having earned degrees in Political Science and Agriculture Education with an emphasis on Communications. While in Bozeman, Johnson was active as a MSU College of Ag Ambassador, served as a student senator in the Associated Students of MSU, and assisted with research on Scottish politics.
Summers for Johnson were spent back home on the family farm east of Conrad, Montana, where she developed her love for agriculture, rural areas, and the strength of community. She worked as a crop scout, interned as a farm broadcaster at the Northern Ag Network, and served as a camp counselor at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. Throughout high school, Johnson was active in sports and industry organizations serving as both the Montana FCCLA State President and the Montana FFA State President.
“We’re thrilled to have Sheridan join the Montana Chamber team, said Todd O’Hair, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber. “Sheridan’s background in agriculture, FFA involvement, and communications and policy work with the American Farm Bureau give her a solid foundation to hit the ground running in her new role. Further, she is a shining example of how Career and Technical Education prepares students to contribute immediately in the work place.”
Montana high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) uniquely prepares students for diverse and varying careers, instilling life skills such as leadership, critical thinking, communications, teamwork, and responsibility to name a few. The Montana Chamber supports CTE and its staff exemplify how it contributes to professional development with O’Hair, Robison, and Johnson, all former members of FFA, Montana’s largest high school CTE student organization.
“I’m a big fan of Montana FFA and all student CTE organizations,” said O’Hair. “I believe organizations like FFA, prepare students for whatever path in life they chose, and the skills they learn in these programs are exactly the skills business leaders tell us time and again are in highest demand in the workforce today.”
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