wilderness photo

MLA Staff

Logging is in our bones and blood

Keith Olson, Executive Director

Keith Olson has served as the Executive Director of the Montana Logging Association since 1980. He received a degree in Forest Management from Oregon State University in 1969. Keith's career path, prior to taking over the reins of the MLA, includes five years as a corporate forester in Oregon and seven years as a consulting forester in Idaho. Forestry is in his bones.

When asked about his job interview for MLA Executive Director all those many years ago, Olson remembers it (perhaps hazily) this way: "Three nefarious loggers sat me down in a bar in Thompson Falls, and through the skillful manipulation of fast talk and cold beer they convinced me to become the Executive Director of the MLA."

Memberships, Affiliations, Awards

keith@logging.org
406-752-3168 ext 14

John Hansen, Senior Safety Management Consultant

John Hansen is a graduate Forester from the University of Montana. During and following college, John worked for state and federal agencies in the field of timber and fire management. He was a staff forester for Champion Timberlands, Libby, Montana until 1989.

John began working for the Montana Logging Association as Field Safety Representative. He is actively involved in all aspects of logging safety and forest issues and is also a licensed insurance agent. John serves on the ALERT Board of Trustees and is acting Chairman of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Natural Resource Committee. John and his wife Karen live in Kalispell with their four-legged "kids" Sparky and Suzie.

safety@logging.org
406-752-3168 ext 17

Coleen Michael, Executive Assistant

Coleen Michael started a new career with the MLA in December of 2000. Coleen is responsible for the agency side of the workers' compensation programs with both the Montana State Fund and the Associated Loggers Exchange. She also handles coordination of MLA meetings and general bookkeeping functions. Coleen lives in Kalispell with her husband Dave and their two boys.

coleen@logging.org
406-752-3168 ext 12

Malinda Shafman, Member Services Representative

Malinda was born and raised on a farm in central Iowa. She attended the University of Northern Iowa where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in teaching. Malinda taught school for two years in Iowa, then went to work for Principal Financial Group in Des Moines for 24 years before moving to Montana in 2002.

Malinda's duties at the MLA include marketing and servicing the group health insurance program and providing health insurance information to all members. She is active in the Rotary Club of Evergreen, the local chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and the Association of Health Insurance Advisors. Malinda and her husband live in the Flathead Valley near Columbia Falls. They have one daughter who currently serves in the mission field in Africa.

Malinda@logging.org
406-752-3168 ext 13

Mindi Thomas, Membership Coordinator

Mindi was born and raised in Kalispell on the same land where her dad and grandfather were raised. She was born into a logging family and is very passionate about the logging industry. It's in her blood.

Mindi graduated from Flathead High School in 1998 and then worked in the Title & Escrow industry for six years before coming to work for the MLA in 2005. Her duties include answering phones, membership billing, safety supplies, first aid/forestry class input and billing, and setting up the monthly newsletter. Fortunately for us, she's widely skilled. She and her husband Terrell live just outside Kalispell.

mindi@logging.org
406-752-3168

Jason Todhunter, Safety Management Consultant

Jason "Sparky" Todhunter was born in Colorado (Go Broncos!) but has lived in Montana for almost his entire life. He is a graduate of Whitefish High School (Go Bulldogs!) and Flathead Valley Community College where he earned an Associates Degree in Forestry with additional credits.

Jason has been a Licensed Insurance Agent since 2000 and a Licensed Political Lobbyist for Montana since 2005. He is also a CPR, First Aid, Blood-borne Pathogen, and AED trainer. His work experience includes several years as a seasonal forester for Plum Creek, five years of work as a professional timber faller, and nine years with the Montana Logging Association as a field safety rep, insurance agent and state lobbyist.

His other activities and interests include FVCC Forestry School Advisory board, Board member of the Intermountain Logging Conference, logging sports, hobby logging, plus hunting, fishing and backpacking with his family (he doesn't sit down much). Jason married his Jack and Jill crosscut sawing partner from college - Diana. They have two rambunctious kids and live in Harlowton.

mlajason@mcn.net
406-632-4817

Paul Uken, Safety Management Consultant

Paul Uken (aka "Uke" or "Tall Paul") began his logging safety career in 1986 by heading up the Sawyer Safety Program through Flathead Valley Community College. Prior to that, Uke had been a professional timber faller from 1972 to 1986. As a faller, he worked in the Thompson River Drainage west of Kalispell Montana where he became highly adept at felling large diameter old growth timber. He ended his felling career as the saw boss for a six man felling crew.

He was approached to apply for the directorship of the Sawyer Safety Program the summer of 1986. That program ran from 1986 to 1991. He was then hired by the MLA to be one of two Field Safety Representatives. Since his hiring in 1991, his duties have expanded to include insurance agent and other tasks as assigned. Uke and his better half (wife Fran) live and play in Columbia Falls.

safety@logging.org
406-752-3168 ext 15