James Easton joins Chamber as Empowered Workforce Specialist

The Montana Chamber of Commerce recognizes the workforce challenges in our state require a collaborative approach to address complicated issues impacting workers and businesses. To help bridge the gap between the business and education communities to develop workforce readiness skills in Montana students, James Easton joined the chamber as an Empowered Workforce Specialist.

Get to know James:

Please tell us a little about yourself personally. Born and raised in Laurel, MT. After high school, I attended Dawson Community College and then the University of North Dakota. Being outdoors and adventuring to new places has always been an interest of mine. I love riding mountain bikes and getting on new trails whenever I can. I am the youngest of four with two older sisters and an older brother. My parents still live in the Billings/Laurel area and love getting together for family functions.

Please tell us a little about yourself professionally. I was a high school business and special education teacher for 16 years. Nine years I taught in Colorado. I started teaching in Fleming, as a Northeast community in Colorado. I moved over to the Western side of the state and taught for 7 years in Grand Junction. Seven years ago, I moved back to Montana and have been teaching for Billings Public Schools.

What are you most excited about working for the Chamber? Continuing working with schools and education around the state is going to be the part of the job I am most excited about. Coupled with being able to adventure and see parts of Montana I have not seen before, I will be able to get into the classroom and help with the education of students all over the state.

What’s one fun fact about yourself? I prefer pinatas to birthday cakes!