College Advisory Council

Jeff Cysewski is a recipient of the 2023 Exceptional Alumni Award and a retired business consultant, entrepreneur, and past Chairman & CEO of multiple professional-service companies in the healthcare space.  He is an Alum of the College of Business at MSUB (accounting & information systems), holds CPA & CGMA certifications (inactive), and commenced his career in Seattle, WA with Grant Thornton and later with Management Design Consultants and Medical Management Support.  His business & advisory career experience includes strategic, organizational, operational enhancement & turn-around consulting to mid-cap entities in the seafood, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare segments.  He built multiple companies and recently sold his latest company to a private-equity consortium based in Boston, MA.  He serves on multiple boards, both profit and not-for-profit, providing key direction and executive guidance in those roles.

Ed Garding, retired Executive VP and CEO of First Interstate BancSystem, was former chairman of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. He has served on the boards of both the Billings and Sheridan, Wyoming, YMCA's, the Sheridan College Foundation board, and Ducks Unlimited in both Sheridan, WY and Hardin, MT (also chair). He was President of the Wyoming Bankers Association and has been a member of the American Bankers Association Government Relations Council. He also served as lobbyist for the Montana Bankers Association. Ed served on the MSUB Foundation Board of Trustees and since 1997 he serves on the College of Business Advisory Board. He received the award for the MSUB Outstanding Alumni in 2004.

In March 2024, Susan Gilbertz was named Dean of the College of Business and in May of 2023, Susan completed 20 years with MSUB. Prior to working at MSUB, she worked for 18 years at Texas A&M University. Recently, she served the College of Business with Ed Garding --he as the Acting Dean, and she as the Acting Associate Dean. As a geographer, her research articles are found in many different journals, including Sustainability, Energy Research & Social Science, International Journal of Management Education, and Journal of Management Education. Recently, her co-authored book was recognized by the Academy of Management as runner up to the 2023 Best Book award, announced in Boston in August. The book is titled, "Bringing Sustainability to the Ground Level: Competing Demands in the Yellowstone River Valley."

Yo'Lawnda Henry is Vice President of Human Resources for Kampgrounds of America (KOA) whose headquarters are in Billings, MT. Yolawnda oversees KOA’s Organizational Development. Prior to joining KOA, Yolawnda served for over a decade as the chief human resources officer for Alternatives, Inc. in Billings, the parent company for several pre-release centers across the northwest region. Her human resources experience also includes tenure within the medical sector. Yolawnda also serves on the Billings Chamber of Commerce Diversity Steering Advisory Board and is a board member of the Yellowstone Valley Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Amanda brings over a decade of experience in business development to her role as Regional Director of Business Development for Cushing Terrell focused on market positioning and recognition for the firm’s headquarters and beyond. She works alongside Cushing Terrell’s leadership team in strategic positioning for large-scale project pursuits and community engagement efforts that enable the firm to thrive. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Florida State University. While originally from Key West, Florida, she developed an affinity for mountains and seasons while attending a boarding school in western Massachusetts and found her way to Montana in 2017. As a new resident of Billings with a passion for community building, Amanda is looking forward to connecting with local business professionals and MSU-B leadership through her position on the College of Business Advisory Council.

Luke holds a bachelor’s degree in Management of Information Systems from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an MBA in Healthcare Management from Regis University.

David Langford is an international educator, consultant. speaker, author, and trainer who focuses on the successful implementation and application of quality improvement theory, processes, and tools in education. Mr. Langford is the only educator to be awarded the Deming Medal for Excellence in the Application of Statistics in Industry Worldwide for outstanding leadership in combining statistical thinking and management to restore joy in the education system.

Karen Magone is an Associate Principal and Finance Director of Cushing Terrell. Prior to joining Cushing Terrell in 2012 she served as a controller for a national engineering firm for 11 years as well as an audit director for KPMG for 11 years.  She is a licensed CPA and CMA and holds the CFM designation.  She is a graduate of MSU Billings.  She has previously served on the MSU Alumni Associate advisory board and on other nonprofit Boards.

Mike Monson is a local attorney practicing transaction law, focusing on mergers, acquisitions, real estate, tax, entity formations, lending transactions, security interests, and general contract matters. Mike received his BSBA from MSUB before going on to Law School at the University of Montana.

A graduate of MSU Billings with a Master of Health Administration degree and BS degree in Health Administration/Marketing Minor, Parker is the CEO of the Glendive Medical Center where he has served since 2013. Prior to this position, Parker was CEO of the Prairie County Hospital District in Terry, MT from 2009 – 2013 and served as an Administrative Intern at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries in Billings, MT. Parker is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives; Eastern Plains Economic Development Council; Dawson County Economic Development Council; Chair of the Montana Health Network; and Vice Chair of the Montana Hospital Association. 

Billie is CEO of Travel Café and has served Montana State University Billings is a number of capacities: Alumni Board Member (Vice President and President), Chair of the Golf Tournament, Outreach Committee, Wine Festival (Chair, Cooking Schools Co-chair, and volunteer), Outstanding Alumni Awards Final Selection Committee, Foundation Board member, Committee on Directors, Annual Fund Committee, and Committee on Trustees. She was awarded the Alumni Medallion in 2002 by the MSUB Alumni Association.

Founder, Computers Unlimited. Owner, McCormick Café, Café Italia, and Log Cabin Bakery. Computers Unlimited, founded in 1978, is an industry leader offering software solution to Industrial Gas Business, Home Care Medical Distributors, and Audiology Office Management Software throughout the entire world. In 1995, Mike started Internet Montana, offering phone line hookups to the just-born World Wide Web. Mike owns many Montana Avenue properties between North 26th and 23th streets. Mike has been a generous supporter of the MSU Billings College of Business and the MSU Billings Foundation Wine Festival. He is a member of the First Interstate Bank Advisory Council, and past member of the Billings Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Billings Clinic Board of Directors, and the Billings Business Improvement District board of directors. Among his awards and recognitions are the 2003 "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the Montana Ambassadors, 2009 Roche Jaune Award for Business Excellence - Business Person of the Year, 2012 Roche Jaune Lifetime Achievement Award, and 2014 Montana Business Hall of Fame.

Kevin serves as the CEO and co-founder of Converge, a cutting-edge workforce communication platform designed to assist employers in recruiting, engaging, and retaining top-tier talent.

Dave taught English and coached competitive speech at Billings West and Senior Highs for 8 years. He worked for 28 years in sales and then as District Manager for a chemical distribution company, Brentag Pacific, from which he retired in 2008. Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in mathematics from MSU Billings (EMC. In 2010 he was named an Outstanding Alumni Award winner, receiving the Alumni Merit Medallion. He has remained a loyal fan of the Yellowjackets and has continued to serve the university through his involvement with MSUB Foundation: MSUB Foundation Board of Trustees, Chair 2005-2007, and 2016-2018; He was involved in all three MSUB Foundation campaigns: NCLC; People, Pride and Promise; and Opportunity Scholarship Campaign.