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 several high-profile capital campaigns for facility improvements, 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 active in the Helena community as a board member of the Helena Kiwanis Club, along with many professional groups. 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 a grandson.

Keith Ouzts, vice president of Workforce Development

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.

Carolynn Bright, director of Marketing & Communications

Carolynn joined the crew at the MCA in the summer of 2016. In addition to managing member and public communications for the MCA, she is the staff liaison for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) program and executive director of the MCA Education Foundation. Prior to coming to work at the MCA, she was communications director at Student Assistance Foundation (SAF), and an award-winning crime reporter at the Helena Independent Record. In fact, she has the distinction of being the first journalist at the scene of the arrest of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski in Lincoln, Mont. Outside of the office, Carolynn serves on the board of directors for the Montana Society of Association Executives (MSAE). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Montana. She and husband, Doug, have three 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. 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.