Kara Paul, Board President

she/Her

Kara, the "Girl Who Left Paradise for the Last Best Place," relocated to Helena, Montana, from Hilo, Hawai'i, on New Year's Eve in 2019. She moved to Montana to be the Senior Executive Assistant to the President at Carroll College and now works for the Montana Department of Transportation as a Strategic Project Specialist. Kara holds a double Bachelor's Degree in English and Communications from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, complemented by an Associate of the Arts in Liberal Arts AA Degree from Hawai'i Community College. Outside of her professional pursuits, Kara enjoys spending time with her husband and two cats, reading, sipping lattes, and exploring Montana and beyond for her Instagram and Blog, "Roaming Near and Far."

Ashley-Ann Goddard, Vice President

She/her

Originally from Lewistown, Montana, Ashley-Ann fell in love with Helena while attending Carroll College. She graduated in 2017 with Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Management and Spanish, and a minor in Theology. After graduating, she moved to Spain where she taught English and traveled around Europe for a few years. Aside from serving on the HYP Board, she works as an IT Systems Analyst for the State of Montana. Knowing the impact that community has on one’s life, Ashley-Ann loves being involved and giving back, and providing an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. She spends her free time traveling as often as her PTO allows, playing with mud at the Clay Arts Guild, keeping it “cool” with the Last Chance Curling Club, and has recently started acting in productions with Helena Avenue Theater and Red Ink Players.

Dan Lambson, Past President

he/him

Hailing from the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia, Dan picked up his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in structural engineering from Northwestern University and UT Austin, respectively. He then lived on an island in southeast Alaska for several years before taking a bridge engineering position in Helena with Morrison-Maierle in 2019. Dan is still thrilled to be back on the road system and enjoys doing just about anything outdoors (especially backpacking and peakbagging), making a racket on piano and guitar, and cooking curry. 

Maggie Hodges, Secretary

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Maggie is a Montana local, originally from Great Falls and has been living in Helena since 2022. She is a community social worker, currently working to preserve manufactured home communities with NeighborWorks Montana. In her free time, Maggie can be found skiing, white water rafting, or steaming dumplings in the kitchen.

Angela Conley, Treasurer

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Ben Slakey, Business Outreach Chair

Originally from Sacramento, CA, Ben moved to Helena in 2021 after graduating from the University of Portland. He works for the Montana Department of Transportation in their traffic and safety bureau. In his free time, you can find Ben on the hockey rink, disc golf course, or softball field. As much as he loves Helena, Ben loves to travel and spend time visiting family and friends across the country. Ben is very excited to serve as the Business Outreach Chair and connect with the multitude of local businesses HYP partners with, including some favorite breweries and restaurants.

Maddie Balachowski, Public Relations Chair

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Having stumbled into Helena due to her partner’s previous job, moving from Kansas City, MO (Missouri - not Kansas), the adjustment from big city to small town was stark. One of the first things she did was join Helena Young Professionals and attend the annual Palentine’s event to meet members of their new community. Now, Maddie, her partner and their two dogs can’t imagine living anywhere else and love the small-town community. You can find them regularly down on the Walking Mall checking out the beer and food scene, out exploring all that Montana has to offer or hosting midwestern family members throughout the year.

TBD, Social Media Chair

This position is currently vacant! Reach out to helenayoungprofessionals@gmail.com or use the link on our socials to apply!

Morisha Daniely, Professional Development Chair

She/They

Morisha was raised in the “urban village” of Ahwatukee in Phoenix, Arizona, and spent a brief chapter in Houston before relocating to Helena in April 2024. The area’s outdoor access, thoughtful pace, and forward-looking community offered a balance of small-town charm and growth that felt immediately grounding. Professionally, Morisha works as a Project Manager with Communication and Management Services (CMS), supporting project coordination and systems design. Additional experience includes community engagement, workforce development, equity-centered design, and process improvement. A passion for problem-solving and personal growth led Morisha to the Professional Development Chair role. Professional development is viewed as both a practical and reflective process - one rooted in recognizing individual strengths and creating space for people to show up authentically. Outside of board service, Morisha enjoys creative pursuits, time outdoors, and learning through new experiences. Helena Young Professionals was one of the first entry points into building community after the move to Helena.

Diana Devine, Public Service Chair

She/her

Diana is an East Coast-er on a Western adventure. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Diana headed down South to get her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in French and Francophone Studies from College of Charleston, then back to Virginia to get her master's and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from Virginia Tech. She is currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Carroll College. Diana is excited to build sustainable relationships with community partners in her role as Public Service Chair for HYP. Outside of these responsibilities, Diana also serves as a board member for CASA of Lewis & Clark and Broadwater counties and spends her spare time with her partner exploring Helena parks with their dog, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, and attempting to become an artisan potter.

Chandler Rowling, Recreation Chair

Chandler is originally from the Chicago metropolitan area. She moved to Helena, in 2019, to serve as an Americorps VISTA after graduating from Purdue University NW. She obtained her Master's Certification in Law, Policy, and Public Administration from University of Montana. Chandler’s main work focus has been on housing and homelessness. Outside of work, she loves dragon boating, curling, and hiking. She is always wanting to try new things and go on adventures.

Colton Hash, Social Chair

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Colton grew up in the mountains south of Helena, and moved to British Columbia to study at the University of Victoria. With an education in Computer Science, Visual Arts and Environmental Studies, Colton is passionate about making interactive art to connect communities to local ecological issues. For his day job, he improves design and accessibility for Montana State websites. Colton enjoys gardening, berry picking, skiing and hiking with his cat, and loves to socialize around game nights, karaoke, dance parties and bonfires.