Ryan Loomis joined the Montana SBDC, hosted out of Helena College, as the Regional Director for the Helena area in September 2018. Prior to joining the Montana SBDC, Ryan worked as an Assistant Store Manager for a large retail store in Helena. In cooperation with Helena College, Ryan doubles as the Community Education Center Director for Helena College.

As the Small Business Development Center Regional Director in Helena, Ryan assists entrepreneurs in 3 counties in business planning, marketing, financial analysis, and technical assistance. He also advises existing businesses in marketing, market research and growth and retention. Ryan’s professional experience lends a well-rounded approach to small businesses. Ryan has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration- Marketing and Management from the University of Montana and earned his MBA in the Spring of 2019.

Before beginning his educational career, Ryan grew up in the rural Montana Town of Cut Bank where he worked in small business and in agriculture as a farm hand. He worked on his uncle’s ranch in Columbus, Montana in the summer and helped on his family Ranch where his folks reside currently in Jordan, MT where he still commutes when possible to help out with hay and cattle production

Maggie Metzger has worked at Montana Department of Transportation since 2013. She is a Small Business Specialist in the Office of Civil Rights and helps administer the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program and the Small Business Enterprise Program. Prior to 2013, She owned and managed a family business for 18 years. In Maggie’s down time she enjoys anything outdoors.

Julie Jaksha has recently been named Market President for Ascent Bank in Butte. 

She has a robust background with over 32 years of experience in leadership, financing, and bank operations. 

Before joining the Ascent team, Julie worked for Wells Fargo and then First Montana Bank. She left banking in 2009 to serve as the Small Business Development Center Regional Director for Headwaters RC&D. 

In 2018, she was promoted to the Regional Director position for the Butte Local Development Corp and Headwaters. Julie was responsible for overseeing the SBDC, the Brownfields Program and the Headwaters RC&D/BLDC lending team. 

She was awarded the ASBDC National State Star Award in 2014 and became the first SBDC Regional Director in Montana to receive the award twice when she won it again in 2019. 

Julie prides herself on working with diverse user groups to find solutions that work for everyone. She can get the right people to the table to help small business owners and entrepreneurs achieve success. Julie has an extensive background in public/private partnerships project execution and can manage complex projects that help clients elevate and accelerate their successful path to launching, managing, or growing their business. 

Julie is an Accredited Small Business Consultant (AASBC), a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), a certified Edward Lowe Perspectives Facilitator, certified Profit Mastery Trainer, certified Core Four Trainer, certified Facilitative Leadership for Social Change Facilitator. 

In 2017 Governor Bullock appointed her as a Montana Ambassador. She is an active member of the Montana Economic Development Association (MEDA) and Leadership Montana. 

In addition, she serves on local and state boards, including the Montana Youth Soccer Association, Montana Cooperative Development Center, Lady of the Rockies, Butte Food Co-Op, Center for Advanced Mineral, Metallurgical, and Materials Processing Advisory Board at Montana Tech and the City of Butte Silver-Bow Planning Board.  Julie founded the Headwaters Women of Business networking group and launched the first Local Crowd, crowd-funding site for the Butte Community.  

Julie resides in Butte with her husband Steve, their two daughters, Hailey and Kenzie, and their springer spaniel, Timber. Their son Seth is currently enrolled at the University of Oregon, earning his J.D. Law Degree.