Our Team

The MCA staff brings a wide breadth of experience to the association, allowing the team to serve our members on a variety of levels. From lobbying on our members’ behalf at the Montana Legislature, to providing top-notch training opportunities, to keeping our members informed, to coordinating effective networking events, our staff works for Montana contractors.

David Smith
Executive Director

​David is the MCA’s Executive Director and joined the staff of the association in 2018. Prior to taking the helm at the MCA, he served as chief executive officer of the Helena Family YMCA for almost a decade, leading annual fundraising and capital campaigns, and instituting new, innovative programming to improve membership. David also spent 14 years as president/chief executive officer at the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce. He is on the AGC of America Executive Leadership Council board, and the State Workforce Innovation Board, where he chairs the public policy council. He is active in the Helena community as a board member of the Helena Kiwanis Club. He’s a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and the US Chamber Institute for Organization Management. His wife, Coleen, is executive director of Youth Connections Coalition. Together they have four children and three grandchildren.

Keith Ouzts
Vice president of Training & Education

Keith joined the team at the MCA in 2008. His focus is training and education, which takes him all across Montana to provide instruction on everything from safety to concrete testing and finishing, to working with Montana’s trade schools and community colleges. Also, he is the staff liaison for the Concrete Division. Keith spent 22 years in the Marine Corps and retired as a gunnery sergeant in 2005. He is a Marine Corps Master Instructor and a Master Trainer for the National Center for Construction, Education, and Research (NCCER). He received his Bachelor of Science in Church Ministries from Mount Olive College. Keith is a volunteer firefighter for the York Volunteer Fire Department and is an active member in the Marine Corps League. Keith and his wife, Julie, have two grown children.

Nicole Hanni
Director of Member Services

Nicole is the MCA’s Member Services Director and assists our member company representatives with daily requests along with helping to grow our association’s membership. She is also the staff liaison for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) program. Prior to joining the team at the MCA, Nicole worked for Montana’s Office of Public Instruction as a paralegal assistant, managing contracts, conducting legal research, and assisting with providing public information. Prior to that, she worked as a Client Relations and Support account administrator for Student Assistance Foundation. Nicole completed her Paralegal Certificate Course Session 1 and 2 at Montana State University Billings. She and her husband, Ron, have one child.

Barry Houser
Director of Marketing & Communications

Barry Houser is the MCA’s Marketing and Communications Director and joined the association’s staff in October of 2019. He also leads the association’s workforce development efforts as the director of the MCA Education Foundation. Prior to joining the team at the MCA, he was the Media & Marketing Specialist for Intermountain. Barry has nearly 30 years of experience in the field of marketing and communications and has led campaigns for Opportunity Bank of Montana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, and the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce. Barry holds a degree in Business Marketing from Montana State University and is a graduate of the Leadership Helena program. Barry and his wife, Frieda, have two grown daughters.

Hailee Olsen
Director of Workforce Development

Hailee Olsen is the Build Montana and Workforce Director for the Montana Contractors Association and joined the team in 2023. She has a background in education as well as construction. She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Elementary Education and spent her years in education coaching various sports and teaching 2nd grade. She comes from a construction family and has spent time working on job sites for R&R Taylor Construction in Bozeman. Her passion is working with students and problem-solving ways to get them into the workforce!